Close Date:
08/05/2018

Title of Position: Education Specialist, Head Start & Family Collaboration

Reports to: Executive Director, Office of Early Learning

Description of Position:

The Delaware Department of Education is seeking an Education Specialist for Head Start Collaboration and Family Engagement to 1) facilitate collaboration among Head Start agencies and entities that carry out activities designed to benefit low-income children from birth to school entry, and their families; 2) provide leadership in creating linkages across agencies and services that support all young children's physical, emotional, and mental health and support and engage families; 3) support efforts to create an aligned statewide early childhood system.

The scope of work will require significant coordination and collaboration both within the Department of Education, across other state Departments, with Head Start and public and private early learning programs, and with district and school personnel. This individual will be a member of the Delaware Office of Early Learning.

Major Responsibilities Include:

• Manage the Head Start Collaboration grant.
• Work collaboratively with the Delaware Head Start Association to identify, develop, and implement strategies for strengthening services available to low-income children and their families, birth to school entry.
• Partner with State child care systems, emphasizing Early Head Start - Child Care Partnerships (EHS-CC Partnerships) and Early Childhood Assistance Programs (ECAP).
• Work with state efforts to collect data regarding early childhood programs and child outcomes.
  • Provide technical assistance in the recommendations and establishment of unified data collection system for public early childhood education and development programs.
  • Analyze early learning data across existing systems to inform policy and practice recommendations.
• Support the expansion and access of high quality, workforce and career development opportunities for staff.
  • Design and facilitate professional development, in a variety of contexts, and in collaboration with a variety of organizations, specifically related to family engagement and meeting the needs of low-income and other vulnerable young children.
• Collaboration with State Quality Rating Improvement System (Delaware Stars for Early Success).
  • Develop and disseminate materials to support best practices in providing high-quality early learning and comprehensive health and family support services.
• Work with state school systems to ensure continuity between Head Start and Kindergarten Entrance Assessment (Delaware Early Learner Survey)
  • Work collaboratively on initiatives strengthening support for children and families transitioning to kindergarten.
• Coordinate state meetings and committee work to further the development of a high quality early learning system for Delaware.
• Serve on the State Early Childhood Advisory Council.
• Serve as a representative of Delaware for national collaborative projects and state consortium efforts related to current job responsibilities.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Executive Director.

Essential Qualifications and Skills

Education: Bachelor's Degree (Master's preferred) from an accredited college or university, preferably with a concentration in Early Childhood Education or directly related field.

Experience:

• Minimum of five years successful related experience in such areas as developing collaboration and project management.
• Substantive experience with Head Start.
• Experience with early childhood education across the content areas.
• Preferred experience with technical assistance to diverse early learning programs and practitioners.
• Preferred experience with coordination of professional development programs.
• Knowledge of Head Start and best practice in early childhood education, systems development and integration.
• Leadership experience managing large scale projects.
• Preferred experience with data analysis

Skills:

• Demonstrated ability to problem solve effectively and efficiently, and to resolve organizational roadblocks.
• Superior project management skills, and delivery of results against tight deadlines.
• Results-oriented professional with demonstrated ability to self-motivate and to work independently.
• Creative and strategic thinker with strong collaborative skills.
• Comfort and facility with data analysis and budget planning.
• Team orientation and willingness to contribute at all levels to ensure successful implementation when working under pressure.
• Knowledge and skills in best practices of professional development with adult learners.
• Excellent interpersonal, oral and written communication skills.
• Exercises discretion and confidentiality

Salary:

Salary will be computed in accordance with the education, experience, and training of the individual selected and in accordance with salary schedules for employees of the Department of Education. Direct deposit of payroll checks is a condition of state employment, and employees are paid on a lag pay schedule with the first payment made after approximately one month of employment.

Notes:

A criminal background check is required. The successful candidate must demonstrate during the interview process an understanding of diversity, educational equity and multicultural education. This job description is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of duties and standards of the position. The selected candidate should expect to perform any other related activities needed to deliver the position's key duties and responsibilities and follow any other instructions as defined by his/her supervisor.

The Delaware Department of Education is an equal opportunity employer. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, genetic information, marital status, disability, age or Vietnam Era veteran's status in employment or its programs and activities. Inquiries should be directed to the Department's Human Resource Office, 401 Federal Street, Suite 2, Dover, Delaware, 19901, Telephone No. (302) 735-4030.

A person may not be employed by a public school employer in any position requiring licensure and certification if the person does not meet licensure and certification requirements established under Chapter 12 of [Title 14 of the Delaware Code]..., except pursuant to a license extension and/or emergency certificate issued pursuant to Chapter 12. See 14 Del. C.§ 1313.

Direct deposit of paychecks is a condition of employment for all new employees hired after December 31, 1995

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