School Summary

Minnesota Connections Academy (MNCA) is a tuition-free, online charter school for students in grades K-12 throughout Minnesota. MNCA’s program is operated through a contract with Connections Academy, LLC, to provide the educational program and other services. Connections Academy, a division of Connections Education, is accredited by AdvancED, and MNCA is accredited by the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement.

 Position Summary and Responsibilities: 

Working at an office in St Paul, MN or from a home office, the Coordinator of Special Education, who reports to the Assistant Director of Special Education, will manage the educational needs for our students with disabilities while working collaboratively with our partner school districts. The Coordinator of Special Education will ensure that the school operates in compliance with all Minnesota and federal regulations.

The Coordinator of Special Education will make certain that the school is providing appropriate programs in the least restrictive environment for all students with special needs. Duties will include management and participation in pre-referral and IEP committee processes, maintenance of student data, communication with parents, grade-level leadership, and collaboration with resident school districts throughout the state.

 Responsibilities

Lead a team of special education staff in alignment with MNCA mission, vision, and values, including respect, integrity, equity, and growth Manage 10-12 staff, providing honest feedback, ensuring staff data is accurate, and helping to ensure staff maintain positive relationships with students Liaison with MNCA Leadership team and Director of Special Education to ensure compliance and staff growth and development Work directly with Due Process Clerk to ensure paperwork errors are fixed and work with staff on training to reduce future errors Maintain documentation within the Learning Management System that captures and organizes special education timelines and data; Collaborate with resident school districts to schedule and participate in IEP committee and eligibility team meetings; Communicate and consult with teachers and learning coaches regarding the instructional program for students with disabilities or other special needs; Oversee the development, tracking, dissemination and proper implementation of IEPs, mandated accommodations for students with special needs during state testing events; Coordinate implementation and proper administration of the Student Intervention Team (SIT) process and participate in SIT meetings as required; Collaborate with corporate staff in Baltimore and members of the local school team concerning all facets of programming for students with special needs; Work directly with parents, as needed, to answer questions, ensure that all school actions are in compliance, assist with coordinating initial evaluations upon request, and that students are learning in the Least Restrictive Environment; Develop a working knowledge of Connections Academy’s curriculum options, and how they can be adapted and implemented to meet specific student needs; Introduce new ways of supporting special needs students in a virtual environment; Perform other duties as assigned by the School Leader or corporate Director of Special Education; and Other duties as

Requirements:

Prefer Master’s Degree in Special Education or related Education Field Special Education Certification A minimum of 3 years full time successful teaching experience in special education Expertise in special education law and compliance Excellent communication skills, both oral and written Customer focused approach High degree of flexibility Demonstrated ability to work well in a fast-paced environment Technologically proficient (especially with Microsoft Office products) Occasional travel