1272 Data Technician

Posting # 1272 Data Technician

Posting date: May 15, 2026

Closing date:  May 28, 2026

Starting date:  Immediately

Location: Agency Wide

Overview

Iowa's Area Education Agencies are educational partners embedded in Iowa schools. We exist to create a thriving educational landscape where all learners and educators have access to high-quality, evidence-based and strategic supports and services, collaboratively provided within districts, to help all learners achieve their full potential.

About the Agency

Northwest AEA provides special education and school improvement services to 34 public school districts and 32 accredited, non-public schools. The agency serves 45,000 students and more than 5000 educators in a 10-county area of Northwest Iowa (Lyon, Osceola, Sioux, O'Brien, Plymouth, Cherokee, Woodbury, Ida, Monona, and Crawford). 

Our headquarters is located at 5800 Discovery Blvd., Sioux City, with regional offices in Cherokee, Denison, Le Mars, Onawa, and Sioux Center.

Why Northwest AEA?

Our vision, mission, and anchors guide our actions. Staff at Northwest AEA believe that what they do inspires learning and leads to changed lives for the students, staff, and families we serve. Our work is anchored in building positive, professional relationships with stakeholders and with one another. We embrace responsiveness in how we serve so that students, staff, and families can see improved results.

Job Summary

Assure accurate and timely verification and validation of information in agency data systems.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma


• Ability to perform data entry and maintain a comprehensive database system

Essential Functions - This list is inclusive, however the assignment is specific to some, not all, duties

1. Common Duties
   
   
   
   1. Maintain accurate and current district data and information in technology systems.
   
   
   2. Assist with implementation and maintenance of appropriate and confidential filing systems.
   
   
   3. Prepare a variety of materials including personalizing templates, collecting source documents, and sending correspondence; (e.g., utilizing applications such as Google suites and Microsoft software)
   
   
   4. Know policies and procedures related to the provision of special education services; and adhere to FERPA regulations and policies.
   
   
   5. Implement and maintain appropriate and confidential filing systems.
   
   
   6. Is courteous, tactful, and cooperative with others in the Agency, recognizing the importance of teamwork and projects a good image of the Agency.
   
   
   7. Other duties as assigned or requested by director and/or supervisor.
   
   
   
   


2. Duties Specific to Medicaid
   
   
   
   1. Consult with the agency’s Medicaid claim service to track consents so claims can be filed and file claims.
   
   
   2. Assure accurate and timely filing of claims with the agency’s Medicaid reimbursement program and validation of information in the agency’s student data systems.
   
   
   3. Track denied claims to research if claims can be re-filed for reimbursement.
   
   
   4. Prepare Medicaid reimbursement reports and tracking tools for consents and claims.
   
   
   5. Train, coach, and problem solve with licensed staff on use of the Medicaid claim system.
   
   
   6. Run reports for outstanding consents, claims, and student transitions from an AEA or district, and report findings.
   
   
   7. Verify data between the vendor’s Medicaid, Health & Human Services, and ACHIEVE systems.
   
   
   8. Use and maintain vendor’s Medicaid system, ACHIEVE, and spreadsheets.
   
   
   9. Run monthly Medicaid Exclusions Report for both state and federal and correspond to the Department of Ed quarterly with findings.
   
   
   10. Check for IDPH licensures; correspond with Medicaid vendor on new or substitute staff members.
   
   
   11. Coordinate and attend state-wide meetings with Medicaid contacts from the state and/or other AEAs.
   
   
   
   


3. Duties Specific to Early Childhood
   
   
   
   1. Serve as the main contact for families, medical professionals and other agencies referring Birth to 5. children to the Early Childhood department through faxes, emails, and phone calls.
   
   
   2. Assign referrals to appropriate early childhood service coordinator/strategist.
   
   
   3. Process IFSPs, verify data and utilize reports within ACHIEVE.
   
   
   4. Enter referrals into either of the Agenda Generator IFSR records (Birth-3) or RFA site (3-5) or ACHIEVE to ensure timelines and caseload sizes.
   
   
   5. Assist early childhood director with workloads for staff within the Agenda Generator and make changes for teams.
   
   
   6. Maintain inventory and billing of SPOT vision cameras for use within Northwest AEA.
   
   
   7. Support early childhood staff within ACHIEVE and communicate with other AEAs in Iowa to process transfers within the state.
   
   
   
   


4. Duties Specific to Records
   
   
   
   1. Process requests for Release of Information to requesting sources in accordance with FERPA regulations.
   
   
   2. Create and manage digital folders for court documents (e.g., birth certificates, termination records).
   
   
   
   


5. Duties Specific to Inventories/Test Kits/Protocols
   
   
   
   1. Research items to be purchased for AEA department inventories (e.g. protocols, test kits, etc.) and coordinate purchases with the billing, purchasing & receiving specialist.
   
   
   2. Enter and maintain appropriate inventories in the Insignia system. Assist staff in using the inventory systems.
   
   
   3. Distribute and van mail inventory items to staff in schools ensuring they have the items needed for their jobs.
   
   
   4. Organize and maintain inventories. Launder items when they return and find replacements for items that have broken.
   
   
   
   


6. Duties Specific to ACHIEVE Support
   
   
   
   1. Verify accurate required information into data systems and communicate findings to team.
   
   
   2. Perform timely transfers for accurate provider roster information.
   
   
   3. Run and modify reports and communicate results to support general supervision.
   
   
   4. Review IEPs and make recommendations for weighting as required for state and federal count.
   
   
   5. Create and send communication packages to families.
   
   
   
   


7. Duties Specific to Office & Team Support
   
   
   
   1. Research items to be purchased, supply inventory and office needs.
   
   
   2. Monitor, report conditions within an assigned service center (e.g., maintain supply inventory, custodial requests, facility use).
   
   
   3. Back-up Hearing Reports.
   
   
   4. Assist AEA teams (e.g., Autism, CPI, FEP, etc.) with secretarial duties.
   
   
   
   


8. Duties Specific to Unique Placements & Surrogate Parents
   
   
   
   1. Assist with processing of district court placed/foster care facility students and surrogate parent assignments.
   
   
   2. Process Independent Educational Evaluation and Second Opinion requests in collaboration with directors.
   
   
   
   


9. Duties Specific to Mental Health and Behavior
   
   
   
   1. Maintain spreadsheets for Challenging Behavior Team for student records and assign team notifications.
   
   
   2. Register mental health training participants in courses online. Create and manage materials such as manuals, sign-up sheets, certificates, closure of classes for grades and attendance.
   
   
   
   

Classified Salary Schedule

If you are an internal candidate interested in this position you must complete the application process associated with this position.

It is the policy of Northwest Area Education Agency not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, religion, creed, age, marital status, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status in its educational programs and its employment practices. There is a grievance procedure for processing complaints of discrimination. If you have questions or a grievance related to this policy, please contact Jerome Schaefer, Equity Coordinator, 5800 Discovery Blvd., Sioux City, Iowa, 51111, 712-222-6114.