Primary Purpose:

Implement the special education ARD/IEP process. Collaborate with other professionals and parents in the ARD process. Work cooperatively with instructional personnel to provide the most appropriate programs for students with disabilities.   Provide support to campus and district administrators, educators, and support personnel to enable students to develop competencies and skills to function successfully in the academic environment.

Qualifications:

Minimum Education/Certification:           

Valid Texas Teacher Certificate with Special Education Certification   

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university

Master degree preferred

Required Experience:     

Three (3) years’ teaching experience

Special Knowledge/Skills:            

• Knowledge of ARD procedures, education of students who receive special education services, curriculum, and state assessment
• Excellent organizational, communication, public relations, and interpersonal skills
• Thorough understanding of school operations
• Strong organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills
• Ability to coordinate campus support operations

Major Responsibilities and Duties:

(The following statements describe the general purpose and responsibilities assigned and should not be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, skills, efforts, or working conditions that may be assigned or skills that may be required.)

Professionalism

The Educators' Code of Ethics is set forth in Texas Administrative Code to provide rules for standard practices and ethical conduct toward students, professional colleagues, school officials, parents, and members of the community.

• Rule §247.1 Purpose and Scope; Definitions
• Rule §247.2 Code of Ethics and Standard Practices for Texas Educators

Instructional Management

The ARD Facilitator promotes improvement of instruction by assisting with activities such as the following:

• Facilitate the entire ARD process for designated schools and students.
• Maintain current knowledge of special education law.
• Maintain eligibility folders in a manner consistent with TEA requirements.
• Maintain and monitor special education database.
• Ensure the confidentiality of information regarding students who receive special education services.
• Schedule and document annual ARD Committee meetings.
• Maintain compliance with ARD due dates based on federal and state regulations.
• Notify related service providers of ARD meetings and needed information.
• Confirm ARD schedule with parents and students.
• Complete ARD notices in eSped and distribute copies in accordance with the Special Services Department and school procedures.
• Complete ARD documentation in eSped data management system during meetings.
• Generate minutes of meeting and complete all pages of ARD.
• Collect additional information needed from teachers, such as PLAAFPs, progress monitoring, and transition forms.
• Archive all required ARD paperwork in eSped in a timely manner.
• Provide guidance to the ARD committee.
• Compile, maintain and file all reports, records, and other documents required.

Organization Climate

The ARD Facilitator assists with fostering a positive school or organization morale through activities such as the following:

• Promote a positive, caring climate of learning.
• Maintain a positive and effective relationship with supervisors.
• Effectively communicate with colleagues, students, and parents.
• Interacts sensitively and fairly with persons from diverse cultural backgrounds.
• Consult with other agencies outside the school that also serve the student with parent consent.

Organization Improvement

The ARD Facilitator promotes leadership in efforts to improve the school or organization through activities such as the following:

• Collaborate in the development and articulation of a common vision of improvement.
• Encourage appropriate risk-taking.

Communication and Community Relations

The ARD Facilitator promotes a positive tone for school or community relations through activities such as the following:

• Foster collaborative educational efforts among members of the total school community.
• Articulate the schools mission and needs to the community.
• Seek support for school programs and involving himself or herself in community activities that foster rapport between the school district and the larger community.

Organization Management

The ARD Facilitator assists with monitoring compliance with federal and state regulations:

• Assures all ARDS (graduation ARDs, Failure ARDs, and Manifestation Determination ARDs) are held in a timely manner.
• Ensure timeliness of ARD invitations to appropriate staff for meetings.
• Determination of accommodations and modifications for state testing.
• Facilitate parent requests for ARD committee meetings.
• Determination of appropriate services, creation of IEPs, and meeting regulations for state testing.

Professional Growth and Development

The ARD Facilitator provides leadership in professional growth and development through activities such as the following:

• Participate actively in professional associations.
• Attend trainings as assigned by the Special Education Department.
• Conducting himself or herself in an ethical and professional manner.
• Disseminate ideas and information to other professionals.
• Seek and using evaluative information for improvement of performance.
• May be assigned to assist other campuses as needed by the Director of Special Education.

Qualities of Effective ARD Facilitators

The ARD Facilitator exhibits qualities such as the following:

• Demonstrate a high level of personal integrity, a collaborative leadership style and high ethical standards.
• Daily attendance and punctuality at work are essential functions of the job.

• Keep informed of and comply with state, District, and school regulations and policies affecting schools, classroom teachers, including UIL rules, attendance, punctuality and confidentiality.
• Compile, maintain, and file reports, records, and other documents as required.
• Shall comply with District policies, as well as state and federal laws and regulations.
• Shall comply with the standards of conduct set out in Board Policy DH (Legal) and (Local) and with any other policies, regulations, and guidelines that impose duties, requirements, and standards.  

Supervisory Responsibilities:

Supervise and evaluate the performance of assigned staff.

Equipment:

Computer, computer software programs and peripherals, teacher resource materials and equipment, printer, copier, fax and other equipment applicable to position.

Mental Demands/Physical Demands/Environmental Factors  

• Maintain emotional control under stress.
• Work with frequent interruptions.
• Work irregular and extended work hours to include holidays and weekends.
• Frequent walking, standing, stooping, bending, pulling and pushing.
• Occasional light lifting and carrying (15-44 pounds); may lift and move textbooks and classroom equipment.
• May be required under specific circumstances to provide physical restraint of students in danger of causing harm to themselves or others.
• Occasional district wide and statewide travel.
• Use computer for prolonged period resulting in repetitive hand motions.
• Frequent exposure to: temperature extremes (hot and cold), humidity extremes, noise, low or intense illumination vibration.
• Occasional exposure to: biological hazards (communicable diseases, bacteria, etc.), work outside, work around moving objects or vehicles, work on uneven surfaces.  

The preceding statements describe the general purpose and responsibilities assigned to this job and are not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties that may be assigned or skills that may be required.