Reporting to the Director, Education Program Services, the Education Specialist plays an essential role focused on the academic, special education and social emotional learning of Pre-K through 12th supports and services. This role drives the highest quality pedagogy for learners through creative and supportive programming and resources that assist tribal families with informed decision making for their children that will have a multi-generational impact. The Education Specialist prioritizes the academic, special education, and social emotional learning aspects of the tutoring program and Tribal School as well as the actuation of the through all life stages of the 2040 vision as it relates to post-secondary access and success. Provides services and supports inclusive, rigorous, and diverse learning experiences for all students regardless of age and time in school. This role works closely with the language and culture staff and Tribal School principal to support programming and events in the department and school.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Case Management and Recommendations

• Plans, implements, monitors, and evaluates Personal Educational Plans (PEP) of each assigned student.
• Prepares lesson plans and objectives based upon individual student’s PEP goals and grade level expectations.
• Coordinates with students’ teachers, classes and activities as an inclusion facilitator/specialist.
• Prepares required student forms and maintains accurate student academic records, attendance records, cumulative student progress and achievement records and reports.
• Informs parents of student progress towards PEP goals and encourages their participation in PEP meetings and parent conferences.

2. Pedagogy and Programmatic Leadership

• Articulates the 2040 vision that is inclusive of creating programming for PreK through post-secondary and beyond with a specialization in social emotional learning and Special Education Inclusion programming for the Tribal School and supports and services.
• Leads continuous academic and behavioral improvement efforts related to off reservation schooling coupled with insights from the youth in attendance.
• Works with teaching staff to establish an instructional learning environment for students by accommodating or modifying instructional activities to meet the students’ individual goals.
• Co-teaches, collaborates, and consults with general and special educators and related service providers to ensure that children receive a meaningful program and are educated in the Least Restrictive Environment.
• Monitors the portfolio system to ensure the department is meeting or exceeding targets consistent with 2040 vision goals. 
• Supports and collaborates with the Tribal Youth Committee to align to the tribe’s vision for youth leadership and development.
• Monitor contracts with outside related services agencies ensuring appropriate comprehensive services for each student with special needs.  

3. Assessment

• Works with colleagues to support Pre-K-12th assessment cycles in partnerships with off reservation schools to include establishing timelines and providing feedback on assessment performance to tribal families.
• Creates internal progress monitoring systems for staff to contribute to and maintain for assessment and supporting documents such as portfolio benchmarks.
• Performs educational assessments in accordance with California State Standards, school programs, and PEP goals.
• Analyzes individual student data on internal and external assessments to identify support opportunities, track goals, and report trends.
• Monitors action plans to address student data and performance as it relates to all academic content areas.
• Develops and designs instructional supports to address students at tribal schools and surrounding districts academic trends.
• Provides observation and feedback on the implementation of the tutoring and counseling academic program in quarterly cycles.
• Conducts audits of tutoring and counseling programs to ensure goals and benchmarks are met or exceeded.

4. Planning

• Participates in the annual strategic planning for tutoring program including action steps, owners, and timelines and ensures implementation with fidelity.
• Collaborates with colleagues to design long-term plans for educational programs.
• Manages yearly PEP meetings and assessment calendar.
• Works collaboratively with colleagues on action plan components of the 2040 vision as it evolves and is actuated.

5. Professional Development and Community Events

• Acquires affiliations and memberships with Native American programs for all students.
• Supports the department’s ongoing planning and implementation of internal events such as Summer Academy, Tribal Youth Gathering, Youth Committee Pow Wow Table, MMIP 5k, and Yucca Harvest.

6. Performs other duties as assigned to support the efficient operation of the department.

EDUCATIONAL, EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s Degree in Content, Education, or a closely related field required.

• Minimum five (5) years of experience in a student-facing educational setting required.

• Minimum three (3) years of writing Individualized Education Plans and Behavior Intervention Plans required.

• Minimum three (3) years working in a tribal education setting preferred.

• California Special Education Teaching Credential is required.  

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSA)

• Must be willing and capable to learn the Serrano language.

• Knowledge of and experience with Indian Tribes is preferred.

• Demonstrated commitment to students and learning. 

• Experience with adult learning theories and professional development programming is required.

• Demonstrated educational philosophy and methods that encourage the development of active and lifelong learning.

• Exceptional understanding of a progressive approach to instruction and academic counseling and a wide knowledge of the most innovative, culturally sustaining, and successful instructional methods is required.

• Excellent relationship-building and management skills.

• Strong problem-solving and consensus-building abilities.

• Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills with demonstrated ability to write clearly and persuasively.

• Excellent organization, time management and follow-up skills; high sense of urgency; demonstrated ability to successfully handle multiple projects concurrently; ability to lead a team.

• Strong community-building skills.

• Demonstrated personal leadership responsibility.

REQUIRED LICENSES, CERTIFICATIONS AND REGISTRATIONS

• California Special Education Teaching Credential is required.  

• As a condition of employment, candidates and incumbents are required to pass pre- and post-employment screening including Live-Scan, background, drug testing, and tuberculosis (TB) testing.

• Select One of the Following for Driving Responsibilities: No Driving Responsibilities: Role does not require a driver’s license or insurance.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS/ WORKING CONDITIONS – ENVIRONMENT

The physical demands and working environment described here are representative of those that an employee encounters and must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

• Primary work environment is in a climate-controlled office setting.

• Work requires travel to attend meetings, trade shows, and conferences.

• Incumbents may be required to work evening, weekend and holiday shifts.

• Must be able to work in a fast-paced, high-demand environment.

• Strength sufficient to exert up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects and/or move up to 40 pounds occasionally.

• Sedentary work: involves sitting most of the time. Constantly operates a computer and other office productivity machinery, such as a calculator, copy machine, and computer printer.

• Physical activities that apply to the essential functions of the position are balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, pushing, pulling, lifting, grasping, talking, hearing, and repetitive motions.

• Hearing sufficient to hear conversational levels in person, via videoconference and over the telephone.

• Speech sufficient to make oneself heard and understood in person, in front of groups, in meetings, via videoconference and over the telephone.

• Visual acuity that meets the requirements of the position: The worker is required to have close visual acuity to perform an activity such as preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal; expansive reading and visual inspection of employees, visitors or facility.

• Mobility sufficient to safely move in an office environment, walk, stoop, bend and kneel, and enter, exit and operate a motor vehicle in the course of travel to promotional events, meetings, conferences, trade shows and San Manuel properties.

• Endurance sufficient to sit, walk and stand for extended periods, and maintain efficiency throughout the entire work shift and during extended work hours.

• The employee may be exposed to fumes or airborne particles including secondhand smoke.

Reasonable accommodation will be made in compliance with all applicable law.

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