Career Coach

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: The PASSHE PD Coordinator is critical to the goals of the OCDEL/PASSHE ECE PDO. The Coordinator acts as a connection between the regional HUB and the individual providers and programs. The PASSHE PD Coordinator will work with the Professional Development Organization to facilitate the participation of childcare staff in continued education through CDA, AA and Bachelor degree programs.  The PASSHE PD Coordinator acts as a resource, providing early care and education staff with information and support to obtain their professional development goals including obtaining a CDA certificate or degree in early childhood education. The Coordinator’s role will change based upon the needs of the students, the region and the academic curriculum. The primary task of the PASSHE PD Coordinator is to guide enrolled childcare staff through the process of obtaining their CDA credential, Associate degree or Bachelor’s degree.  

Specific Duties:

• Develop a firm understanding of the process goals and timeline of the PDO grant.
• Be available a minimum of 35 hours per week.
• Coordinators will conduct site visits to establish and maintain relationships and connections with the early childhood field in each region. Coordinators will develop positive relationships with assigned area partners and instructors, reflecting an understanding and identification with the values, skills, and knowledge base of the profession.
• Be able to travel and attend project wide and regional meetings (state and regional meetings).
• Attend PASSHE PDO staff meetings.
• Meet individually with students either by telephone or face-to-face or Zoom at least once per semester. Feedback between PD Coordinator and students is expected regularly.
• Maintain on-going communication, as needed, with Instructors regarding student experience and any related progress in the program. Inform Statewide Field Director of any concerns related to student progress in the program that may impact and/or be related to the experience/program.
• Be available to program and student throughout the academic year, including making additional site visits, as warranted.
• Document all field site visits through use of Field Site Visit form.
• Become aware and communicate to the Regional Manager the strengths, resources, and limitations of agencies and Field Instructors, to meet the individual educational needs of the students.
• Notify the field director regarding contact information changes for students, field instructors or agencies.
• Maintain current and updated clearances and mandated reporter training.
• Develop and maintain working relationships with a specified caseload of early care and education and school-age practitioners ensuring target goals are achieved.
• Coach childcare practitioners through the process of applying for financial assistance when needed (Rising STARS Tuition Assistance, TEACH, etc.)
• Coach practitioners through the process of enrolling in and completing the requirements to apply for and receive a CDA.  
• Maintain on-going communication with the practitioner, ECE PDO@PASSHE Organization Instructors and ELRC Region 6 STARS Manager
• Be available to practitioners throughout their enrollment in classes or coursework, including making site visits, as warranted.
• Meet individually with practitioners either by telephone or face-to-face or Zoom. Communication between Coach and practitioners is expected regularly.
• Attend meetings as requested by supervisor.
• Document communications and site visits with practitioners.
• Travel within the region regularly and to state meetings as requested.
• Maintains complete, accurate and accessible automated and manual files, records, and databases, and prepares associated reports as required by government, funding source, and ELRC management.
• Collaborate with ELRC Keys to Quality Coaches
• Assist practitioners in setting individualized professional development goals.
• Act as a resource informing practitioners of professional development events, educational opportunities, additional grants or consultants.
• Work with the supportive/collaborative systems to assure the practitioner is able to access additional services as are needed (including, Infant Toddler Project, STARS TA, Regulatory Referral, CCHC, SAC ASQ, IECMH, Mentoring, CQI resources, Program Observation Instruments, CCW, Certification, Head Start/ PKC Specialists etc…).
• The Coordinator is responsible for recording the progress of all assigned practitioners
• Develop reports as necessary.
• Maintains awareness of ongoing changes/improvements to the early care and school-age system
• Participates in ongoing professional development and educational opportunities to augment his/her own skills.
• Disseminate information through personal contact, informational material, print and electronic media, etc.
• Develops and maintains positive working relationships with providers, staff, colleagues and agency partners.
• Maintains comprehensive knowledge of programs and resources within the professional development field and within ELRC 6
• Coordinate and conduct meetings including a community of practice for staff pursuing CDAs outside the apprenticeship program.
• Supports the collaboration between ELRC 6 and community partners.   
• Performs other duties as may be required by the STARS Manager or Director of ELRC within the scope of the Early Learning Resource Center.
• Coordinates ELRC Region 6 professional development events and support to childcare staff and directors
•  Help programs identify and locate Professional Development that supports the programs CQI goals.
• Other duties as assigned.

Education and/or Work Experience Requirements:

·        Master’s degree in early childhood education or related field or a Bachelor’s Degree with five years of early childhood practice experience in ages birth to five with a focus on early care and education.

·        This position includes the normal physical demands associated with work in an office environment, including lifting, bending and carrying, and travel to other facilities within the region.

·        This position requires availability and flexibility to participate in services, programs and activities during regularly scheduled workdays, evenings and weekends. 

·        Comprehensive knowledge of Developmentally Appropriate Practices, available ECE academic programs and colleges, and financial aid opportunities for early care and education practitioners (TEACH,etc.)

·        Knowledge of current birth to 5 early childhood systems and structures within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (OCDEL, NAEYC Standards, Keystone STARS, PreK Counts, DHS Certification)

·        Strong working knowledge about trends and best practices in Early Childhood Education.

·        Ability to effectively articulate the mission and vision of the ELRC 6 and the Professional Development partnership

·        Ability to provide guidance, direction, and support to early care and school-age practitioners to facilitate professional development involvement and completion of academic program

·        Ability to build positive reciprocal relationships with early care and school-age practitioners.

·        Ability to provide management with timely and accurate reports and recommendations.

·        Ability to juggle multiple tasks and competing priorities.

·        Ability to maintain complete, accurate, and accessible files and records.

·        Ability to communicate effectively and work productively with colleagues, government agencies, program participants, parents, and other human services organizations, etc. in a positive, pleasant, professional, and productive manner in writing, by telephone, and in personal contacts.

·        Working knowledge of personal computers and networked systems and their use and applications for data base management, tracking and reporting, etc. in a human services or similar environment.

·        Knowledge of early care and school-age systems, public social services, public funding helpful.

·        Ability to maintain a high level of confidentiality and sensitivity in all working relationships.

·        Ability to organize, prioritize and establish schedules to accomplish program goals and evaluate the delivery of service and program objectives.