Special Programs Specialist

Overview

About Upbring 

At Upbring, we are servants on a mission to break the cycle of child abuse. We are warriors, brave as the thousands of Texas Children and families we serve. We stand up for those who can’t speak for themselves. We are a family who values innovation, empathy, patience, understanding and trustworthiness.  

 

About Our Head Start Centers

Upbring Head Start Preschool provides a safe, inclusive place to learn, grow and thrive. The families receive support and services to complement the child’s education as the kindergarten transition nears.

 

What You'll Do

Special Programs Specialists refer children with suspected disabilities to ECI agencies or LEAs; develop, implement, and monitor individualized action plans with the help of administrative, instructional, and non-instructional staff.  The SPS will reduce re-traumatization, foster resilience, and enhance positive academic and non-academic outcomes, in addition to providing training and coaching to Head Start teachers, staff, leadership, mental health consultants, and families. The SPS will monitor the annual review dates of IFSPs and IEPs for children with maladaptive behaviors in the classroom.

Upbring staff members are servant-leaders on the pursuit of breaking the cycle of child abuse and empowering others to do the same through example while embodying our core values: We are Warriors We are Servants We are Family.

 

*This position is year-round.

Responsibilities

We Are Warriors | We Set the Standards for Child Education

Work Standards 

• Develop and maintain strong working relationships with ISD’s and ECI staff to guarantee children and family’s needs, program goals, and objectives are being met
• Consult with and assists campus-based 504 administrators, LSSP’s, school nurses, regular class teachers, counselors, administrators, and parents to meet the educational needs of students eligible under Section 504.
• Assist campus 504 teams in writing legally binding Individualized 504 Plans; coordinates campus-based resources; evaluates the necessity/need for specific accommodations and the effectiveness of the 504 plan in preventing discrimination. 
• Assist campus 504 teams in writing Individualized 504 Plans that allow student access to the full range of educational and co-curricular opportunities that are available to all other eligible students in the District
• Assist campus 504 teams in reviewing Individualized 504 Plans of students who move into the District and facilitates the development of comparable accommodations at the receiving school. 
• Review service logs of Early Childhood Intervention agencies and ISD related service providers to ensure children are receiving service minutes according to what is documented in their IFSP or IEP
• Assist campus 504 teams in monitoring and reviewing Individualized 504 Plans at least once per school year 
• Staff must not use/impose corporal punishment or other forms of child maltreatment as a method to discipline children
• Comply with the company code of conduct and other applicable regulations and requirements, including Licensing Head Start Program Performance Standards (HSPPS), Upbring policies and procedures, Child Care Minimum Standards, and other federal, state, and local regulatory requirements
• Models specific strategies and provides technical consultation for Family Engagement Advocates, Center Directors, Education Coaches, and all teaching staff to use to support the needs of students who have a suspected or confirmed disability
• Create and monitor IAPs for students with suspected disabilities based on data and screener
• Always ensure the health and safety of each child in care and support the overall well-being of children
• Provides status reports to director inclusive of progress and developments for students in the program
• Actively participate and attend Admission, Revision, and Dismissal (ARD) meetings
• Maintain up to date documentation by utilizing forms authorized by the Special Program Director and uploading all applicable documents related to students with a suspected or confirmed disability in the online database system in a timely manner
• Enter progress notes on students with identified and suspected disabilities.
• Follows the Office Head Start CLASS Methodology
• Assist campuses in the development, implementation, and/or participation in professional development of instructional methodologies that allow curriculum accommodations and differentiated instruction based on student learning needs resulting from a disability, specific condition, or impairment. 
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