Diagnostician (26-27)

NORTHWEST INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT

Job Title: Diagnostician 0143

Reports to: Director of Special Education Dept. Campus: Campus Assigned Wage: Hour Status: Non-Exempt Pay Grade: A27 Duty Days: 202 Date Revised: 02/2021

Primary Purpose: Utilize leadership, advocacy, and collaborative approaches in working with special education department, school, campus, parents, and other professionals in the evaluation, identification, programming, and implementation of services for students with disabilities, and to assist in the development of a comprehensive program which will enhance the students ability to derive full benefit from the educational program.

Qualifications:

• Masters degree in a related field
• Valid Texas Teacher Certificate
• Valid Diagnosticians Certificate or Licensed Specialist in School Psychology
• Three years successful classroom experience
• Previous experience as Diagnostician preferred
• Ability to work with school and community populations
• Ability to utilize a variety of assessment instruments to assess disabilities as defined by IDEA
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills
• Ability to collaborate with individuals from a variety of backgrounds, including but not limited to parents, teachers, school administrators, and advocacy groups

Major Responsibilities and Duties

Planning and Oversight

• Cooperate with local education agency, community, and/or state programs to effect comprehensive services
• Work cooperatively with school personnel to accomplish goals and objectives of the local education agency
• Attend meetings such as campus faculty meetings, special education meetings, ARD meetings, and parent conferences
• Recommend classroom interventions, consultation, collaboration, and pull-out as appropriate to meet the student IEP needs in the least restrictive environment
• Collaborate with school personnel, such as teachers, psychologists, speech-language pathologists, and related service personnel, to determine programming and support to best meet the needs of students

Screening, Testing, Diagnosing, and Advising

• Administers formal and informal assessments
• Observes students in educational environments
• Selects appropriate testing instruments based on individual student needs
• Administer tests according to acceptable testing procedures and standards
• Conduct comprehensive educational assessment consistent with districts guidelines, policy, and procedures
• Obtain pertinent case history from other professionals and parents
• Analyze and interpret information to make recommendations regarding disability identification and eligibility determination
• Integrate data from a variety of assessments, sources, and observations
• Determine the effects of the students disability in accessing the general curriculum
• Present and explain data to principals, teachers, parents, and other team members before, during, and IEP meeting
• Ability to meet federal timelines and all requirements of federal and state laws, rules, and regulations, and local district policies and procedures
• Access and compile formal and informal information from a variety of sources into a written report, assisting in the determination of eligibility, educational need, and identification of programming needs

Adhering to Local, State, Federal Regulations, and Ethical Practices

• Completes all procedural documentation appropriately
• Demonstrates knowledge and use of statewide testing procedures
• Abides by professional code of ethics
• Assist in development of appropriate IEPs based on a students strengths and needs
• Communicate to parents/guardians and professionals the evaluation results, including purposes, methods, findings, and implications of the evaluations
• Maintain accurate ARD meetings and related activities
• Use technology to organize information, schedule meetings and staffings, develop and maintain ARD documentation, and produce written materials (ARDs, FIEs, etc.)
• Maintain accurate ARD meetings and related activities
• Provide detailed, accurate record of ARD meetings and other professional activities consistent with the requirements of laws, rules, regulations, and local district policies and procedures
• Demonstrates awareness of professional performance in all environments
• Manages time efficiently by submitting and maintaining an appropriate schedule for delivery of services on campuses served
• Follows schedules of campus assignment
• Keeps an updated monthly spreadsheets and reports, including but not limited to monthly report, assessment, state assessment, and detailed records of evaluations
• Arranges travel time to maximize contact with students and accomplish other duties efficiently
• Participate in continuing education opportunities
• Verify accuracy of campus PEIMS reports each 6-week period
• Maintain special education audit folder and other confidential special education records
• Use technology to organize information, schedule meetings and staffings, develop and maintain ARD documentation, and produce written materials (ARDs, FIEs, etc.)
• Collaborate with campus team leader or administrator to provide training and support to campus special education department
• Coordinate the collection of data for Extended Year Services
• Assist with data collection to support scheduling of students, teachers, and paraprofessionals to meet requirements of IEPs
• Collaborate and assist campus assessment coordinator to ensure appropriate test materials are ordered for students with disabilities
• Assist Campus Assessment Coordinator in organizing test administration for special education population
• Remain current in state and federal rules and regulations for special education
• Serve as a resource to the campus in ensuring special education compliance
• Coordinate with special education team leader or campus administrators and special education staff to share/discuss current information relevant to special education issues provided through monthly meetings
• Develop and maintain knowledge and skills by engaging in professional development activities
• Attend all department meetings
• Use appropriate district-approved physical safety techniques, including restraint
• Dress and shoes appropriate to job responsibilities

Liaison

• Provides consultation to parents, teacher, and other appropriate school personnel
• Consults with other personnel, such as the principal, nurse, occupational therapist, physical therapist, psychologist, director, assistant director, and supervisor of special education, counselors, other speech pathologists, classroom teachers, and any other staff member who may have student information
• Talks with teachers formally and informally about individual students needs and progress
• Requests specific information on individual students receiving services from non-school agencies with signed release of information
• Determine needs for referrals, collaborates, and consults with ALL team members of the campus

SHARS and MAC Programs

• Northwest ISD participates in the School Health and Related Services (SHARS) and MAC programs, which allows our district to request Medicaid reimbursement for certain health-related services
• The Admission Review and Dismissal (ARD) committee determines SHARS services
• As a special education staff member, you will be required to train and bill for SHARS reimbursements for students on your caseload
• Trainings will be provided for SHARS for RMTS (Random Moment in Time Studies) where staff are chosen randomly to answer a few questions, and for MAC Diagnosticians and non-Personal Care Providers only
• Training will be provided at the beginning of each school year as well as on an "as needed" basis for new hires

Supervisory Responsibilities: None

Equipment Used: Personal computer, printer, copier, calculator, scanner, and fax machine

Working Conditions:

• Maintain emotional control under stress
• Frequent standing, stooping, bending, kneeling, pushing, and pulling
• Move small stacks of textbooks, media equipment, desks, and other classroom or adaptive equipment
• Districtwide travel
• Occasional statewide travel
• Position requires the ability to lift 25 lbs to waist high

This document describes the general purpose and responsibilities assigned to this job and is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties that may be assigned, alternative methods of performing your duties, or skills that may be required.