EARLY CHILDHOOD SPECIALIST

The Early Childhood Specialist supports the work of the Early Childhood Department with a focus on outreach to the community to support developmental screenings as well as preschool and kindergarten registration. The Early Childhood Specialist promotes outreach between and amongst families and early educators. In addition, the Early Childhood Specialist will support the Early Childhood Coordinator in maintaining, managing, and seeking grants to promote high quality early education programming in Lowell

REPORTS TO: Early Childhood Coordinator

EFFECTIVE DATE OF EMPLOYMENT: Immediate start

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT: 215 days/35 hours per week

SALARY: see Collective Bargaining Agreement

GENERAL SCOPE OF RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Planning, marketing, coordinating, and conducting monthly developmental screenings to identify children with disabilities prior to school entry.
• Working across departments and agencies to support children and families.
• Maintaining accurate enrollment information and class lists for all preschool sessions.
• Maintaining student records and sharing screening results with families and members of the Special Education Department.
• Leading parent workshops or playgroups for young children and their families.
• Assisting with the development and dissemination of parent information to increase parents’ knowledge of resources, programs, and registration deadlines for school district and community programs.
• Coordinating and managing the district’s Child Find activities including recruitment, setting up monthly developmental screenings with the Health Department and consultants and scheduling of appointments with families.
• Documenting outreach to families and maintaining accurate records including parent consents, attendance and results of developmental screenings.
• Maintaining ongoing communication with Early Childhood Social Workers, Early Intervention Programs, and Special Education staff to support children and families.
• Assisting the Early Childhood Coordinator with grant management including but not limited to development of agendas, attendance at monthly meetings, and fiscal grant management tasks.
• Working with the Early Childhood Coordinator to plan, prepare, and schedule professional development for early educators.
• Maintaining up to date information on the Early Childhood Department webpage and calendar.
• Supporting the Family Resource Center during preschool and kindergarten registration.
• Maintaining confidentiality of all families and their personal information. 

 PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree required (early education or child development preferred).
• Prior experience working with families of young children.
• Strong interpersonal communication skills and willingness to work with the public on a regular basis.
• Ability to travel between schools within the district
• Flexibility to attend weekend or evening events.
• Prior experience using Excel, X2, or other data base management systems.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Prior knowledge and experience in developmental screening preferred.

Candidates able to speak and/or write in languages other than English are encouraged to apply (Spanish, Khmer, Burmese, Arabic, Portuguese, or Swahili).