Special Education (SPED) Coordinator

firstlineschools; New Orleans (LA); On-site; USD 55,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

403b plan

Job summary

FirstLine Schools in New Orleans seeks a Special Education Coordinator to lead compliance with federal and state rules and ensure services for students with disabilities align with the law and the school’s mission.

The coordinator will mentor staff, oversee IEP implementation and testing accommodations, collaborate with families and outside agencies, and drive outcomes by supporting students’ access to the general curriculum.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; MA or MEd preferred
• Louisiana Teacher Certification in Special Education required
• Minimum of three years of teaching experience
• Experience in urban open-admissions schools and coaching adults

Responsibilities

• Ensure compliance with federal and state laws, including policies and procedures
• Maintain special education files with collaboration and involvement from stakeholders
• Manage deadlines for meetings, reports, and compliance activities
• Coordinate with network and itinerant staff for IEP service delivery
• Conduct integrity checks on IEPs, behavior plans, and testing accommodations
• Coach and develop school-based staff on special education delivery
• Collaborate with parents, teachers, and service providers on IEPs and related plans
• Support student progress toward goals and access to the general curriculum

Skills

Strong communication

Collaboration with stakeholders

Detail oriented

Leadership/ coaching

Education

Bachelor's degree

MA or MEd preferred

Louisiana SPED certification

Job description

FirstLine Schools: SPECIAL EDUCATION (SPED) COORDINATOR

Reports to: School Director

FLSA Status: Exempt

Position Type: Full-Time

Position Summary:

The Special Education Coordinator, under the supervision of the school leader, is responsible for ensuring the academic success of students in special education by providing leadership that ensures services and supports according to the applicable laws and the mission of FirstLine Schools.

Position Responsibilities:

Driver of Compliance:

• Ensures compliance with Federal and State rules and regulations, including developing, updating, and ensuring compliance with Special Education policies and procedures that comply with laws
• Maintains special education files that include documentation of collaboration and involvement from students, teachers, parents, outside agencies, and pupil appraisal team members, as needed
• Develops and maintains a calendar of deadlines, including Federal, State, and network, to ensure that all meetings and reports are completed according to rules and regulations. This includes, although is not limited to, the following: data maintenance in SER, annual reviews, triennial re-evaluations, monthly compliance reporting through SER, manifestation determination review (MDR), Extended School Year eligibility and planning, and evidence of collaboration
• Coordinates with network and itinerant staff to ensure that high quality service delivery occurs in accordance with student IEPs
• Conducts integrity checks to ensure the implementation of IEPs, behavior support plans, and the delivery of accommodations and modifications in the general education classroom
• Coordinates accommodations and alternative testing for statewide assessments

Driver of Outcomes:

• Observes, coaches, supports, and provides job training and professional development to school-based staff members

• Collaborates with parents, teachers, and service providers to develop academic and behavioral support plans (IEPs, FBA/BIPs)
• Collaborates with school-based academic leaders, teachers, parents, and paraprofessionals to ensure that students with disabilities are making progress towards their goals and accessing the general education curriculum to the greatest extent possible as determined by the IEP team

• Other Duties As Assigned

Education & Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree required, MA or MEd preferred
• Louisiana Teacher Certification in Special Education required
• Minimum of three years of teaching experience
• Demonstrated success working with students in an urban, open admissions school
• Demonstrated success coaching and leading adults
• Knowledge of current federal and state guidelines and reporting procedures
• Believe deeply in the mission and values of FirstLine Schools.

Desired Qualities & Characteristics:

• Believe in every student’s ability to achieve in a rigorous college or career prep curriculum
• Achieve results based on agreed-upon expectations
• Take personal responsibility
• Highly detail-oriented
• Open to learning and evolving with AI as a tool at work
• Collaborate effectively with a range of stakeholders
• Share a commitment to creating great schools in New Orleans
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to embed and model the FirstLine Commitments: We Keep Learning, We Work Together, We Are Helpful, We Are the Safekeepers of our Community, We Share Joy, We Show Results!

Physical Requirements:

The physical demands described here represent those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. Occasional physical exertion is required, including exerting up to 20 pounds of force as needed to move objects.

Supervises:

Yes

About FirstLine Schools

In 1998, FirstLine Schools started the first charter school in New Orleans. FirstLine now operates several (Pre)K-8th grade schools.

Our mission is to create and inspire great, open-admissions public schools in New Orleans.

Our staff is a diverse and talented group dedicated to our students’ success and to their own growth. Our schools are led by leaders who hold themselves accountable for student achievement and teacher development.

Salary & Benefits

Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience. FirstLine Schools offers a comprehensive benefits package including a 403b plan.

• 403b plan

Equal Employment Opportunity

FirstLine Schools is an equal employment opportunities (EEO) organization.