Head Start Inclusion Support Specialist

Position Overview

• Job Title: HS Inclusion Support Specialist
• Reports to: Mental Health and Inclusion Manager
• Schedule: Full-year, Monday-Friday 8 AM to 4:30 PM
• Status: Exempt

About Neighborhood House

Neighborhood House is a non-profit agency providing social services for children, families, seniors, and people experiencing food and housing insecurity. We have been active in anti-poverty work for over 115 years, and believe that everyone should have the community and support they need to thrive. Neighborhood House is committed to an inclusive, transparent, and respectful workplace culture that reflects the rich diversity of the communities we serve. 

Our Head Start Program

Neighborhood House’s Head Start program provides an opportunity for participants to learn, grow, and thrive in an environment that emphasizes parents as primary teachers, a co-operative environment between families, teachers, family advocates, home visitors, and other staff, connection to community resources, and learning through child-led play. Our program is designed to meet the needs of and to provide school readiness skills to all eligible children, including those with special needs and disabilities, so our community’s children and families are stronger for life.  

Position Summary

The Inclusion Specialist mentors, coaches, and trains teachers to implement Positive Behavior Intervention and Support (PBIS), utilizing the Teaching Pyramid Observation Tool/Teaching Pyramid Infant-Toddler Observation Tool, and knowledge of Head Start Performance Standards. Inclusion Specialists support teachers in implementing Individual Family Support Plans (IFSP) within the classroom, addressing and supporting challenging behaviors, providing effective and nurturing adult-child interactions, and using data to individualize learning experiences to improve outcomes for all children.

Inclusion Specialists collaborate with classroom staff to identify individualized developmental and behavioral services, recommending and demonstrating strategies to help children succeed in the classroom and at home. They also work with Teachers to provide observations, support students' IFSP goals, and provide coaching on social-emotional and behavioral supports, while implementing positive behavior intervention supports and best practices.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with Inclusion, Education, and Family Services teams to identify strengths and areas of needed support.
• Conduct center and home-based observations to promote developmentally appropriate practices to promote the social and emotional development of children.
• Support teachers using practice-based coaching techniques to observe, set and track goals, and monitor professional development growth.
• Maintain reliability with Pyramid Observation Tool/Teaching Pyramid Infant-Toddler Observation Tool (TPOT/TPITOS) and Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS) tool.
• Complete a minimum of two formal TPOT/TPITOS observations per assigned classroom.
• Support in the completion of two formal CLASS observations per assigned classroom.
• Analyze TPOT/TPITOS data to support teachers in the development of appropriate teaching techniques, environments, and individual professional development goals.
• Support with training in utilizing Second Step and Tier 2 supports of PBIS in the classroom.
• Helped create and implement SMART Goals for teachers working with students on inclusions caseload needing Tier 2 PBIS supports.
• Assist with collecting and assessing children’s Development through Ages and Stages Questionnaires (ASQs) and students' Individual Family Support Plan Goals.
• Meet with teaching teams to provide feedback on lesson planning focusing on the social-emotional curriculum and IFSP goals.
• Create all-staff trainings focused on Social Emotional, Challenging behaviors, and PBIS.
• Collaborate with community partners, Multnomah Early Childhood Programs Providers, and Mental Health Consultants.
• Work with families, teachers, and family service staff to receive Early Intervention, Special Education, Mental Health Referrals, and referrals for outside services.
• Provide monthly classroom visits and observations, ensuring the use of social-emotional curriculum and PBIS tier 2 strategies.
• Sub in classrooms as needed.

Requirements

• Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education, Early Childhood Special Education, or other related field, or Step 10 or higher in the Oregon registry. 
• Experience: Minimum 3 years of experience working in a Certified Child Care Center or comparable program with children ages 0-5; and one year coaching experience preferred.
• Intermediate Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Power Point, Publisher), Outlook, and One Drive.
• Knowledge of ChildPlus database and adult learning theories preferred.
• Ability to: provide clear and appropriate direction to staff, model positive interactions with children and adults, work with sensitive and confidential information, assume a high degree of responsibility, work effectively with a wide variety of individuals, and work independently and in a team setting.
• At time of hire must be enrolled in the Oregon Child Care Division Central Background Registry (CBR) and maintain enrollment during employment.
• Obtain within 30 days of employment: Adult and Pediatric CPR & First Aid Certification & Food Handlers Card.
• Successful completion of pre-employment physical exam and TB test prior to start date.

Benefits 

Neighborhood House offers full-time employees a comprehensive benefits package including:  

• 26 days of PTO and 12 paid holidays.
• Affordable health insurance with 95% of the premium paid by NH.
• 403b retirement plan.
• Company-paid life insurance. Voluntary life, long-term disability, accident, and critical illness insurance.
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA).
• Generous Employee Assistance Program (EAP) paid by the organization.
• Employees are eligible for credit in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program.