QUALIFICATION

• EDUCATION: Master’s degree or higher in Educational Administration
• LICENSURE:
• Licensed as Director of Special Education, or PK-12 Principal/Supervisor of Special Education, or Supervisor of Special Education-Support, or Supervisor of Special Education-Instruction
• Iowa Board of Educational Examiners Professional Administrator License
• Iowa Board of Educational Examiners Evaluator Approval
• EXPERIENCE:
• Experience leading school improvement and professional development, required
• Experience as a curriculum director or principal, preferred but not required

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:  

• Enacts the PLAEA Strategic Plan and AEA Playbook to ensure continuous improvement toward agency strategic directions and goals.
• Assists in evaluating the effectiveness of AEA services and leads change and the change process.
• Advocates for the educational interests of children and families.
• Serves as direct AEA administrative contact with local school district officials, partnering agencies and families within the region.
• Provides leadership to AEA staff, school administrators and district staff to support school improvement efforts, the collaborative problem-solving process and AEA service delivery model.  
• Oversees required special education compliance activities within the region.
• Collaborates with school districts involved in due process or state complaints to coordinate support.
• Provides guidance and support to AEA and school district staff on student specific cases.
• Implements all agency policies/procedures while promoting staff conformance to agency policies/procedures, federal/state rules/regulations and educational best practices.
• Recruits, selects, orientates and mentors staff within assigned region and discipline.
• Supports AEA staff in the acquisition of skills/knowledge necessary to provide high quality services to schools and families.
• Evaluates and conducts performance appraisals of all assigned personnel. 
• Assigns AEA staff to support instructional practices and the provision of required services in conformance with the identified needs of local school districts within the assigned service region.
• Facilitates regional and department meetings.    
• Reviews and approves leave requests, mileage forms and purchase requests in conformance with agency policies/procedures.
• Manages office(s) within assigned service region.
• Collaborates with other Regional Administrators. 
• Performs other duties as assigned.

COMMON TO ALL EMPLOYEES:  

• Contributes to a positive and productive work, learning and team environment
• Believes in, advocates for, understands, supports and delivers the priority work of the AEAs, Iowa Public and Accredited Schools, the Iowa Department of Education and Prairie Lakes AEA
• Focuses upon agency and team efforts to deliver equitable, efficient and effective educational services that prepare Iowa children for a life well-lived
• Anticipates and responds to needs, requirements and expectations of clients resulting in acceleration, inspiration and innovation
• Demonstrates effective verbal, non-verbal, written, listening and visual communication
• Possesses effective interpersonal, collaboration, facilitation skills and is committed to relationships and partnerships, within and outside of the agency
• Exhibits self-motivation, reliability, organization, detail and quality and engages in continuous improvement of professional practice to build skills needed to perform job duties and meet agency goals and expectations
• Manages time effectively so that timelines are met and improved results are evident in learning, professional capacity and system effectiveness
• Problem solves by utilizing data-based decisions, preventing and resolving conflicts and providing comprehensive, high quality solutions
• Works with integrity and maintains confidentiality
• Models and integrates technology into daily work
• Leads professional development for at least one course, internally, externally or both
• Understands other duties and responsibilities may be assigned, according to current needs of the agency or districts served

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Ability to travel between schools and sites served.
• Normal, routine levels of activity related to bending, carrying, climbing, hearing, lifting, reaching, sitting, standing, vision and walking, and may also involve above-average levels of activity at times that can’t always be anticipated.

BENEFITS:

Enjoy a strong benefits package featuring fully paid single health and dental insurance, employer-paid life and disability coverage, and a generous IPERS retirement plan.