School Readiness Coordinator

Title: School Readiness Coordinator

Reports To: Professional Development Manager

Department: Children and Family Services

Location: Concord, CA (based on assigned portfolio)

Schedule: Monday through Friday

Travel: Local travel may be required

Employee Status: Regular, Full-Time, Non-Exempt

Union: N/A

Supervises: N/A

Benefits

Two weeks of paid vacation a year, sick time, 14 holidays, up to five floating holidays based on employment status, medical and dental benefits on the first of the month following 30 days of employment, life insurance policy at no cost to employees (with the option of increasing policy amount), flexible spending account for medical and dependent care costs, commuter benefits, 403(b) with employer match, and other benefits. We foster a joyful workplace and offer opportunities for professional development and growth.

Agency Summary

The Unity Council is a non-profit Social Equity Development Corporation with an over 60-year history in the Fruitvale neighborhood of Oakland. Our mission is to promote social equity and improve quality of life by building vibrant communities where everyone can work, learn, and thrive.

Our programs aim to provide the community with the tools, knowledge, and resources to transform their lives and ultimately achieve their long-term educational, career, and financial goals. These holistic programs and services reach more than 10,000 individuals and families annually in five languages. Programs include early childhood education, youth mentorship and leadership development, employment services, career readiness training, housing and financial stability, senior citizen services, affordable housing and neighborhood development, and arts and cultural events. Our work expands beyond the Fruitvale district and now reaches across Oakland and into Contra Costa County. The Unity Council employs a diverse workforce of more than 300 people who reflect the linguistic, cultural, and ethnic identity of the communities we serve.

Department Summary

The Children and Family Services programs include Head Start, Early Head Start, State Pre-Kindergarten, Home Based Services, and Developmental Play Groups. Over 900 children birth through kindergarten entry and 32 expectant parents and their families receive child development and comprehensive family services through the Unity Council. The programs are diverse, multilingual, developmentally appropriate, culturally responsive, and individualized for each child and family services are provided in seven centers and one home-based program throughout Oakland and Contra Costa County.

Position Summary

The School Readiness Coordinator, under direction of the Professional Development Manager, will support The Unity Council’s Early Head Start and Head Start centers and classrooms. Through the professional development structure of the program provides direct professional development to the staff as well as technical assistance around program fidelity in compliance with the Head Start Performance Standards and other State regulations. Essential elements of coaching and training are based on the curriculum that reflects the values of the families served while ensuring school readiness goals are successfully met.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to the following:

• Collaborate in the analysis, and summaries of Education Data, aligned to School Readiness.
• Provide consistent training and feedback to assigned Center Directors.
• Hold regular standing meetings with Center Directors to provide support for teaching staff and implementation of school readiness goals in each classroom.
• As an effort to continue with our commitment to coordinated services within all Head Start service areas, meet monthly with other service area coordinators and managers on strengthening partnerships to improve outcomes for children and families.
• Conduct analysis of child development services and child outcomes, including DRDPs on Learning Genie for assigned center-based classrooms.
• Analyze DRDP results from each center to create action plans and develop areas of growth for each center and teaching team.
• Utilizing results from ongoing observations, work with the Center Directors on creating training plans and revising coaching plans for teaching teams to strengthen fidelity to curriculum, Teaching Pyramid implementation, and individualization of lesson plans.
• Work closely with the Education Manager, Professional Development Manager and Coach Coordinator to create and provide onsite classroom-based coaching, training, and technical assistance to reflect program needs and support the continuous quality improvement process in alignment to School Readiness Goals and Program Goals.
• Collaborate with managers and coordinators to identify, develop, and provide additional training as determined by surveys, emergent issues, observations, and another agency needs.
• Works closely with the Education team to inform and support the continuous quality improvement process reflective of each center’s Quality Improvement Plan.
• Establish collaborative coaching relationships with teachers, including focused classroom observation, reflection and feedback, goal setting and active planning.
• Providing coaching to select teaching teams as assigned by Workforce and Professional Development team; Coach teaching teams and Earn and Learn interns as needed; Coach and train Teachers and Master Teachers on leadership skills.
• Meet with coach consultants on regular basis to establish progress of teaching teams
• Support data collection efforts to document staff’s growth and gauge coaching effectiveness and professional development.
• Foster curriculum development and provide training on content for school readiness goals, curriculum fidelity, DRDP assessments, learning Genie, ASQs, CLASS, Environments, family engagement, Teaching Pyramid, and English language development in collaboration with Education Manager.
• Support and assist with developing content and presenting training to facilitate professional development to staff and families for child development best practices;
• Work with the Education team to ensure the CLASS review, assessment, coaching plans, and coaching strategy is implemented.
• Work closely with teachers, center directors, and Disabilities Coordinator in the referral process for children with special needs to ensure services are always received according to the disabilities policies and procedures.
• Work closely with the Mental Health and Disabilities Manager and Coordinators on the referral process for children needing mental health resources and adhere to the School Readiness role in the mental health referral process according to the policies and procedures.
• Attend Multi-Disciplinary Team meetings as needed.
• Ensure all tasks associated with School Readiness Coordinator in the Program Policies and Procedures are completed in a timely manner.
• Facilitate the onboarding of teaching staff; reviewing policies and procedures and performance standards; follow-up on completion of onboarding tasks and ensure onboarding records are consistently updated and compliant with timelines.
• In collaboration with Professional Development Manager oversee and monitor Head Start professional development system and implementation.
• Maintain and update staff professional development and coaching data records with entry into SharePoint tracking systems, Child Plus database, Workforce Registry database, and on-site personnel records.
• Support Professional Development Manager in creating attendance trackers and distributing to supervisors for Professional Development days; follow-up with staff and supervisors to complete trainings.
• Distributing training certificates to staff who attend CFS trainings.
• Support staff in the process of submitting Professional Development reimbursement requests.
• Support staff in applying for financial aid systems (County stipends, FAFSA, CDTC, etc.)
• Collaborate with Center Directors, Coach Coordinator and Professional Development Manager to create Professional Development Plans for staff and assist staff on signing up for PD opportunities and additional courses; (including California College residency application support)
• Support and assist Professional Development Manager to coordinate and organize the process of yearly Professional Development Plans for all staff.
• Create and virtually distribute monthly Professional Development Newsletter.
• Research and identify staff development opportunities.
• Facilitate the process and procedure for the Strengths and Needs Assessments for staff
• Participate in the annual child development Self-Assessment process.
• Collaborate with Workforce and Professional Development team for Earn and Learn program planning, oversight, program needs and events.
• Complete assigned professional development trainings.
• Perform additional duties as assigned by management.

