Assistant Director - Early Learning Program - 20262001

Start Date: July 1, 2025 

Salary Range - $167,478 - $205,782/year

Hours per Day - 8.0

Days per Year - 260

*Office Hours - 7:30am - 4:30pm

IDENTIFYING INFORMATION

SUMMARY OF ASSIGNMENT

Under the direction of the Executive Director of Special Education, this position provides the leadership to support the development of district inclusive early childhood programming, including inclusive preschool programs, birth - 3 years old referrals, Child Find monitoring and data review, and Head Start/ECEAP.  The position works to directly develop and revise processes for serving district early childhood students, leading professional development for early childhood and other district staff, assisting in district special education compliance efforts, supporting special education teams district wide, and developing data systems to measure effectiveness of instructional programs district wide.

The Assistant Director for Early Learning is expected to supervise Early Childhood Special Education Teachers, Early Learning Coordinator, Head Secretary, and office clerical staff.  This position is also responsible for  grant management for ECEAP/Head Start. They design and provide professional development, consultation on programming, assess interventions for students and ensure the procedural safeguards of special education for all preschool programming.

The Assistant Director for Early Learning will utilize appropriate and adopted district curriculum, implement and model best practice strategies to ensure compliance with federal and state requirements, analyze district data to monitor early childhood program needs and outcomes and collaborate with community early childhood providers and agencies. As the Head Start/ECEAP grant manager, this position will oversee all grant activity to ensure compliance with the Puget Sound ESD oversight teams.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Supervises a system that develops standards-based and compliant Individual Education Plans with appropriate benchmarks within federal and state legal requirements and district procedures to provide assigned students eligible for special education specially designed instruction. May receive student assignments from any special education program including out-of-district students.
• Collaborates with district office, Head Start/ECEAP staff, Early Childhood teaching staff, other community agencies and building administrators to implement comprehensive programs compliant with federal and state special education laws and procedures which ensure that early childhood students with special education needs meet state targets.
• Works with birth - 2 years old agencies processing referrals including file reviews and completing transition conferences in student homes to ensure compliance with federal and state legal requirements and district procedures.
• Works with teaching and district staff to provide guidance related to district Child Find activities, outcomes of Child Find efforts, monitoring and reporting of district Child Find data, working with Child Find teams.
• Provides professional development to early childhood staff and other assigned building staff for implementation of powerful instruction techniques, improving educational outcomes, and improving special education compliance.
• Works in conjunction with teachers and administrators to analyze and interpret district and student achievement data for the purpose of determining school and district performance and individual instructional needs.
• Reviews and monitors activities to ensure compliant and timely Individual Education Plans and complete legal files.
• Collaborates with teachers to analyze student work relative to content standards to improve classroom instruction and student achievement.
• Participates in department and site meetings, and collaborates with Inclusive Education leadership, other Program Specialists, teachers, Educational Staff Associate staff, Head Start staff, birth - 2 years old staff, and classified staff in monitoring student special education Early Childhood programs.
• Participates in effective instructional support trainings, curriculum development and technical assistance special education compliance trainings
• Maintains professional competency by attending district and other staff development conferences and workshops.
• Communicates with parents in a positive and constructive manner.
• Serves on committees and works on special projects.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education & Experience

• Master’s Degree with a major in special education or appropriate related field.
• Successful experience as a classroom teacher and/or in a support position.
• Demonstrated ability to work successfully with people.
• Evidence of experience and training needed to perform the functions described in the Assistant Director of Special Education job description.

Equivalent combinations of education, training, or experience will be reviewed for comparability.

