Teacher Specialist - Pre-School Special Education - Child Find Programs

HCPS•Harford, PA

About The Position

Provides direct assistance to teachers and support staff in the implementation of a continuum of services for children aged birth to five. This is an 11-month Teacher Specialist position which requires 20 additional duty days beyond the identified 190 teacher calendar days. Teacher Specialists are required to work one additional hour per day beyond the teacher schedule. Position is eligible for the Teacher Specialist stipend.

Requirements

Master’s Degree from an accredited college or university.
Must hold or be eligible for a Maryland Advanced Professional Certificate endorsed in special education.
Five years of successful experience in the special education field. Experience in early childhood special education.
Knowledge of evidence-based practices to promote the development of preschool-age of children with disabilities.
Excellent written and oral communication skills. Demonstrated leadership skills.

Responsibilities

Serves as a representative at Transition Planning Meetings for children transitioning from Infants and Toddlers to Pre-School Special Education.
Facilitates the transition of children aged birth to five with disabilities into preschool and elementary programs.
Provides technical assistance regarding the transition of students from Part C to Part B services.
Provides technical assistance to the HCPS Child Find office(s).
Assists in the coordination of activities at the HCPS Child Find office.
Serves as an IEP chair at Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings to support pre-school-aged children.
Provides technical assistance to special education teachers and related service providers to enable them to develop and implement Individual Education Programs for students with disabilities.
Serves as a consultant to pre-school special education teachers, parents, and administrators in the transitioning of children from infants and toddlers to a pre-school and/or elementary school setting.
Facilitates professional learning opportunities and coaches teachers and support staff in the implementation of evidence-based practices to address the academic, communication, and social/emotional learning of children, aged birth to five in a variety of settings.
Develops strategies for increasing communication and alignment of childcare centers, family providers, community-based organizations and parents associated with HCPS early childhood programming for school readiness and the Child Find process.
Collaborates with the Early Childhood Coordinator in the Department of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment to provide instructional support and professional development for pre-kindergarten teachers, special education teachers, paraeducators and area childcare centers in the area of developmentally appropriate practices and early childhood instruction.
Assists with the operations of the Office of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment and the Office of Special Education to conduct monitoring activities, develop informational reports, and analyze data to inform instructional practices and programming for children aged birth to five.
Applies and implements evidence-based family engagement early childhood strategies.
Synthesizes ideas gleaned from conference attendance in order to share information, as appropriate in professional development activities.
Demonstrates a positive attitude and uses effective skills in human relations with parents, teachers, administrators, and members of the community.
Performs other work-related duties as assigned.