Manager of Special Education - Minnesota Connections Academy

Company Summary:

Minnesota Connections Academy (MNCA) is a tuition-free, online public charter school for students in grades K-12 throughout Minnesota. MNCA is a member of the Minnesota Transitions Charter School (MTCS), a K-12 academic community. MNCA is a state-approved online program operated through a contract with Connections Academy of Minnesota, LLC, to provide the educational program and other services. MNCA is accredited by the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement, an accrediting division of AdvancED.  MNCA also partners with Pearson Virtual Schools to enhance curriculum and instruction.

Position Summary and Responsibilities:

Working from your home or our office in St. Paul, Minnesota, the Manager of Special Education leads state reporting, special education compliance, special education instruction, delivery of services, and data management. 

The Manager of Special Education will lead the management of the Special Education Department and will be a point of contact for families of students with disabilities.  The Manager of Special Education will be an expert in Federal and State Special Education regulations as well as Minnesota Connections Academy policies and procedures.

The Manager of Special Education will be responsible for the successful completion of the following tasks:

• Act as the Instructional Leader for the special education department of about 50 staff
• Oversee Special Education Compliance Data to ensure full compliance;
• Assist with any audit reviews and family complaints;
• Collaborate with Pearson Virtual Schools and MTCS to ensure full support for MNCA students;
• Collaborate with all stakeholders to ensure that MNCA resources are best utilized for MNCA students
• Support professional development activities for teachers and school staff members;
• Manage and supervise a team of 12-15 special education staff, including conducting regular one-on-one meetings, supporting professional development, managing time (ex. Paid-time off requests), collaborating with members of the school leadership team to drive school mission, vision and culture;
• Understand the requirements for and assist the state testing team to facilitate the administration of all district testing;
• Assist with the enrollment process including requesting appropriate paperwork and assuring all documents needed are obtained;
• Assist teachers when students enroll mid-semester, making sure that teachers receive guidance on special education supports and services;
• Assist with the hiring and onboarding process of special education teachers and staff;
• Assist with IEP organization, implementation, and management; and
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Minnesota Director of Special Education licensure required
• Minnesota teacher certification or Minnesota related service certification (social worker, speech language pathologist, etc)
• 3+ years of Educational Leadership Experience
• Experience with multi-categorical disabilities across all grade levels
• Experience providing transitional skills and opportunities for students with disabilities
• Strong technology skills (especially with Microsoft Office products)
• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written
• Customer focused approach
• Excellent attention to detail and organizational skills
• High degree of flexibility
• Team player with demonstrated leadership skills
• Demonstrated ability to work well in fast-paced environment
• Willingness to travel on occasion for marketing and state testing events (may require occasional overnight travel)
• Please note 2-step authentication is required to set-up to login to all systems if given a job offer.

Note: The anticipated starting salary for Minnesota-based individuals expressing interest in this position begins at $100,000 - $112,000 per year. Benefits available to eligible employees can be seen at https://www.connectionsacademy.com/careers/benefits. 

Minnesota Connections Academy strives to create an inclusive environment that welcomes and values the diversity of the people we serve. We foster fairness, equity, and inclusion to create a workplace environment where everyone is treated with respect and dignity.