Collaborative Network Specialist

MARC's Department of Early Learning was awarded a contract with the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) Office of  Childhood (OOC) to implement and provide oversight for a Collaborative Network to increase childcare workforce knowledge and skills when working with children in early education.  

MARC’s Department of Early Learning is seeking a qualified individual to serve as a Collaborative Network Specialist and perform activities to provide on-site coaching and training to early learning centers and/or family childcare home providers. This position also entails collaborating with other agencies and organizations in the service delivery that serve early care and education providers, educators and children and educating them on our services. 

Training and Meetings

The specialist will obtain a Missouri Professional Development Identification (MOPD ID) and at least 12 clock hours of early childhood training each year.  

The Specialist will participate in monthly Collaborative Network meetings with the MARC Collaborative Network team and other agencies involved in the service delivery.

The Specialist will participate in ongoing check-ins with the Collaborative Network Coordinator to assess service delivery and to ensure all requirements of the Collaborative Network are met as outlined in the RFP.

On-site Coaching Visits

• The specialist will use strength-based coaching techniques to provide on-site coaching visits twice (2) per month to a caseload of early learning classrooms or family childcare home environments.
• Each participating classroom is to receive 2 one-hour site visits each month minimum.    
• The site visits will involve completing a Self-Reflection checklist and establishing a Quality Improvement Plan (QIP) and developing attainable goals with educators utilizing the Practice Based Coaching framework.  
• The specialist is responsible for adequate prep work required to prepare for a site visit which may include researching and gathering community resources, copying curriculum handouts, and preparing learning activities to model in the classroom.    
• The specialist will be responsible for entering all participant program data elements into the MOPD online database tracking system and ensure that all data is entered within 2 days of the initial visit
• Documents support provided to assigned early learning programs and tracks successes, challenges, and strategies of programs.
• The specialist will be responsible for conducting CLASS observations to assess childcare environments, adult-child interactions, and curriculum implementation.
• Facilitate monthly professional development cohorts for classroom-related training for provider staff.
• Responsible for conducting a DESE approved/designated pre and post knowledge assessment survey at the start of service and upon completion to determine any change in quality of care.
• The specialist will be paid a fee for services based on the number of site visits and training completed each month, as well as meetings attended.

Qualifications

• Applicants must possess an ability to develop rapport with childcare professionals, children and families from a variety of ethnic, cultural, geographic and economic backgrounds.  
• Working knowledge of general computer operations required. Demonstrate proficiency with Microsoft Office applications including Word and Excel and familiarity with e-mail and internet functions.  
• Applicants must be comfortable using videoconferencing, if necessary.  
• Must have Internet access and cell phone with long distance calling plan and reliable transportation.    
• Must successfully pass background check.    
• Applicants must possess an ability to develop rapport with childcare professionals, children and families from a variety of ethnic, cultural, geographic and economic backgrounds.  
• At a minimum, applicants must possess an associate degree or higher in Early Childhood Education, Family Studies, Child Development, Social Work, or a closely related field approved by a state agency.  
• Applicants must have at least (2) years of professional experience in early childhood education and development and/or possess a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential specific to Infant Toddler, Preschool and/or Family Childcare and;  
• At least (3) years’ professional experience working with children in a childcare setting. 

The MARC Collaborative Network Specialist will be compensated based upon the following schedule: