MECK Pre-K Success Coach

About the role

Smart Start of Mecklenburg County (Smart Start or SSMC) is a Charlotte-based non-profit that funds local programs for children ages birth to five and their families. The organization is a catalyst for improving the lives of the 85,000+ young children in our community, with a focus on health, family, early education, and literacy. We mobilize resources and forge partnerships to support evidence-based policies, practices, and programs to ensure all children enter kindergarten healthy and ready to succeed.

This position works with childcare center administrators, the MECK Pre-K Curriculum and Teacher Support Manager, and all MECK Pre-K Support staff to provide direct support and leadership to MECK Pre-K teachers related to state and county standards in high-quality, early childhood instruction. The MECK Pre-K Success Coach serves as a resource for teachers to ensure program services meet MECK Pre-K classroom policies, specifically the implementation of the Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS), Creative Curriculum, and Teaching Strategies GOLD.

Anticipated start date: August 15, 2026. This is a full-time, exempt position.

Responsibilities

• Supports the philosophy and vision of SSMC and MECK Pre-K program, modeling and setting a high standard of evidence-based instructional practices aligned to State and MECK Pre-K Program policies.
• Conducts regular site visits to observe teacher-student interactions and classroom instruction, providing specific feedback, instructional recommendations, and discussing next steps with teaching teams and site administrators.
• Assesses and supports the needs of assigned teachers, serving as a resource to teaching teams (teacher & assistant teacher).
• Guides teachers in developmentally appropriate content pedagogy, learning environments, planning and assessment, instructional strategies, reflective practices, and effective family/community/school relationships.
• Guides teachers in implementing evidence-based practices for addressing the needs of children with unique learning needs, including challenging behavior.
• Collaborates with other Success Coaches and the MECK Pre-K Support Team to arrange professional development opportunities supporting teachers' needs related to evidence-based practices.
• Participates in appropriate professional groups and committees, seeking consultation from the MECK Pre-K Support Team or external agencies as needed.
• Attends required professional development, including CLASS certification, Teachstone Training Modules, Teaching Strategies (Curriculum & GOLD), UNCC-EESLPD Orientation, and Teacher Evaluation training.
• Reviews, analyzes, and interprets data from CLASS assessments and Teaching Strategies fidelity tools to ensure Creative Curriculum and Teaching Strategies GOLD are implemented with fidelity.
• Conducts CLASS™ observations in assigned MECK Pre-K classrooms where the coach does not directly support the teacher.
• Provides onsite embedded professional development through side-by-side coaching techniques, including observations, modeling lessons, and videotaping to support evidence-based practices.
• Assists teachers in aligning teaching practices with appropriate standards, curriculum, and assessments (e.g., CLASS, Creative Curriculum, Teaching Strategies GOLD).
• Coordinates and collaborates with partner agency staff providing Technical Assistance (TA) to assigned teachers and/or classrooms.
• Conducts regular conferences with new teachers, teacher assistants, and site administrators to ensure consistent implementation of high-quality teaching practices.
• Encourages teachers to join Pre-K PLC meetings and ensures regular attendance.
• Conducts classroom inventory assessments for new classrooms and makes recommendations for ordering materials based on results.
• Works collaboratively with site administrators, lead teachers, assistant teachers, MECK Pre-K staff, and others to promote high-quality early learning settings.
• Communicates orally and in writing with internal staff and external partners about MECK Pre-K Program coaching and support services.
• Establishes and maintains cooperative working relationships with families, school personnel, and the community, ensuring open lines of communication.
• Maintains contact logs documenting teacher observations, strategies, related activities, and action plans.
• Documents monthly reports of coaching by site and classroom through an online tracking system and submits all appropriate documentation to childcare center administrators and the MECK Pre-K Curriculum and Teacher Support Manager.
• Provides feedback to the MECK Pre-K Curriculum and Teacher Support Manager and MECK Pre-K Support Team about general teaching practices, teacher support, and specific challenges or trends observed across MECK Pre-K classrooms.

Requirements

• Minimum of BA/BS degree in early childhood education or related field. Advanced degree preferred.
• North Carolina Birth-Kindergarten (BK) or Pre-K Add-on Professional Teaching License (SP II / Continuing License).
• CLASS Pre-K Certification desired.
• Five years as a successful lead teacher in a Pre-K age classroom using the Creative Curriculum and Teaching Strategies Gold (TSG).
• Experience with Teacher Evaluation and CLASS desired.
• Three to five years of increasingly responsible and progressive leadership experience in early education programs, including direct experience with young children combined with training, mentoring, or providing TA to teachers.
• Equivalent education and experience may be considered.

Schedule

This is a full-time exempt position with a high degree of flexibility, including remote work opportunities. Occasional evening and weekend work may be required as job duties demand.

Location & Travel

This position is based in Charlotte, NC, with minor local travel during the business day. Some out-of-area and overnight travel may be expected.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job:

• Regularly required to talk or hear.
• Frequently required to stand, walk, use hands to finger, handle or feel, and reach with hands and arms.
• Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.