Qualifications

• Bilingual English/Spanish strongly preferred;
• 3-5 years’ experience in programs serving young children, infants, toddlers, and preschoolers, Head Start experience preferred; community-based experience in a setting working with families and community organizations who have experienced poverty, crisis, trauma, and other adverse events.
• Experience with ITERS/ECERS, Creative Curriculum, CSEFEL and CLASS (open to obtaining within 12 months of hire);
• CLASS certification (Infant, Toddler and Pre-K) or ability to become certified within 12 months of hire;
• Program for Infant Toddler Care (PITC) experience (open to obtaining within 12 months of hire)
• Familiarity with PLC (Professional Learning Communities), PBC (Practiced Based Coaching), TLC (Teacher Learning Coaching);
• Demonstrated ability to provide coaching for early learning teachers;
• Experience in eLearning processes and technologies desirable;
• Ability to model play-based, child-centered curriculum;
• Knowledge of Early Childhood Education developmental milestones with an emphasis on social emotional, early math and/or early language and literacy;
• Experience and knowledge of Early Childhood Programming, analyzing data and developing reports;
• Ability to work harmoniously in a team.
• Possession of a valid California drivers' license; current personal vehicle insurance, or safe driving record sufficient to ensure insurability through Agency policy.
• Ability to work on a variety of tasks simultaneously and able to work a flexible schedule, including some evenings and weekends, with some travel including across counties for regular work days.
• Advanced computer skills with strong MS Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint), and use of Child Plus (CP).

Requirements

• Program Director permit from the Commission on Teacher Credentialing;
• BA in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, or related field preferred or; BA with 15 ECE units (including 12 core units plus supervised field experience);
• MA in Early Childhood Education preferred;
• 6 units in infant/toddler care or willingness to obtain within first year of hire.

Physical Requirements

• Must be able climb stairs, reach, bend, lift 40 pounds, crawl, kneel, stoop, twist, grasp materials with hands and fingers, use arms and legs, able to walk, climb ladders if applicable.
• Regularly required to sit for long periods of time, and occasionally stand and walk;
• Regularly required to use hands to operate computer and other office equipment;
• Close vision required for computer use.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, and ability to adjust focus;
• Commitment to utilize safe lifting techniques for lifting children, supplies and furnishings.

Pre-Employment Requirements

• Physical exam
• TB test
• Background/fingerprint clearance
• MMR and Tdap vaccinations,
• CPR
• Child Abuse Mandated Reporter Training

This description is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of duties, responsibilities or requirements for the position. This position may change or assume additional duties at any time.

*** Please submit your cover letter and resume. ***

The Unity Council is an Equal Opportunity Employer.