Early Head Start Early Childhood Program Specialist 3 (Mount Vernon)

The Opportunity:This position provides leadership in fostering holistic developmentally appropriate child development through structured early education play-based classrooms. This includes promoting social emotional cognitive and physical growth ensuring each child receives quality equitable education and support to prepare them for future school readiness. This position provides leadership to a variety of daily routines and activities using a research and evidence-based curriculum and assessment system. This position will be assigned to a primary center location within the specified area and may be moved on a temporary basis or reassigned to a primary location within that same specified area if required to support program operations and effective centers.

The center for this position is the Child & Family Learning Center located at 1919 N. LaVenture Rd. Mount Vernon WA 98273. Travel to other locations will be required for some pre-scheduled meetings and trainings.

This is classified benefits-eligible positions working 40 hours per week 10 11 or 12 months per year. This position will be located at one of the Mount Vernon Head Start Center locations. Details regarding location and number of working months per year will be discussed during the interview stage.

Applications may be kept on file to be considered for openings that may occur in the future.

This position is grant-funded. The extension of the position is dependent on the continuation of funding.

Head Start is a federal program that has been serving vulnerable children and families for more than half a century. We serve people experiencing homelessness poverty involvement in the foster system or child protective system or any other family stressors that qualifying families may be experiencing. Head Start classrooms do not expel or exclude children due to behavioral issues or disabilities and special needs of any kind. We recognize instead that individualizing for the specific needs of every child in a nurturing and supportive environment is how we best help all children reach kindergarten healthy and ready to learn. Center staff will have a responsibility to support the needs of all children in their classrooms.

Head Start promotes the school readiness of young children from low-income families by providing comprehensive services in early learning health and family well-being. Head Start teachers and staff look at the child holistically individualizing for the needs of each child. These positions provide assistance with high-quality early learning services while engaging in innovative practices and approaches that center on the children that Head Start serves.

• Equitable student outcomes in access achievement and community;
• Our Guiding Principles;
• Decisions based on strategy and evidence;
• The development of our employees;
• A diverse and inclusive college community where everyone belongs.

• An unrelenting focus on our mission to improve the lives of our students and to strengthen our diverse community.
• Support for innovative teaching learning and scholarship.
• Exciting opportunities for personal and career growth.
• Diverse cultural and environmental benefits of rural suburban and urban lifestyles.
• Friendly supportive and diverse work environments.
• Excellent benefits include competitive leave packages and an array of health dental vision and retirement plans to meet your current and future needs.

Ensurea safe nurturing welcoming and developmentally appropriate environment

• Provide continuous active supervision as established in the centers Active Supervision Plan;
• Plan and supervise the set-up of an organized nurturing and safe classroom developmentally appropriate for the age you teach based on curriculum fidelity tools;
• Plan embedded strategies and practices for classroom routines and activities to support all childrens progress toward school readiness goals including children with IFSP or IEP goals and dual language learners;
• Welcome children parents and all visitors to the classroom;
• Engage children and facilitate play to support developmental goals you set with parents and the classroom team and align with the programs ongoing assessment. Ensure embedded strategies and practices you have planned are implemented throughout the day;
• Work collaboratively with any LEA or Part C school district or other therapist or community partners to create and implement plans for IEP/IFSP goal support;
• Lead the children and staff through the daily schedule and provide direction as needed. This includes interns volunteers and substitute teachers;
• Plan for and engage parents interns volunteers and visitors to participate in classroom activities; mentor interns and team members in partnership with the education manager and the coach;
• Use positive and strengths-based language with children. Interact with parents and staff in a positive and professional manner.

• Conduct playground safety checks;
• Provide daily meal routines for children including helping to distribute and serve meals sitting at the table to model appropriate meal time behaviors and having social conversations that build connection and provide language modeling;
• Assist children with toileting needs including changing diapers
• May provide daily health checks for children upon arrival;
• Administer first aid and handle medical emergencies as they arise. May administer prescribed or approved non-prescribed medications;
• Support the individualized health needs of each child;
• May clean and sanitize assigned areas surfaces and materials;
• May empty garbage cans and clean bathrooms as well as classroom furnishings;
• Flexible task allocation: Be prepared to support various tasks within the center including food prep service and other operational services as needed.

• Lead classroom planning session with the classroom teaching team using program curriculum and current child outcomes data;
• Document planning and individualization of children using program forms and/or Teaching Strategies Cloud;
• May document attendance and meal service;
• Plan and provide direction to the teaching team for the ongoing collection of observational data related to the GOLD assessment;
• Complete developmental and/or behavioral screenings within the federally required timeline;
• Document child information in online systems including observational data into GOLD online and educational disability support and in ChildPlus;
• Provide four (4) educational visits for each family including two (2) home visits;
• Participate in center team meetings and family reviews;
• Provide mentorship for classroom assistants volunteers and interns;
• Support center parent committee meetings trainings and other family activities.

• Complete annual requirements including modules for Blood Borne Pathogens CPS Active Supervision Food Handlers Right Response and USDA sign Confidentiality Statement Code of Conduct & Ethical Standards forms;
• Engage in program trainings coaching and other professional development activities to enhance job skills and knowledge completing at a minimum a required 15 hours of classroom-related training each year;
• Maintain reliability in the program assessment tool;
• Maintain good attendance in order to optimize child outcomes;
• Complete ongoing job-related program/personal documentation in an accurate and timely manner including ctcLink time reporting program surveys etc.;
• Participate in program committees as desired.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Associates Degree in Early Childhood Education (ECE) or related field with ECE credits equivalent to the WA State ECE certificate;
• Fluent in English;
• Experience in an early learning classroom setting equal to three (3) years.

• OR equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Bachelors Degree in Early Childhood Education (ECE) or related field with ECE credits equivalent to the WA State ECE certificate;
• Bilingual in English and Spanish;
• Experience working with children with an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) or Individualized Education Program (IEP).

Salary and Benefits:

• Salary is based on Range 42 Step A $3643 per month with periodic increments to $4740 per month. Starting salary may be dependent on education qualifications and experience.Salary and benefits are subject to change in accordance with legislative mandates and collective bargaining agreements.
• This position is eligible for overtime pay in accordance with the Fair Labor Standards Act and is dependent upon continued grant funding.
• This is a union-represented position subject to a collective bargaining agreement.
• Retirement medical and insurance benefits are provided in accordance with state regulations. Additional information on benefits can be found at of Employment:Application Procedure:
  
  • A MERIT background check including fingerprints through the Washington State Department of Children Youth and Families (DCYF);
  • If hired you will be required to provide proof that you are either 1) a U.S. citizen or 2) an immigrant whose status permits you to lawfully work in this country;
  • Within 30 days of hire have or obtain the following:
    • an initial health examination indicating freedom from communicable diseases;
    • proof of a Tuberculosis (TB) test taken within 12 months prior to the initial employment date;
    • proof of immunization for measles mumps and rubella vaccination OR proof of immunity from measles;
    • CPR/First Aid card;
    • a current Food Handlers permit;
  • Candidates who do not meet the minimum educational requirement must successfully complete a Professional Development Plan to attain the educational requirement in accordance with the timeline outlined in the plan;
  • Meet all federally mandated requirements related to the Head Start program including but not limited to continuing educational requirements and all Washington State laws and College policies related to the Head Start program and SVC employment;
  • Have or ability to obtain by the time of hire a Washington State drivers license or equivalent and proof of auto insurance;
  • Prior to employment a background check including criminal record history will be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicants suitability and competence to perform in the position.
    
    Additionally pursuant to RCW 28B.112.080 applicants must declare whether they are the subject of any substantiated findings of sexual misconduct in any current or former employment or are currently being investigated for or have left a position during an investigation into a violation of any sexual misconduct policy at the applicants current or past employer. By law post-secondary education institutions cannot hire an applicant who refuses to declare the existence or non-existence of an investigation or findings subject to this statute.
  
  
  • In the interest of providing a healthy safe and secure educational and work environment and in order to meet the requirements of federal legislation it is the policy of Skagit Valley College to maintain an alcohol and drug-free workplace for our employees and students.
  • If hired you will be required to provide proof of identity and documentation of U.S. Citizenship or appropriate authorization to work in this position as required by the Immigration Reform Control Act of 1986.
  • This classification is included in the classified staff bargaining unit represented by the Washington Public Employees Association WPEA. Membership in the WPEA within thirty (30) calendar days of appointment at this classification is a requisite for employment at Skagit Valley College under union shop requirements.
  In order to be considered for the position you must complete the online application in full and attach the required supplemental to provide this information may eliminate you from consideration for this position.
  
  Application Deadline: This position is open until filled and applications submitted may be considered for future vacancies that occur.
  
  Please be aware that the College hiring authorities reserve the right to hire one or more candidates and may exercise the option to make a hiring decision prior to the conclusion of the recruitment process. Only candidates selected to interview will be contacted.
  
  Application Assistance:If you have questions about the position or require special accommodation you may contact Human Resources at Monday through Thursday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm Pacific Time. SVC complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Applicants with disabilities who require assistance with the recruitment process may leave a TDD/TTY message at by the application closing date.
  
  For questions regarding the online application system you may call NEOGOV Applicant Tech Support at from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm Pacific Time. For best results apply using one of the following browsers supported by NEOGOV: Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Safari Microsoft Edge and later versions of Internet Explorer.
  
  SVC Annual Security Report:The U.S. Department of Education and the federal Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act require all colleges to provide information to current and prospective students and employees about campus safety policies procedures and statistics on certain crimes including hate crimes domestic violence dating violence stalking and sexual assault. We are required to report our campus security information and statistics in an Annual Security Report which is updated annually each October. All prospective employees may obtain a copy of the Annual Security Report from the Human Resources Office by calling or by accessing the Report at: Valley College is an equal-opportunity employer and is committed to providing equitable opportunities for all groups in terms and conditions of employment and personnel practices.
  
  Skagit Valley College provides a drug-free environment and does not discriminate on the basis of race color creed religion national origin sex sexual orientation and/or gender identity pregnancy genetic information age marital status disability honorably discharged veteran or military status in its programs and employment. For inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies contact Carolyn Tucker Vice President of Human Resources/EEO 360.416.7794 or . For inquiries regarding sexual misconduct compliance contact Title IX Coordinator Sandy Jordan 360.416.7923 or . Mailing address: 2405 E. College Way Mount Vernon WA 98273.