Easterseals Academy is a therapeutic school that provides schooling for children with an autism spectrum disorder, emotional disability, developmental delay, or intellectual disability. School districts refer students to Easterseals Academy where the schools provide an alternative school placement for these students to help them to achieve independence. Easterseals Academy has three campuses, located in Chicago, Machesney Park, and Tinley Park.
For more information about our organization, please visit us online at www.eastersealschicago.org.
The Case Manager’s primary responsibility is to serve as the agency’s representative at all IEP meetings; facilitate an open dialogue between the Easterseals school staff, parents/guardians, and the student’s home district; train staff on the federal and procedural safeguards that guide the IEP process; and ensure Easterseals is following all procedures outlined by sending districts.
This position is located at the Easterseals Academy - Tinley Park Campus at 17300 Ozark Avenue, Tinley Park, IL 60477.
MAJOR FUNCTIONS/ACCOUNTABILITIES:
- Serve as a resource to Easterseals in the management, documentation, compliance, and training of all school staff.
- Attend regularly scheduled team meetings.
- Maintain student files and IEPs.
- Ensure legal compliance with all federal and state procedural safeguards, including FIEs, IEPs, Progress Reports, FBA/BIPs, Transition Plans, Age of Majority, Summaries of Performance, etc.
- Oversee the File Review Committee and follow through with necessary steps to ensure maintenance of all student files according to Illinois State Board of Education Rules and Regulations.
- Schedule, convene, and chair IEP conferences and serve as the agency representative for all districts when scheduling and coordinating IEP meetings.
- Send all required correspondence to districts and parents/guardians for all upcoming FIEs and IEP meetings, including consents, notices, invitations, and all other required documents in accordance with federal and state-mandated timelines.
- Ensure Quarterly Progress Reports and Benchmark Reviews are completed routinely and in compliance with federal and state-mandated timelines.
- Arrange accommodations for parents/guardians, as necessary (e.g., interpreter or translator).
- Provide training to staff on the efficient and effective use of IMPACT, EZ IEP, and all other electronic IEP management systems used by districts.
- Collaborate with the Administrative team to develop/submit all required documents to ISBE and all partner districts in a timely manner, throughout the school year.
- All other duties as assigned
Specific Duties- Reintegration:
- Develop, formalize, and maintain a streamlined reintegration process that focuses on student strengths and skill development.
- Establish and meet data targets for the total number of students attempted for reintegration each school year.
- Coordinate school and classroom tours for parent/guardian, student, and district representatives to the identified reintegration placements.
- Work with all members of the IEP team to develop a document that identifies all necessary supports for the student to ensure success in a less restrictive setting.
Specific Duties-IEP Development:
- Schedule and attend all planning/pre-IEP meetings.
- Monitor the IEP development process to ensure staff are submitting draft IEPs within expected timeframes, track late draft IEPs, and alert administration when staff are consistently late (e.g., more than two times).
- Co-review draft IEPs with the designated school administrator to increase inter-rater reliability.
Specific Duties-Extended School Year Services
- Train staff on how to collect and review ongoing data to determine whether or not a student qualifies for extended school-year services.
- Review the data and provide feedback regarding the quality and quantity of data to ensure staff has enough information to support the decision-making process.
Education/Certification:
- Master's Degree in Education or other closely related field.
- Illinois State Type 10 teaching certificate or LBS1 (limited or unlimited) required, Type 75 Certificate preferred.
Experience Required:
- Minimum of 5 years’ experience working with special needs population.
Skills/Abilities:
- Ability to multi-task in a high stress environment.
- Ability to interact with and lead diverse personalities to obtain a shared goal.
- Ability to enhance the professional growth and development of staff members.
- Possess a clear understanding of the IEP process and the regulating federal and procedural safeguards.
- Preferred understanding and awareness of autism and related disorders
- Well organized and detail oriented with emphasis on accuracy
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Ability to maintain a high level of confidentiality
ADA: Easterseals will make reasonable accommodations in compliance with the Americans with Disability Act of 1990. Unless exempted by the Americans with Disabilities Act, all persons hired for this position are required to possess the ability to perform the physical tasks necessary to treat clients, i.e., bending, floor-sitting, etc., as well as to have the ability to lift up to 50 pounds frequently.
**Outstanding Benefits Package **
Comprehensive Healthcare
- 100% employer-paid medical, dental, and vision coverage for select plans available to you and your eligible dependents
Excellent Insurance Protection
- Employer-paid life insurance and AD&D coverage
- Long-term disability insurance at no cost to you
- Free Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for work-life balance support
Exceptional Career Growth
- Up to $40,000 in eligible education reimbursement to fuel your professional development
Generous Retirement Benefits
- Automatic 3% non-elective contribution to your 401(k) - no match required
- Additional dollar-for-dollar match up to 3% - earn up to 6% of total employer contribution
Work-Life Balance
- 13 paid holidays to enjoy time with family and friends
- Flexible PTO policy that respects your need for rest and rejuvenation