Education Specialist

About the Role

Provide training, curriculum support, and early childhood literacy education assistance to create an appropriate learning environment and establish routines that support child outcomes. Offer training, modeling, and coaching to teachers and caregivers in assigned classrooms to promote healthy development of all children. Ensure that appropriate early childhood literacy education and performance standards are implemented through quality programs.

Responsibilities

• Use state-specified assessment tools (e.g., CLASS, ERS assessments) and others deemed appropriate to assess overall quality and provide specific technical assistance.
• Apply the UF Lastinger coaching model to ensure quality coaching practices.
• Provide technical assistance to practitioners participating in Early Learning Florida courses.
• Collaborate with teachers to create goals for improving classroom quality and developing developmentally appropriate learning programs based on assessment results.
• Provide on-site technical assistance and training to centers and family child care providers, ensuring the use of age-appropriate curriculum aligned with Florida Birth to Five Learning and Developmental Standards.
• Model best practices and strategies in areas such as language and emerging literacy, approaches to learning, physical health, cognitive and general knowledge, motor development, and social and emotional development.
• Provide resources and support to teachers and directors to establish and sustain print-rich early literacy environments, including cost-effective strategies.
• Conduct observations of teachers and provide constructive feedback to further skill development.
• Develop and/or coordinate infant-toddler research-based language and literacy resources for teachers.
• Develop and deliver a minimum of one parent training and two provider trainings per quarter on topics related to CDA content areas.
• Document all training and technical assistance in an approved database and maintain backup documents as required.
• Stay informed of current trends and new professional techniques through workshops, conferences, and reading professional publications.
• Assist teachers in developing curriculum activities, lesson plans, and routines that produce positive school readiness outcomes for children.
• Assist teachers in collecting assessment data, including portfolios, developmental checklists, and individual ongoing assessments.
• Establish mentoring relationships built on mutual trust and respect with assigned program directors and staff.
• Model strategies for inclusion in classrooms and family child care home providers.
• Maintain confidentiality regarding information accessed during job duties.
• Implement the coalition’s anti-fraud plan in daily activities related to prevention, detection, investigation, and reporting of potential fraud or abuse.
• Perform other related duties as required to maintain the success of the organization.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s or advanced degree in Education, Child Development, or a related field.
• 1-3 years of early childhood teaching experience.
• Experience teaching, coaching, or mentoring adults preferred (a comparable amount of training, education, or experience may be substituted).

Skills & Knowledge

• Strong commitment to the needs of children and the goals of the organization.
• Knowledge of and commitment to standards set by DCF, NAEYC, CDA, State Partnership of School Readiness, and other relevant agencies.
• Ability to articulate, demonstrate, and train others in current early childhood education practices.

Certifications & Licenses

• Valid driver’s license and proof of automobile insurance.
• Satisfactory driving record (as outlined in the Vehicle Driving Policy).
• Must obtain CLASS certification within one year of start date and maintain reliability for CLASS assessments.
• Must obtain certification as a Lastinger Early Childhood Certified Technical Assistance Coach.
• Required certificates of acknowledgement: Conflict of Interest, Code of Ethics, Confidentiality agreements, IT Systems and Security, Anti-Fraud, HR Employee Acknowledgement Form.

Working Conditions

• Works primarily in an office environment.
• Local travel to multiple sites is required; some out-of-town travel possible.
• Some night and weekend work required.

Physical Requirements

• Acceptable eyesight (with or without correction).
• Acceptable hearing (with or without correction).
• Ability to communicate both orally and in writing.
• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs. (Reasonable accommodations will be made for otherwise qualified individuals with a disability).

Pay

$26.20 per hour