Early Childhood Parent Educator (CC: 157187)

JOB DESCRIPTION

VALLEY VIEW PUBLIC SCHOOLS

TITLE: Early Childhood Parent Educator
REPORTS TO: Building Principal and Assistant Principal, Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services or Designee

JOB SUMMARY: Under the direction of the Principal and Assistant Principal, the Parent Educator implements the Parents as Teachers (PAT) model, emphasizing parent-child interaction, development centered parenting, and family well-being in their work with families. Utilizing the PAT Foundational Curriculum in diverse, equitable, and inclusive ways, the Parent Educator partners, facilitates, and reflects with families. This is accomplished by providing education in the form of personal visits, group meetings, screenings, and linkages to a network of resources for parents and children.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function in the following categories satisfactorily.

• Attend Foundational and Model Implementation training for certification for children ages 0-3
• Attend Foundational 2 certification for children age 3-5
• Provide parent education through regular personal visits both virtually and in person when safe to do so, implementing the Parents as Teachers Foundational 1 and 2 Curriculum
• Assess family's needs and provide developmentally appropriate information, guidance, and support to parents
• Conduct all required screenings under program guidelines and fidelity requirements
• Work with the PAT team to organize, plan, coordinate, and facilitate monthly Integrate group activities
• Represent the Parents as Teachers program at various community events supporting families and/or young children.
• Coordinate services with other community programs offering resources to parents and their young children.
• Recruit initial caseload, and engage in recruitment activities on a regular basis to replace exiting families
• Plan, provide, and document personal visits focused on parent-child interaction, development centered parenting, and family well-being
• Conduct home visits with confidence, professionalism, and cultural responsiveness while supporting families in their natural home environment.
• Use the PAT Foundational curriculum to share research-based information with families
• Plan and coordinate group socialization events to give families an opportunity to build social connections with each other, engage in parent-child interaction activities, and increase their knowledge of ways to support children's development
• Maintain and submit in a timely way all required family and program documentation to meet program fidelity and funder requirements
• Organize supplies and materials needed to complete personal visits, etc.
• Participate in at least 2 hours of individual reflective supervision, 90 minutes of group Reflective supervision monthly
• Obtain competency-based professional development and renew parent educator certification annually.
• Participate in continuous quality improvement.

ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Perform other related duties and responsibilities as assigned by the Principal or Assistant Principal, or designee.
• Provide clerical support in student documentation and records
• Serve as a role model for all students and perform their duties to create an environment that is conducive to providing students an enhanced and engaged learning opportunity.

QUALIFICATIONS:

EDUCATION

• Five years of successful experience working with families in some capacity (preferred).
• Associates or Bachelor's Degree in Child Development, Early Childhood Education, Social Work or related field preferred.

OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Bilingual (Spanish/English) preferred
• Proficiency in Oral and Written Spanish preferred
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to work a flexible schedule; Ability to occasionally work evenings and weekends.
• Knowledge of the local community population is preferred.
• Ability to establish rapport with families and empower them by building on their strengths
• Strong organizational skills that include workflow management, time management and planning ability.
• Ability to feel comfortable speaking with individuals about PAT and attend community events for recruitment purposes
• Ability to work independently and be self-motivated (work is often away from the office).
• Computer skills; including Google Suite
• Ability to complete the Parents as Teachers Foundational and Model Implementation Trainings before delivering PAT services
• Familiarity with issues surrounding family poverty
• Commitment to working with diverse people and families
• Provide services in a culturally appropriate/sensitive manner
• Maintain professional boundaries and confidentiality
• Demonstrate ability to work as an effective team member
• Maintain current certification as a Parent Educator by completing the required professional development hours for years of service
• Valid driver's license with own vehicle as this position requires the staff member to drive between district locations and to families homes throughout the community

WORK ENVIRONMENT AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY: Work is primarily performed in the school/district/community environment where unusual temperature, noise, and hazards are relatively nonexistent. Work requires the employee to perform the following critical physical demands of the job in the school, district office, and community setting as applicable:

• Ability to regularly talk, see, and hear.
• Ability to lift, pull, push, walk, stand, sit, and use your hands for fine manipulation during the normal performance of tasks and responsibilities.
• Ability to occasionally stoop, kneel, crouch, and lift or move up to twenty-five (25) pounds.
• Ability to travel from building to District as needed, as well as community and family partners and homes.
• Must have valid Illinois Drivers License and ability to travel throughout the District, as well as community.

Salary is in accordance with the below salary schedules based on degree:

Associates Degree: Paraprofessional Salary Schedule
Bachelors Degree: Certified Salary Schedule

Classified Full Time Professional Technical Personnel

• Medical/Vision and Dental coverage through BCBSIL
• FSA and Dependent DayCare accounts
• Life, AD&D, and Long Term Disability insurance
• IMRF contribution included in base salary
• 403B
• Yearly professional development allotment

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT: The work year for this position is 182 days. Hourly salary and benefits are based on market and district comparisons as determined by the Superintendent or his/her designee. FLSA Exempt.

EVALUATION: Performance of this job will be evaluated in accordance with provisions of the Board's policy on evaluation of professional personnel.