Early Childhood Special Education Social and Emotional Learning Statewide Coach - Vacancy ID: 179643

Are you an early childhood special educator who has worked closely with preschoolers with IEPs? Are you passionate about sharing your knowledge, skills and experiences with other educators to support even more students? The Early Childhood Special Education Social and Emotional Learning (ECSE SEL) IDEA Discretionary Grant, funded through the WI Department of Public Instruction (DPI), is seeking applicants for two ECSE SEL statewide coach positions. The ECSE SEL statewide coaches will assist community-wide early childhood program teams across the state through coaching, learning opportunities, and resources to implement evidence-based improvement strategies to support students’ and educators’ growth. The overarching purpose of the ECSE SEL Project is to provide state level leadership, coaching, professional learning and technical assistance to Local Educational Agencies (LEAs), Head Start, early care and education professionals, communities, and families working to meet the social and emotional needs of preschoolers with IEPs. This includes the ability to self-regulate, identify and express emotions, engage in social interactions with their peers, and develop healthy relationships with adults. Additionally, the goal is to reduce or eliminate instances of suspension, expulsion, and seclusion and restraints while increasing access and opportunities for time spent with nondisabled peers. Major Responsibilities The statewide coaches will provide in-person and virtual coaching, professional learning and technical assistance to LEAs, Head Start, early care and education professionals, communities, and families working to meet the social and emotional needs of preschoolers with IEPs, specifically those with effects of disability that interfere with their learning. The work addresses the gap in adult practice and aims to improve beliefs, systems and skills (in the area of social and emotional learning for preschoolers with IEPs) through the use of high leverage practices, the implementation of the DEC Recommended Practices, and evidence-based improvement strategies. Essential Duties and Responsibilities Coaching: Provide intensive coaching supports to select LEA communities -Provide leadership and team coaching for each LEA community team -Establish coaching cycles with identified staff at each LEA community -Provide modeling of identifying and implementing evidence-based improvement strategies, including root cause analysis and matching strategies to student need -Provide leadership and resources to ensure data-based decision making (identify, collect and analyze data so that it informs practice) Professional learning: Design, develop, and deliver professional learning -Collaborate with statewide coordinators and Early Learning Technical Assistance and Improvement grant staff to design, develop and deliver both virtual and in- person learning opportunities related to supporting the social and emotional development of preschoolers with IEPs Technical assistance: Provide statewide technical support -Respond to requests for support as assigned by the ECSE statewide coordinator Qualifications Knowledge of: -Coaching practices, including the WI Coaching Competency Practice Profile -Evidence-based improvement strategies to support children with autism -Current best practices and trends in early education, including high-leverage instructional teaching strategies, and high-quality evidence-based inclusive practices -The WI Social and Emotional Learning Competencies and the WI Model Early Learning Standards -WI College and Career Ready (CCR) Individualized Education Program (IEP) process and Comprehensive Special Education Evaluation framework, particularly how to assess disability-related needs, and develop, provide, and evaluate professional development opportunities for early-childhood educators and community partners who serve children with disabilities Skills: -Strong communication skills, including the ability the address conflict, problem solve, build relationships and respond to adaptive change -Leadership and facilitation skills in a team context to support changes in beliefs and practices, including skills developing agendas and materials -Effective coaching skills, both in a team and individual context, including establishing and implementing coaching cycles Experience: -Implementing evidence-based improvement strategies to support preschoolers with disability-related needs with autism and in the broad area of social and emotional development -Coaching, preferably in early childhood environments -Leading teams through a continuous improvement process -Designing and delivering effective professional learning to adults Requirements: -Bachelor's Degree, Master's preferred -Current DPI License, Early Childhood-Special Education or Early Childhood preferred -Current driver's license and ability to travel statewide up to 60% including overnight travel