What are the responsibilities and job description for the SHI - Early Childhood Education & Curriculum Specialist position at Sealaska/Woocheen Family of Businesses?
Job Summary
Under the direct supervision of Sealaska Heritage Institute’s (SHI) Director of Language & Primary Education, this position provides early childhood curriculum development and education support and support for Baby Raven Reads programming. Independent judgment is required to plan, prioritize, and organize a diversified workload, and to recommend changes in relation to programs practices or procedures.
Duties/Responsibilities
- Establish the Baby Raven Reads Curriculum Development Committee.
- Oversee the ongoing review and development of Baby Raven Reads Early Childhood Curriculum and lesson plans to be used in Family Literacy Events, classroom lesson units and Gumboot Camps, ensuring they align with grant objectives, Baby Raven Reads books, Core Cultural Values, Alaska Developmental Profile and Alaska’s Early Learning Standards.
- Develop new curricula for family literacy events, early learning programs, and literacy kits that are based off our 30 published Baby Raven Reads books focused on early literacy, math, social/emotional learning, cultural values and play-based learning.
- Coordinate, plan and lead curriculum committee meetings including scheduling, technical support, creating agendas, and taking and sharing notes.
- Oversee and create a workflow tracking system of curriculum review.
- Work with Cultural Specialists, contractors and other team members to ensure curricula across literacy-based education programs align with state standards, research-based best practices, and embeds Core Cultural values.
- Work in partnership with the publication team to review, copy edit and prepare curriculum documents.
- Supports the traveling coaches and roving readers in working with teachers, tribes, partners and care providers to implement and pilot the Baby Raven Reads curriculum across the unique communities in Southeast.
- Support the coordination of family literacy activities in Juneau and in the regions with community liaisons.
- Participate in all required meetings and ensure that pertinent summaries of programming and outcomes related to his/her essential functions are reported directly or by the Raven Reads Project Manager and/or the Education Director to SHI’s administration and Board of Trustees.
- Maintains documentation of people served and other necessary data collection for reporting purposes.
- Diplomatically communicate with a diverse group of important external callers and visitors as well as internal contacts at all levels of the organization.
- Act as a liaison with other departments and outside agencies in support of the Baby Raven Reads programs. This includes confidential and non-routine information and explanation of policies when necessary.
- Collaborate with the Baby Raven Reads Project Manager and the Project Evaluator to ensure that all activities and outcomes related to programming overseen is reflected in the Power Point presentations prepared and presented annually in each of the communities served.
- Other duties as required.
Required Skills
- A strong understanding of Indigenous culture and perspective, of developmentally appropriate practices, and of early childhood education & curriculum design.
- Flexible working with an ever-changing work environment.
- Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
- Ability to work well on own initiative and within a team.
- Knowledge of program planning for early childhood classroom experience.
- Proficient in computer applications, including word processors, spreadsheets, database software, and online survey applications.
- Highly organized, self-motivated, and attentive to detail.
- Competent in project planning.
Supervisory Responsibility
This position will have no direct reports.
Work Environment
This position’s duties are performed in the Sealaska Heritage Institute office spaces. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets, and fax machines.
Physical Demands
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to verbally communicate. This position is very active and requires standing, walking, bending, kneeling, stooping, crouching, and climbing all day. The employee must frequently lift and/or move objects up to 20 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move objects up to 50 pounds.
About this Role
This is a full-time benefited position. SHI employees are expected to work during SHI’s regular business hours of 8:00am to 4:30pm Monday to Friday. Additionally, many employees may work up to 45 hours per week or additional time as needed to meet workload demands or special events such as Celebration.
Required Education & Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in early childhood or elementary education.
- Work experience either in a classroom or in another early childhood educational environment.
- Strong knowledge of Indigenous culture and perspective.
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.
Who is Sealaska? Established in 1972, Sealaska is the Alaska Native regional corporation for Southeast Alaska. Our 23,000 shareholders are Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian people with more than 10,000 years of ancestral ties to the oceans, forests and communities of Southeast Alaska. We serve the twin goals of economic prosperity and environmental protection. Sealaska Heritage Institute is an affiliate of Sealaska.
Salary : $57,000 - $70,000