Early Childhood Special Needs Program Lead

The School District of Philadelphia; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The School District of Philadelphia is seeking a Special Needs Coordinator (Early Childhood Regional Center) for a 12-month term. The role plans and develops treatment programs for preschool children with various handicaps enrolled in Head Start and related programs, coordinating screening, referrals, and individual education plans.

You will oversee staff in Head Start and regional centers, assess family needs, and collaborate with psychologists, teachers, and parents to implement effective

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in psychology, special education, or a related field.
• Three years of full-time professional experience in planning and developing treatment programs for children.
• Valid Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Supervisor of Elementary Education certificate or Administrative certificate for Elementary School Principal.
• Demonstrated ability to develop individualized education plans and assess children.
• Experience collaborating with parents, teachers, and diagnosticians.

Responsibilities

• Plans, develops and coordinates a program involving the screening and referral of children for the detection of handicapping conditions and the treatment of confirmed cases.
• Participates in the development of individualized education plans for those children found to have special needs.
• Assists in the selection of curriculum materials for staff who teach children with handicapping conditions; identifies and makes recommendations regarding the purchase of appropriate equipment and supplies.
• Visits centers to observe the teaching staff and handicapped children; works with staff in the implementation of individual education plans for children with handicaps.
• Works extensively with parents of special needs children to ensure continuity of care beyond the center setting.
• Explains and demonstrates treatment techniques and procedures to teachers and their assistants; explains and demonstrates classroom and home treatment procedures to parents.
• Plans and conducts in-service training and staff development sessions for instructional coordinators, teachers, parents and other staff regarding the detection, definition, evaluation and treatment of handicapping conditions among preschool children.
• Fosters communication and cooperation among parents, teachers, social workers and diagnosticians.
• Maintains confidential files for each child which include test results and individualized education plans.
• Maintains records of training sessions with teachers, parents and other center staff.

Skills

Child development

Handicaps knowledge

Diagnostic tools

Treatment resources

Curriculum & materials

Initial assessments

Collaboration

Training others

Communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Education

Master’s degree in psychology, special education, or related field

Three years of full-time professional experience in planning and developing treatment programs for children

Job description

The School District of Philadelphia is seeking a Special Needs Coordinator (Early Childhood Regional Center) for a 12-month term. The role plans and develops treatment programs for preschool children with various handicaps enrolled in Head Start and related programs, coordinating screening, referrals, and individual education plans.

You will oversee staff in Head Start and regional centers, assess family needs, and collaborate with psychologists, teachers, and parents to implement effective