Education Specialist (Yonkers)

EDUCATION SPECIALIST (HEAD START, EARLY HEAD START)

FSW’s Head Start program is a federally-funded program founded in 1996 to serve infants and toddlers under the age of 3, as well as pregnant women. The goal of Early Head Start is to provide child development and family support services to low-income pregnant women, infants, toddlers and their families.

JOB SUMMARY

Under the supervision of the Education Manager oversees and directs the planning, organizing, and implementation of education services for children. These services contribute to the increased social competence in children and the recognition and enhancement of parents as the primary educators of their children

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Monitor and implement the curriculum for Early Head Start and Head Start classrooms.
• Support and supervise all classroom practices - room arrangement, lesson plans, daily schedules, routines, and transitions to assure their adherence to program policies;
• Supervise and monitor child’s ongoing anecdotal record-keeping, assessments, home visits and conferences in COPA and Teaching Strategies Gold.
• Provide CLASS and ECERS/ITERS observations for the classrooms.
• Assists classroom staff in a system for maintaining an inventory of classroom materials and supplies that is checked at least annually.
• Assists teaching staff in understanding and interpreting child observation data and establishing appropriate individual child goals based on knowledge of child development.
• Assists teaching staff in developing a system which offers parents opportunities for enhancing their skills as first educator of their children through the use of home learning activities, family nights, planning educational activities and providing opportunities to volunteer, attending training, etc.
• Assist the education manager in implements active supervision strategies that ensure children are supervised and never alone including the positioning of staff and zoning, scanning and counting children, listening to children, anticipating children’s behavior and engaging and redirecting children using developmentally appropriate practices.
• Regular and predictable attendance is required.
• Provide ongoing and intensive coaching to teaching staff.
• Additional duties as assigned by the Education Manager

COMMUNICATION

• Work cooperatively with other component coordinators to plan education services integrated with health, mental health, dental health, nutrition, parent involvement, and social services.
• Assist individual staff members in identifying their training needs, and improving their knowledge and abilities;
• Complete and submit required reports to immediate supervisor in a timely and accurate fashion;
• Provides information for the collection of data for the submission of the PIR (e.g., COPA, etc.).

PLANNING

• Support children’s transition from EHS to HS or HS to Kindergarten.
• Attend meetings involving staff, families and administrative support as requested.
• Identify and prioritize materials and equipment needed in classrooms and playgrounds with the site directors.
• Assist individual staff members in identifying their training needs, and improving their knowledge and abilities;
• Assist education manager deliver pre-service and monthly in-service training sessions to teaching staff;

COMPLIANCE MANAGEMENT

• Monitor and review education files for the fall, winter and spring term. All required documents are in the education files. Assure that all files are completed, accurate, and confidentially maintained;
• Support and monitor’s teacher’s development and implementation of their study plan for a CDA, Associates, Bachelor’s or certification.
• Support and assist site director with evaluating the performance of teaching staff.
• Actively participate in the development and implementation of the Teacher Professional Development Plan;
• Understands, generates and documents in-kind and other allowable costs applied toward the non-federal share requirement.
• Responsible for understanding Head Start Performance Standards and local childcare licensing regulations.
• Maintains strict confidentiality with respect to Head Start/Early Head Start children, families and staff in accordance with established policies and procedures.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

EDUCATION

• Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education/ Education
• Bilingual (Spanish/English) is a plus. Must be CLASS reliable within 3 months of hire and update reliability each year.

SKILLS

• Requires effective writing and oral communication skills to conduct meetings and training sessions, and to prepare reports that are clear, complete, comprehensive;
• Manual dexterity sufficient to operate a computer (Microsoft word, excel, etc.) and office equipment, including, but not limited to, the telephone, fax machine, and copier;
• Knowledge of family-centered practices and local resources, customs, and language is helpful.
• Ability to know and implement the Head Start Performance Standards and requirements
• Ability to exercise professional judgment in evaluating before making decisions,
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff, children, parents, outside agencies, and the public,
• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality at all times, including recognizing situations in which confidentiality is required.
• Requires ability to use abstract reasoning, problem solving, planning, and analytical skills in: training, evaluation, and program development.
• Demonstrated ability to perform multiple tasks effectively in a fast-paced, challenging, and constantly changing environment.
• CLASS Reliability Certification.

EXPERIENCE

• 3 years’ experience related to education services in early childhood programs for young children and families from diverse backgrounds.  .

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Bending and lifting up to 25 pounds may be required.
• Travel may be required to attend conferences, meetings, and other duties at distant locations.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Sitting for long period of time (during planning and reporting) and standing for long periods of time (during observations and training), as well as stooping, squatting, and running;
• Frequent contact with staff and representatives of outside agencies, Head Start families, and children
• Attends all workshops and meetings as deemed necessary by the immediate supervisor.
• Attends all required staff and parent meetings and activities.

Required adherence to OCFS child care regulations and HS performance standards regarding program operations, facilities, and federal administrative requirements.

At FSW, we enjoy working in a collaborative, mission-driven environment and value the benefits of a diversified workplace that prioritizes our clients and the communities we serve. If you want to make a difference in the lives of thousands of people across the communities of Westchester County, and if the Education Specialist position speaks to your capabilities, experience and commitment to social service, please apply through really.com. Qualified candidates will be contacted by phone and/or email.

Family Services of Westchester, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $43,232.00 - $50,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift

Ability to Relocate:

• Yonkers, NY 10703: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $43,232 - $50,000