Address:  Exceptional Student Services Section
Phoenix or Tucson location

Salary: 70,000 - 74,800 

Grade: 21

Closing Date: 11/26/24

• These positions will serve as lead specialists and can act in lieu of a director.
• This may include oversight for caseloads assigned to all specialists, Public Education Agency (PEA) monitoring schedules for the unit, mentoring new specialists, developing and providing training internally and to the field, answering questions from all specialists, participating in monitoring, and acting as a mentor ensuring procedures are consistently employed in the field.
• Occasional in-state and rare out-of-state travel is required for this position.

The Arizona Department of Education currently utilizes a hybrid work environment, with up to two days of remote work (contingent upon business needs). Candidates should apply with an ability and willingness to work in-office up to five days per week as business needs necessitate.

• Serve as consultant to assigned Public Education Agencies (PEAs), offering technical assistance and professional development in special education related areas and data requirements
• Conduct on-site visits to assigned PEAs to review files for the State Performance Plan/ Annual Performance Report (SPP/APR) 100% compliance indicators and review PEA data to aid in improving outcomes for students with disabilities
• Provide technical assistance on indicator requirements
• Monitor special education programs, either acting as lead monitor or participating on monitoring teams
• As a lead, facilitate internal training for monitoring needs and changes
• As a lead, mentor new specialists with respect to monitoring activities
• Analyze results and compliance data from PEAs for decision-making related to monitoring and technical assistance
• As a lead, participate in discussions related to decision making and changes needed based on this data
• Participate as a lead specialist, in a facilitation capacity when needed, in various department/division task teams, special projects, and professional development as necessary to carry out work-related requirements
• Answer questions from the public pertaining to the State and Federal requirements that apply to special education
• Attend conferences, read newsletters, journals, books, regulations, attorney general opinions, and laws related to special education in order to keep abreast of professional information and issues
• Provide guidance daily to other specialists, answering questions, related to all aspects of specialist work functions
• As a lead specialist, develop and facilitate internal training for other specialists
• Mentor new specialists during monitoring and site visit activities

Knowledge in:
• Federal and State laws and implementing regulations in the area of special education
• Administration of special education programs in public schools
• Public school structure, organization, and funding; data analysis; assessment,
• Arizona Academic Standards
• State Performance Plan (SPP) and Annual Performance Report (APR)
• Secondary Transition
• State general supervision requirements under IDEA
• State monitoring system for special education
• Applications must have a certification in special education and served as a teacher, related service provider, or administrator in a public school
• A bachelor’s degree in education, or equivalent experience to substitute for the degree, is required
• Applicants must be a current ADE employee

Skills in:
• Program evaluation
• Data collection analysis and recording
• Plan, organize, coordinate, prioritize, and problem solve
• Oral and written communication
• Public speaking
• Public relations
• Interpersonal relationships
• Facilitation
• Internet research
• Leadership

Ability to:
• Derive conclusions from existing data
• Make decisions independently with available knowledge and resources
• Lead small and large groups with successful outcomes

Preference will be given to those applicants with a master’s degree and served as a teacher, related service provider, administrator in a public school, or a social services provider with a public agency.

Offers are contingent upon successful completion of all background and reference checks, required documents and, if applicable, a post-offer medical/physical evaluation.

If this position requires driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function of the job to conduct State business, then the following requirements apply: Driver’s License Requirements.

All newly hired State employees are subject to and must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify).

The State of Arizona provides an excellent comprehensive benefits package including:

• Affordable medical, dental, life, and short-term disability insurance plans
• Top-ranked retirement and long-term disability plans
• Ten paid holidays per year
• Vacation time accrued at 4.00 hours bi-weekly for the first 3 years
• Sick time accrued at 3.70 hours bi-weekly
• Paid Parental Leave-Up to 12 weeks per year paid leave for newborn or newly-placed foster/adopted child (pilot program).
• Deferred compensation plan
• Wellness plans

Learn more about the Paid Parental Leave pilot program here. For a complete list of benefits provided by The State of Arizona, please visit our benefits page

You will be required to participate in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS) upon your 27th week of employment, subject to waiting period. On or shortly after, your first day of employment you will be provided with enrollment instructions and effective date.

The State of Arizona is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer. Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation such as a sign language interpreter or an alternative format by calling (602) 542-3186 or emailing Human.Resources@azed.gov. Requests should be made as early as possible to allow sufficient time to arrange the accommodation.