Early Childhood Diagnostic Specialist, Family Center

School District of Clayton•Clayton, MO

15h

About The Position

The School District of Clayton is seeking an Early Childhood Diagnostic Specialist is a specialized educational professional responsible for coordinating and conducting comprehensive evaluations for young children to support special education eligibility, service planning, and early intervention programming. This position plays a key role in identifying developmental, academic, behavioral, and social-emotional needs in early learners through assessment, observation, data analysis, and multidisciplinary collaboration. The Early Childhood Diagnostic Specialist ensures district compliance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Section 504, and Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) requirements related to evaluation, eligibility determination, documentation, and service planning. As a core member of multidisciplinary teams, this position provides expertise in diagnostics, early childhood development, regulatory compliance, and intervention planning to support students, staff, and families. The role may also support K–12 evaluations as needed and serve as an integral contributor to the district’s K–12 Section 504 referral and eligibility process.

Requirements

Requires deep understanding of early childhood human development and behavior management.
Requires proficiency in administering and interpreting diverse assessment measures for young children.
Requires strong interpersonal skills to collaborate with multidisciplinary teams and diverse stakeholders.
Requires an "SEL lens" to provide professional insight into building systemic student supports.
Requires strong organizational skills to manage extensive regulatory paperwork and DESE reporting.
Master’s or Educational Specialist degree in School Psychology.
Or Valid Missouri School Psychologist certification.

Nice To Haves

Experience or specialized training in early childhood development and early intervention preferred

Responsibilities

Early Childhood Assessment: Conducts comprehensive psychoeducational assessments, including cognitive and social-emotional evaluations, specifically for early childhood eligibility
Diagnostic & Regulatory Oversight: Manages extensive and complex DESE reporting, caseload documentation, and the professional paperwork of evaluations (eligibility criteria, testing, and permissions) to ensure district funding and compliance
Intervention & Play Therapy: Provides individual and group support for students with identified social or behavioral concerns, utilizing specialized techniques such as play therapy to meet the needs of early learners
Behavioral Strategy: Conducts observations of students exhibiting Tier 3 behaviors and gathers data to help parents and teachers develop effective intervention strategies
In-House Consultation: Serves as the internal expert on building Behavior Intervention Plans (BIPs), providing families with resources and strategies while maintaining institutional knowledge of the District SEL System
Building: Collaborates with administrators and committees to implement Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) and collect SEL data points
Professional Development: Leads staff training as needed
Liaison Services: Acts as a liaison between the early childhood program and community mental health resources, as well as coordinating the transition of students from MIssouri First Steps and into K-12 supporting services
Coalition and Partnership Coordination: Regularly attends coalition and partnership meetings, representing The School District of Clayton.
Family and Staff Communication: Responsible for facilitation and coordination of meetings, including over the summer months.