Early Childhood Special Educator

Qualifications: Early Childhood Special Educators must possess a Bachelor’s Degree and Special Education license with the Early Childhood endorsement or be eligible for a provisional license with this endorsement per the Vermont Agency of Education.

Reports To: Principal(s) and the Director of Student Support Services

General Responsibilities:

As a Case Manager, Early Childhood Special Educators are student-centered and work collaboratively with, and in support of, classroom teachers, paraeducators, parents, related service providers, guidance counselors, UPK partner programs, other community agencies and consultants, and each other to ensure that the needs are met for a diverse student population.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provides modeling, tools (strategies), consultation and collaboration with teachers and paraeducators and other staff for the implementation of effective instructional strategies, behavioral strategies, and social skills plans around students with specific identified needs.
• Provides direct instruction with individual students and small groups both in and outside of the classroom setting.
• Travels to local UPK partner programs in provision of services as well as service provision in the school building.
• Provides and supervises delivery of student IEP services, accommodations, and data collection procedures.
• Completes initial and subsequent assessments for students as identified by the team.
• Participates in school wide assessment procedures.
• Assists with the development and implementation of 504 plans and other educational plans on an annual basis and/or as agreed upon by the student’s team.
• Coordinates IEP/504 team meetings with related service providers and outside agencies and makes referrals for a treatment team and/or interagency team (CSP) meeting as determined by identified student need.
• Assists with the coordination of students’ educational schedules.
• Develops schedules for paraeducators based on IEPs.
• Provides consultation, regular supervision, and modeling/training to paraeducators.
• Communicates consistently with parents regarding student progress and helps ensure understanding of school procedures and processes.
• Participates in curriculum review and development.
• Remains current in research, legal requirements, best practices, technology, instructional content, Title I, ESL, Act 230, Section 504. Attends required training.
• Complies with the VT Special Education Regulations.
• Facilitates crisis intervention including the development and revision of behavior plans.
• Plans transition for students between grades, schedules, schools and/or programs.
• Maintains all appropriate documentation including files, paperwork, Child Count and Medicaid.
• Assists in the budgeting process by identifying needs within their caseload.
• Adheres to appropriate confidentiality policies.
• Informs the Director and/or Assistant Director of Student Support Services of program activities and status.
• Attends department meetings and other team meetings as assigned.
• Develops substitute plans in case of absence and manages substitute plans of paraeducators working on their caseload.

Saint Johnsbury School District provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.