Education Specialist

Description GENERAL DESCRIPTION

Provide training, curriculum support to ensure that appropriate early childhood literacy education assistance, and support to create an appropriate learning environment and to establish routines and organization to support child outcomes. Provide training, modeling and coaching to teachers/caregivers in assigned classrooms to promote healthy development of all children. Provide training, curriculum support to ensure that appropriate early childhood literacy education and performance standards are implemented through quality programs.

Major responsibilities

• 1. Use state specified assessment tools(i.e. CLASS, ERS assessments)- and any others deemed appropriate by ECS- to assess overall quality and to provide specific and appropriate technical assistance. 2. Use the UF Lastinger coaching model to ensure quality coaching practices. 3. Provide technical assistance to practitioners participating in Early Learning Florida courses. 4. Based on assessment results, collaborate with teachers to create goals for improving the overall classroom quality and creating a developmentally appropriate learning program. 5. Provide on-site technical assistance and training to centers and family child care based caregivers ensuring use of an age appropriate curriculum and instruction that is aligned with the Florida Birth to Five Learning and Developmental Standards. 6.
• Model best practices and strategies in the areas of: developing language and emerging literacy, approaches to learning, physical health, cognitive and general knowledge, motor development and social and emotional development. 7. Provide resources and support to teachers and directors to establish and sustain print rich early literacy environments. Enhance support with cost effective strategies for print rich environments. 8. Conduct observations of teachers and provide constructive feedback to further their skill development. 9. Develop and/or coordinate infant toddler research based language and literacy resources for infant toddler teachers. 10. Develop and provide a minimum of one parent training and a minimum of two provider trainings per quarter on topics related to the CDA content areas. 11. Document all training and technical assistance offered in an approved database and maintain all backup documents as required. 12. Keep informed of current trends and new professional techniques through participating in professional workshops, conferences and seminars and by reading professional journals and publications, training and workshops/conferences related to Early Childhood development to increase knowledge of best practices. 13. Assist teachers in developing curriculum activities, lesson plans, and routines that produce positive school readiness outcomes for children. 14. Assist teachers in collecting assessment data including portfolios, developmental checklist, individual ongoing assessments, etc. 15. Establish a mentoring relationship and relationship of mutual trust and respect with assigned program directors and staff. 16. Models strategies for inclusion in the classroom and family child care home providers. 17. Maintain confidentiality in regards to information accessed in the performance of job duties. 18. All other duties as requested to maintain the success of ECS. 19. Responsible for implementing the coalition’s anti-fraud plan daily activities related to prevention, detection, investigation, and reporting of possible overpayment resulting from potential fraud or abuse.

(These essential job functions are not to be construed as a complete statement of duties performed. Employees will be required to perform other related marginal duties as required.)

Organizational relationship

? This position reports to the Manager of School Readiness.

Requirements

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: Bachelors or advanced degree in Education, Child Development or related field 1-3 years early childhood teaching experience Experience teaching, coaching or mentoring adults preferred (A comparable amount of training, education or experience can be substituted for minimum qualifications.)

Skills, knowledge and abilities

Maintain strong commitment to needs of children and goals of ECS Knowledge of and commitment to governmental, educational and religious standards set forth by: DCF, NAEYC, CDA, State Partnership of School Readiness, and any other standards to which the agency commits. Knowledge and ability to articulate, demonstrate and train others concerning current practices in early childhood education.

Licenses, certification or registrations

• Valid driver’s license and proof of automobile coverage Satisfactory Driving Record (as outlined in Vehicle Driving Policy) Must be CLASS certified within 1 year of start date and maintain reliability for CLASS assessments. Must obtain certification for Lastinger Early Childhood Certified Technical Assistance Coach.
• Certificates of acknowledgement required: Conflict of Interest, Code of Ethics, Confidentiality agreements, IT Systems and Security, Anti-Fraud, HR Employee Acknowledgement Form.

Environmental conditions

Works in an office environment Local travel to multiple sites is required Some out of town travel possible Some night and weekend work required

Essential physical skills

Acceptable eyesight (with or without correction) Acceptable hearing (with or without correction) Ability to communicate both orally and in writing Ability to lift up to 50 lbs.

(Reasonable accommodations will be made for otherwise qualified individuals with a disability)