Position Summary

The Early Education Services Teacher (EEST) reports directly to the designated program administrator and assumes responsibility for providing direct instruction, consultation, resource information, and materials development as needed to address young children’s individualized needs.  The EEST provides individual and small group instruction across various settings including in the home, daycare, general education settings, or in specialized classrooms throughout the county depending upon case assignment in Birth to 5 and Early Childhood Special Education programs.  Development of Individualized Family Services Plans (IFSPs) and /or Individual Education Plans (IEPs), early intervention implementation, coordination of community agencies, and parent education are key components of the services rendered by the EEST.

Distinguishing Characteristics

The EEST provides direct instruction to young children. They case manage IEPs or IFSPs depending on the student age.

Supervision Received and Exercised

The position receives supervision from the current administrator assigned to the department. They may supervise para-educators or early childhood educators depending on their assignment.

Examples of Duties and Responsibilities (Examples of Essential Job Functions)

Duties and responsibilities may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Conducts student assessment, designs individualized educational plans or individual family service plans, implements appropriate instructional strategies, and monitors progress on assigned students.
• Provides general case management services as appropriate, including the coordination of available community resources to address the needs of families and their young children with various disabling conditions.
• Designs and conducts appropriate parent education programs and skills-building sessions, both one-on-one and in small groups
• Assists parents in planning long-range educational goals for their children given the current assessment of needs and the services available in the school and community.
• Develops instructional strategies and materials in cooperation with other professionals and pre-school and daycare center staff when appropriate.
• Demonstrates methods, techniques, and educational strategies to facilitate student learning.
• Assists in the transition of students from program to program in keeping with goals identified by the IEP/IFSP team.
• Designs, implements, monitors, and reviews as needed appropriate IEPs for students and records pupil progress accurately and timely.
• Establishes and maintains comprehensive student/program files as required.
• Supports the policies and programs of the Humboldt County Office of Education and performs assigned duties consistent with school, district or office policies, regulations, and procedures.
• Maintains professional competency by actively engaging in employer-directed in-service activities and other similar opportunities provided to staff.
• Cooperatively engages in the professional evaluation process with supervisor to ensure ongoing professional growth and competency.
• Effectively communicates with staff, parents, and agencies.
• Attends regular and special staff meetings, and actively participates as a member of the educational team.
• Responds effectively to the input from and coordinates tasks with district/school personnel as required by the assignment.
• Performs other related duties as assigned

Management reserves the right to make reasonable accommodations so that qualified employees can perform the essential functions of the job. 

Qualifications (aka Employment Standards)

Knowledge of

• Special Education law
• Special Education Information System (SEIS)
• Developmentally appropriate practices
• Universal Design for Learning (UDL)
• Positive Behavior supports

Ability to

• Manage IEPs for multiple students
• Meet timelines for required meetings and reports
• Learn new assessments and instructional techniques
• Interact with a large number of professionals and families and maintain positive relationships
• Communicating effectively with children and parents, staff members, and representatives of other agencies
• Perform specialized pupil assessment
• Demonstrate experience and training in the areas of curriculum development, innovative instruments and instructional strategies, and use of emerging technology.

Education and Experience

     Minimum Required

• Credentials:
  • A valid California Education Specialist Instruction Credential in the areas of Moderate/Severe Disabilities or Extensive Support Needs and Early Childhood Special Education authorization (Authorization can be obtained in first year of employment)
  • OR in possession of an Early Childhood Special Education Credential

• Possess CA English Learner authorization

Working Conditions (Work Environment)

• The EEST, if assigned a classroom, must be able to move around a classroom, pick up and manage materials, and be able to physically engage with children to complete activities.
• If assigned to an itinerant position, the EEST will need to be able to drive a vehicle to serve students. Be able to move large items in and out of a vehicle such as large toys, assessment kits, and instruction materials.
• Move about in non-traditional instructional environments; i.e., students’ homes and/or community spaces.
• Report to multiple worksites on a given day or during the workweek.

Physical Demands

• Stand, sit and/or move about for sustained periods.
• Communicate effectively in person and via telephone and other electronic media to individuals and groups of varying sizes.
• Exercise physical control over students who are acting out and/or offer physical assistance to students who might be themselves physically impaired.
• Conduct instructional programs within pre-designated break periods and time schedules.
• Maintain an appropriate personal demeanor during periods of heightened stress created by outside factors not always within the ability of the teacher to control at the time.

The Humboldt County Office of Education is committed to the principles of equal employment opportunity.  Consistent with that philosophy is the receptivity to consider requests to modify the traditional modes of delivering instructional services to reasonably accommodate an individual’s disabilities as long as the quality of the program offered remains consistent with the standards

Other Requirements

• Must be fingerprinted and a satisfactory Department of Justice records check must be received by HCOE prior to employment.
• TB testing and/or risk assessment will be required upon employment.
• Must pass a pre-employment physical (if applicable).
• May be required to obtain first aid and CPR certificates within the first 6 to 12 months of employment.
• May be required to drive; some positions may require a California driver’s license, proof of insurance and possible participation in the DMV Pull Notice Program once employed.

HCSTA Approved 3/5/2025