About The Role

The Preschool Inclusion Specialist position is responsible for providing direct services of developmental support to children and teaching staff within Kidango's preschool early care and learning settings. The position requires travel to assigned settings within Santa Clara, Alameda or Contra Costa counties. The specialist provides consultation and training to empower and build the capacity of staff and/ or families to cultivate positive and inclusive environments, support the development of all children in the classroom and home, and work effectively, responsively and collaboratively with children, and families of children, with individual developmental differences. The specialist's role includes consultation, planning individual programs, strengthening parent and staff effectiveness in their interactions with children with developmental differences, and building strong school/home alliances.

What You'll Be Doing

• Work closely with Early Childhood Classroom Educators to provide inclusive based programming for children with developmental delays or disabilities in the scope of a mainstream classroom environment.
• Collaborate with preschool classroom teachers, school psychologists, learning disabilities specialists, speech/hearing specialists, and school social workers to provide an integrated plan for developing the capacities of the children.
• Works to meet child and family goals and needs in coordination with other agencies (Local School Districts, RCEB, SARC, California Children's Services, etc.), organizations and the medical community.
• Set learning goals for children, assess and record their progress.
• Update parents on the progress of their child and provide activities designed to supplement their classroom activities.
• Provide Local Regional Centers or School Districts with written assessments and reports as required.
• Assist students and make accommodations as needed to participate in classroom curriculum
• Assist in developing schedules and accommodations, program planning, data collection and maintenance of records
• Assist in preparation of materials
• Work as a member of the classroom team, supporting an inclusive environment.
• Participate in staff meetings and in-service trainings, as required
• Take part in weekly reflective supervision sessions and bi-monthly team reflective supervision meetings.
• Attend and participate in outside meetings related to caseload (IFSP, transition meetings, IEP meetings).
• Participate in relevant/appropriate meetings (i.e. training, discipline meetings, classroom meetings).
• Communicate with children, families and other staff in respectful and culturally sensitive manner
• Maintain confidentiality of children, families and employees of Kidango.
• Work as a member of the agency team by promoting the mission and philosophy of Kidango.
• Organize time and equipment/supplies effectively.
• Represent Kidango at community and professional functions as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the supervisor.

Preferred qualifications

• Knowledge and direct experience working with children with identified developmental delays or disabilities and learning differences in inclusive based - natural environments
• Strong knowledge of theory and practice of child development, early intervention and special education.
• Direct experience administering early intervention support services to children between the ages of 0-5 with identified disabilities in center and home based settings
• Experience working with families from diverse racial, ethnic, and socio-economic backgrounds
• Knowledge and direct experience with curriculum development and curriculum adaptation for children with learning differences
• Experience working with children on the autism spectrum
• Knowledge of ABA practices (Applied Behavior Analysis)
• Relationship- based and family systems based knowledge and applied practice
• Experience administering developmental screenings such as the Ages and Stages (ASQ) Questionnaire and the Ages and Stages Social Emotional Development (ASQ/SE)
• Experience administering early childhood development and linguistic assessments such as the Battelle Developmental Inventory, the HELP (Hawaii Early Learning Profile,) and the DAY-C II.
• Child observation, documentation and qualitative note taking abilities
• Ability to work independently and in a team environment
• MA in child development, infant/toddler mental health/early childhood special education preferred
• Will consider candidates with a BA and equivalent experience in the field of early intervention, child development/education, and infant- toddler mental health services
• Minimum of Associate Teacher Permit required.
• Spanish or other language preferred.