Job description

JOB DESCRIPTION

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Title: Education Specialist – Head Start*
Reports to: Associate Director of Education
FLSA: Exempt

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Job Responsibilities: *

• Learns and adheres to the philosophy and mandates of Head Start/Early Head Start as outlined in the Performance Standards, licensing requirements, and the Policies and Procedures of Greater Bergen Community Action
• Assists the Associate Director of Education with planning and designing programs and systems to accommodate current needs and future expansion
• Assists the Associate Director of Education in the administration and coordination of the Education Content Area of the program
• Ensures children receive as much individual attention as possible and must supervise all children all the time by using your eyes and ears
• Serves as resource to staff and parents in implementing the Head Start/Early Head Start Performance Standards and other policies that relate to the Education Content Areas and on early childhood education and development
• Communicates with staff to share information, build skills, oversee performance and resolve problems
• Collaborates with the director, area director, associate directors, content area specialists and supervisors to help ensure that services are integrated into one comprehensive program
• Serves as an advocate for quality programs for children and families
• Works with the Associate Director of Education in the annual review and if necessary, revises and updates the Early Childhood Development and Health Service Content Plan
• Works with the Associate Director of Education to implement a process to select and adapt a curriculum that is consistent with the Head Start/Early Head Start Performance Standards and early childhood development theory. Reviews and updates yearly
• When necessary, plan for and participate in home visits, parent/teacher conferences and back to school events. These activities will be scheduled during the day and evening
• Works with the Associate Director of Education, personnel committee and content area specialists in the selection of personnel as requested
• Assists in providing orientation to all new education personnel and substitute personnel
• Promotes a commitment to and understanding of the School Readiness Plan and the Education Content Plan among staff
• Assists with providing and/or arranging for training of the curriculum
• Assists staff in designing and/or using a learning environment that supports the curriculum
• Assists with selecting the equipment and materials for developmental activities with the staff
• Reviews schedules and helps the staff achieve a balance of activities in the classroom
• Clarifies the role of discipline and helps staff develop skills in promoting self-control and a positive self-image in each child
• Ensures that staff observes and records children’s behavior and activities on a daily basis and uses this information to individualize the program
• Where necessary, reviews weekly plans of the classroom staff to ensure that they reflect an understanding of the curriculum, individualization, and coordination with other components
• Assists the Family Workers in planning and/or conducting training for parents
• Promotes the meaningful involvement of parents in planning the curriculum and helping in the classroom
• Promotes staff understanding of policies and procedures and ensures that the Education/Health Components adhere to these policies and procedures
• Participates in the development and refinement of local policies and procedures that guide the Education/Health Components
• Assists with reviewing records for the Education/Health Components and ensures that other records kept by the education/health staff are maintained as required
• Assists with setting, clarifying, and communicating job standards for the education staff
• Supports and promotes the Head Start/Early Head Start Performance Standards and local standards applicable to Head Start and Early Head Start
• Assists with establishing and maintaining written and verbal communication systems for the Education/Health Content Areas
• Assists with regularly scheduled education staff meetings
• Provides individualized supervision based on continual assessment of the skills, knowledge, motivation, and attitudes of staff
• Conducts regular observation of staff performance and provides written feedback to staff
• Conducts formal staff performance evaluations according to the program’s policies and procedures
• Assists with establishing and implementing procedures for orienting and supervising community volunteers for classroom placement
• Assesses the needs of staff for training and technical assistance
• Identifies training needs that grow out of program evaluations and on-going observations
• Offers on-going training and technical assistance to staff
• Promotes staff involvement in obtaining and/or renewing of CDA and their participation in professional organizations
• Encourages staff to take advantage of opportunities to promote their own professional development
• Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with management, clients, representatives of community organizations and other staff members
• Assumes and performs any other additional assignment as directed by the Director and/or Area Director in order to ensure the effective servicing of the clients in our care

• Responsible for the overall safety of each child in the GBCA HS/EHS program
• According to the New Jersey mandated reporting guidelines, any person having reasonable cause to believe that a child has been subjected to abuse or acts of abuse should immediately report this information to the State Central Registry (SCR). If the child is in immediate danger, call 911 as well as 1-877 NJ ABUSE (1-877-652-2873)

Qualifications:
TIER I

• Master’s degree in early childhood education or related field
• NJ Master Teacher certification a plus
• NJ P-3
• Valid NJ driver’s license
• Computer skills

TIER II

• BA/BS in Early Childhood Education or a related field
• NJ p-3 certificate
• NJ Master Teacher certification a plus
• Valid driver’s license
• computer skills

TIER III

• BA/BS or higher in Early Childhood Education or a related field
• NJ p-3 certificate a plus
• valid driver’s license
• computer skills

Knowledge of:

• Writing, filing and maintaining concise and accurate reports, correspondence and other written materials

• Modern theories, methods and practices of assigned areas of responsibility and expertise, including early childhood education, social services, emotional and/or physical health, and learning and/or physical disabilities
• Federal, state and local laws and regulations applicable to the Head Start program and the assigned areas of responsibility and expertise
• Head Start Performance Standards
• Modern theories, principles and practices of supervision, including training and staff development
• Record keeping and filing practices and procedures

• *Ability to:

• Organize, set priorities and exercise sound independent judgment within areas of assigned responsibility
• Interpret, apply, explain and reach sound decisions in accordance with regulations, policies and procedures
• Organize and maintain specialized documentation and maintain workable file system
• Comprehend and apply laws, regulations, policies and procedures relative to the provision of social services.
• Instruct and train individuals in a group setting and/or one-on-one.
• Communicate effectively orally and in writing.
• Prepare clear, concise and accurate reports, correspondence and other written materials
• Exercise tact, objectivity, sensitivity, strategy and judgment in dealing with volunteers, parents and staff
• Assign, schedule, review and evaluate the work of assigned staff

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Physical and Mental Demands: *
The physical and mental demands described here are representative of those that must be met by employees to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with a disability to perform the essential functions.

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Physical Demands: *
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit or stand for long periods; talk or hear, both in person and by telephone, use hands to finger, handle, feel or operate standard office equipment, reach with hands and arms; and lift or move up to fifty pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.

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Mental Demands: *
While performing the duties of this job, employees are regularly required to use written and oral communication skills; read and interpret data, information and documents; analyze and solve problems, observe and interpret situations; learn and apply new information or skills; perform work on multiple, concurrent tasks; and interact with program management staff, volunteers, representatives of public agencies and community organization and others encountered in the course of work.

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Work Environment: *
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The employee may have occasional contact with abusive and/or physically violent clients. If the employee works in typical office conditions, the noise level is generally quiet. If the employee works in a classroom setting, the noise level could be above a standard noise level.

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AAP/EEO Statement*
Greater Bergen Community Action, Inc. provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.
Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $57,785.00 - $66,939.60 per year

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