Early Learning Specialist

Reports to: Program Manager
Status: Part Time, 20 hours per week
FLSA: Non-Exempt
Hiring Range: $19-23
Location: Main Site
Closing Date: Open until filled

We are looking for an Early Learning Specialist to support our One-on-One Core Parent Child Program and Home-Based Child-care program by providing education on childhood development and coaching families/providers to integrate play-based learning in the home. The Early Learning Specialist visits enrolled families at their homes and the family childcare providers in their daycares/home at least twice per week to provide support and services. Meet their basic needs and housing, help maintain their licensure, and support with any other challenges that jeopardize their ability to stay open and provide high quality childcare.

Voices of Tomorrow (VOT) is a community-based organization operating in King County. Voices of Tomorrow works to break the cycle of educational disparity to create better futures for East African children. We weave together community voice, language, cultural heritage, and parenting practices with evidenced based, culturally responsive early learning for children and the parents and providers that make up their world. We advocate for our communities' needs and prepare community members to advocate for their families' needs.

RESPONSIBILITIES: Under general supervision of the Program Manager the Early Learning Specialist will have specific responsibilities but may not be limited to:

• Recruit, enroll, train, and equip Families/ Childcare Providers as per the program criteria
• Participate in outreach/ marketing efforts to spread awareness and enroll required children/childcares as per the program requirement.
• Continually recruit and intake interested families all year long.
• Have at least 2 visits per week per client. This is a yearlong continuous program until the children graduate.
• Provide referrals to ongoing training, technical assistance, and coaching to improve Parent, caretakers, and childcare provider’ early childhood education skills.
• Provide educational books, toys, and learning resources to families/childcare providers.
• Provide support with basic needs, social emotional needs, education support materials, health, finance and social support for the families and childcares we serve.
• Provide support in standardized assessments, developmental screenings and referrals to intervention as needed for children in Parental/Provider’s childcare.
• Convene socialization nights and put together activities and opportunities for peer learning for Parents/ caretakers/ childcare providers
• Input data using database systems - provide weekly family/provider contacts and visits, and update family/provider visit data
• Model reading and play for parents and providers to help build relationships between providers and families

• Document development and progress of providers teacher-child interaction along with other documentation requirements for the program and organization.
• Show a commitment to professional development and engage in ongoing learning with meaningful activities leading to growth.
• Provide strong language models and many opportunities for children to develop language.
• Create and translate materials in the home language of the providers and the families served.
• Attends and participates in weekly supervisory and training (minimum two-hour) staff meetings Learn and complete any assessments/documentation required by stakeholders.
• Keeps all family information confidential except as required by law
• Be flexible with locations, schedule and assigned work. Location/work and schedule may change as per team/program needs. Support other programs at Voices of Tomorrow as and when needed (on supervisors' directions)
• Support, assist and take ownership of tasks, inventory management and organization of materials.
• Requires picking up boxes of books/toys and arranging them in storage.
• Be comfortable with technology, excel, data checks and data entry.
• Participate and complete required trainings and knowledge checks.
• In addition to the above, participate and complete duties as assigned to meet deliverables for the program.

POSITION REQUIREMENTS: Minimum requirements include at least 2 years’ relevant experience. An AA in ECE or CDA, ECE certificate required. Additional expectations include:

• Bi-lingual/Multi-lingual Speaker (preferred)
• Reliable source of transportation, driver’s license, and insurance
• Basic computer skills
• First Aid/CPR
• Portable Background Check with MERIT.

Skill Set/Characteristics

• Warmth and patience in dealing with toddlers and providers/families.
• Enjoys working independently and carrying out work responsibilities without daily supervision.
• Non-judgmental attitude toward families and other staff.
• Is flexible in the home setting, can respond to a variety of circumstances as they occur, and shows good judgment in seeking support and guidance when needed.
• Interested in learning about the model and in being a life-long learner.
• Knows the community they will be working in.
• Experience working with young children or with community-based organizations.

Hiring Process: To apply, please email your resume and cover letter to hr@tomorrowvoices.org. Voices of Tomorrow is an equal opportunity employer. Please let us know if you require any accommodation.

More about Voices of Tomorrow’s (“VOT”).

VOT’s mission is to preserve immigrant & refugee children’s identity through culturally responsive child-focused programs. Our agency works closely with community partners to eliminate racial inequities in the Early Learning System which deeply affect Immigrant and Refugee children’s growth, development, and academic performances. Early childhood is the most critical phase of human development. The focus of VOT is to create early learning programs that preserves the child’s culture and language, while advancing African indigenous parenting practices and community-driven narratives. Substantial research shows that early adversity, including loss of a language, is associated with diminished health across the life course and across generations.

Our work is guided by the following foundational principles:

RACIAL EQUITY. Community representation is paramount in all of Voices of Tomorrow’s programs, policies, and activities. Program components are grounded in community needs and programs are designed with the input of the communities we serve.

CULTURAL RESPONSIVENESS. We strive to create opportunities to preserve culture through the celebration of diversity. We welcome all who apply their resources, cultural knowledge, and experience to address solutions for removing barriers facing our community.

HEALTH AND SAFETY. Embedded in our work is an understanding that good prenatal and early childhood mental health is foundational to reducing long term stressors and negative impacts into adulthood.

STRENGTHS-BASED. Our programs are designed to empower families and communities to use the existing knowledge of their families and communities enabling resiliency in a manner in which they can share their knowledge through the education of core life skills.

CHILD FOCUS. We encourage parents and caregivers to foster positive relationships with children and caregivers, as strong family bonds give children their best start in early childhood development.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $19.00 - $23.00 per hour

Expected hours: 40 per week

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Monday to Friday

Work Location: In person