IEP/IAP Liaison

Job Description

Job Description

Do you want to work with a team of dedicated and passionate educators and support staff? Do you want to make a difference every day? If you answered ‘yes’ to those questions then Northstar may be the opportunity for you.

About Us: Northstar is a private school that promotes educational excellence and career opportunities for students with disabilities who have academic, physical, or social challenges. Northstar has been serving young people with a wide variety of learning differences since 1996—students in grades K-12 at the Academy and providing vocational training for young adults ages 16-24 through the Northstar Career Center.

Northstar has an immediate opening for a full-time IEP/IAP Liaison. In this key role you will work as the connection with families, staff, and community stakeholders including public schools, to develop IEPs/IAPs and provide accurate meaningful data and requested information to appropriate personnel. The Liaison position is essential to the student recruitment/retention process.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Manage a caseload of students from diverse backgrounds, age ranges (K through age 22), and disability categories.

• Works closely with the Director of Admissions to support student recruitment efforts, ensuring clear communication with prospective families about the school’s offerings. Collaborates with the Director to maintain high levels of family satisfaction, fostering strong relationships with families to support student retention and ensure a positive educational experience.

• Develops individualized education programs (IEPs/IAPs) for each student, setting learning goals and adopting modifications as necessary; ensures each student’s activities and lessons are planned and organized according to their abilities. Attend IEP/IAP, Service Plan, Eligibility, and other meetings as required.

• Coordinates and administers a variety of assessments and observations to support student educational services. Assessment areas may include academic performance, behavior, social development, physical health, SOLs, VAAPS.

• Develops an integrated plan for the education of each student on their caseload by collaborating with classroom teachers, families, and other service providers.

• Quality Control:

  • Creates and reviews individual Student Education Plans/Academic Plans.

  • Student data and progress collection for individual students.

• Assist with developing and completing the master schedule.

• Coordinates, plans and works with the Head of School to implement school wide social skills programs.

• Initiates referral within school and with parents/LEA’s for outside services, collaborating/cooperating with the School Counselor as necessary to ensure coordinated approach to student follow-up.

• Coordinates with the Head of School/Assistant Head of School establishing and enforcing classroom management structure and rules that ensure the academic engagement and the physical and mental safety of all students.

• Assists with the daily running of school and other administrative responsibilities with other Liaisons and senior Admin team members.

• Provide administrative support and guidance to Employment Support Specialists;

• Perform other duties as assigned.

Required Skills/Abilities:

• Demonstrates excellent written and verbal communication skills to effectively engage with all constituent groups, including staff, students, families, and community stakeholders.

• Demonstrate integrity, respect for others, and excellent interpersonal skills. Maintain a calm, patient and professional demeanor with all students, families and coworkers.

• Thorough understanding of various special education best practices and regulations as well as Section 504.

• Demonstrates a commitment to professional growth by actively seeking out opportunities for continuing education and staying current with best practices, research, and trends in special education.

• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.

• Proficient with Google Suite, school management software (gradebook), or related software. Knowledge of how to integrate assistive technology software such as text to speech / speech to text a plus.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree and endorsement in Special Education required; Master’s degree preferred.

• Appropriate state license or certification required, must hold a valid Virginia teaching license.

• Minimum two years of experience working in Special Education is highly preferred.

Physical Requirements:

• Prolonged periods standing and walking throughout school and classroom.

• Must be able to lift up to 45 pounds at a time.

• Must be able to assist students who have physical difficulties.

• Must be able to kneel, sit, stand, crawl, push, and pull to assist and teach students throughout the day.

• Prolonged periods sitting and working on the computer to complete necessary paperwork.

Reports To: Head of School

Term: Full-time, 12 month position

Hours: 7:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. (Evening and weekend activities will be occasionally required)

NOTE: Staff and data collection meetings are required and may extend beyond 3:30 p.m.