School Summary: 

Georgia Connections Academy is a tuition-free, full-time virtual school for students in grades K-12 throughout Georgia. The school is authorized by the Georgia Charter Schools Commission and governed by an independent Board of Directors, with a mission to maximize academic achievement for students who are seeking other academic options. The school is operated by Georgia Connections Academy, a nonprofit corporation, through a contract with Connections Academy of Georgia, LLC, to provide its educational program and other services. Connections Academy, a division of Connections Education, is accredited by Cognia, and GACA is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges & Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement. 

Position Overview: 

Working from the Duluth office, the Special Education Instructional Program Coordinator will be key in organizing and managing new teacher orientation, overseeing mentoring programs, and providing ongoing support to educators throughout the year. Additionally, this position will assist the Assistant Principal of Special Education grades K-5 with instruction, communications, and data management. The Instructional Program Coordinator will assist in managing Special Education Teachers for grades K-5 and will be a point of contact for families of students with disabilities. This position requires expertise in Federal and State Special Education regulations. All GACA staff must be able to participate in monthly in-person activities, including but not limited to: 

School and department meetings,  Student engagement opportunities,  Required training/development,  School-level events, such as state testing and graduation. 

This is a 12-month, full-time position. 

Key Responsibilities: 

Consistent collaboration and strategic planning with the Grades K-5 Assistant Principal of Special Education Oversee Special Education instructional practices Assist AP of Special Education with the development and implementation of specially designed instruction (SDI) Assist the AP of Special Education with monitoring lesson planning to ensure they include evidence-based strategies for SDI Assist teachers with differentiated instruction Support teachers with progress monitoring of IEP goals Facilitate ongoing grade band and department professional development  Observe, supervise, and evaluate teachers as assigned in accordance with district policies including TKES. Assist the state testing team to facilitate the administration of all district testing  Assist with the enrollment process related to placement and sectioning; Review incoming IEPs to determine appropriate placement Support teachers when students enroll, making sure that teachers receive guidance on special education supports and services Participate in the hiring and onboarding process of special education teachers  Frequent data monitoring for SISPs, benchmarks, and other instructional initiatives  Collaborate and plan with school-level Summer School Leads Collaborate and assist with developing summer parent orientation  Oversee and Monitor Extended School Year (ESY) Other duties as assigned

Qualifications: 

Georgia Special Education teacher certification  Must have no ethics violations  Must have received a rating of Effective or Highly Effective in the most recent performance review.  Must have a clearance certificate as defined by the GaPSC.  GaPSC Education Leadership Certificate or currently enrolled in a leadership program. Strong technology skills (especially with Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets products) Excellent communication skills, both oral and written  Customer focused approach  Excellent attention to detail and organizational skills  Experience in writing policies and procedures  Expert knowledge of IDEA and Georgia Rules and Regulations regarding Special Education Expert knowledge in FTE funding rules and reporting  Flexible and willing to provide and receive constructive feedback  Team player with demonstrated leadership skills  Demonstrated ability to work well in a fast-paced environment  Skilled in the use of spreadsheets  Experience in training and/or coaching adult learners  Experience in analyzing data to make informed decisions  Strong desire to continue career improvement and advancement through professional development Willingness to travel on occasion for marketing and state testing events (may require occasional overnight travel)