Inclusion and Family Specialist

Inclusion and Family Specialist

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree
• Two or more years of special education experience from infancy through third grade
• Deep knowledge on developing, writing, and monitoring the progress of student individualized education plans (IEPs)
• Ability to meet all additional training and eligibility requirements of Arizona, including clearing background checks, tuberculosis tests, and so on, with required documentation eligibility and training completion submitted through the state’s child care or educational regulatory agency prior to start of employment
• Demonstrated personal commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and experience working across lines of difference
• Skill in collaborating with families, the community, school staff, school leadership, and others to build trusting relationships and partnerships

Responsibilities

• Conduct classroom observations and social/developmental assessments of children and support school staff with the development of student support plans
• Lead all aspects of developing and monitoring student support plans
• Create and maintain special education files, 504s, IEPs, resources, progress monitoring reports, related services schedules, and regional special education database
• Ensure compliance with local and federal legislation, regulations, and guidelines around special education
• Lead and model facilitation of child study and Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) meetings
• Model, train, and coach school staff and providers on evidence-based interventions and strategies to support students succeed in an inclusive program
• Support teachers with effective co-planning and co-teaching structures
• Serve as liaison between local district, family, and school team for initial referrals
• Collaborate with regional early intervention providers to ensure seamless transition into the school environment
• Support families to help them understand their child’s disability and equip them with the tools necessary to support their child’s progress with a strengths-based approach
• Develop strong partnerships with community-based organizations
• Connect families to community resources and health, housing, food, and crisis support and create an alliance between home, school, and community providers to access, mobilize and coordinate services
• Make regular home visits to gather information, foster positive relationships, and liaise between school and family
• Develop and facilitate training modules and group sessions for school staff and families
• Assist teachers and families in developing and implementing and monitoring student support plans
• Maintain documentation and accurate records

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree in early childhood, special education, social work, psychology, behavioral science, or a related field
• LMSW, LCSW, or BCBA certification Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) training or certification
• 2+ years prior work experience with children and families in low-income communities in the US and/or significant personal experience in low-income communities in the US (grew up and/or attended school in)
• Proficiency or fluency in Spanish
• Knowledge of Montessori principles and overall approach
• Knowledge of the local community
• Experience supporting school strategic and operational planning
• Experience coaching and developing teachers
• Ability to meet all credentialing criteria for lead early childhood teachers in Arizona (please see here for a summary of credentialing criteria)