Early Childhood Education Specialist

Works with Boys Town Head Start staff, childcare directors, teachers, families, and students to guide and coordinate educational efforts for those who have special educational and disability needs.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES & DUTIES

Coordinates educational and child development services, services for children with disabilities, and administrative activities for children and their families enrolled in Boys Town’s Head Start programs.

• Develops, monitors and implements curriculum, program, and procedures designed to meet the educational needs of all identified children enrolled at service delivery sites.

• Monitors centers (monthly) related to material, curricula aligned with ELOF and School Readiness Goals, support for dual language learners, etc.

• Provides appropriate and accurate assessment and designation of enrolled children, in compliance with Head Start performance standards, as well as state and federal regulations.

• Ensures transitional plans are developed annually and completed for all students as outlined by performance standards.

• Serves as consultant to teachers and other school staff for remediation of communication disorders for identified children.

• Demonstrates concern and respect for individual children, facilitates academic and social growth of each child, and cares for health and well-being during the school day while working to engage the parents or guardians.

• Assesses and coordinates services for enrolled children with disabilities and their parents or guardians; develops and implements plans for meeting Head Start requirements on serving children with disabilities.

• Ensures appropriate/timely referrals for developmental concerns.

Participates in the administration of the Head Start Education Program.

• Collaborates with Head Start Director to ensure that early childhood education services are implemented as identified in Head Start regulations and State standards.

• Ensures all educational learning environments are in compliance with the performance standards.

• Designs, implements, and manages a system of information management to track student enrollment and attendance, including a system for children with disabilities.

• Regularly monitors data for education and provides reports monthly, and as needed.

• Conducts regular program audits to ensure compliance with state and federal regulations and funding guidelines; provides timely reports of proposed and adopted state and federal regulations.

• Utilizes Data (Educational Data Systems) to ensure appropriate documentation from all centers are implemented in system.

• Monitors educational timelines and ensures data is updated in the ChildPlus.Net database system.

• Oversees education teacher certification, staff development activities, and early education processing to meet state and federal guidelines.

• Ensures records are obtained for In Kind for educational and PD trainings.

• Initiates and follows up on contracts with other school districts for services provided.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Knowledge of regulatory requirements pertaining to youth care and education.

• Ability to motivate and be accepting of students and understand student needs.

• Ability to communicate in an articulate, professional manner while maintaining necessary degree of confidentiality.

• Ability to quickly make decisions in sensitive and sometimes critical areas and to adapt responses to situations while maintaining procedural and regulatory integrity.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in education, related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience required.

• Experience in early childhood education and supervision, including securing and individualizing needed services for children with disabilities and utilizing theories and principles of child growth and development, early childhood education, and family support required.

• Possess a valid driver’s license with a good driving record and pass an annual Motor Vehicle Registration (MVR) required.

• Ability to provide own transportation to complete travel requirements of job; meet auto insurance requirements established by Boys Town policy and/or State and Local law requirements.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• ​ Master’s degree preferred.

Diversity is more than a commitment at Boys Town—it is the foundation of who we are and what we do.

At Boys Town, we cultivate a culture of inclusion for all employees that respects their individual strengths, views, and experiences. We believe that our differences enable us to be a better team – one that makes better decisions, drives innovation, and delivers better business results .