Early Childhood Education Coach

About the Role

The Early Childhood Education Coach is a field-based member of the Education Team who helps teachers strengthen daily classroom practice and create high-quality, meaningful experiences for children. Through observation, reflection, modeling, practice, feedback, and follow-up, the Coach supports teachers in turning early childhood knowledge and company-provided resources into consistent classroom practice. Assigned to a geographic cluster of Sunshine House Centers, the Coach partners with teachers, center leaders, and Education Team members to strengthen developmentally appropriate practice, curriculum implementation, responsive interactions, positive guidance, classroom environments, routines, and quality initiatives.

This role is a strong fit for an experienced early childhood professional who is credible in the classroom, enjoys helping adults learn, builds positive relationships, and can independently manage multiple priorities, coaching cycles, and center needs.

Responsibilities

• Build collaborative coaching relationships with teachers and center leaders that support reflection, practice, and continuous growth.
• Observe classroom practice, child-adult interactions, routines, transitions, learning environments, and curriculum implementation using company-approved tools.
• Use observation evidence and teacher input to identify focused coaching goals and practical next steps.
• Provide job-embedded support through modeling, side-by-side practice, reflective conversation, targeted training, resource connection, and feedback.
• Help teachers use company-provided curriculum, planning tools, schedules, child observations, portfolios, assessment processes, and family communication resources with greater confidence and consistency.
• Partner with center leadership to clarify coaching priorities, communicate progress, and reinforce teacher growth while maintaining appropriate coaching boundaries.
• Maintain accurate and timely electronic documentation of observations, coaching goals, action steps, follow-up, and outcomes.
• Manage a cluster-based schedule that balances center priorities, coaching cycles, travel efficiency, and required follow-up.
• Participate in onboarding, professional development, Education initiatives, and virtual or in-person training as assigned.
• Collaborate with Education Team members to share resources, calibrate practice, support peers, and provide cross-cluster support when needed.
• Use coaching trends and available data to celebrate progress, identify needs, and inform support strategies.
• Follow all company safety, compliance, confidentiality, travel, purchasing, and financial accountability expectations.

Requirements

The Disposition That Helps Coaches Thrive:

• Curious, reflective, dependable, and committed to helping others grow.
• Builds trust without losing focus on expectations, receives feedback with openness, and adapts when evidence shows a different approach is needed.
• Believes teacher growth often requires modeling, practice, encouragement, and follow-up.
• Approaches challenges with kindness, professionalism, curiosity, and a solution-focused mindset.
• Is coachable, self-reflective, and willing to adjust personal practice based on feedback and evidence.
• Shares knowledge and resources and works collaboratively across centers and Education Team roles.
• Follows through consistently and communicates early when a barrier may affect an agreed commitment.
• Uses company time, funds, equipment, and travel resources responsibly and transparently.

Minimum Requirements

• Meets lead teacher qualifications in the applicable state(s) of assignment.
• Associate degree in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, or a related field preferred; bachelor's degree preferred. Candidates with education in another field should demonstrate substantial early childhood coursework, credentials, or equivalent early childhood content knowledge consistent with company and state requirements.
• Minimum three years of successful experience in an early childhood education setting as a lead teacher, primary caregiver, instructional leader, curriculum support professional, coach, trainer, assistant director, or director; five years of relevant experience preferred.
• Experience mentoring adults, supporting peer learning, leading practice change, or providing professional feedback is strongly preferred.
• Experience supporting multiple classrooms or locations is preferred.
• Valid driver's license and ability to meet company travel requirements.
• Ability to successfully complete all required background and employment screening requirements.
• Ability and willingness to travel regularly within an assigned geographic cluster and occasionally support other markets, including limited evening, weekend, or overnight travel when business needs require.

Skills

• Strong working knowledge of child development and developmentally appropriate practice for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and pre-K children.
• Ability to recognize effective interactions, positive guidance, routines, transitions, intentional learning environments, and active child engagement.
• Ability to observe objectively, identify a priority focus, and translate feedback into practical classroom strategies.
• Ability to support adult learning through active listening, reflective questions, modeling, practice, feedback, and collaborative goal setting.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with consistent professional follow-through.
• Comfort using Microsoft 365, video conferencing, web-based forms, electronic documentation systems, and digital curriculum or assessment platforms.
• Ability to organize independent field work, manage competing priorities, and support multiple centers.

Benefits

• Competitive pay with annual salary evaluations based on experience, credentials, and education.
• Discounted childcare and same-day pay availability.
• Unlimited growth opportunities and referral bonuses.
• Affordable health, dental, and vision plans (Blue Cross Blue Shield) with multiple choices.
• Company-paid life insurance and 401K retirement plan.
• Employee wellness program and paid time off accruing from day one, including 7 paid holidays and a paid birthday holiday.
• Employee discounts on major brands like Verizon.
• Paid professional development, including up to 95% free tuition for CDA, associate's, bachelor's, or master's programs through the TEACH program (eligible bonuses could push funding to over 100%).

About The Sunshine House

For 50 years, The Sunshine House has provided high-quality early education and childcare for children from 6 weeks to 12 years old. We operate more than 100 schools across 7 states, helping children build a solid educational and social foundation while having fun.