Early Childhood Special Educator (55774)

Purpose

Develop, coordinate, and implement special instruction or family training as part of Early Support for Infants and Toddlers (ESIT) or early childhood preschool education for enrolled children. Enhance childrens development and learning environments through a combination of parent coaching, groups, and direct intervention.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Duties and responsibilities may include, but are not limited to the following:

- Participate in the development and implementation of each childs program and Individualized Service Plan as part of a team, including participation in IFSP meetings with Family Resources Coordinator, family, and other providers

- Provide services within the childs natural environment which includes home-based or community-based services

- Assess each childs developmental level of functioning; develop daily and monthly teaching plans; implement routines-based curricula at Kindering, home, or community childcare as needed

- Provide parent and/or provider coaching as a service delivery model. Provide families with information, skills, and support relating to enhancing the skill development of infants and toddlers with developmental disabilities or delays

- Conduct formal and/or informal evaluations of childs development; prepare progress reports; and maintain accurate records of contact for each child

- When assigned to a classroom, communicate with Early Learning Coordinator to support enrollment in class. Oversee and provide training to assistant educators and classroom volunteers with the assistance of the Teaching Assistant Manager. Facilitate team meetings to discuss specific children and classroom functioning.

- Refer children and families to appropriate community or Kindering programs, support groups, and other services

- Provide or support outreach, intensive informing, care planning, coordination, anticipatory guidance for complex health needs, assistance to access services, consultation, resource development, interagency coordination, training, program planning, quality management, and administration to support Medicaid programs.

Qualifications

Required Education & Experience

- B.A. degree in Special Education or Early Childhood Special Education; Masters degree preferred

- Teaching Certificate with an Endorsement in Early Child Special Education preferred

- Holds or eligible to receive the ESIT Developmental Specialist credential

- Proven ability to work effectively with populations from traditionally marginalized identities of ability, race, class, gender, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic class

- Preference for additional language proficiency to serve families in their preferred language

- Strong teamwork skills and ability to demonstrate flexibility, dependability and punctuality

- Training in neurodevelopmental treatment techniques preferred

Key Competencies

- Family-Centered Coaching
Builds strong relationships with families and caregivers while providing coaching and support to promote child development within daily routines.

- Developmental Assessment & Intervention
Assesses developmental needs, develops individualized plans, and implements effective strategies to support child growth and learning.

- Collaboration & Service Coordination
Works effectively with families, providers, and multidisciplinary teams to coordinate services, maintain documentation, and connect families with resources.

Minimum Prerequisites

- Pass Washington State DSHS criminal history and background check and FBI fingerprint check

- Strictly maintain confidentiality of all client information

- Demonstrate skill in word processing and familiarity with MS Outlook, Word and Excel

- Possess valid Washington State drivers license and valid automobile insurance

- Have access to a dependable personal vehicle

- Pass a tuberculosis test

- Ability to show proof of current immunizations, including COVID-19 and MMR vaccine or titer test*

*Kindering is subject to multiple executive orders requiring all employees to be vaccinated or apply and be approved for a sincerely held religious belief or medical exemption. We require those supervising and providing in-person services to children to be vaccinated and are unable to accommodate any exceptions. For other positions that can be accommodated, employees must apply and be approved for a sincerely held religious belief or medical exemption.

Working Conditions and Physical Requirements:

The information described below represents the activities and surroundings one may encounter when performing the duties of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

- To perform the job, the employee will be required to talk, hear, stand, and walk, with assistive devices as needed. The employee is required to stoop, climb, balance, kneel, bend, crouch, crawl, and reach with hands and arms. The employee may be required to lift or carry up to 40 pounds (the average weight of a three-year-old)

- The work is performed in various environments, including family homes, community locations such as a park or childcare, on-site classrooms and open office. Travel to these various locations is required. Environmental conditions (noise levels, smells, brightness levels, walking surfaces) may vary and cannot always be controlled

- The employee will be required to organize their own schedule, independently plan for timely completion of paperwork tasks and demonstrate flexibility with changes

This is a full time position with elective time off, paid time off, and 11 paid holidays per year. Kinderings full time employees are provided comprehensive benefits including medical, vision, dental benefits with a Health Savings Account (HSA) for qualified individuals, company-paid life and disability insurance, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), 403(b), paid and elective time off, tuition reimbursement and professional development opportunities, Mimi Siegel Fellowship and Department of Health License reimbursement, and more.

About Kindering

Kindering embraces children of diverse abilities and their families by providing the finest education and therapies to nurture hope, courage, and the skills to soar. As a nonprofit neurodevelopmental center, we have provided comprehensive services for children with special needs and their families since 1962. Kindering is dedicated to maintaining a highly trained, licensed, and certified team of professionals. Current services include comprehensive developmental assessments; physical, occupational, speech, language, and infant mental health therapy; special education; family counseling; nutrition and feeding therapy; childcare consultation; parenting education; and family resource coordination. Kinderings vision for equity is I BELONG. Eradicate systemic racial and oppressive barriers so everyone succeeds. Kindering values diverse perspectives and life experiences. We aim to seek out people from systemically oppressed and marginalized backgrounds to apply, including people of color, women, people with disabilities, veterans, LGBTQ, immigrants, and refugees.

Kindering is a proud equal opportunity employer committed to an inclusive work environment and to building a team that reflects the rich diversity of our community.

The statements contained in this job description are not necessarily all inclusive; additional duties may be assigned, and requirements may vary from time to time.