ORGANIZATIONAL OVERVIEW

Educare DC is growing to serve over 424 children from birth to five years – and their families – through our state-of-the-art center and through community partnerships. Building on the program foundations of Early Head Start and Head Start and accredited by NAEYC, Educare DC promotes school readiness by providing high-quality, comprehensive early learning programming for children who are historically underserved, eliminating the opportunity gap often experienced by low-income communities. Educare DC is part of the 25-school Educare Learning Network that serves as a platform for broader change, inspiring high-quality programs in communities, improving public policies nationally and within each state, and demonstrating a comprehensive, research-based approach to the first five years of life and learning. Educare draws on a blend of private and public dollars, including federal child care funding, Early Head Start, Pre-K, and other state and federal funding streams.

POSITION OVERVIEW

Under the direction of the Comprehensive Services Manager, the Inclusion Specialist will work with a team, including families, to develop accommodation plans and implement Individualized Family Service Plans (IFSPs) as well as Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) for children ages birth to 5. These plans not only specify goals that target specific developmental outcomes, but they also help the child access the school environment. The Inclusion Specialist will support the general educators at Educare to support students with special needs in order to access our high quality language enriched curriculum with early learning experience by adapting general education experiences and teaching basic skills, such as literacy and communication techniques, while establishing a developmentally appropriate classroom environment favorable to the development and personal growth of children. The Inclusion Specialist will be responsible for implementing all program requirements in adherence to all performance and outcomes standards as prescribed by the multiple funding and model requirements. By collaborating with teachers of students who have a wide range of learning, mental, emotional, and physical disabilities, the Inclusion Specialist plays an essential role in Educare’s overall model of academic excellence for at risk children and their families. An essential part of the Inclusion Specialist's position is the ability to communicate and work with families to support the development of their child with unique learning needs. The position will require him or her to be the case manager of children (0-5) and provide direct instruction and accommodations for children (3-5) that need individualized special instruction. Caseload quantity depends on student need and enrollment in our program.

Responsibilities

• Lead or assists in identifying and in complying with teaching and learning and student accommodation requirements under Individual Education Program (IEP) and Individualized Family Service Program (IFSP) accommodation requirements.
• As needed, conduct direct instruction in the classroom to demonstrate effective intervention and teaching practices.
• Assist families in the referral process to Strong Start and/or Early Stages, coordinates with service providers to ensure service hours indicated on the IFSP/IEP are met.
• Meet with Lead Teachers on a weekly basis; review classroom and child data, develop action plans, and support goal achievement through active collaboration for children with identified and suspected special needs.
• Collaborate with coaches and classroom teachers in planning for specific student learning outcomes based on assessed needs of individual students. Demonstrate the use of data and information to determine each student’s current knowledge and skill level, set student learning goals, and assess student progress.
• Assist teachers in planning and delivering research-based instructional and learning strategies and content- specific differentiated instruction, and in assessing lessons and individual student success.
• Develop and present professional development training to staff and families related to assessment and intervention strategies to improve learning for students with delays or in need of modification and/or accommodations.

EXPERIENCE AND ABILITIES

• 3-5 years of relevant experience
• Knowledge and experience in the philosophy and practices of early childhood education, special education, developmentally appropriate practice, emergent literacy and social emotional development
• Experience collaborating with parents in the education and care of their children
• Knowledge of Head Start Performance Standards
• Must have advanced command of the English language and grammar, both verbal and written
• Responsible for managing functional area to include direct reports
• Primary contact for functional area for external stakeholders
• Collaborates with other managers and directors within the organization
• Displays high level of written and verbal communication

EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS 

• Bachelor’s Degree or 5 years of comparable experience.

ADDITIONAL JOB REQUIREMENTS

• Clearance of background checks as required by local, state and federal regulations.
• Physical examination and diagnostic tests as required by local, state and federal regulations.
• A bi-annual physical exam, drug screen, covid19 vaccination, and TB test are required as a condition of continual employment.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Advanced command of the English language and grammar, both verbal and written.

• Visual and auditory acuity within professionally determined normal ranges, with correction if needed.
• Manual dexterity sufficient to operate a computer and office equipment, including, but not limited to, the telephone, fax machine, copier, and tape recorder.
• Must be able to lift 40 pounds.
• Must be able to travel.
• Must be able to enter and exit a vehicle without assistance and withstand exposure to adverse weather conditions.
• Experience working successfully with a culturally diverse staff and clients.
• Regular attendance is a necessary and essential function.
• This position may work 40 or more hours per week.