Full time – 40 Hours per week
The Infant and Toddler Specialist designs, coordinates, delivers, and evaluates training and professional development within a designated region to increase the capacity of early care and education programs (child care and family care) to deliver high quality services to infants and toddlers.
POSITION QUALIFICATIONS
Education
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in infant and toddler or early childhood education, child development, human services, social work or related field required. Master’s degree preferred.
- A minimum of two years of infant and toddler (IT) experience, with five years of experience preferred, or any combination of training and experience which provides the required skills, knowledge, and abilities.
- Demonstrated expertise in IT development, experience with child care or other early care settings.
Skills
- Must be able to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate orally in person, virtually, by telephone, and in writing with stakeholders, IT caregivers/teachers, directors, families, and those from diverse populations.
- Must possess knowledge of center-based child care and family child care VDOE health and safety requirements.
- Must possess the skills and ability to use equipment necessary to carry out job responsibilities (e.g., computer and training software, cell/telephone, facsimile machine, projectors, digital cameras, and video recorders).
Other
- Must be able to travel throughout the region, including overnight travel as needed.
- Must maintain a valid motor vehicle operator’s license and will maintain at all times a motor vehicle insurance policy. It is suggested that the employee carries at least the minimum limits of liability of $300,000 combined single limit or $100/300/100 split limits ($100,000 per occurrence, $300,000 per accident for bodily injury, $100,000 per accident for property damage), dependable transportation.
- Must have a negative TB test, and a child protective services, criminal record, and sexual offenders’ registry screening.
- Must be physically able to independently operate a vehicle and travel independently throughout the region, statewide, and occasionally out-of-state, as needed, including overnights and/or on weekends.
TECHNICAL COMPETENCIES
Human Service Knowledge and Abilities
- Maintain current CPR/First Aid certification
Assessment/Case Planning/Service Provision
- Work with training coordinator to plan work scope and monitor time lines.
- Completes training and inter-rater reliability requirements for the ITERS-R and FCCERS-R; Language Environment Analysis (LENA) and Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS) and within first year of employment.
- Maintain inter-rater reliability on ITERS-R and FCCERS-R and assist, as needed, in post assessments.
- Maintain inter-rater reliability for LENA and CLASS.
- Work with stakeholders, IT caregivers/teachers, directors, and families to provide three levels of service:
- Coaching – provide ongoing coaching using finalized ITSN coaching model and intervention plan throughout the span of the agreement with a focus on teacher-child interactions and use of approved curriculum.
- Assess program quality and identify strengths and areas for improvement.
- Work collaboratively with the program director and Ready Region office as needed, to develop a written ITSN Coaching Model and Intervention Plan.
- Provide on-site consultation and targeted training; classroom-focused mentoring; modeling; video-taping and feedback; problem-solving; and, print materials to reach goals and outcomes specified in the ITSN Coaching Model and Intervention Plan.
- Training – provide support to build effective classrooms and learning environments through training to improve and assure the continuing quality of their services to infants and toddlers.
- Provide training on topics that support effective classroom and learning environments for caregivers, teachers, and directors, prioritizing publicly funded sites participating in VQB5, focusing on the following topics:
- Learning experiences and teacher child interactions.
- Based on VQB5 or VDOE data, use of frequently utilized curriculum and instructional materials in an effective early learning classroom/environment, including classroom structures/schedules and routines/setting up an environment for infants and toddlers
- Promote the use of Virginia’s Early Learning and Development Standards (ELDS)
- VA ITSN will provide the option to receive follow-up support to implement the information reviewed during the ITSN training or training from other entities
- Conduct director forums as a mechanism for providing ongoing TA and support
- Provide training on topics that support effective classroom and learning environments for caregivers, teachers, and directors, prioritizing publicly funded sites participating in VQB5, focusing on the following topics:
- Training and Technical Assistance – Training and Technical Assistance will be provided to early care providers and directors on infant/toddler topics to support professional competency and effective classroom/site operations, based on regional and state needs. Training and technical assistance topics will focus on a variety of topics, largely dependent on region, and on topics of competencies not already offered in the community.
- Link programs to the VA ITS Network’s website
- Provide IT resources in a variety of formats
- Link individuals with other state and national early childhood initiatives
- Conduct audio conferences, email, and telephone consultation
- Provide support/incentives to encourage caregivers/teachers to participate in professional development
- Establish and maintain linkages with key stakeholders within the region
- Foster partnerships with individuals from other community agencies serving infants and toddlers and/or providing professional development
- Conduct training sessions at regional and cross-regional institutes and state conferences for infant and toddler providers
- Coaching – provide ongoing coaching using finalized ITSN coaching model and intervention plan throughout the span of the agreement with a focus on teacher-child interactions and use of approved curriculum.
Reporting/Documentation/Evaluation
- Work with Program Director to assess program effectiveness and individual performance through outcome evaluation
- Maintains accurate records by inputting required information into database following program activities and assist in preparing monthly outcome reports
- Develop a portfolio of their work in the region
Supervision
- Be prepared and meet regularly with Program Director as required to discuss assigned program activities
- Participate in group supervision and training sessions, team meetings, and program meetings
- Be prepared for and provide input at team and other agency meetings
- Consult with training coordinator on a quarterly basis, at a minimum, to discuss caseload progress and program issues
- Will complete annual professional development plan in collaboration with regional office supervisor
- Comply with VA ITSN Program Procedures guide and meet target goals
- Perform other job-related duties as requested by supervisor
Community Collaboration and Training
- Share professional knowledge with other ReadyKids staff
- Participate in staff meetings, including ITS orientation, and all other trainings as required by position
- Participate in local, state, and national meetings and conferences, as directed
- Work with training coordinator to discuss ongoing individual TA needs
- Attend or conduct training in the evening or during weekends, as needed
Additional Responsibilities As Specified by VA ITSN
- Sign an agreement to remain in the ITS position for a minimum of 18 months or in the event of leaving the position within 18 months of hire to reimburse CDR for all training expenses (approximately $10,000).
- Return all materials acquired with grant money to the regional office upon termination of employment.
CORE COMPETENCIES
All ReadyKids Employees will…
Relational:
- Actively promote vital connections between children, caregivers, staff, and our community partners.
- Resolve issues with the person(s) most directly involved by sharing your thoughts and feelings directly and respectfully, remembering that others have thoughts and feelings, too.
- Recognize each person’s uniqueness and strengths. Treat people in a caring and respectful fashion, mindful of individual, cultural and ethnic differences.
- Be respectful in verbal and written communication to and about participants and colleagues.
- Maintain appropriate professional boundaries with participants, colleagues and donors.
- Protect privacy and confidentiality of participants, colleagues and donors.
Engaged:
- Fully embrace our mission and vision, actively contribute to meeting them, and serve as an ambassador to engage the community in our efforts by providing clear and accurate information regarding the agency’s function and current programs.
- Participate in the decision-making process as opportunities are available to inform agency and program decisions.
- Participate in scheduled agency and other team meetings.
Adaptable:
- Recognize that one way does not work for everyone and stay flexible in our approach and thinking. Maintain flexibility in order to change when things change.
- Present solutions along with problems with the goal of getting to yes. Stay open to new ideas and offer suggestions for new ways of doing things.
- Be proactive; give and receive input and seek solutions that balance the needs of the individual, program, agency, and community.
Driven:
- Maintain the highest integrity in all aspects of agency and program operations and duties.
- Utilize evidence-based and best practice models and strategies to provide the best opportunity for success.
- Set appropriate priorities and make progress toward performance-based goals established for self, program, and agency.
- Be accountable for individual and program results and give and receive feedback to improve individual, program, and agency performance.
- Seek and utilize all available sources of data on an ongoing basis to inform decision-making in completion of all job duties.
- Reflect on individual, program and agency results for continuous learning and quality improvement.
You:
- Participate in professional development and supervision to seek guidance, expand knowledge, and develop use of best practices.
- Maintain passion and commitment to the agency’s work and participants.
- Do your part to ensure the health and well-being of the entire organization.
- Respect and protect agency-owned property and assets and use agency resources for business-appropriate purposes.
COMPENSATION/BENEFITS
- Salary range: $46,000-$55,000
- ReadyKids pays 100% health, dental, and life insurance premiums for employee only plans
- Voluntary vision and supplemental insurance
- Generous paid vacation and sick leave; paid holidays
- Employer-matched retirement plan
Open until filled. ReadyKids is seeking a diverse pool of applicants; all are encouraged to apply. Email CV/resume to Shannon Banks at [email protected]. ReadyKids is a drug-free workplace. EOE/ADA/AA.