Inclusion and Support Coach - Head Start - Part-time

MWVCAA invests in people and their futures to reduce the impacts of poverty. We envision a community where all people are respected for their infinite worth and supported to reach a positive future. Working at MWVCAA means becoming part of a mission-driven community dedicated to equity, dignity, and opportunity for all.

About the role

As an Inclusion and Support Coach, you will provide supportive services to children and staff when children have behavioral or developmental concerns in the classroom. You will assist in classrooms with high-needs children, model strategies for teaching staff, and maintain information in ChildPlus and Excel spreadsheets. This position collaborates with the multi-disciplinary support team to identify children and classrooms needing additional support and to plan those supports. This team offers growth opportunities and professional development through hands-on experience and education.

This is a non-benefitted position up to 19 hours weekly, not guaranteed.

Responsibilities

• Conducts objective observations at assigned classrooms.
• Prepares observation reports and debriefs with teaching staff and their Regional Team Resource Specialist.
• Develops competence in working with children with mental health issues or disabilities and provides ongoing assessment of assigned children's growth and development.
• Provides one-on-one support to a child or groups of children in the classroom to support their social-emotional development, as assigned.
• Provides a supportive, emotional climate when participating in classroom activities to enhance a child's understanding of themselves and in relation to others.
• Anticipates and acts upon children's needs and difficulties.
• Uses the Head Start ChildPlus and applicable data systems for collection and tracking of child and family data.
• Maintains ongoing documentation from communications with staff, families, and service agencies.
• Creates, reviews, and revises Excel spreadsheets for tracking services.
• Prepares instructional materials for classrooms as prescribed or requested by supervisor.
• Participates in solution-based planning with Head Start and Early Head Start Specialists and community partner consultants.
• Performs other reasonably related business duties as assigned by immediate supervisor and other management.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, or a related field with a minimum of 18 credit hours of coursework in Early Childhood Education or Child Development.
• Three years of experience in Early Intervention, Early Childhood Special Education, and/or Head Start.
• Valid driver license, insured vehicle available for use on the job, and a satisfactory driving record for the previous three years.
• Successful registration with the Central Background Registry of the Child Care Division.
• CPR/First Aid Certification or the ability to obtain within 60 days of hire.
• Food Handlers Card or the ability to obtain within 30 days of hire.
• Pass pre-employment physical examination, renewable every two years.
• Ability to become a reliable Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS) observer and participate in the CLASS assessment process.
• Pass pre-employment and random drug screenings.

Skills

• Familiar with early childhood concerns such as developmental delay, communication disorder, ASD, ADHD, and sensory impairments.
• Demonstrated proficiency in Microsoft Office (including Outlook), videoconferencing platforms, and web tools.
• Ability to work with adults to promote understanding of child development and special education services.
• Ability to effectively communicate information to large and small groups.
• Able to remain calm during situations where staff or clients may be escalated.
• Able to mitigate stress associated with a busy office and regular deadlines.

Physical and Mental Demands

• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties and responsibilities.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and ability to adjust focus.
• Occasionally lift up to 10 pounds.
• Manual dexterity for handling office equipment.

Work Environment

• Mostly indoor classroom environment.
• Frequent indoor and outdoor supervision of children, including high-needs children who exhibit difficult behaviors.
• Frequent outdoor supervision of children and monitoring pick up/drop off.