Infant and Toddler Specialist

Infant and Toddler Specialist- Early Head Start– Fayetteville NC

The Early Head Start Infant and Toddler Specialist will play a pivotal role in delivering exceptional support and guidance to Early Head Start programs serving children from birth to 36 months. This specialist will collaborate closely with the teaching staff to ensure that infants and toddlers receive high-quality care and education tailored to their unique developmental needs. By leveraging expertise in early childhood development, the specialist will implement best practices and innovative strategies that foster anurturing and enriching environment, promoting optimal growth and learning for our youngest learners.

Essential Functions:

• Carry out tasks related to care and education of children birth to 36 months of age as prescribed in the Head Start Performance Standards and as assigned by the Education Manager.
• Support EHS program teaching staff through a protocol of Practice-Based Coaching
• Monitoring EHS children's care, education, and development
• Monitoring classrooms through focused observations and reporting

Responsibilities:

• Ensure compliance with Head Start Performance Standards and other regulations
• Inform child care program teachers and staff about the Head Start Program Performance Standards and support their implementation through effective technical assistance strategies:
• • Monitor and report the extent to which child care program teachers and staff are able to effectively implement the HSPPS
• Support the quality of care and education for each EHS child through:
• • Regular reviews of Children's Educational Records and portfolios, including developmental screen results
  • Regular reviews of TS GOLD on-going child assessments
  • Site visits and classroom observations both formal and informal
  • Assessment and feedback on classroom management, routines, lesson plans, and environment (indoors and outdoors)
  • Modeling and coaching on high quality, responsive, developmentally, culturally, and linguistically appropriate interactions with children, fostering healthy, consistent, trusting relationships
  • Ensure that all children's communication, language, and literacy skills are promoted effectively and appropriately
  • Assist teachers with identification and referral of child concerns to Education, Mental Health, and Disabilities & Inclusion Coordinators.
• Assist child care program teachers and partner program teachers, when necessary, provide technical assistance, on the use of appropriate curricula, on-going child assessments, child routines, classroom management, and indoor and outdoor learning environments
• Support the EHS program-wide activities as a participant and contributor to:
• • EHS-CCP Education Team to assist in program planning and self-assessment
  • Monitoring of HSPPS and requirements in Caring for Our Children regarding safety in the child care programs
  • Collaborate and communicate with other EHS-CCP staff to provide support for teachers and children and their families with behavioral, medical and/or educational needs in collaboration with these focus area managers and coordinators.
• Participate in regular case management/staffing meetings as requested
• Assess whether staff in any other service area needs information from this service and ensure timely, effective communication
• Participate on program self-assessment team for annual assessment of your service areas and other service areas as requested

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education, Child Development or related field; with at least 3 years' experience working specifically with Infants and Toddlers.
• Experience working with infants and toddlers in a Head Start or similar program
• Profound knowledge of child development birth to 36 months and early childhood education best practices,
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Flexibility and adaptability to changing program needs

General Requirements:

• It is the employee's responsibility to obtain and keep current all certifications, licenses, health cards, etc., at all times. Must possess and maintain a current North Carolina driver's license and own reliable transportation with valid vehicle insurance meeting the state's minimum coverage requirements.
• Employees must be able to work independently without close supervision. Employees must be able to work well with a diverse population. The employee is required to have skills in assessment, observations, and working with children Birth to 36 months. Ability to speak Spanish as a second language is a plus.

Conditions of Employment:

• Background check with state and Federal law enforcement agencies required. Selected applicants must submit to a pre-employment substance abuse screening test and receive a negative result for the use of drugs and alcohol as specified in agency policies. Must submit and receive negative results for random testing of same. The employee must have a valid North Carolina Driver's License. Must be able to pass a post-offer physical examination.
• Action Pathways, Inc. is an "at-will" employer. Either the employee or Action Pathways, Inc. may terminate the employment arrangement at any time, with or without cause. Management has the exclusive right to alter this job description at any time without notice. The job description or announcement is not an employment agreement or contract.

Employee Benefits Package:

• Competitive pay with periodic Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA)
• Zero-cost Health, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Short-Term Disability (Employee only)
• Retirement plan with 100% employer matching
• Sick/Personal leave
• 13 Paid Holidays
• Spring Break (for Head Start)
• Paid professional development training
• Education assistance
• Auto mileage reimbursement for official travel
• Employee discounts
• Bragg Mutual Credit Union Membership
• Employee Recognition Events