Child Care Coach

Child Care Coach – PICC

The Partnerships in Child Care (PICC) division of Volunteers of America Greater Baton Rouge provides information, support, and assistance to child care teachers, Directors, and family home child care providers to improve the quality of their early childhood instruction and thus increase positive learning outcomes for children. The Child Care Coach is responsible for providing an array of support and guidance to early care and education programs through on-site practice-based coaching and other technical assistance. The Child Care Coach provides these services across a region in the PICC catchment area (Acadia, Allen, Ascension, Avoyelles, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Evangeline, Iberia, Iberville, Jefferson Davis, Livingston, Rapides, St. Helena, St. Landry, St. Mary, St. Martin, Tangipahoa, Vermilion, Vernon, West Baton Rouge, and West Feliciana parishes). The Child Care Coach is under the direct supervision of the PICC Program Director.

Position Type

Non-Exempt/Full-Time

Essential Functions

• Provide practice-based coaching, including rapport-building, observation, skill-building, modeling, and supporting (through joint planning, action/practice, reflection, and feedback), to new providers and to low-performing child care providers to implement best practices in teacher/child interactions, implementation of high-quality curriculum, and observation-based assessment
• Provide coaching to implement strategies to promote sustained change and support self-directed improvement
• Adhere to coaching model established by the program and guidelines of the La Department of Education
• Provide technical assistance sessions and Basic TA (via text or e-mail)
• Keep knowledge current and share updated state policies, grant opportunities, and other critical information with providers
• Provide support for Director and other Network meetings
• Develop and provide training to child care providers through program training calendar and teacher preparation program
• Identify needed professional development for child care providers
• Provide support for respite child care programming
• Provide support for program special projects
• Maintain effective collaborative relationships with clients and other community agencies and organizations (including Mental Health Consultants, Field Support Consultants, and Lead Agencies)

Competencies

• Communication Proficiency—Interpersonal, Oral, Written
• Flexibility
• Initiative
• Active listening
• Observation
• Analysis
• Relationship-building
• Facilitation
• Collaboration
• Ability to adapt
• Cultural sensitivity

Supervisory Responsibility

This position has no supervisory responsibility.

Required Education and Experience

Early childhood development, early childhood environments, child safety, child assessment, team dynamics, family systems, modeling, and strengths-based coaching.

• Bachelor’s or Associate’s degree in Early Childhood Education or Child Development Associate credential
• 1-3 years relevant experience in an early childhood setting
• Knowledge of CLASS, Teaching Strategies GOLD, Louisiana’s Birth to Kindergarten Early Learning and Development Standards, and high-quality curriculum
  • Infant, Toddler, and Pre-K CLASS observation reliability preferred
• Knowledge about principles of adult learning
• Louisiana Child Care Criminal Background Check clearance
• Familiarity with community needs and resources
• Principles and practices of providing services to culturally-diverse populations
• Microsoft Office software applications and Google Forms
• Ability to:
  • Analyze problems in early learning settings and identify appropriate solutions
  • Provide effective trainings
  • Prepare and maintain records and reports
  • Establish and maintain effective working relationships with child care providers, co-workers, Early Childhood Community Networks, and other agencies
  • Communicate effectively verbally and in writing.

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand; walk; sit, use hands, handle, or feel objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; talk or hear; taste or smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. While performing the duties of this job, the employee can sometimes be exposed to weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice, as needed by our funders, agency, and division.

Volunteers of America South Central Louisiana, Inc. offers a comprehensive benefit package to include: Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance, 403-B Pension Plan, Short and Long Term Disability Insurances, Life Insurance, paid annual holidays, Vacation and Sick leave.

Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer, Volunteers of America South Central Louisiana, Inc. considers applicants for all positions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, national origin, age, disability, marital or veteran status, or any legally protected status. We will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with known disabilities unless doing so would result in an undue hardship.