Special Education Compliance Program Coordinator - Georgia Connections Academy

School Summary

Georgia Connections Academy is a tuition-free, full-time virtual school for students in grades K-12 throughout Georgia. The school is authorized by the Georgia Charter Schools Commission and governed by an independent Board of Directors, with a mission to maximize academic achievement for students who are seeking other academic options. The school is operated by Georgia Connections Academy, a nonprofit corporation, through a contract with Connections Academy of Georgia, LLC, to provide its educational program and other services. Connections Academy, a division of Connections Education, is accredited by AdvancED, and GACA is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges & Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement.

Georgia Connections Academy strives to create an inclusive environment that welcomes and values the diversity of the people we serve. We foster fairness, equity, and inclusion to create a workplace environment where everyone is treated with respect and dignity.

Position Summary

Working from the Duluth, Georgia, office and from your home office within Georgia, certified teachers at Georgia Connections Academy support and motivate students through high-quality virtual instruction using the Pearson Online Classroom. Teachers deliver synchronous and asynchronous instruction, provide intervention and enrichment, engage families, and use data to drive student learning and growth.

All GACA teachers and staff must be able to regularly participate in required in-person activities that may require overnight travel throughout the state of Georgia, including but not limited to:

• School and department meetings
• Student engagement events
• Professional development and required training
• State testing, Diagnostic testing, and all in-person summative and formative assessments
• Graduation and other school-level events

Staff may also be required to support virtual administration of assessments, as scheduled by the school.

Position Overview:

Working from the Duluth office, the Program Coordinator of Special Education Compliance will be key in organizing and managing new teacher orientation, overseeing mentoring programs, and providing ongoing support to educators throughout the year. Additionally, this position will assist the Director of Special Education with special education compliance, special education instruction, communications, and data management. The Program Coordinator will assist in the management of the Special Education Department and will be a point of contact for families of students with disabilities. The Program Coordinator of Special Education will be an expert in Federal and State Special Education regulations.

This is a 12-month, full-time position.

Key Responsibilities:

• Oversee Special Education Compliance Data;
• Assist the Special Education Leadership Team with audit reviews;
• Support professional development activities for case managers, teachers and school staff members;
• Manage and supervise special education case managers;
• Understand the requirements for and assist the state testing team to facilitate the administration of all district testing;
• Assist Special Education Leadership Team with the enrollment process including requesting appropriate paperwork and assuring all documents needed are obtained;
• Assist teachers when students enroll mid-semester, making sure that teachers and case managers receive guidance on special education supports and services;
• Assist with the hiring and onboarding process of special education teachers and case managers;
• Assist with GO IEP organization and management, including onboarding and exiting students from platform, assisting with resolving support tickets, running regular compliance reports with follow up actions
• Other duties as assigned.

Assessment & Accountability

• Administer formative and summative assessments, including monthly progress monitoring, CFAs, EOGs and EOCs where applicable.
• Participate in all required Georgia state standardized assessments in-person and virtual sessions, including Georgia Milestones, ACCESS, Georgia Alternative Assessment, etc., in addition to End-of-Pathway, benchmarks, CFAs, and diagnostic assessments.
• Maintain accurate records of attendance, communication logs, academic progress, and intervention documentation.

Collaboration & Professional Practice

• Work collaboratively within the Professional Learning Community to monitor data, plan instruction, and ensure student success.
• Partner with Advisory Teachers, School Counselors, Special Education staff, and team members to meet student needs and ensure strong communication loops.
• Support social, engagement, and community-building activities—both virtual and in-person—to cultivate belonging for students and families.
• Attend required school and district professional development and pursue ongoing growth in instructional practice.

Community Engagement & School Support

• Assist in the organization and facilitation of school-wide events (graduation, field trips, engagement activities).
• Participate in student recruitment efforts, marketing events, and family orientations as needed.
• Support the creation of a positive, inclusive virtual school culture through consistent communication, engagement, and community-building practices.
• Perform other duties as assigned to support school operations, strategic initiatives, and student success.

Essential Skills & Competencies

• Strong commitment to equitable practice, high expectations, and individualized student support
• Ability to use data to inform instruction and intervention
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills
• Effective collaboration within virtual and in-person teams
• Strong organizational skills and timely completion of all required documentation
• Comfort with technology-based instruction and virtual learning tools
• Flexibility, problem-solving ability, and a student-centered mindset

QUALIFICATIONS

• Master’s Degree in Special Education or related field (or currently enrolled in a program)

CERTIFICATION/LICENSE

Georgia Clearance Certificate

• Georgia teacher certification in Special Education General Curriculum Consultative P-12
• Education Leadership Certificate Tier I or currently enrolled in an educational leadership tier 1 program.

Requirements

• Degree in Special Education or related Education Field
• Valid Georgia teacher certification of Special Education General Curriculum Consultative P-12
• Valid Georgia Education Leadership Certificate Tier I or currently enrolled in an educational leadership tier 1 program.
• Experience in policy (IDEA) and/or administration with Special Education
• Ability to work with diverse populations and manage sensitive situations effectively
• High degree of flexibility
• Experience in training and/or coaching adult learners
• Experience in analyzing data to make informed decisions
• Customer focused approach
• Excellent attention to detail and organizational skills
• Experience in writing policies and procedures
• Strong technology skills (especially with Microsoft Office products and Google Suite)
• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written
• Highly organized and punctual
• Student and family-focused approach
• Experience in teaching or supporting Title I schools
• High degree of flexibility
• Demonstrated ability to work well in a fast-paced environment
• Team player track record
• Strong interpersonal skills, which include the ability to work effectively with students, parents, staff, and community members from diverse backgrounds.
• Willingness to travel for marketing and state testing events (may require occasional overnight travel)
• Ability to work some occasional evening hours, as needed to support some families
• Must be able to use a personal electronic device and an email address for two-step authentication

Physical Requirements

• This position requires frequent travel throughout the state of Georgia to conduct official school business. Candidates must possess a valid driver's license, maintain a clean driving record, and be comfortable with regular day trips and occasional overnight travel as needed. A reliable personal vehicle is required.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit for extended periods of time. Employees are also required to talk, hear, stand, and walk. The employee may be required to use hands to touch, handle, feel, and/or reach. Employees are occasionally required to stoop, kneel, or crouch. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.