Early Childhood Special Education Coordinator

Department: Col of Ed and Human Development

Classification: Professional Faculty

Job Category: Administrative or Professional Faculty

Job Type: Full-Time

Work Schedule: Full-time (1.0 FTE, 40 hrs/wk)

Location:  Fairfax, VA

Workplace Type: Hybrid Eligible

Salary: Salary commensurate with education and experience

Criminal Background Check: Yes

Works with Minors check: Yes

About the Department:

The Training and Technical Assistance Center (TTAC), Kellar Institute for Human disAbilities at George Mason University, in support of a grant from the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE), provides Technical Assistance to the Commonwealth of Virginia through professional development initiatives, resource curation, differentiated coaching, and events to support early childhood special education educators and administrators to ensure children with disabilities have access to recommended practices and evidence-based practices.

About the Position:

The Early Childhood Special Education Coordinator supports VDOE’s Training and Technical Assistance Center (TTAC) – Early Childhood team to provide technical assistance and professional development to school and related services personnel in Virginia Superintendent’s Region 4, who work with students with disabilities. Specifically, TTAC staff work to improve instructional practices of those who work with students with disabilities in an effort to increase the academic success of these students.

Responsibilities:

• Supports regional schools by creating and facilitating professional learning aligned with VDOE initiatives for Region 4, specifically for children with disabilities receiving 619 services. This will be specific to accountability indicator data, CLASS, inclusion practices, DEC recommended practices, and modifying curricula for children with IEPs. Delivery will be tailored to school requests.
• Provides individualized/tailored support to school divisions by collaborating with TTAC early childhood staff to engage in responsivity to school divisions through activities such as conducting needs assessments, and curating and delivering resources aligned with school division needs and goals. Examples may include curating resources related to inclusive practice or CLASS.
• Facilitates implementation of state initiatives, by collaboratively developing and participating in work groups that will include IPOP, Communities of Learning specific to the itinerant early childhood special education model, CLASS, inclusive practices, and LEADS. This will include setting up virtual platforms for meetings, engaging in discussion, and developing resources.
• Supports implementation of inclusive practices aligned with evidence and DEC Recommended Practices by developing and implementing a train the trainer coaching model specific to the division needs as it relates to practice. Train the trainer will include providing administrators with information and resources to then support practitioners within their setting.
• Ensures execution of state events including annual meetings and state conference (Creating Connections to Shining Stars), by engaging in the planning of events, assisting in delivery of live events, and reflecting on effectiveness of events through review of participant response data and meeting with team to discuss.

Required Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience;
• Experience in working with educational professionals to provide professional development related to young children on research-based inclusive practices, curriculum-based assessment, and specially designed instruction;
• Experience in the field of Early Childhood birth-8 years (generally at least 5 years);
• Knowledge of effective best practices and current issues in Early Childhood Education (ECE) and Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE);
• Knowledge of early childhood coaching strategies;
• Knowledge of adult learning theory;
• Skills in collaboration, teaming, and building relationships;
• Ability to communicate clearly, both orally and in writing, to individuals and groups; and
• Demonstrated ability to implement best practices for adult learning when designing professional development opportunities.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience providing coaching to Early Childhood educators;
• Experience in providing adaptations and modifications that enable students with disabilities access to the general education curriculum;
• Experience with professional development delivery and coaching within early childhood special education environments;
• Evidence of successful collaboration, teaming, and building relationships;
• Knowledge and delivery of initiatives aligned with DEC Recommended Practices;
• Knowledge of research-based practices in curriculum, instruction, and assessment, and the ability to collect, analyze, and use data to inform decisions;
• Knowledge and understanding of early childhood indicator data;
• Knowledge of quality early childhood practices and assessments, including the DEC recommended practices and the CLASS assessment (with reliability in the CLASS preferred);
• Knowledge of Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS);
• Knowledge of VDOE’s initiative to build a unified early childhood system, including creating a uniform measurement and improvement system (VQB5); and
• Knowledge of the Virginia Preschool Initiative (VPI).

Instructions to Applicants:

For full consideration, applicants must apply for the Early Childhood Special Education Coordinator at https://jobs.gmu.edu/. Complete and submit the online application to include three professional references with contact information, and provide a cover letter and CV.

Posting Open Date:  February 3, 2025

For Full Consideration, Apply By:  February 28, 2025

Open Until Filled:  Yes