Special Education Program Coordinator

About the role

Putnam Public Schools is seeking a Special Education Program Coordinator to oversee specialized programs and self-contained classrooms, ensuring they are student-centered, legally compliant, and deeply integrated into the school community.

Responsibilities

• Direct the daily operations and long-term development of specialized programs;
• Ensure consistent implementation, proper staffing structures, and seamless grade-level transitions across the district;
• Attend Planning and Placement Team (PPT) meetings; assist teachers with data preparation and ensure IEP goals, behavior plans, and mainstreaming opportunities are clearly defined and implemented;
• Coordinate meaningful inclusion opportunities, partner with general education staff to remove barriers, and ensure specialized program students actively participate in schoolwide events, electives, and extracurriculars;
• Provide direct crisis intervention support, lead post-incident debriefings with teams, analyze behavioral data trends, and partner with families on student re-entry planning;
• Directly supervise, schedule, coach, and evaluate paraeducators within the specialized programs to maintain high professional standards and therapeutic consistency;
• Serve as the secondary point of contact for families (following the classroom teacher) to streamline communication, solve complex problems, and navigate transitions.

Qualifications

• Connecticut Intermediate Administration and Supervision Certificate (092), or documented eligibility;
• Connecticut Special Education Certification or another appropriate district-approved credential;
• Extensive experience working with students exhibiting significant academic, behavioral, social-emotional, developmental, and/or communication needs;
• Proven expertise in IEP development, PPT compliance, and Behavior Intervention Plans (BIPs);
• Demonstrated ability to supervise support staff, analyze data trends, and communicate calmly and effectively during crisis situations;
• Advanced training in crisis intervention, de-escalation (e.g., PMT, CPI), trauma-informed practices, or Functional Behavior Assessments (FBAs).

Pay

$127,308 annually

Schedule

Start date: August 24, 2026