Title: School Readiness Coordinator
Reports to: Education Manager
Department: Children & Family Services
Location: Contra Costa County, CA (Richmond/San Pablo, Pittsburg, Oakley, Concord)
Schedule: Monday through Friday
Travel: Local travel may be required
Salary: $74,000 - $76,000 DOE
Employee Status: Regular, Full-time, Non-Exempt
Union: N/A
Supervises: Center Directors for assigned locations
Benefits
Two weeks of paid vacation a year, sick time, 14 holidays, up to five floating holidays based on employee status, medical and dental benefits on the first of the month following 30 days of employment, life insurance policy at no cost to employee (with the option of increasing policy amount), flexible spending account for medical and dependent care costs, commuter benefits, 403(b) with employer match, and other benefits. We foster a joyful workplace and offer opportunities for professional development and growth.
Agency Summary
The Unity Council is a non-profit Social Equity Development Corporation with a 60-year history in the Fruitvale neighborhood of Oakland. Our mission is to promote social equity and improve quality of life by building vibrant communities where everyone can work, learn, and thrive.
Our programs aim to provide the community with the tools, knowledge, and resources to transform their lives and ultimately achieve their long-term educational, career, and financial goals. These holistic programs and services reach more than 11,000 individuals and families annually in five languages. Programs include early childhood education, youth mentorship and leadership development, employment services, career readiness training, housing and financial stability, senior citizen services, affordable housing and neighborhood development, and arts and cultural events. Our work expands beyond the Fruitvale district and now reaches across Oakland and into Contra Costa County. The Unity Council employs a diverse workforce of more than 350 people who reflect the linguistic, cultural, and ethnic identity of the communities we serve.
Program Summary
The Children and Family Services programs include Head Start, Early Head Start, State Pre-Kindergarten, Home Based Services, and Developmental Play Groups. Over 800 children birth through kindergarten entry and 32 expectant parents and their families receive child development and comprehensive family services through the Unity Council. The programs are diverse, multilingual, developmentally appropriate, culturally responsive, and individualized for each child and family. Services are provided in seven centers, two partner sites, and a home-based program throughout Oakland and Monument Corridor neighborhood in Concord, CA.
Position Summary
The School Readiness Coordinator, under direction of the Education Manager, will support The Unity Council’s Early Head Start and Head Start centers and classrooms; through supervision of Center Directors, monitoring of School Readiness requirements and data, and ensuring compliance with licensing and Head Start Performance Standards. Including providing coaching and training to Center Directors and teachers that reflects the cultural values and diversity of the families served while ensuring school readiness and program goals are successfully met.
Responsibilities
- Responsible for collection, analysis, and summaries of Education Data, aligned to School Readiness;
- Provide consistent supervision, training, and feedback to assigned Center Directors;
- Hold regular standing meetings with Center Directors to provide support for teaching staff and implementation of school readiness goals in each classroom;
- As an effort to continue with our commitment to coordinated services within all Head Start service areas, meet monthly with other service area coordinators and managers on strengthening partnerships to improve outcomes for children and families;
- Conduct on-going monitoring, tracking, follow-up, and analysis of child development services and child outcomes, including the monitoring of DRDPs on Learning Genie and Education Services in Child Plus for assigned center-based classrooms;
- Analyze DRDP results from each center to create action plans and develop areas of growth for each center and teaching team;
- Utilizing results from ongoing monitoring, work with the Center Directors on creating training plans and revising coaching plans for teaching teams to strengthen fidelity to curriculum and individualization of lesson plans;
- In partnership with the other School Readiness Coordinators, and Education Manager(s), produce School Readiness report two times per year for assigned area for Board and Policy Council approval;
- Work closely with the Education Manager and Professional Development Coordinator to create and provide an environment for onsite classroom-based coaching, training, and technical assistance to reflect program needs and support the continuous quality improvement process in alignment to School Readiness Goals and Program Goals. Identify, develop, and provide additional training as determined by surveys, emergent issues, observations, and other agency needs;
- Foster curriculum development and provide input on school readiness goals, curriculum fidelity, CLASS, family engagement, and dual-language instruction;
- Work with the Education team to ensure the CLASS review, assessment, coaching plans, and coaching strategy is implemented;
- Provide guidance in conducting DRDP assessments, ASQs and intentional daily observations of children’s play, behavior, and interactions;
- Work closely with teachers, center directors, and Disabilities Coordinator in the referral process for children with special needs to ensure services are received at all times according to the disabilities policies and procedures;
- Work closely with the Mental Health and Disabilities Manager and Coordinators on the referral process for children needing mental health resources and adhere to the School Readiness role in the mental health referral process according to the policies and procedures;
- Monitor and use the Child Plus (CP) database to document and supervise workflow on a regular basis.
- Attend Multi-Disciplinary Team meetings as needed;
- Ensure all tasks associated with School Readiness Coordinator in the Program Policies and Procedures are completed in a timely manner;
- Communicate regularly with parents and the parent policy committee;
- Perform additional duties as assigned by management.
Qualifications
- Site Supervisor permit or higher from the Commission on Teacher Credentialing;
- BA in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, or related field preferred or; BA with 15 ECE units (including 12 core units plus supervised field experience);
- MA in Early Childhood Education preferred;
- 6 units in infant/toddler care or willingness to obtain within first year of hire.Bilingual English-Spanish strongly preferred;
- 3-5 years’ experience in programs serving young children, infants, toddlers, and preschoolers, Head Start experience preferred;
- Experience with ITERS/ECERS, Creative Curriculum, CSEFEL and CLASS;
- CLASS certification or ability to become certified within 12 months of hire;
- Ability to model play-based, child-centered curriculum;
- Experience and knowledge of Early Childhood Programming, analyzing data and developing reports;
- Ability to work harmoniously in a multi-cultural team;
- Possession of a valid California drivers' license; current personal vehicle insurance, or safe driving record sufficient to ensure insurability through Agency policy;
- Ability to work on a variety of tasks simultaneously and able to work a flexible schedule, including some evenings and weekends, with some travel.
Essential Functions
- Advanced computer skills with strong MS Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint), and use of Child Plus (CP);
- Regularly required to operate standard office equipment (computer, photocopier, fax, etc.);
- Regularly required to sit for long periods of time, and occasionally stand and walk;
- Regularly required to use hands to operate computer and other office equipment;
- Close vision required for computer use.
Physical Requirements
- Must be able climb stairs, reach, bend, lift up to 40 pounds, crawl, kneel, stoop, twist, grasp with hands and fingers, use arms and legs, able to walk, climb ladders if applicable;
- Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, and ability to adjust focus;
- Commitment to utilize safe lifting techniques for lifting children, supplies and furnishings.
Pre-Employment Requirements
- Physical Exam
- Tb Test
- Background/fingerprint clearance
- MMR and Tdap Vaccination
- CPR
- Child Abuse Mandated Training
This description is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of duties, responsibilities or requirements for the position. This position may change or assume additional duties at any time.
***Please submit cover letter, resume, and transcripts.***
The Unity Council is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Women, minorities, and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply.