Early Childhood Specialist (Early Childhood Education)

EASTER SEALS NORTH GEORGIA•Atlanta, GA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Early Childhood Specialist (ECS) supports assigned early education and care centers to ensure services are developmentally appropriate, individualized to children’s needs, and compliant with agency, state, and national standards. Under the supervision of the Director of Quality Implementation and in collaboration with Center Managers, the ECS promotes best practices and innovations that support student learning and staff professional development. The role serves as a liaison between teaching staff and center leadership and interacts with public schools, parents, community organizations, and other agencies. The ECS provides consultation, observes classrooms, models and coaches effective teaching practices, reviews curriculum plans and education records, and supports screening, referrals, and services for children with disabilities or mental health needs. The specialist also works with families, coordinates with community partners and local education agencies, supports staff training and reflective practice, monitors program data and outcomes, and helps maintain consistency and quality across centers. The position requires travel to Easter Seals Child Development Centers and includes working with children and staff in indoor and outdoor settings.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education, Special Education, or a related area.
Three years of experience in inclusive early education settings.
Effective verbal and written communication skills.
Ability to manage time effectively.
Ability to establish working relationships within the community.
Knowledge of early childhood development, curriculum development and implementation, and classroom management.
Ability to operate a business computer.
Ability to travel to all Easter Seals Child Development Centers.
Ability to stand, sit, and walk for sustained periods, including responding quickly to safety concerns.
Ability to use hands and fingers for computer operation and handling tasks such as picking, pinching, and whole-hand or arm handling.
Ability to climb stairs; stoop, kneel, crouch, sit on the floor, or crawl as needed when working with children.
Ability to reach and push or pull objects weighing up to 25 pounds.
Ability to lift and carry a child up to age five.
Ability to talk and hear accurately to exchange information.
Ability to see clearly for child safety and supervision, computer use, and extensive reading and writing.
Ability to work in indoor and outdoor conditions.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in Special Education is preferred.
Knowledge of Creative Curriculum, CLASS, Teaching Strategies Gold, ASQ/ASQ; SE, Second Step, and the Pyramid Model.

Responsibilities

Provide on-site consultation and support to Center Managers, Family Support Advocates, parents, and teaching staff regarding early education services.
Work with individuals and teams to improve teaching practices and the capacity to work with parents.
Conduct classroom observations, support curriculum implementation and developmentally appropriate practice, and model and coach best practices.
Source, track, and maintain educational resources for curriculum integration and execution.
Review and monitor lesson plans, provide feedback, and help teachers connect planning, individualization, observation, and assessment.
Review education folders and follow up with staff when documentation is incomplete.
Create Teaching Strategies Gold accounts and review documentation.
Add children to ASQ online and ensure timely screening and referral; follow up on evaluations and treatment for children with disabilities or mental health needs.
Solicit and share parent and staff observations and discuss children’s development and developmental concerns or suggestions with parents.
Collaborate with community organizations, including the Local Education Agency, to support recruitment of children with disabilities and other special needs.
Participate in LEA eligibility and tracking meetings and communicate with Babies Can’t Wait about referrals and their status.
Check classroom inventories and assist the Center Director with ordering materials.
Identify community resources that enhance services for children and support consistency between sites.
Promote a learning culture and reflective practice among teaching staff.
Collaborate with teaching staff to set goals, measure success, and provide improvement feedback; implement Practice-Based Coaching.
Participate in planning and implementing annual and ongoing staff training, including pre-service, professional development days, and New Teacher Institute.
Participate in planning and implementing annual and ongoing parent and foster grandparent training.
Attend training and professional development opportunities as directed.
Schedule, co-facilitate, or participate in agency, center team, specialist team, Family Support Advocate, IST, IFSP/IEP, EHS transition, Nap Chats, and parent meetings.
Complete monthly center visit reports and share them with the Center Manager and Director of Quality Implementation.
Use Child Plus to enter, analyze, and apply data to support program decisions and outcomes; generate monthly progress reports for the Director of Quality Implementation.
Oversee Teaching Strategies Gold teacher inter-rater reliability.
Conduct CLASS observations and maintain reliability in the tool.
Communicate relevant matters promptly across organizational levels and teams.
Coordinate projects with Early Childhood Specialists, Family Support Advocates, and Center Managers, and collaborate with Early Childhood Mental Health Specialists.
Contribute to updates of content-area policies and procedures.
Maintain professionalism and confidentiality.
Perform other duties as assigned by management.