EDUCATION SUPPORT SPECIALIST - Child Care of the Berkshires, Inc. - North Adams

SEEKING:  We are seeking a part time Education Support Specialist for our Child Care Centers and Family Child Care Educator Homes

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:  The Supportive Services Program provides comprehensive early education and family support for children and families who are funded by the Priority Population childcare contracts. Services include child care in either a Family Child Care (FCC) home or CCB centers, transportation, assessment of delays, Individual Family Service Plans and connections to community resources, with the goal of positive developmental progress, school success, reducing child maltreatment, parent resilience and strengthening the family.

BASIC FUNCTION:  Primary focus will be to ensure that all children on Priority Population contracts are provided with developmentally appropriate, learning environments conducive to maximum learning.

The Education Specialist will oversee and direct teaching staff to implement effective classroom management techniques, teacher/child interactions, and implementation of developmentally appropriate child directed, literacy-based curriculum for both centers and FCC homes.

Promotes individualized learning by all children in all classrooms (with primary focus being on the children on Priority Population EEC contracts), and documents outputs and outcomes as needed.  Assists with evaluation of the curriculum-related components of the program.  Responsible for using Pyramid Model, CLASS, ITERS, ECERS, SACERS assessments as needed.

GENERAL QUALIFICATIONS:

• Degree in early childhood education, social work or related area, and a minimum of five years relevant work experience within a child care center or early education program within the public school. 
• Knowledge and familiarity with effective classroom management, trauma informed practice, curriculum implementation, and curriculum-related components such as CLASS, Pyramid Model, ITERS, ECERS, and SACERS is desirable. 
• Ability to provide leadership and to establish supportive and positive relationships with early childhood professionals and to work as member of a team. 
• Positive attitude, understanding and commitment toward early childhood education and developmentally appropriate practices. 
• Ability to process, analyze and integrate information and must demonstrate good decision-making skills. 
• Must have good organizational, communication, observation and writing skills.
• Must be mature and in good mental health.
• Must participate in training and professional development. 
• Maintains current certificate in First Aid and CPR. Maintains strict confidentiality concerning children, families and staff.
• Must be able to pass a background record check successfully.

WORK ENVIRONMENT AND PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

Duties performed on-site at the offices as well as in the classrooms at Monument Square and Magic Seasons Early Childhood Centers and in Family Child Care homes. Employees work under typical office conditions, at a desk where the noise level is usually quiet and in classrooms where the atmosphere is active and loud.

This position also requires the following:

• Ability to walk, stand, sit, and stoop.
• Ability to communicate clearly and vocally in order to express and exchange information by spoken word. In addition, willingness to use translation and other tools to communicate effectively with the children and families we support.
• Must be able to provide documentation of good physical health and mental health, free from communicable disease.
• Ability to travel to and from childcare centers.

WORK SCHEDULE AND HOURS: This is a 20 hours per week, year round non-exempt position. Some meetings/events will be required, outside of traditional working hours.

SALARY RANGE: $23 to $24.75 per hour, commensurate with experience. Benefits vision, and dental insurance, sick and vacation time as well as paid holidays, paid closure days, retirement plan and child care reimbursement.

CHILD CARE OF THE BERKSHIRES IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY, AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER.