Education Program Support Specialist II/III - Head Start Program

Community Action Commission of Santa Barbara County•Santa Maria, CA

9d•$26 - $28

About The Position

The Program Support Specialist provides support, training, mentoring, and monitoring for center-based, home-based, and family childcare services. The position works on special projects and activities through individual and team assignments and requires strong core competencies across Early Head Start and Head Start programs. It supports staff in identifying and implementing strength-based strategies to meet the cognitive, social, emotional, and physical needs of children and families; monitors program quality; interprets program standards; and contributes to program planning, evaluation, training, and community engagement. The position may provide emergency center support, including substituting to meet ratios, acting as a Site Supervisor, and supporting children’s behavior. The role manages the Learning Genie platform, including entering and monitoring DRDP rating periods, reviewing anecdotal notes and providing feedback, and printing portfolios. It plans and facilitates internal school-readiness meetings, participates in countywide kindergarten-readiness meetings, analyzes countywide DRDP and ECER results, and provides analysis for program self-assessment and evaluation. The employee must become and remain reliable in Preschool or Toddler CLASS and facilitate classroom observations twice yearly, provide feedback, and use data to coach teaching staff. Level II responsibilities include serving as a subject matter specialist in one or more areas, leading project development or committee work, and playing a leadership role in program planning, development, and evaluation. Level III responsibilities include higher-level projects such as coaching, data analysis, and heading committee work. This is a full-time, countywide position with full benefits. Starting pay is $26.00–$28.00 per hour.

Requirements

For Level II: Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education, or a BA with 12 ECE units including core courses and 3 units of supervised ECE field experience; two years of related experience in a child development program; and a Child Development Site Supervisor permit or higher from the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing.
For Level III: Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education, or a BA with 12 ECE units including core courses and 3 units of supervised ECE field experience; two years of related experience in a child development program with a Child Development Program Director permit from the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing and/or five years’ experience in the position.
Ability to read and interpret safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals; write routine reports and correspondence; and speak effectively before groups or agency employees.
Ability to perform basic arithmetic, compute rates, ratios, and percentages, and draw and interpret bar graphs.
Ability to apply common-sense understanding to written, oral, or diagrammed instructions and solve problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.
Knowledge of contact management systems, internet software, purchase order processing, spreadsheet software, and word-processing software.
Valid California Driver’s License.
Obtain a Child Development Site Supervisor Permit within six months of employment.
Provide verification upon hire of state-required influenza, pertussis, and measles vaccinations. Acceptable verification includes an immunization record or physician statement; an annual waiver is available for influenza vaccination.
Ability to perform the physical demands of the position, including occasionally lifting and/or moving up to 50 pounds.

Nice To Haves

Ability to speak Spanish is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

Provide ongoing support and guidance to staff in developing and implementing strength-based strategies to meet the needs of Early Head Start and Head Start children and families.
Advocate for parents seeking access to outside agencies.
Build and maintain supportive relationships with staff and serve as a regular contact and liaison at assigned sites.
Act as a community liaison, promote community relations, and develop MOUs as assigned.
Respond to staff requests for training, materials, and individual guidance, and identify training needs through observation.
Support staff problem-solving to meet program standards and child and family outcome expectations.
Monitor program quality through structured site visits, observations, and document reviews.
Mentor and motivate staff toward increased skill development and best practices.
Participate in program planning and development through individual and team assignments.
Interpret Head Start Performance Standards for staff, parents, and the community.
Provide lead or supervisory support for project or committee work with staff and community members.
Lead or assist with program initiatives, including Dual Language Learning Models, Teaching Pyramid, Male Involvement activities, health fairs, orientations, parenting groups, and teacher support groups.
Provide emergency support in centers as needed, including substituting to meet ratios, serving as a Site Supervisor, and providing behavior support for children.
Manage the Learning Genie platform by entering DRDP rating periods, monitoring progress and anecdotal notes, providing feedback, and printing portfolios.
Plan and facilitate internal school-readiness meetings and participate in countywide community kindergarten-readiness meetings.
Analyze countywide DRDP and ECER results and submit analysis and summaries for the Program Self-Assessment and Program Self-Evaluation.
Facilitate staff training as needed.
Become and remain reliable in Preschool or Toddler CLASS; facilitate classroom observations twice a year, provide staff feedback as assigned, and use data to coach teaching staff.
For Level II, serve as a subject matter specialist, lead project development or committee work, and contribute leadership to program planning, development, and evaluation.
For Level III, take responsibility for higher-level projects, including coaching, data analysis, and heading committee work.