Lead Early Childhood & Education Specialist

Is this the next step in your career Find out if you are the right candidate by reading through the complete overview below.

Get to know us :

For over 100 years, Vista Del Mar Child & Family Services (VDM) has taken great pride in providing exceptional programs and services for children and families throughout LA County.

VDM envisions a community where all children and families are equipped and prepared to live productive, fulfilling lives.

We serve the most vulnerable in Los Angeles, many of whom have faced multi-generational inequities. Vista Del Mar is guided by core values of empowerment, equity, and excellence.

Culture :

At Vista Del Mar, our success is empowered by our staff, families, residents, and clients. We believe in the inclusion and liberation of marginalized communities, standing in unity for justice and recognizing long-standing systemic oppression.

We acknowledge we are part of an unjust system and strongly advocate to change oppressive systems and the unconscious bias that affect staff, clients, and families in all communities.

Vista is committed to developing a culture of healing, community care, and creating a sense of belonging. Our actions will be louder than our words.

Folks who are Black, Indigenous, people of color, LGBTQ+, of a marginalized gender, disabled, parents, are / have been system-impacted, are immigrants, and anyone who has experienced systemic oppression, and / or gender-based violence are encouraged to apply.

Mission :

Vista Del Mar provides a trauma-responsive continuum of services to empower children, youth, and families in Southern California to lead fulfilling lives.

Role Overview :

The Lead Early Childhood & Education Specialist (ECE) provides instructional support, mentoring, and coaching to family childcare providers and center-based teachers to enhance the overall quality of early care and education.

The ECE conducts regular visits with providers to assess and strengthen environmental quality, teaching practices, and children's development.

The ECE provides child development and tailored family support services through individual child and family needs assessments, family partnership plans, parent education / support groups, and case management services.

Additionally, the ECE ensures providers and teachers are in compliance with Head Start Program Performance Standards and Community Care Licensing Regulations.

Supports the Vista Village vision of nurturing, equitable beginnings and the implementation within the scope of the role.

Essential Job Duties (other duties may be assigned) :

• Work with a mixed caseload of up to 15 childcare providers and families.
• Conduct at least two 90-minute visits per month (and as many as needed) to provide coaching, consultation and guidance.
• Plan and facilitate educational activities in assigned childcare settings at least one time a month.
• Assess childcare providers utilizing various tools such as CLASS, FCCERS, ITERS and curriculum fidelity checklists to monitor and support teacher interactions, refine learning environments, and ensure curriculum fidelity.
• Use a strength-based approach to working with providers and center-based teachers on specific and measurable professional goals.

Uses standardized documentation to track provider / teacher goal completion and outcomes.

Facilitate Practice Based Coaching alongside equity-centered and trauma-informed coaching techniques to refine teaching practices.

This includes but is not limited to conducting regular focused observations, assessing educators' strengths and needs, collaboratively establishing SMART goals through co-created agreements, and cultivating a space for reflective practice and feedback.

• Assist in facilitating and / or planning of provider workshops. Track and monitor training completion for providers in Child Plus.
• Conduct developmental screenings and ongoing child assessments (ASQs, DRDPs) and assist Education Manager to track and aggregate child development data.
• Review screening and assessment results with providers and teachers; uses this information to help co-create engaging and individualized lesson plans and inclusive learning environments.

Ensures that intervention activities are offered regularly within the educational setting.

Provide counseling / support sessions with families in childcare settings and / or in the family home, including child development guidance and parent education.

Frequency of family visits will be based on the urgency and intensity of identified family needs and goals with a minimum of two visits a year.

• Conduct family needs assessment and develop individualized family partnership plans inclusive of parent, family, and child goals.
• Co-facilitate parent teacher conferences in collaboration with Provider at minimum 2x / year.
• Attend and participate in monthly Specialist Meetings, as needed.
• Provide tailored case management services to assist families with accessing needed community resources.
• Provide transition services to families in collaboration with other members of EHS inter-disciplinary team to promote school readiness.
• Support families with chronic attendance patterns to maximize access and benefit of EHS services.
• Complete monthly monitoring reports and progress notes for assigned visits. Submits documentation according to timelines on TORSH Talent and Child Plus.
• Provide case coordination with disabilities specialist and other community providers such as Regional Center, LAUSD, and DCFS to positively impact family outcomes and to support children's IFSP / IEP goals.
• Support providers and teachers to achieve education requirements, including completion of the CDA certificate program or a comparable credential or a degree in child development / ECE.

Tracks education requirements in Child Plus.

Ensure that childcare providers remain in compliance with Head Start Program Performance Standards, Community Care Licensing, Title V regulations, and any other pertinent regulations.

What You Bring to VDM : SPANISH AND ENGLISH SPEAKING IS REQUIRED!

• Master's Degree in Child Development, Early Childhood Education, Social Work, Psychology, or related field.
• Minimum of 3 years experience with young children 0-4 and their families.
• Minimum 1 year of coaching / mentoring / training ECE professionals. Experience working with Family Childcare Providers is a plus.
• Child Development Director Permit or ability to obtain Director Permit within 3 months of hire.
• Bilingual English-Spanish preferred.
• Knowledge of ChildPlus, DRDP, FCCERS, CLASS, Creative Curriculum, ASQ's preferred.
• Experience with Head Start / Early Head Start preferred.
• Valid CA driver's license and proof of auto insurance.

Salary Range : $80,000 $85,000 / annually

What Can We Offer You for All Your Hard Work?

• Full benefits offered (Medical, Dental, Vision).
• FSA / Dependent Care and Supplemental benefits through The Standard.
• 403(b) 3% Employer contribution based off annual salary.
• 4 Mental Health Days.
• Up to 12 Paid Holidays.
• Up to 25% for Cell Phone Discounts with 3 Major Carriers (AT&T, Verizon, Sprint).

Vista Del Mar's Credentials :

Our nationally recognized clinical programs have been awarded a Gold Seal by the Joint Commission, the highest level of accreditation possible.

In addition, our educational facilities are fully accredited through the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), and our graduate degree program is recognized worldwide for its high quality of instructions.

Equal Employment Statement :

Vista Del Mar is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. Therefore, all qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, or genetic information.

Vista Del Mar will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations as part of this commitment.

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