Inclusion Specialist - Early Childhood Education Program

TITLE: Inclusion Specialist (Birth to Five Programs)

DEPARTMENT: Early Childhood Development

REPORTS TO: Education Access Senior Manager (EASM)

FLSA STATUS: Exempt

PRIMARY FUNCTION

Under the direction of the Education Access Senior Manager, the Inclusion Specialist is responsible for developing and implementing a system of high-quality early education and child development services for children with disabilities or developmental delays. The system will promote children's cognitive, social, and emotional growth for kindergarten readiness and later success in school.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF INCLUSION COORDINATOR:

• Takes an active role in identifying children who are not meeting expected milestones and are at risk of developmental delays by conducting developmental assessments, scoring screening tools, and analyzing observation data.
• Identify and maintain developmental, disability, and special education support services and resources for children and their families.
• Provide case management services to children and their families through the assessment, referral, eligibility, and service planning process for early intervention and special education services.
• Collaborates with the Education Access Senior Manager (EASM) to review developmental data after each assessment period.
• Identify and support center staff around disability services and coordinate with teachers to develop children's goals based on individualized service plans or developmental needs.
• Achieve and maintain community partnerships with medical providers, Early Intervention agencies, and public school systems. Retain and maintain Memorandums of Understanding (MOU).
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge regarding special education, civil rights, Head Start Performance Standards, and EEC regulations as they apply to disabilities and special education.
• Develop and facilitate disabilities training for education staff at least annually.
• Ensure all education staff are trained to implement effective, intentional, individualized teaching strategies in a safe, healthy, and fun learning environment.
• Monitor the completion of required developmental screenings and special education documentation of child records according to state, federal, and Head Start Program Performance Standards.
• Responsible for keeping disability-related data up to date in the child data management software, performing quarterly file reviews, and providing timely reports as required by local, state, and federal funding entities.
• As stated in ECLKC, all managers and staff are responsible for embracing the belief that children have the right to be safe by creating a culture of safety. The EAAM will ensure the 10 Actions to Create a Culture of Safety are followed daily.
• Additional tasks as assigned by the Education Access Senior Manager related to systems in place that promote children's cognitive, social, and emotional growth for kindergarten readiness and later success in school.

KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:

• Bachelor's degree in Education, Human Services or related field
• Director level EEC certification preferred
• Bilingual/Spanish Speaking preferred
• A minimum of 3 years of experience working with diverse learners 0-5 years of age
• Experience working in an Early Childhood development environment.
• Experience administering child developmental screening tools and assessment instruments and providing an analysis of assessment data.
• Extensive knowledge of developmentally appropriate Early Childhood Education curriculum, materials, learning environments, and teaching strategies for children birth to five.
• Knowledge of IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) and ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) regulations and requirements.
• Sensitivity to the needs of low-income families of multicultural beliefs and practices, diverse cultures, ethnicities, and languages.
• Ability to develop training materials and to provide technical assistance to educators and parents.
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships with families, staff, and partner organizations.
• Strong time management skills.
• Proficiency in data analysis, program evaluation, and data management systems.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to take initiative and work with minimum supervision.
• Must have a Driver's License and means of transportation
• Ability to work a flexible schedule and travel locally using personal