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Executive Director of Pupil Personnel Services

Executive Director of Pupil Personnel Services

Christina Smith
Christina Smith

Executive Director of Pupil Personnel Services
Phone: (315) 668-4220 x70231
Fax: (315) 668-7207

Primary Work Activities

  • Provides oversight and administrative leadership to all special education and related services including those students who are placed out-of-district.
  • Plans, coordinates, and evaluates the delivery of special education and related services to meet or exceed federal and state laws and regulations.
  • Collaborates on staffing needs to meet the unique needs of Students With Disabilities including job descriptions, recruiting, hiring, supervising and retaining highly qualified staff.
  • Oversees the Committee on Special Education and the Committee on PreSchool Special Education.
  • Continuously reviews and finalizes all IEPs created by CSE and CPSE to promote student growth while ensuring state and federal compliance.
  • Provides direct oversight and/or coordination of other student support areas, including homeless students (McKinney Vento Coordinator), students who are on homebound instruction awaiting program placement, as well as all home/hospital and attendance services of students with disabilities.
  • Coordinates District Section 504 including: reviews/revises associated policies and procedures to maintain high quality and compliances; coordinates/conducts all meetings including initial, monitoring, and review; communicates with all stakeholders all requirements of Section 504.
  • Oversees and supervises Special Education teachers and Teaching Assistants to include placement, training/professional development, mentoring and coaching as necessary.
  • Prepares, administers and monitors budgets related to all areas of responsibility in accordance with laws, regulations, and District guidelines.
  • Oversees the preparation of federal and state grants, data collection and reports associated with assigned responsibilities.
  • Conducts evaluations of special education staff including teachers, school psychologists, and related service providers.
  • Collaborates with the School Business Manager to oversee the billing of services to maximize the District’s reimbursement for all billable services.
  • Assists with supervision of out-of-district student placements, contractual agreements and agency related services, including BOCES programs: Parent Communications; Program Visitations; Administrative Communication regarding program availability, placements, goals, transportation, and all other processes and procedures related to support those programs.
  • Assists with preparation and review of Special Education data reports for the purposes of compliance, including but not limited to Verification Reports (VR) Reports – Proportionality; PD Reports – Staffing; PDS Reports – Discipline of Students with Disabilities; State and Federal Accountability Reports.
  • Functions as the direct Supervisor for the Assistant Director of Pupil Personnel Services.
  • Communicates regulations, programming needs and other pertinent information to the administrative team (principals, transportation, buildings/grounds, athletics) as appropriate and in a timely manner.
  • Attends all Board of Education meetings.
  • Serves as a member of the Executive Cabinet.
  • Attends all relevant regional meetings and professional development and communicates important information back to relevant personnel.
  • Works collaboratively with the Executive Cabinet to prepare a District budget while overseeing the department budget.
  • Works closely with the Assistant Superintendent for Instruction and Personnel to resolve any personnel issues within the department.
  • Assumes other related duties as a member of the Executive Cabinet at the direction of the Superintendent.