Mentor Teacher

University of Kansas Medical Center • Kansas City, KS

22h

About The Position

Project Eagle is an early childhood program focused on preparing children, engaging families, and promoting excellence for children and families in Kansas City, Kansas. Project Eagle provides home-based and center-based services to pregnant women and/or children ages birth to five through a variety of programs, the largest being Early Head Start. Project Eagle is also a member of the Educare Learning Network, part of a national initiative that serves as a platform for broader change, inspiring high-quality programs in communities, improving public policies within each state, and demonstrating a comprehensive approach to the first five years of life and learning. The Mentor Teacher facilitates full and effective implementation of Project Eagle/Educare of Kansas City’s Core Features and evidence-based instructional practices to continuously improve teaching and learning with the aim of accelerating children’s learning, development and school readiness outcomes. Mentor Teachers provide teacher leadership in the 1) design, delivery and coordination of intensive professional development; 2) education program development; 3) facilitation of multidisciplinary collaboration; and 4) administrative support.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, or closely related field. This position requires a formal degree in the cited discipline area(s) to ensure that candidates have advanced knowledge, analytical skills and professional competencies necessary to perform the duties of the position.
• The level of degree is commonly recognized as the standard qualification for similar roles in the public and private sector, ensuring that the university remains competitive with industry aligned practices, enhances collaboration with external partners, and supports the delivery of services and programs that meet professional and market-driven expectations.
• CPR and First Aid Certified within 30 days of employment
• Center Program Director Certification.
• Five years of teaching or consulting experience in center-based programs serving infants and toddlers.
• Experience with early childhood curriculum and developmentally appropriate practices for infants and toddlers.
• Experience working with children and families from various backgrounds.
• Collaboration.
• Communication skills.
• Interpersonal skills.
• Resume
• Cover Letter

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, or closely related field.
• Early childhood teaching certification.
• One year of experience as a supervisor or administrator in an Early Childhood Education program.
• Experience developing and implementing early childhood education programs.
• Experience working in an Early Head Start Center-based program.
• Knowledge of Head Start Performance Standards as evidenced by application materials.
• Experience working with early intervention and children with special needs.
• Experience using assessment tools to measure children’s development.
• Experience using assessment data for instructional purposes.
• Experience with research partnerships.
• Bilingual English/Spanish.

Responsibilities

• Professional Development Mentor Teachers promote a culture of collaboration and structure contexts for professional reflection, inquiry and learning.
• They coordinate or facilitate group-based professional development strategies for teachers to work collaboratively to share reflections, examine practice, solve application challenges, manage conflict and promote continuous learning and improvement in professional practice and child outcomes.
• Team Lesson Planning – Schedule and protect time for regular collaboration among the teaching team to review data, reflect on children’s progress and teaching practices, and plan for interaction, instruction, and family engagement.
• Reflective Practice Groups/Communities of Practice – Facilitate or coordinate reflective practice groups or communities of practice for teachers to engage in shared reflection, inquiry, and professional learning.
• Coaching – Implement with Classroom Teachers formal cycles of reflective-content-based coaching (planning conversation, observation, reflecting conversation) to support the transfer of knowledge and improvements into practice.
• Reflective Supervision - Provide Classroom Teachers with reflective supervision to support, develop, and evaluate their performance through a process of inquiry that encourages their understanding and articulation of the rationale for their own practices.
• Lead and coordinate Project Eagle/Educare of Kansas City’s education program for children ages birth to three or three to five, including implementation of the following core features and evidence-based practices: Ensure that research-based, comprehensive curricula are in place, and that alignment of early learning standards, curricula/outcome goals, formative assessments, and instructional strategies.
• Ensure teacher-child interactions and instruction is responsive, intentional and developmentally appropriate to ensure children are provided socially supportive, organized and instructionally meaningful interactions to support their development (i.e., social-emotional, physical, cognitive and language) and learning (i.e., literacy, math, science, technology, social studies and arts).
• Use of child screening, assessment, and progress data to inform lesson planning, individualization, and the intensification of instruction in the areas of oral language, dual language and literacy development and skills; social-emotional and self-regulation development and skills; and numeracy and problem-solving skills; and Primary caregiving and continuity of care.
• Participate in the Research Program Partnership and processes of continuous quality improvement and, in conjunction with the Local Evaluation Partner, ensuring completion of child screenings and assessments and coordination of timely feedback to teaching teams.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary team and participates in efforts to engage and involve parents with the program, staff and child development and learning.
• Participate in Child and Family Reviews and, in conjunction with the Family Support Supervisor, ensure Child and Family Review plans are followed and progress monitored.
• Collaborate with the Mental Health Consultant and Disabilities Coordinator to facilitate referrals for Special Education eligibility and implement plans for mental health strategies to be utilized in the classroom.
• Participate with Family Support staff to run Co-Case Management meetings with Teachers, Family Support staff and other support staff or outside agencies (i.e., mental health, disabilities) to plan and implement targeted and intensive interventions for children displaying challenging behaviors.
• Ensure all Early/Head Start performance standards, Educare core features, state and local licensing requirements, and other funder requirements related to education are met.
• Monitor and ensure education plans and other required documentation for children and classroom are completed.
• Participate in the development of program policies, service delivery plans, and ongoing monitoring of program quality.
• Ensure all assigned program area reports are completed and submitted on a timely basis.
• Ensure all confidential information is protected.
• Participate on interview committees for open teaching positions.
• Complete Teacher performance appraisals.

Benefits

• Coverage begins on day one for health, dental, and vision insurance and includes health expense accounts with generous employer contributions if the employee participates in a qualifying health plan.
• Employer-paid life insurance, long-term disability insurance, and various additional voluntary insurance plans are available.
• Paid time off, including vacation and sick, begins accruing upon hire, plus ten paid holidays.
• One paid discretionary day is available after six months of employment, and paid time off for bereavement, jury duty, military service, and parental leave is available after 12 months of employment.
• A retirement program with a generous employer contribution and additional voluntary retirement programs (457 or 403b) are available.
• https://www.kumc.edu/human-resources/benefits.html

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees