Full time – 40 Hours per week
The Infant and Toddler Specialist designs, coordinates, delivers and evaluates training and professional development within a designated region too increase the capacity of early care and education programs (child care centers and family day homes) to deliver high quality services to infants and toddlers.
COMPENSATION/BENEFITS
- Salary range: $56,000
- 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. Click here for full position description. Email CV/resume to Shannon Banks at sbanks@readykidscville.org. ReadyKids is a drug-free workplace. EOE/ADA/AA.
ReadyKids is committed to a diverse and equitable workplace. We believe diversity of identity, thought, approach, and experience provide the optimal environment for our growth, learning, and success. We aim to create a safe space where everyone belongs and can contribute to the organization in a way that is authentic and genuine to them.
POSITION QUALIFICATIONS
Education & Experience
- 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 infant and toddler development, experience with child care or other early care settings.
- Must possess a strong knowledge base in child growth and development, including planning and implementing developmentally appropriate early care and education for infants and toddlers.
Skills
- Must possess excellent planning, organization, and time management skills, the ability to mentor and coach adult learners, the capacity to build collaborative partnerships with stakeholders, and provide services that are culturally competent and appropriate to the needs of the target audience.
- Must possess the capacity to plan and conduct training for adults.
- Must exercise independent judgment and initiative in working with stakeholders, IT caregivers/teachers, directors, families, and staff to carry out regional activities.
- 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 and VQB5.
- 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).
- Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office Suite, videoconferencing, teaching or webinar tools (e.g., Zoom, Canvas), virtual platforms (e.g., Sharepoint, OneDrive)
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, and statewide as needed.
TECHNICAL COMPETENCIES
Human Service Knowledge and Abilities
- Maintain current CPR/First Aid certification
Assessment/Case Planning/Service Provision
- Uses data to plan work scope and monitor timelines.
- Work with stakeholders, IT caregivers/teachers, directors, and families to provide services:
- Coaching – –support high quality care and education in infant and toddler classrooms in VQB5 programs through coaching, access and implementation of curriculum, and through training, prioritizing publicly funded sites participating in VQB5.
- 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. - Informally assess program quality and identify strengths and areas for improvement.
- Support the implementation of high quality, approved curriculum for infant, toddler, or family day home settings through training, technical assistance, or coaching related to the basic principles of curriculum use.
- Provide training on topics that support effective classroom and learning outcomes, for caregivers, teachers, and directors with a focus on learning experiences and teacher child interactions, use of curriculum and instructional materials in an effective early learning classroom/environment, and promote use of Virginia’s Early Learning and Development Standards.
- Coordinate coaching and recruitment approaches with VDOE, Ready Regions and other Improvement
- Provide ongoing coaching using finalized ITSN coaching model and intervention plan throughout the span of the Agreement with a focus on
- Training and Technical Assistance – provide training and technical assistance on infant and toddler topics to support professional competency and effective program operations, based on regional and state needs, for early care providers and directors prioritizing publicly funded sites participating in VQB5.
- Provide ongoing training and technical assistance using the finalized VA ITSN Professional Competency Training Plan for caregivers, teacher and directors, prioritizing publicly funded sites participating in VQB5, focusing on the following topics:
- High-quality interactions
- Curriculum use
- Inclusion and Early Intervention
- VDOE Infant/Toddler Endorsement Courses to support providers obtaining the endorsement by 6/30/2024
- Training on the use of CLASS scores to assess training needs and the use of professional development plans
- Conduct director forums as a mechanism for providing ongoing TA and support.
- Coordinate training and recruitment approaches with Ready Region and other Improvement Partners who provide training, as appropriate.
- Conduct training sessions at regional and cross-regional institutes and state conferences for infant and toddler providers.
- Provide ongoing training and technical assistance using the finalized VA ITSN Professional Competency Training Plan for caregivers, teacher and directors, prioritizing publicly funded sites participating in VQB5, focusing on the following topics:
- Coaching – –support high quality care and education in infant and toddler classrooms in VQB5 programs through coaching, access and implementation of curriculum, and through training, prioritizing publicly funded sites participating in VQB5.
Reporting/Documentation/Evaluation
- Maintains accurate records by inputting required information into database following program activities and assists in preparing monthly outcome reports.
- Completes training for Language Environment Analysis (LENA®),Classroom Assessment Scoring SystemTM (CLASSTM), and CLASS EnvironmentTM within first year of employment.
- Maintains certification for CLASSTM .
Supervision
- Be prepared and meet 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.
- Work with Program Director to assess program effectiveness and individual performance through outcome evaluation.
- Works with Network Quality Coordinator to Plan work scope and monitor time lines.
- Participates in staff meetings, including ITS orientation, and all other trainings as required by position.
- Consults with Network Quality Coordinator on a quarterly basis, at a minimum, to discuss caseload progress and program issues.
- Develops a portfolio of their work in the region.
- Complies with VA ITSN Program Procedures Guide
- Perform other job-related duties as requested by supervisor
Community Collaboration and Training
- Develops a portfolio of their work in the region
- Will complete annual professional development plan in collaboration with regional office supervisor.
- Attend or conduct training in the evening or during weekends, as needed.
- Works with Network Quality Coordinator to discuss ongoing individual TA needs.
Additional Responsibilities As Specified by VA ITSN
- Return all materials and equipment acquired with grant funds to 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.