Pre-K Program Specialist

POSITION DESCRIPTION

POSITION PURPOSE:

The Pre-K Program Specialist for the support of the Pre-K program teaching staff to ensure high-quality, best practices for Pre-K students and their families. The role of this position is to ensure that Pre-K teaching staff implement a developmentally appropriate curriculum in a safe learning environment. Other tasks include collaborating with the EC/Pre-K team, teaching staff, community partners, and regulatory specialists to ensure children and their families receive comprehensive preschool services, as guided by federal, state, and local regulations.  

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES 

• Demonstrated ability to lead, coach, and support others in the field of early childhood education 
• Thorough knowledge of federal, state, and local policies and procedures regarding NC Pre-K, Title I, and Exceptional Children Pre-K services 
• Considerable knowledge of NC Pre-K rules, regulations, and requirements, including those needed to determine program eligibility 
• Considerable knowledge of state childcare licensing rules, sanitation, ECERS, and the rated licensing process per the Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) 
• Considerable knowledge of the Creative Curriculum for Preschool, Teaching Strategies GOLD formative assessment system, Preschool Pyramid Model, Teaching Pyramid Observation Tool (TPOT), Bridges Math, Letterland, and Haggerty 
• Considerable knowledge and skill in the principles of practice-based coaching, organization, and administration of comprehensive preschool services 
• Ability to maintain complete and accurate confidential records, child outcomes data, and to develop meaningful reports from that information to improve practices 
• Ability to plan and deliver relevant Professional Development 
• Ability to access and use a computer, and any other relevant technology to create documents, spreadsheets, and presentations, and utilize online programs such as Teaching Strategies 
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with prospective families, teaching staff, teammates, district-wide community partners, and other stakeholders

EDUCATION, TRAINING, AND EXPERIENCE 

• Master’s Degree from an accredited institution in early childhood education  
• Five (5) years minimum teaching Pre-K in a public school setting
• Demonstrated leadership roles in the field of early childhood education 

CERTIFICATION AND LICENSE REQUIREMENTS 

• Valid NC licensure in Birth-Kindergarten
• Must possess a valid driver’s license issued by the NC Department of Motor Vehicles 

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Experience teaching in a Pre-K setting 
• Experience serving as a coach, coordinator, or leader in a public school setting

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

1. Support teaching staff members in elementary schools, serving Pre-K students in 6 North Carolina Pre-K, Title I, and Exceptional Children’s elementary school classrooms 
2. Create and distribute annual Pre-K program applications to the OCS website, elementary schools, and other local community partners, including DSS, library, Health Department, and medical offices 
3. Organize, conduct, and score DIAL-4 developmental screenings for prospective students 
4. Determine Pre-K program eligibility based on NC Pre-K and Title I requirements
5. Communicate with families to complete incoming student enrollment 
6. Collaborate with the Orange County Partnership for Young Children (OCPYC) to ensure eligible preschool-aged children and their families enroll in the program annually
7. Support the implementation of developmentally appropriate curricula: Creative Curriculum for Preschool, Pyramid Model practices, Haggerty, Bridges, and Letterland, and ongoing formative assessment, Teaching Strategies GOLD
8. Ensure state regulatory compliance with Department of Child Development and Early Education childcare licensing rules, sanitation, ECERS, North Carolina Pre-K, Title I, Exceptional Children, and Orange County Schools policies to ensure continued 5-star licensing ratings at each program site  
9. Analyze quarterly child outcomes data quarterly and use data to plan for future PD, and continuous program improvement to ensure implementation of best practices  
10. Facilitate professional development and Professional Learning Community meetings 
11. Make recommendations and equitable decisions for the Pre-K program students, families, and staff  
12. Participate in district-wide cross-collaboration leadership meetings and contributed to the Equity, Student Engagement, and Support Services Strategic Plan and annual goals 
13. Utilize foundations of Practice-Based Coaching with teaching teams to encourage implementation of best practices, develop short-term goals, and provide feedback and resources after observation cycles
14. Engage monthly with other coaches and administrators in DPI-facilitated, state-wide Practice-Based Coaching meetings and professional development
15. Submit monthly and annual monitoring documents to OCS, DCDEE, DPI, and OCPYC as required for program compliance in NC Pre-K, Title I, and other DPI grant programs such as the Pyramid Model
16. Monitor family engagement activities, including, but not limited to home visits and parent-teacher conferences
17. Participate in IEP meetings throughout the school year to serve a role as determined by the team 
18. Meet with families, elementary school administrators, service providers, and EC Kindergarten teams to plan for students’ transitions from Pre-K to Kindergarten  
19. Participate in the hiring process at the school level, as requested 
20. Perform other duties as assigned by the Exceptional Children/Pre-K Director

Job Contact Information