Nonprofit Early Childhood Education Coordinator

Encore Fellow (Independent Contractor)

Host Organization: St. John’s Pentecostal Outreach Church Daycare Center
Location: Salem City, New Jersey
Time Commitment: 20–25 hours/week (flexible schedule)
Duration: 6–12 months
Compensation: Funded through the Community Foundation of South Jersey (CFSJ) Encore Fellows Initiative

About the Encore Fellows Initiative

The Community Foundation of South Jersey (CFSJ) Encore Fellows Initiative connects experienced older adults with local nonprofits to lead high-impact, capacity-building projects. Funded through a grant focused on promoting public service among older adults, this initiative highlights the valuable skills, experience, and perspectives older adults bring to the community.

Encore Fellows serve as independent contractors and receive a $2,000 monthly stipend from CFSJ for the duration of the project.

Project Overview

St. John’s Pentecostal Outreach Church Daycare Center is seeking an Encore Fellow to establish and launch a structured, inclusive educational support program for children ages 6–8 with diverse learning needs. The Fellow will build the systems, curriculum, classroom structure, and individualized supports necessary to create a sustainable program aligned with Grow NJ Kids quality standards and New Jersey childcare licensing requirements.

Working with a small cohort of 3–5 students, the Fellow will develop a supportive learning environment that promotes academic growth, positive behavior, independence, and social-emotional development while creating resources and procedures that can be sustained after the fellowship concludes.

Position Summary

The Encore Fellow will serve as the lead designer and coordinator of a specialized educational support program within St. John’s Daycare Center. This role combines curriculum development, individualized student planning, classroom systems design, quality assurance, staff resource development, and program sustainability planning.

The Fellow will create a replicable model that strengthens the Daycare Center’s ability to serve children with diverse academic, behavioral, and developmental needs while advancing organizational capacity and quality standards.

Key Responsibilities

Program Design & Development

• Design and establish a structured classroom environment aligned with Grow NJ Kids standards.
• Create classroom schedules, routines, behavior management systems, and instructional procedures.
• Develop intake and enrollment processes for participating students.
• Establish developmental and academic screening procedures.

Individualized Student Support

• Review and develop Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) and behavioral support plans.
• Conduct baseline assessments and establish measurable student goals.
• Create systems for tracking academic, behavioral, and social-emotional progress.
• Develop evidence-based interventions for students with diverse learning needs.

Curriculum & Instruction

• Develop a structured curriculum incorporating:
• Literacy instruction
• Mathematics instruction
• Social-emotional learning (SEL)
• Behavioral support strategies
• Create lesson plans, instructional materials, and assessment tools.
• Develop a curriculum guide that can be implemented after the fellowship ends.

Compliance & Quality Improvement

• Ensure alignment with New Jersey childcare licensing requirements.
• Develop documentation systems supporting Grow NJ Kids quality standards.
• Create policies, procedures, and compliance resources for program operations.
• Research and catalog professional development opportunities and quality improvement initiatives.

Sustainability & Capacity Building

• Train and support staff in implementing program systems.
• Create tools and templates for ongoing program management.
• Develop recommendations for future program growth and improvement.
• Prepare a final report documenting outcomes, lessons learned, and next steps.

Project Goals & Outcomes

The Encore Fellow will help St. John’s Daycare Center achieve the following outcomes:

• Launch a fully operational specialized learning support classroom by August 1, 2026.
• Enroll and support 3–5 children with diverse learning needs.
• Establish individualized learning and behavior support systems.
• Develop a replicable curriculum and instructional framework.
• Strengthen compliance with Grow NJ Kids standards and state licensing requirements.
• Increase organizational capacity to serve children requiring additional educational support.
• Create sustainable systems that can continue after the fellowship concludes.

Qualifications

• Must be at least 55 years old.
• Background in education, special education, early childhood education, child development, school administration, behavioral intervention, or a related field.
• Experience working with children with diverse learning, behavioral, or developmental needs.
• Knowledge of individualized learning plans, intervention strategies, and student assessment practices.
• Strong project management and organizational skills.
• Experience developing curriculum, instructional materials, or educational programs.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with staff and families.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Familiarity with New Jersey educational, childcare, or special education standards preferred.

Ideal Candidate Profile

This role is ideal for a 55 year old professional (Encore Fellow) who:

• Brings relevant life and professional experience.
• Has experience in education, special education, child development, or educational leadership.
• Is passionate about helping children reach their full potential.
• Values inclusive learning environments and individualized student success.
• Enjoys building programs and systems that create long-term impact.
• Seeks a meaningful, flexible engagement post-retirement or during a career transition.
• Values relationship-building and direct community impact.

Reporting Structure

The Encore Fellow will report to the Senior Fellow of the Encore Fellows Initiative and collaborate with the Executive Director and staff of St. John’s Pentecostal Outreach Church Daycare Center.

Impact

This fellowship will help establish a sustainable educational support program for children with diverse learning needs in Salem City. The Fellow’s work will strengthen educational opportunities for local children, support working families, improve organizational capacity, and create systems that continue benefiting students long after the fellowship ends. Through this project, the Encore Fellow will directly contribute to improving educational outcomes and quality of life for some of Salem City's most vulnerable children and families

How to Apply

If interested, please forward a resume and cover letter describing why you are interested in the opportunity and your availability to start to:

Seniorfellow@communityfoundationsj.org

No phone calls, please.Top of FormBottom of Form

Pay: $2,000.00 per month

Benefits:

• Flexible schedule

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Salem, NJ 08079

Salary : $2,000