Required Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Knowledge of current research-based strategies and instructional programs for early childhood students with special needs, including but not limited to differentiated instruction, cooperative learning, student learning styles, literacy, numeracy, curricula and materials, social and behavioral, communication, positive discipline, and multicultural education.
• Knowledge of principles, practices, trends, goals, and objectives of public education and early childhood special
• Knowledge of research, best practices and technical aspects of field of specialty.
• Knowledge of data management systems to measure the educational effectiveness of
  individualized student programs.
• Effective facilitation skills for providing professional development to adult learners and for
  various professional interactions with adults.
• Knowledge of research methods and report writing/Individual Education Plan writing techniques.
• Knowledge of record-keeping techniques.
• Ability to learn and adhere to District organization, operations, policies, and procedures.
• Knowledge of educational and business technology programs, procedures and methods, computer equipment, and computer software necessary to perform required duties.
• Oral and written communication skills, including English usage, grammar, spelling, punctuation,
  vocabulary, composition, and skills in mathematics.
• Ability to earn trust and credibility with colleagues.
• Ability to effectively model, co-teach, and co-plan with teachers.
• Ability to analyze data to identify and implement appropriate instructional practices and interventions.
• Ability to demonstrate leadership qualities and utilize motivational techniques and strategies in the development of an effective teaching and learning environment.
• Ability to operate technology hardware and software necessary to perform assigned duties/responsibilities.
• Ability to demonstrate multicultural and ethnic understanding and sensitivity, and communicate effectively with all cultural groups in the school community.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Ability to write in a clear and concise manner for broad public appeal and interpretation.
• Ability to gain cooperation through discussion and persuasion, using collaboration skills.
• Ability to analyze complex situations and synthesize diverse information carefully and adopt an effective course of action.
• Ability to plan, organize, and prioritize work to meet multiple schedules and deadlines, and manage simultaneous tasks, with many interruptions.
• Ability to work independently with minimum direction and supervision; work under pressure.
• Ability to understand, analyze, and prepare comprehensive, narrative and statistical reports.
• Ability to use effective interpersonal skills to establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships with school and district personnel, parents, and external partners.

Certification and Licenses

• Valid Washington State Special Education Early Childhood endorsement required and must be on file prior to beginning work.
• Education Administrative Certificate/Principal Certification

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

• Bilingual (oral and written).
• Proven successful experience in working with early childhood special education students.
• Proven successful experience in an ethnically diverse public school district.
• Proven successful experience in working and learning in a Professional Learning Community.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Work is performed in an office environment with frequent interruptions. Some travel to and between school sites may be necessary. Requires exposure to distraught, angry, or hostile individuals. Must be able to use fingers, hands, and arms and to listen carefully and focus while filtering out normal office noise. Ability to see, hear, walk, sit, stand, crouch, and reach.  Ability to speak for prolonged periods of time. Moderate lifting and carrying up to 25 pounds. Reaching overhead and horizontally. Dexterity of fingers and hands to operate equipment and a computer keyboard. High productivity requirements create frequent extra hour days, attendance at meetings before and after work, and possible weekend work.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

Employment with Clover Park School District is conditional pending completion of a Washington State Patrol and Federal Bureau of Investigation fingerprint background check as required by RCW28A.400.303. 

INSURANCE BENEFITS

Employees who are anticipated to work 630 hours during the school year (September 1 through August 31) are eligible for medical, dental, vision, long term disability, and basic life insurance benefits. Clover Park School District benefits are administered by the Washington State Healthcare Authority under the School Employees Benefits Board (SEBB). Click on the link https://www.hca.wa.gov/employee-retiree-benefits/school-employees for information on available benefit options.

RETIREMENT AND DEFERRED COMPENSATION

Eligible employees are required to be a member of the Washington State Department of Retirement System Plan. For eligibility information, check on the link to the Department of Retirement Systems' website.

Employees also have the ability to participate in tax deferred 403(b) and 457 Deferred Compensation Plan (DCP). These are supplemental retirement savings programs that allows you control over the amount of pretax salary dollars you defer as well as the flexibility to choose between multiple investment options.

Click on the link https://www.drs.wa.gov/plan/dcp/ for information on 457 plan (DCP) with the Department of Retirement Systems.

To enroll in an eligible 403(b) plan, employees must consult with their own financial planner that is an approved vendor.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Clover Park School District does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal, and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. Address correspondence to one of the following individuals who have been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination at Clover Park School District, 10903 Gravelly Lake Dr., SW, Lakewood, WA 98499-1341: Title IX Coordinator, Greg Davis, Executive Director for Student Services (253) 583-5154, Section 504/ADA Coordinator, Greg Davis, Executive Director for Student Services (253) 583-5154, Civil Rights Compliance Coordinator, Greg Davis, Executive Director for Student Services (253) 583-5154

Salary : $167,478 - $205,782