Infant and Toddler Instructional Coach

What You'll Do

• Provides professional, high-quality coaching, support and informal evaluation to educators in accordance with Instructional Coach structures and expectations outlined by Read to Succeed program manager and agency director.
• Monitors infant and toddler educators and student progress using the FrogStreet development checklists, classroom observations, and individual student assessments to gather essential data to determine successes and target areas for quality improvement.
• Provides small group and differentiated instruction to coach infant and toddler educators in academic and social-emotional curriculum implementation techniques in accordance with best practices, DHS and state standards for the purpose of equipping teachers with the tools and knowledge to be successful in preparing children for kindergarten.
• Develops, coordinates and facilitates professional development trainings for the partner agency and in conjunction with UWGN to keep educators abreast of best practices, techniques and advancements in early childhood education.
• Collaborates with UWGN team to share ideas and provide solutions to reach the common goal of supporting communities via education, listening channels and empowerment.
• Communicates with UWGN stakeholders the program’s mission, goals, objectives and approaches to share success stories and promote continued engagement.
• Meets, plans and collaborates with instructional coaches, teachers and administrators to identify gaps in student learning and strategies to achieve desired results.
• Maintains the partner site’s Lending Library book inventory through purchases, organization and upkeep to promote the use of the library and increase the book checkout rate.
• Plans and implements in conjunction with St. Mary Villa’s Read To Succeed instructional coach four family reading incentives per year to encourage families to support their children in reading and to give children more opportunities for reading practice.
• Plans and implements in conjunction with St. Mary Villa’s Read To Succeed instructional four family academic and/or social-emotional workshops to educate families on ways they can support their children to success and encourage families to partner with schools.
• Communicates to families about their child’s progress and shares tools to support continued success.
• Attends and utilizes methodologies from multiple professional development opportunities a year to say abreast of trends and be a subject matter expert on early childhood education.
• Researches early childhood education trends including literacy, STEAM, DAP, DLL and social-emotional development and applies knowledge to program to assist children in achieving learning outcomes.
• Explores and identifies educational best practices, techniques and advancements to ensure teachers are given the best tools to advance the program and guarantee program standards and licensure requirements are maintained.

Requirements

• Education: Master’s degree in early childhood education, child development or family studies. A bachelor’s degree in a related field with five years applicable experience may be substituted for the master’s degree.

• Experience: A minimum of three years’ experience in direct curriculum implementation and instruction in a professional early childhood environment; coordinating and facilitating professional development trainings; drafting and conducting student and classroom assessments; small group and differentiated instruction; serving an at-risk or special needs community.

• Knowledge:

o  Early Childhood Curriculum (birth to third grade)

o  Social-emotional and academic development

o  Early Education Assessments

o  Tennessee Early Learning Standards and K-4 state educational standards

o  Early childhood education state and local regulations, including DHS quality rating scale

o  Instructional coaching techniques and philosophies

• Skills:

o  Intentional coaching/curriculum implementation techniques

o  Direct instruction with young children

o  Communication techniques and protocols with families, children, volunteers and other professionals

o  Analyzing, understanding, interpreting and applying research

o  Proficiency with Microsoft Office, specifically Outlook, Word and Excel

• Miscellaneous:

o  Valid Driver’s License and Proof of Insurance

Nice to Have

• Mission Driven: Focuses on needs and aspirations of the community by telling the “United Way story” to help others understand the importance of the work.
• Relationship Management: Builds relationships internally and externally with all teachers, community members and organizational stakeholders to grow and sustain enthusiasm of UWGN’s work; demonstrates credibility in all interactions; and demonstrates the ability to effectively build a network of contacts by understanding what motivates individuals and organizations.
• Effective Communication: Ability to effectively communicate through oral, written and technological means; actively listening, collaborating and expressing oneself clearly, to ensure those who need specific information acquire it; plan and deliver communication that makes an impact and persuades the audience; gives positive and encouraging recognition to those that have contributed.
• Outcome Motivated: Creates and maintains high performance standards that capitalize on opportunities to develop relationships that drive results
• Ability to Multi-Task: Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously; requires knowledge of time management, setting priorities, and managing project plans.
• Problem Solving/Critical Thinking: Differentiates between when supervisory input is needed and when it is not; identifies opportunities and develops plans to execute; Identifies problems, gathers facts and appropriate resources to resolve issues.
• Initiative and Creativity: Plans work and carries out tasks without detailed instructions; makes constructive suggestions; prepares for problems or opportunities in advance; undertakes additional responsibilities; responds to situations as they arise with minimal supervision.

Benefits