School Readiness Liaison - Benton City

About the Role

This position works supportively with teaching staff and home educators, coordinating and taking leadership to achieve school readiness goals for each classroom in the center. The School Readiness Liaison oversees the daily operations of Head Start Classrooms at Inspire Development Centers, which provides Early Childhood Education (ECE) and social services to over 4,000 children across more than 27 Child Development Centers in Washington State. The role involves adhering to various federal and state-funded program regulations, including Regional Head Start (RHS), Migrant Seasonal Head Start (MSHS), Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP), and Early Head Start (EHS). The agency is required to meet an annual quota of non-federal share (in-kind) funds, and a large majority of children’s first language is Spanish.

Responsibilities

• School Readiness Plan: Monitor and implement program and classroom school readiness goals. Coordinate kindergarten transition meetings and maintain communication between the center and local School Districts.
• Professional Development: Identify training needs and provide onsite training and support to teaching staff on curriculum planning, child assessment, child-teacher interactions, and strategies for working with culturally, linguistically, and developmentally diverse groups of children.
• Classroom Daily Operations: Assist the Center Manager and Center Administrative Assistant in formulating classroom staffing and work schedules. Monitor compliance with required staff-child ratios at all times.
• Collaboration with Center Management: Provide feedback to the Center Manager about teaching staff performance and staffing patterns. Participate in ECE personnel interviews and recommend purchases of classroom supplies, materials, and equipment.
• Observation: Conduct regular classroom observations to assess teacher skill levels.
• Planning/Development: Develop and follow up on individualized teacher plans.
• Resource Development: Identify and utilize appropriate resources to enhance classroom teaching quality. Assist teaching staff in resolving concerns by defining issues and selecting strategies for remediation.
• Relationship Building: Establish and maintain positive, trusting, and supportive relationships with teaching staff and home educators.
• Cultural Sensitivity: Work with parents and teaching staff to foster positive self-identity in all children and families.
• Communication: Utilize effective communication skills, including building trust, active listening, and reflective inquiry. Foster planning and cooperation through meetings and ongoing feedback.
• Confidential Information: Maintain confidentiality of health records, participant personal information, and income details.
• In-Kind Contributions: Contribute to activities that foster in-kind fund contributions, including requesting goods, services, cash donations, and encouraging volunteerism from professionals, community members, and parents.

Requirements

• AA Degree in ECE or an Associate’s Degree with 30 ECE-related college credits.
• Experience teaching infant/toddler and/or preschool children.
• English/Spanish bilingual fluency.
• Extensive knowledge of child development theories and practices.
• Working knowledge of curriculum development and planning.
• Experience working in a federally funded and regulated environment.
• Experience in policy and procedure processes.
• Experience in planning and facilitating groups.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Experience in classroom risk management.
• Understanding of the interrelationships between services and systems.
• Ability to learn new tasks quickly and handle multiple tasks simultaneously while meeting deadlines.
• Proficiency with personal computers, including Microsoft Office.
• Accurate data management, documentation, and recordkeeping skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous Head Start experience.
• Current Infant/Toddler Child Development Associate (CDA) or equivalent certificate.
• BA Degree in ECE or a Bachelor’s Degree with 30 ECE-related college credits and experience teaching infant/toddler and/or preschool children.

Position Requirements

• Must be at least 18 years of age.
• Valid Washington State driver’s license.
• Must provide a yearly driving abstract and maintain acceptable driving history.
• Proof of automobile insurance.
• Ability to travel to perform job duties.
• Must pass initial and periodic criminal and background checks, including Department of Early Learning (DEL) background checks.
• Must pass initial and periodic employee health clearance (within 45 days of employment).
• Current Food Handler card (obtain within 30 days of employment).
• Current First Aid/CPR cards (obtain within 30 days of employment).
• Subject to initial and periodic TB screen.
• Complete Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV/AIDS) training and Blood Borne Pathogen training within 30 days of employment.
• Subject to random drug screening.
• Obtain fifteen (15) hours of continuing in-service training annually.
• Must sign a Confidentiality Agreement and complete an annual Conflict of Interest Disclosure Statement.

Benefits

A summary of benefits associated with this position can be found at Inspire Development Centers Careers. Additional information is available in this video overview.