2+ years of special education experience from infancy through third grade
Experience identifying and supporting children needing additional assistance
Significant experience with low-income communities or personal background in such environments
Strong collaboration skills with families and community partners
Ability to meet Texas lead early childhood teacher credentialing criteria
On-site presence required five days a week
Responsibilities
Conduct classroom observations and developmental assessments
Model and train staff on evidence-based interventions
Lead development of student support plans and monitor progress
Ensure compliance with special education regulations and guidelines
Serve as liaison between local district and families for referrals
Support families in understanding their child's disability
Connect families to community resources and services
Benefits
15 paid vacation days
4 days of paid personal time off
9 paid sick days
9 paid holidays
5 paid days off for winter break
Medical, dental, and vision insurance
401(k) plan with 4% employer match
Paid parental leave
Flexible spending account for dependent care
Relocation support available
Full Job Description
As an Inclusion and Family Specialist, you are a member of the school leadership team, with a focus on mobilizing and coordinating services for children and families of the Bezos Academy preschool in Houston. You will lead the development of student support plans and services and serve as the liaison to the local district office and service providers. You will work collaboratively to build the skills of staff, children, and families by providing services that include meetings and workshops, classroom visits and observations, crisis intervention, and staff training. You will develop meaningful partnerships with local educational agencies to support children with developmental delays or disabilities and forge connections to resources in the community and support families in accessing those resources. You will also work closely with the Head of School to ensure smooth school operations and support the educational experience for each child in every classroom, including providing classroom supervision, as needed.
You are deeply committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion practices and achieving equitable outcomes for students in under-resourced communities nationwide, across all lines of difference. You have prior experience working with young children who have or are at risk of developmental delays or disabilities, ideally in a preschool classroom setting.
LOCATION, BENEFITS, AND COMPENSATION
We are actively hiring for an Inclusion and Family Specialist at our location in Houston - Magnolia Park (7524 Avenue E, Suite 150, Houston, TX 77012).
This is a full-time, benefits-eligible, salaried position.
The full salary range for this position is $71,000 - $107,000 per year. The upper third of the salary range is typically reserved for existing employees who have been in the role for multiple years and demonstrate strong performance over time. Starting salary will vary by qualifications and prior experience.
This role includes 15 paid days of vacation, 4 days of paid personal time off, and 9 paid days of sick (care) time prorated based on your position start date, as well as, 9 paid holidays, 5 paid days off for an organization-wide winter break, and additional time off if required by applicable law. Benefits for this role include medical, dental, and vision insurance, life insurance, disability insurance, a 401(k) plan with a 4% employer contribution match, paid parental leave, an employer-matched flexible spending account for dependent care, and more. Please see here for details.
Relocation support is available for this role.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Bachelor's degree
Two or more years of special education experience from infancy through third grade
Proven experience identifying children who need additional support, identifying effective strategies that teachers can reasonably deploy to support each child, and writing, supporting implementation, and monitoring progress of the student support plans
Significant work experience with children and families in low-income communities in the US OR personal experience in low-income communities in the US (grew up and/or attended school in)
Skill in collaborating with families, the community, school staff, school leadership, and others to build trusting relationships and partnerships, including across lines of difference
Ability to meet all credentialing criteria for lead early childhood teachers in Texas
Ability to be in assigned school on site five days a week to support smooth school operations and ensure proper staff-to-child classroom ratios, as needed
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
Deep knowledge on developing, writing, and monitoring the progress of student individualized education plans (IFSPs, IEPs, etc.)
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 teaching preschool or coaching and developing teachers
Ability to serve as the school's licensing designee when the Head of School is not in the building
RESPONSIBILITIES
Conduct classroom observations and social/developmental assessments of children
Model, train, and coach school staff and providers on evidence-based interventions and strategies to support students to succeed in an inclusive program
Lead all aspects of developing student support plans, including collecting data, aligning stakeholders, supporting and coaching teachers to effectively implement strategies outlined in the plan
Monitor goals in student support plans, discuss progress with stakeholders, and update plans as necessary in systems of record
Read and ensure compliance with 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
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
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
As needed, independently supervise children throughout the day in classrooms and a variety of other situations, including but not limited to arrival/departure, transitions, outside time, rest/nap time, and (if offered) extended hours
Assist in the development and implementation of school policies, procedures, and strategic initiatives as directed by the Head of Schools
Identify and address areas of improvement and implement efficient systems to enhance operational effectiveness
Monitor and address any operational issues or emergencies, providing timely and effective solutions to minimize disruptions
Maintain documentation and accurate records
As needed, serve as the school's licensing designee when the Head of School is not in the building
