Education Manager

Looking for: Full Time/Exempt

Position Overview

The Education Coordinator is a key member of an administrative team that works together to support the mission, vision and values of the United Community Early Learning Center. The Education Coordinator works closely with the Infant, Toddler, Early Preschool and Pre-kindergarten classrooms teams to assure that all functions of the job descriptions are fulfilled. The Education Coordinator is committed to sustaining a high-quality child care program that values partnerships between families and staff. The Education Coordinator will partner with Bryant High School counselors to support the Project Opportunity student-parents. The Education Coordinator creates an open and honest working environment that inspires professionalism, developmentally appropriate practices, and positive innovative teaching. The Education Coordinator is responsible for implementing the United Community Early Learning Center’s (ELC) intervention and prevention program which provides individual and family services to increase parenting skills and enhance the developmental potential of young children. Core duties include supporting/coaching teaching teams in all developmental assessments of young children; developing and implementing health and developmental prevention programs for young children to enhance their opportunities for cognitive, social/emotional, language, and motor development; serving as a model and coach for all teaching team members of developmental appropriate practices and Virginia Quality standards.

Essential Functions:

Early Intervention and Prevention

• Developmental Screenings. Identify developmental delays or deficiencies by conducting screening according to United Community ELC schedule and as individual problems are noted. As appropriate, train classroom staff to implement developmental screening tools. As appropriate, arrange screening by external agencies.
• Health Screenings. Arrange vision, dental and hearing screenings by external agencies according to United Community ELC’s schedule.
• Debriefing and Referral to Treatment. If delays or deficiencies are detected, meet with parents to explain results and discuss treatment options. Refer families to appropriate treatment resources.
• Follow-Up. Ensure that treatment takes place. Assist families to remove practical barriers to treatment, such as cost or transportation. Counsel families who are reluctant to pursue treatment.
• Developmental Education. Educate parent(s)/guardian(s) about child development and the importance of early intervention and prevention for developmental or health deficiencies. Place articles/resources in United Community ELC monthly newsletter. Meet privately with parent(s)/guardian(s). Conduct group training sessions.

Clinical Support

• Host monthly “Brown Bag” meetings with Bryant High School student-parents enrolled in the Project Opportunity program. Give Pre and Post test to student-parents to gain insight on how to support their parenting needs and needs of their children.
• Observe children in the classrooms. Provide practical guidance to teachers to help them promote the proper use of curriculum, conducive environment according to (ECERS-R/ITERS-R), support and encourage positive and nurturing teacher-child interactions according to CLASS and developmentally appropriate practices in all areas of early childhood development (emotional, social, intellectual, language and physical).
• Teach staff methods to interact and communicate consistently and positively with children as it pertains to the CLASS tool.
• Train staff on topics such as positive guidance techniques, record keeping, relationships with families, and teamwork.
• Teach and support staff how to implement children’s developmental assessment according to Creative Curriculum GOLD and Ages and Stages (ASQ). Children are to be assessed formally four times annually. Two formal parent-teacher conferences are provided twice a school year. Developmental assessments, anecdotal notes, written observations, children’s portfolios are reviewed regularly.
• Consult with the Director of Social Services on case work, case files, and quality assurance procedures. Relate any recommendations to the United Community ELC Director of Child Care Services.
• Meet individually with United Community ELC Center parent(s)/guardian(s) as needed to provide services including assessment, referrals and counseling.

Administrative Duties

• Adhere to United Community Personnel Policies and Procedures and help maintain the United Community “Statement of Philosophy” as written in the Personnel Manual.
• Keep Director and Assistant Director informed of whereabouts throughout the day.
• Keep Director of Child Care Services well informed about progress, problems and changes. Meet for regular weekly supervision. Keep and maintain documentation of classroom observations, team/individual goal setting, classroom team meeting notes etc.
• Attend United Community ELC Center Unit Meetings and Social Services Unit Meetings.
• Attend Quarterly All Staff Meetings.
• Attend scheduled case management meetings with other agencies involved in the program, such as Child Find.
• Adhere to unit’s fiscal year budget.
• Accurately document all services, referrals and outcomes in United Community ELC child files and in United Community’s client database. Submit all data entry within two weeks of providing services.
• Prepare reports as requested by the Grant Writer for funding sources.
• All other duties as assigned.

General Duties

• Adherence to and support of United Community’s (United Community ELC Center Philosophy, if applicable). This includes a proven ability to exercise empathy and positive regard in providing services to clients.
• Ability to work cooperatively with peers and supervisors.
• Ability to maintain professional relationships with clients, children and families and other agency representatives.
• Quality of work. This includes consistent exercise of promptness, accuracy and sound judgment, meeting required outcomes and the ability to perform all aspects of the job description.
• Dedication. This includes the desire, determination and ability to provide comprehensive services to clients, children and families.
• Strong knowledge of Virginia Standard for Licensing, Developmentally Appropriate Practices, Virginia Star Quality Initiative, CLASS, Infant/Toddler Environment Rating Scale (ITERS-R), Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale (ECERS-R )
• Provide leadership, direction and training for staff.
• Assume additional classroom and center responsibilities as needed: monitoring/observing teacher-child interactions, teacher-parent interactions, offering regular ongoing feedback to teachers (with the use of the CLASS,ECERS-R and ITERS-R tool) review of lesson plans, appropriate posted lesson plans, monitoring progress of children’s portfolios, etc.
• Ensure confidentiality about issues concerning other staff members, children and families, or United Community’s ELC management and operations.

Education and/or Experience

• Excellent awareness and appreciation of different cultures and ability to work in a multicultural environment.
• Able to communicate effectively in English with staff, families and children both verbally and in writing.
• Have basic computer skills to include Microsoft Word and use of email for correspondence.
• Preferably bilingual in Spanish.
• Prior to first day of working with children, receive a negative report of TB screening prior and maintain annual TB screenings with a negative report as a condition of employment.
• Good interviewing and intuitive skills.
• Valid driver’s license and access to a car.
• Able to meet U.S. Department of Justice requirements for Employment Eligibility Verification.
• Must have a clear Virginia Central Registry check as dictated by the Code of Virginia 63. 1-198.1 .In addition, there must be a clear finding for other criminal offense in the Virginia Criminal History record for not less than five years prior to date of services.
• Good general health. Able to carry 40 lbs. when required and climbs stairs. Have physical stamina to fulfill all work requirements during assigned shift.
• Able to work flexible hours, evening and/or weekend hours.
• 36 or more professional development hours annually.

Step 1:

Associate’s degree from an accredited school of Early Childhood Education/with 3 or more years’ experience in a supervisory role in a licensed child care center working with children 6 weeks to 5 years, families and teachers.

Step 2:

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited school of Early Childhood Education/ Social work with 2 years of adolescent social work experience preferred with 3 or more years’ experience in a supervisory role in a licensed child care center working with children 6 weeks to 5 years, families and teachers.

Step 3:

Master’s degree from an accredited school of Early Childhood Education/ Social work and a minimum of 3 years of experience dealing with children in social services/social work environment. with 5 or more years’ experience in a supervisory role in a licensed child care center working with children 6 weeks to 5 years, families and teachers.

Contact hr@unitedcommunity.org to learn more and apply.