PROGRAM SPECIALIST IV-DOE - HOPE NAVIGATOR

Florida Department of Education Division of Public Schools

Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services Hope Florida Program

Location: Tallahassee Turlington Building Hope Navigator

Salary $49,955.00-52,000

Candidates are typically hired at the minimum salary.

This advertisement will be used to fill multiple vacancies for up to six months.

Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services

The Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services administers programs for students with disabilities. Additionally, the bureau coordinates student services throughout the state and participates in multiple inter-agency efforts designed to strengthen the quality and variety of services available to eligible students with disabilities.

Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services

Hope Florida Program

Florida Department of Education (FDOE) Hope Florida Program will help parents of children with disabilities by identifying barriers to their children getting services and developing a plan to accomplish educational goals. FDOE Hope Navigators will refer parents and families to local districts and organizations that deliver services to students with disabilities. They will also provide one-on-one support for families to develop a plan to achieve educational outcomes for their children.

FDOE Hope Navigators will work closely with other partner agencies to ensure other barriers families may face are addressed through Hope Florida community partners.

Office Contact

Kaitlyn Williams, 850-245-0798

Job Description

Provide direct support to parents/guardians through the Hope Navigator Program. The services provided will include, but are not limited to:

• Intake-The FDOE Hope Navigator will interact with the parent to collect and record contact and background information.
• Needs Assessment-The FDOE Hope Navigator will help the parent of a child with disabilities by identifying barriers to their child getting services.
• Service Planning-The FDOE Hope Navigator will refer the parent to the local school district and organizations that deliver services to students with disabilities, including non-profit scholarship funding organizations that administer the Family Empowerment Scholarship for Unique Abilities. The Hope Navigator will also provide one-on-one support for the parent to develop a plan to achieve educational outcomes for his or her child. The Hope Navigator will collaborate closely with other partner agencies to ensure other barriers the family is facing can be addressed through Hope Florida community partners.
• Monitoring and Evaluation-FDOE will identify, measure and report Hope Navigator Program overall metrics which may include:
  • Identification of students with disabilities and access to services.
  • Parent satisfaction with exceptional student education services.
  • Improved educational performance for students who receive support from Hope Florida.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provides information, technical assistance and support related to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to parents, families and stakeholders.
• Collaborates with other state agencies and partners to support parents/guardians in obtaining services through Hope Florida.
• Develops, produces or revises technical assistance documents and other reports, resource manuals and correspondence to foster the development and implementation of quality educational programs and parent services.
• Collaborates with local schools, districts and discretionary project staff in planning, development and evaluation of Hope Navigator services for the improvement of services; and provides technical assistance to schools, district level staff and instructional personnel regarding the needs of students with disabilities and their families.
• Manages assigned discretionary projects.
• Reviews, analyzes and interprets student data regarding the implications for improving student outcomes.
• Demonstrates a thorough understanding of the State Performance Plan (SPP) and participates as a team leader or team member in activities associated with specific SPP indicators.
• Assists in program reviews for compliance with state and federal regulations
• Assist other sections as related to their expertise.

This position is not approved for telework and must report to the location listed above.

Who We’re Looking For

The ideal candidate must be productive under tight timeframes, balance multiple and competing

priorities and maintain goal-directed behavior and performance sometimes under stressful conditions. The candidate must interact courteously with others. The performance and behavior of all employees must demonstrate consideration of the workload concerns of others and must not negatively affect productivity and morale of the unit. Attendance is an essential function of this position.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge and experience related to parent services in public school settings.
• Knowledge of laws, rules, policies and procedures relating to educational programs for students with disabilities.
• Knowledge of the techniques for planning, implementing or evaluating educational programs.
• Ability to understand and apply applicable rules, regulations, policies and procedures.
• Ability to plan, organize, and coordinate work. assignments Ability to communicate effectively.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.
• Ability to deal effectively with a variety of people.

Minimum Qualifications:

• At least two years of experience working with students and families in exceptional education and/or student services
• Experience in developing policy and procedures.

Preferred Qualifications

Preferences will be given to applicants who have:

• • excellent writing skills,
  • presentation experience,
  • understanding/working knowledge of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and,
  • working knowledge of the State Performance Plan (SPP).

Educational Substitutions

SB 1310: Substitution of Work Experience for Postsecondary Education Requirements

• • A bachelor’s degree in Education (or equivalent)

APPLICATION INFORMATION & REQUIREMENTS

The Candidate Profile (application) must be complete in its entirety. Your packet may be held up at the final review step if you are missing the below items:

• • Work History (entered with the most recent/current listed first):
    • Any and all state of Florida jobs
    • Any and all Florida university jobs
    • All periods of employment from high school graduation
    • Periods of unemployment
    • Gaps 3 months or more*
    • Education
    • Volunteer experience
  • Include supervisor names and phone numbers including current place of employment.
  • *Gaps 3 months or more must be addressed – you will need to account for and explain any gaps in employment including unemployment. You can either list these in your application under Period of Employment or attach a word document listing your gaps.
  • Experience, education, training, knowledge, skills and/or abilities as well as responses to pre-qualifying questions must be verifiable to meet the minimum qualifications.
  • It is unacceptable to use the statement “See Resume” in place of entering work history. Your candidate profile will be converted to your official application.
  • If claiming Veteran’s Preference, the candidate MUST attach supporting documentation (DD214).
  • If claiming Right to First Interview, the candidate MUST attach a copy of your official layoff letter when applying. This only applies to employees laid off from Career Service positions.
  • All documentation is due by the close of the vacancy announcement.
  • If you are missing any of the above you may be asked to complete an updated application.

If you experience problems applying online, please call the People First Service Center at (877) 562-7287

For a more complete list of benefits, visit www.mybenefits.myflorida.com.

LEAVE INFORMATION:

• Annual Leave - All full-time Career Service employees filling established positions earn annual leave in varying increments dependent upon years of creditable service. Employees with up to 5 years of creditable service earn 8.667 hours per month, with 5 to 10 years earn 10.833 hours per month and those with over 10 years of service earn 13 hours per month. Employees in Senior Management Service and Selected Exempt Service positions are credited with 176 hours of annual leave upon appointment. In subsequent years, the annual allotment is credited on the anniversary date of the initial appointment.
• Sick Leave - Career Service employees earn 8.667 hours of sick leave credits per month

BACKGROUND SCREENING REQUIREMENT

It is the policy of the Florida Department of Education that applicants for employment/volunteer undergo Level 2 background screening in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 435, Florida Statutes, as a condition of employment or being permitted to serve as a volunteer. You will be required to provide your Social Security Number to conduct required verifications. No applicant for a designated position will be employed, contracted or permitted to volunteer until the level 2 screening results are received, reviewed, and approved by the Department. Level 2 background screening shall include, but not be limited to, fingerprinting for all purposes and checks under this requirement, statewide criminal and juvenile records checks through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, federal criminal records check through the Federal Bureau of Investigation and local criminal records checks through local law enforcement.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

Male applicants born on or after October 1, 1962, will not be eligible for hire or promotion in the Other Personal Services (OPS) or Career Service, or appointment in the Selected Exempt Service (SES) or Senior Management Service (SMS) unless they are registered with the Selective Service System (SSS) before their 26th birthday, or have a Letter of Registration Exemption from the SSS.