Specialist - Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE)

Job Title: Specialist - Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE)       

FLSA Status: Exempt

Pay Grade: 102         

Work Days: 226        

Reports To: Coordinator of Instructional Services         

Primary Purpose

Ensure a well-articulated and coordinated comprehensive early childhood special education (ECSE) program. Provide effective leadership to campuses/districts/charter schools. Provide appropriate professional development and technical assistance to campuses/districts/charter schools.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

            Education/Certification

• Bachelor's Degree
• Master's Degree, preferred
• Texas Teacher certification
• Special Education certification

            Special Knowledge/Skills

• Team-oriented attitude and desire to work collaboratively with ESC staff campus/district/charter school personnel.
• Strong organizational, communication, public relations, and interpersonal skills.
• Technology competency levels are comparable to those required by the State Board of Educator Certification for all beginning teachers.
• Knowledgeable of federal, state, and local policies related to students with disabilities.
• Knowledge of current educational best practices related to infants/toddlers and families.
• Knowledgeable of early childhood assessment tools and procedures,
• Knowledge of Texas Pre-K Guidelines, and Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP)
• Knowledge of child development, family-centered services, diagnostic services, early interventions, and diverse populations.
• Understand differentiated instruction to ensure success for all students.
• Understands specially designed instruction, including accommodations and modifications, to ensure success for students with disabilities.
• In-depth knowledge of special education, child-find, eligibility criteria, appropriate use of assessment results, and legal issues.
• In-depth knowledge of special education program compliance.

             Experience

• A minimum of five years of successful teaching experience in Texas public schools in the area of ECSE.
• Successful experience in ECSE program development.
• Successful experience in training ECSE teachers and/or other adults.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

*This job description is not intended, and should not be construed, to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, skills, efforts, or working conditions associated with this job.  They are intended to be accurate reflections of those principal job elements essential for making fair hiring and pay decisions. 

**This position may be partially or completely funded using grant and/or federal monies and is assigned programs to include activities designed to enhance the effective and coordinated use of funds.

• Actively participate in and/or provide leadership for inter-departmental teams to help improve student performance in the region, improve the ESC internal operations, and meet the established goals and objectives for the ESC.
• Is responsive as the first point of contact for all stakeholders in the education community.
• Analyze available needs assessment data from regional, state, and national sources.
• Participate in the collaborative development of a comprehensive plan for ECSE training, products, and services to meet regional needs.
• Develop quality training, products, and services reflecting scientifically based research, national and state initiatives, and campus/district/charter school needs in the area of special education.
• Develop quality training for ECSE teachers and administrators in curriculum content, instructional methodologies, and support structures for students with disabilities and students acquiring English as a second language in integrated settings.
• Provide training on specific topics in early childhood special education, district on-site consultation visits and training, and support for districts regarding best practice updates and compliance with state and federal regulations.
• Model effective use of technology in personal productivity and instructional applications.
• Provide technical assistance to campuses/districts/charter schools as needed, as well as appropriate follow-up and follow-along to training, products, and services provided in the area of special education.
• Evaluate the impact of training, products, and services on student performance, program application, and system changes in the area of special education.
• Participate in designated local, state, and national professional development activities and share information with ESC staff and regional personnel.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Duties

None

Equipment/Specialized Software Used

Computers, projection devices, control panels in meeting rooms, printers, productivity software, software specific to the job assignment, network resources, internet resources, and other hardware and software necessary to perform the functions of the job effectively and efficiently.

Working Conditions (Mental Demands/Physical Demands/Environmental Factors)

Mental: Public relations and people skills are always required, work with frequent interruptions, and maintain professional composure and confidentiality under stress.

Physical: Occasional prolonged and irregular hours, ability to move tables and chairs and load/unload boxes and materials. Prolonged use of a computer. Frequent region and state-wide travel.

Environmental:  Open cubicles/workstations

Evaluation

Annual performance evaluation will be performed in accordance with the adopted policies of the Education Service Center Region 11. Employment in this position is contingent upon performance, need, and funding.

Benefits at ESC Region 11

• $645 monthly contribution for Medical Insurance
• Competitive Pay and Growth Opportunities
• Retirement Account Matching Program
• HSA, FSA, Dental, Vision, Life, Cancer Insurance Offered
• 10 Local Sick Paid Days provided Annually (Per School Year)
• 5 State Personal Paid Leave Days provided Annually (Per School Year)

Salary : $67,947 - $82,863