Education Program Support Specialist II/III - Head Start Program

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

About The Position

The Program Support Specialist provides support, training, mentoring, and monitoring for center-based, home-based, and family childcare services. The role works on special projects and activities through individual and team assignments and requires strong core competencies across Early Head Start and Head Start programs. The position is full-time, includes full benefits, and works countywide. Starting pay is $26.00–$28.00 per hour. The specialist supports staff in identifying and implementing strategies to meet the cognitive, social, emotional, and physical needs of children and families using a strength-based approach. The role monitors program quality, provides training and coaching, supports program initiatives, interprets Head Start Performance Standards, and contributes to program planning, development, and evaluation. It also includes emergency support in centers as needed, including substituting to meet ratios, acting as a Site Supervisor, and providing behavior support. The specialist manages the Learning Genie platform and DRDP rating periods and progress, reviews anecdotal notes, provides feedback, and prepares portfolios. The role plans and facilitates school readiness meetings, participates in countywide kindergarten readiness meetings, analyzes countywide DRDP and ECERS results, and contributes analysis to program assessment and evaluation. The position also facilitates staff training and, after becoming reliable in Preschool or Toddler CLASS, conducts classroom observations twice a year and provides feedback and coaching as assigned. Level II additionally serves as a subject matter specialist in one or more areas and leads project development or committee work. Level III takes responsibility for higher-level projects, including coaching, data analysis, and heading committee work, and requires a Child Development Program Director permit or qualifying experience as specified in the posting.

Requirements

For Level II: Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education, or a bachelor’s degree with 12 ECE units, including core courses and three units of supervised ECE field experience.
For Level III: Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education, or a bachelor’s degree with 12 ECE units, including core courses and three units of supervised ECE field experience.
Two years of related experience in a child development program.
For Level II: Child Development Site Supervisor permit or higher from the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing.
For Level III: 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.
Ability to 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 instructions and resolve 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.
Child Development Site Supervisor Permit must be obtained 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; influenza vaccination may be waived through an annual waiver.
Ability to walk and talk or hear frequently; occasionally stand, sit, use hands to handle or feel, reach, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and occasionally lift or move up to 50 pounds.
Required vision abilities include close, distance, color, and peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

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 cognitive, social, emotional, and physical needs of Early Head Start and Head Start children and families.
Advocate for parents seeking access to outside agencies.
Establish and maintain supportive, responsive relationships with staff and serve as a regular contact and liaison at assigned sites.
Act as a community liaison and promote community relations; develop MOUs as assigned.
Respond to site-based and regional staff requests for training, training materials, and individual guidance.
Identify training needs through observation and 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 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.
Lead or assist with project and committee work and program initiatives, including Dual Language Learning Models, Teaching Pyramid, Male Involvement activities, health fairs, orientations, and parenting and teacher support groups.
Provide emergency support in centers as needed, including substituting to meet ratios, acting as Site Supervisor, and providing behavior support for children.
Manage the Learning Genie platform by inputting DRDP rating periods, monitoring DRDP progress, monitoring 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 ECERS results and submit analysis and summaries for the Program Self-Assessment and Program Self-Evaluation.
Facilitate staff trainings as needed.
Become and remain reliable in Preschool or Toddler CLASS; facilitate classroom observations twice a year, provide feedback as assigned, and use data to coach teaching staff.
For Level II, serve as a subject matter specialist in one or more areas and lead project development or committee work with staff, parents, and community members.
For Level III, take responsibility for higher-level projects such as coaching and data analysis and head committee work.