Early Childhood Specialist; Early Childhood Education Program

Location & Position

Madison - Danielsville, GA 30633 | Full Time | Day Shift

The Early Childhood Specialist participates actively in the life of the center(s) forwarding best practices and innovations to support student learning and staff professional development.

Children grow and learn more quickly during these first five years than at any other time in life. This is why our work, to support each child’s learning when they are at home and once they have transitioned to Kindergarten is so important. It takes all of us working together to lay the foundation for children’s future success. Under the supervision of the Director of Quality Implementation and in collaboration with the Center Managers, the Early Childhood Specialist (ECS) supports assigned center(s), ensuring that services are developmentally appropriate and individualized according to the needs of each child and assists in ensuring compliance with agency, state, and national standards.

The ECS acts as a role model with regards to teaching techniques, discipline, and working with families; identifies and provides resources; and supports the professional development of classroom staff. The ECS serves as a liaison between teaching staff and center leadership and frequently interacts with public schools, parents, and groups in other agencies, as well as the community at large.

• Provides on-site consultation and support to Center Manager (CM), Family Support Advocates (FSA), parents, and teaching staff as it relates to early education services for all children in the ESNG Early Education and Care Program.
• Works with individuals and teams to improve the quality of effective teaching practices and capacity to work with parents.
• Understands and has strong working knowledge of Creative Curriculum, CLASS, Teaching Strategies Gold, ASQ/ASQ; SE, Second Step, and The Pyramid Model.
• Conducts classroom observations routinely to support and ensure curriculum implementation and developmentally appropriate practice; models for and coaches staff on best practices, regularly encouraging staff to improve the quality of their work through day-to-day interactions.
• Helps source, track, and maintain educational toolbox (resources, information, etc.) for curriculum integration and execution.
• Reviews and monitors lesson plans and provides appropriate feedback, effectively articulating to teachers the direct link between planning, individualization, observation, and assessment.
• Reviews and monitors education folders; follows up with appropriate staff when incomplete.
• Creates Teaching Strategies Gold accounts; reviews documentation.
• Adds children to ASQ online; ensures the timely completion of screening and referral of children; follows up on evaluation and treatment of children with disabilities and/or mental health needs.
• Solicits parental input/observation of their children and shares staff observations of children with parents; discusses children's development and any suggestions/concerns related to children's developmental needs.
• Collaborates with community organizations including but not limited to the Local Education Agency (LEA) to ensure that recruitment efforts include children with disabilities and other special needs.
• Participates in LEA eligibility and tracking meetings to ensure the smooth delivery of services.
• Communicates with Babies Can’t Wait (BCW); monitors and tracks referral process and status.
• Checks classroom inventories and assists Center Director in ordering appropriate materials.
• Seeks out community resources that enhance services for children.
• Provides support to assure consistency between sites.

• Promotes a learning culture and reflective practice with teaching staff.
• Collaborates with teaching staff to define goals, measure success, and provide feedback for improvement, providing transparent communication to staff with a culture of open communication; implements Practice-Based Coaching to support teachers’ use of effective teaching practices that lead to positive outcomes for children.
• Participates in the planning and implementation of…