Program Inclusion Specialist

Program Inclusion Specialist, Early Learning Program
Location: Clackamas County/ Clackamas Education Service District
Schedule: 7.5 hours per day/ 5 days per week/ 185 days a year

Clackamas ESD strives to infuse equity in all our programs and bodies of work by maintaining an inclusive, barrier-free environment in which everyone participates and fully benefits.

Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they meet every one of the qualifications as described in the job description. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may be the one who comes from a less traditional background. We would encourage you to apply, even if you don't believe you meet every one of our qualifications described. If you are unsure whether you meet the qualifications of this position, or how this would be determined, please feel free to contact Human Resources at hr@clackesd.org to discuss your application.

Find your "why" with Clackamas ESD
At Clackamas Education Service District, our mission is to lead, serve and innovate for learning. Clackamas ESD provides services in early learning, special education, technology and teacher/staff support to Clackamas County school districts. We ensure students and families in all of our communities — big and small — have access to equitable education services. Learn more: www.clackesd.org

About this position:
The Program Inclusion Specialist will be responsible for assisting in the implementation of inclusion services component consistent with Head Start Performance Standards, IDEA (Part C), Chapter 581 of Oregon Administration Rule and various assessment data to ensure classroom teaching teams are following best practice and improving child development outcomes, while nurturing the well-being of children and implementing Pyramid Model strategies. This position will provide in-class services for students who may benefit from additional or focused support, working with teaching and wrap-around staff to collaborate and implement classroom-wide and child specific plans. The Program Inclusion Specialist has a role in coordinating and tracking ECSE evaluation and eligibility processes and following Head Start disability services protocols and policies to comply with standards and regulations. Working in collaboration with the program’s family visiting and wrap around teams, this position will model and deliver services related to meaningful high-quality inclusion, The Pyramid Model, Second Step, and trauma informed practices.

Essential functions:

• Partners with teaching teams, families, the wrap-around team and Early Childhood Special Education Services to ensure students are given the opportunity for full and meaningful participation.
• Provides supplemental, Tier 2 classroom support, extending and modeling inclusive trauma informed practices.
• Partners with family visitors to facilitate the completion of developmental screenings (Ages and Stages Questionnaires) within established timelines and supports the follow-up, as needed.
• Engages in identified ECSE staffing, wrap-around meetings, family visits, Parent Teacher Conferences and Behavior Support Planning in order to deliver collaborative classroom support.
• Exhibits competence in working with children impacted by trauma and children with identified disabilities and provides for on-going assessment of children’s growth and development.
• Uses developmentally appropriate and early childhood knowledge to implement and deliver targeted social-emotional responses, strategies and interventions to support the skill development of children.
• Conducts objective observations in classrooms and debriefs with the wrap-around team.
• Supports the design and delivery of FBA/BSP’s, transition plans and individualized classroom or child specific plans.
• Facilitates the referral of children for evaluation by CESD’s ECSE team and monitors and documents accordingly in internal databases.
• Works to promote student safety during classroom time, modeling Pyramid Model strategies to respond to behavior incidents in a calm and trauma-informed manner, adhering to protocol around positive behavior management and restraint and seclusion.
• Uses ChildPlus and TSGold data systems for collection and tracking of child and family data. Maintains on-going documentation from communications with staff, families and service agencies.
• Substitutes in classroom ratio in the case of urgent staffing needs.
• Promotes a classroom and site atmosphere that reinforces meaningful involvement of families and volunteers, e.g. reading, leading an activity, introducing family culture, incorporating.
• Assists in teaching staff in understanding IFSP goals and incorporates them into the classroom.
• Assists in teaching staff to accurately and consistently utilize program referral procedures when a need is identified, submission of BIRs and initiating child concern form in CP.

Minimum qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree, or a Step 10 or higher on the Oregon Registry, with 2 years of experience working directly with children and families; or at least 30 quarter/20 semester college credits in Special Education, Child Development, or Early Childhood Education with 5 years of experience working directly with children and families.
• Knowledge of early childhood development and general principles of early childhood education and developmentally appropriate, child-led, multi-cultural, anti-bias curriculum for ages 0-5 years.
• Ability to model positive and appropriate interactions with children and other adults, work effectively with individuals from diverse communities and cultures, and communicate effectively with those whose English language skills are limited.
• Ability to work with sensitive and confidential information, assume a high degree of responsibility and appropriately assess and handle crises and solve problems, as needed.
• Ability to enroll in the Oregon Child Care Division Central Background Registry (CBR) before your start date and must be able to maintain current enrollment at all times of employment.
• Ability to, within 30 days of employment, acquire and maintain valid first aid and CPR certification.

Preferred qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Special Education, Child Development, Early Childhood Education, or related field.
• Bilingual. Bilingual candidates must pass a language proficiency assessment at an intermediate high to advanced level per CESD guidelines to be eligible for bilingual salary placement.

Salary: Range 22 of the classified salary schedule. Bilingual candidates for eligible languages (Spanish, Russian, Vietnamese, Cantonese, Mandarin, ASL) will be paid per Range 23 of the classified salary schedule. New hires are eligible to start at up to Step 4 depending on experience, per the Classified Collective Bargaining Agreement. $32.31 - $35.25 per hour.

Benefits:

• Full medical, dental, and vision insurance with generous district-paid contribution (most employees pay $0 out of pocket to maintain health insurance coverage)
• Retirement through the Oregon Public Retirement System (PERS) includes pension and individual account program
• Paid time off, including paid holidays, sick leave, and other personal leave
• Opportunities to grow with us with generous professional development expense reimbursements
• Clackamas ESD covers the full cost of fingerprinting for new employees, saving you $82.50 - a benefit not offered by most other districts
• Read more about our benefits here: https://www.clackesd.org/employment/

Retirement plan contributions:
Clackamas ESD employees working 600 or more hours in a calendar year are eligible for the Oregon Public Employee Retirement, or PERS. There are two components to PERS, including the pension, which is primarily funded by CESD and The Individual Account Program, or IAP, which is funded by a six-percent deduction from your paycheck. If you are new to PERS, your PERS deduction will begin automatically after a six-month waiting period.

How to apply:
Submit your application at https://www.applitrack.com/clackesd/onlineapp/. Applications for this position must be submitted by 11:59 PM on the listed closing date and must include:

• Cover Letter
• Resume
• Completed application form

Clackamas Education Service District is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. We respect and seek to empower each individual and support the diverse cultures, perspectives, skills and experiences within our workforce along with the students and families that we serve.

Clackamas ESD policy provides veterans and disabled veterans with preference as required by law.
Clackamas ESD Notice of Nondiscrimination: https://www.clackesd.org/non-discrimination-and-title-ix/

Salary : $32 - $37