Early Education Inclusion Manager-Temporary

Horizons For Homeless Children • Roxbury, MA

13h • Onsite

About The Position

Horizons for Homeless Children is a Boston-based nonprofit that supports young children experiencing homelessness in Massachusetts through early education, play, family support, and advocacy. The temporary Early Education Inclusion Manager joins the instructional leadership team and supports staff in meeting the needs of children with mental, psychological, learning, behavioral, or physical disabilities. The role focuses on building staff capacity to support children’s growth and administering and interpreting universal developmental screenings to identify needs and make referrals.

The manager collaborates with teachers, families, community agencies, Early Intervention providers, and public schools to coordinate screening, assessment, referrals, placements, and inclusive educational planning. The role includes observing children, coaching and modeling developmentally appropriate strategies, supporting classroom adaptations, and helping staff implement screening tools, IEPs, and IFSPs. The manager also coordinates documentation and action plans related to children’s social and emotional needs and supports transitions to Head Start and kindergarten.

The position maintains records and databases, tracks follow-up needs and children’s progress, and monitors documentation requirements. It requires compliance with applicable federal, state, local, and organizational requirements, including those related to early education, disability services, immunizations, employment screening, and background checks. Candidates must be bilingual in English and Spanish.

This is a full-time temporary assignment expected to last 3 to 6 months, with the possibility of transitioning to a permanent full-time position. The role is based at the Edgerley Family Horizons Center in Roxbury, Massachusetts. Regular hours are Monday through Friday during business hours, with occasional evening or weekend events with notice. Work is largely sedentary in an office setting.

Requirements

• Bilingual in English and Spanish.
• At least five years of experience providing leadership in an inclusive environment and knowledge of adult learning strategies.
• At least two years of experience providing care to or teaching children with special needs or disabilities.
• Thorough, applicable knowledge of special education for infants through preschool, children’s social and emotional well-being, and its relationship to child development.
• Knowledge of typical and atypical development and ability to recognize signs of developmental delay.
• Knowledge and use of reflective practice with adult learners.
• Ability to communicate empathetically about emotional factors affecting parents of children with disabilities.
• Knowledge of developing individualized and classroom plans to support children experiencing developmental delays.
• Sensitivity to the educational and socioeconomic needs of children and families served by the center.
• Ability to translate clinical evaluations into concrete goals and curriculum for infant, toddler, and preschool classrooms.
• Excellent verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work cooperatively with program staff and parents as a team member.
• Knowledge of neighborhoods served by Horizons and their relevance to the program population.
• Proven ability to maintain accurate written records and documentation.
• Knowledge of applicable federal, state, city, and program laws, regulations, standards, and policies.
• Commitment to Horizons’ mission and ability to embody its core values: Collaborative, Inclusive, Innovative, and Passionate.
• Compliance with applicable immunization, employment physical or screening, and background record check requirements.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor’s degree in special education or an early childhood-related field is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with Horizons staff, parents, community agencies, Early Intervention programs, and public schools to coordinate referrals, screening, assessment, diagnostic services, and placements.
• Help ensure children with diagnosed disabilities have access to high-quality education and care and participate in inclusive interdisciplinary program planning.
• Observe children referred by teachers or parents and make developmentally appropriate recommendations.
• Model and coach developmentally appropriate learning strategies for classroom teachers, support staff, and parents.
• Coach teachers on strategies for supporting individual children and larger groups.
• Use reflective practice to build relationships and staff capacity.
• Help classrooms adapt and modify educational activities and implement recommendations from outside specialists.
• Help ensure inclusive classroom environments.
• Coordinate paperwork and create action plans addressing children’s social and emotional needs to support early identification and service delivery.
• Support teachers in implementing screening strategies, including DECA and ASQ, and in implementing IEPs and IFSPs in Horizons classrooms.
• Support smooth transitions to Head Start and kindergarten, including K0, K1, and K2, for children receiving services.
• Meet regularly with partners, including Boston Public School special education and Early Intervention providers, to plan and coordinate services and the writing and implementation of IEPs and IFSPs.
• Prepare, review, and report caseloads to the supervisor.
• Administer, score, and interpret standardized developmental screening and assessment tools according to established protocols, and communicate results clearly and sensitively.
• Maintain and monitor comprehensive records through documents and database systems and document ongoing communication.
• Monitor partner requirements and support program staff in ensuring children have current IEPs, IFSPs, and mental health plans.
• Track follow-up needs, developmental screenings, curriculum accommodations, and each child’s individualized progress.
• Comply with applicable federal, state, local, and organizational laws, regulations, standards, and policies.

Benefits

• Health coverage options, with Horizons covering 70–75% of premiums.
• Choice between HMO and PPO medical coverage.
• Medical plan deductibles capped at $300 for individual coverage or $600 for two-person or family coverage.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager