POSITION SUMMARY:
Under the supervision of the Chief of Staff, the Senior
Hearing Administrator manages the day to day administration and operations of
the Office of Appeals. The incumbent will serve as the Hearing Officer/Superintendent’s
designee for expulsions,
suspensions and other student-related appeals.
The Senior Hearing Administrator is responsible for resolving appeals of
the decisions of the Superintendent of Schools pursuant to Maryland Annotated
Code, Education, Section 4-205 and will adjudicate appeals of Administrative
Procedure 4170 discrimination and/or harassment complaints. The incumbent is
charged with ensuring hearings are scheduled within timeline constraints
and that there is consistency among hearing administrators in conducting
hearings and in written findings and recommendations. The nature of the work requires sound and independent judgment because of the
legal ramifications for the school system; work is reviewed on the basis of
results obtained and through communication with
the Chief of Staff, Superintendent and Members of the Board of Education.
DUTIES and RESPONSIBILITIES: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.
Manages the day to day
administration of the Office of Appeals; advises the General Counsel and Superintendent of Schools
relative to appeals;
Works with school administrators
related to compliance with PGCPS student related policies, school processes for
discipline and change of school assignments;
Provides leadership, communicates
and collaborates with staff in the Office of Appeals, Pupil Accounting and
School Boundaries, Student Services, Student Transfers, Athletics Department,
Alternative Programs, Office of Special Education, Drug Education and other
central offices;
Receives and responds to requests
from Principals for suspension and expulsion of students for disciplinary
reasons;
Conducts and/or supervises appeal
hearings and related reports for students that deal with school transfers,
complaints from the public, homeless designations, athletic waivers, graduation
and suspensions/expulsions;
Represents the Superintendent at
expulsion and other student related appeals before the School Board;
Works collaboratively with staff,
parents and schools to identify appropriate interventions and programming for
students who are repeatedly suspended, recommended for expulsion, court
adjudicated or unsuccessful in comprehensive school settings;
Works cooperatively with school
administrators, the Department of Pupil Personnel Services, Office of Special
Education and staff in central office to facilitate and coordinate
implementation of services to students and to support school management plans
and school performance outcomes;
Collects, monitors and analyzes
data and creates periodic data reports based on performance measures that
reflect the work of the unit;
Responds to principal, parent and
staff inquiries regarding hearing decisions;
Conducts and/or supervises appeal
hearings and related reports for employees with respect to Maryland Annotated
Code, Education, Section 4-205 appeals, Administrative Procedure 4170
discrimination and/or harassment complaints.
Supervises and evaluates the
Hearing Administrator(s), the Court Liaison and Office of Appeals staff;
Responds to inquiries from
administrators and other system employees concerning the Code of Student
Conduct as it relates to expulsions, student rights and other appeals matters;
Develops and delivers in-service
programs related to office functions for system personnel;
Participates in job related local,
state and national conferences, as well as leadership workshops;
Serves on various school system
committees/task forces;
Keeps abreast of current local,
state and national educational development in the areas of school effectiveness
and reform; and
Performs related duties as
assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS:The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.
Considerable knowledge of Prince George’s County
Public Schools and Maryland State Department of Education policies, regulations
and procedures, including those related to student services, disciplinary
action, student rights and alternative programs; Maryland employment law,
including Maryland Annotated Code, Education, Section 4-205 and PGCPS
Regulations for Supporting Personnel; PGCPS Administrative Procedure 4170 and
federal, state and local laws prohibiting discrimination and harassment;
Possesses the organizational, managerial and
supervisory competencies and skills necessary to manage a unit and to
effectively lead, coordinate, supervise and evaluate the hearing administrators
and staff;
Demonstrated skill in appellate review,
including the ability to analyze issues and solve problems under pressure;
Excellent oral and written communication skills,
human relations and time management skills;
Demonstrated ability to establish positive
relations with school and central office administrators and staff;
Ability to analyze data and create reports;
Ability to promote and maintain a positive work
environment;
Possesses a broad repertoire of conflict resolution
strategies;
Ability to use computer technology in an administrative
and educational setting;
Effective public presentations; skilled in
effective outreach efforts involving, private/public sector collaboration; and
Ability to interact effectively with all school
officials, legal representatives, employees, and others.
EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:
Doctorate of Jurisprudence from an accredited law school
required. Ten (10) years of outstanding legal experience and other professional
experience in which the incumbent has demonstrated consistently high quality
work, initiative and leadership.
CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:
None Required.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:
Supervises and evaluates assigned staff.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
The physical demands are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand, talk, hear, walk, sit, and use fingers, tools or controls. The employee is occasionally required to reach with hands and arms and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision such as to read handwritten or typed material, the ability to adjust focus, and depth perception. While performing the duties of this job, the employee may occasionally push or lift up to 25 lbs.
WORKING ENVIRONMENT:
The work environment characteristics are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of the job.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
None.