Dean of Special Education

The Dean of Special Education at Hiawatha Academies is crucial for managing student academic records, scheduling high school classes, and overseeing attendance systems. Additionally, this role serves as the first point of contact for registrar-related inquiries such as transcripts and enrollment changes, ensuring that compliance with state and district regulations is maintained.

To take on the role of Dean of Special Education at Hiawatha Academies, candidates typically need a relevant degree in education or a related field, along with experience in educational administration and a strong understanding of special education regulations and best practices.

The Dean of Special Education provides first-line technology support by troubleshooting issues with student and staff devices. This role also involves optimizing platforms such as Infinite Campus and Google Workspace, ensuring school operations run smoothly and effectively support student learning.

The core values at Hiawatha Academies, such as placing children at the center of all actions and fostering a collaborative environment, are essential for the Dean of Special Education. These values guide the role's approach to educational leadership, ensuring a focus on creating inclusive and equitable educational experiences for all students.

At Hiawatha Academies, professional development is integrated into the calendar year, providing the Dean of Special Education with opportunities to grow along with the team. Regular sessions, occurring each Friday, focus on sharing best practices and celebrating collective achievements, allowing for continuous improvement within the educational community.

When answering this question, provide specific examples of any systems you have used in the past, such as Infinite Campus. Highlight your techniques for ensuring accuracy and compliance with state regulations in managing records effectively.

Discuss your understanding of federal and state regulations that govern special education. Mention any specific processes you have implemented in previous roles to ensure compliance and support students' needs.

Share examples of your experience providing tech support to staff and students. Talk about your familiarity with platforms used in education and how you handle troubleshooting issues quickly to minimize disruptions.

Explain how you believe in maintaining open lines of communication with families and share any initiatives you have led to involve parents actively in their children's education, emphasizing the value of collaboration.

Discuss your leadership philosophy, focusing on inclusivity and collaboration. Mention how you empower team members and encourage a culture of continuous improvement and support.

Choose a specific scenario that demonstrates your problem-solving abilities. Highlight the steps you took to address the issue and the outcome, ensuring it shows how you prioritized student needs.

Talk about the importance of utilizing data to drive decisions in education. Describe how you have employed data analysis to improve student outcomes and inform your strategies.

Share your approach to creating an inclusive environment that recognizes diversity. Discuss specific initiatives or programs you've introduced to ensure that all students feel valued and supported.

Reflect on current trends affecting special education and share your insights. Discuss how you would address these challenges as the Dean of Special Education to provide the best support for students.

Highlight your commitment to professional growth by mentioning conferences, workshops, or professional organizations you engage with to stay current on the latest research and best practices in special education.