Early Childhood Specialist/Consultant 200 days/year

EARLY CHILDHOOD SPECAILIST / CONSULTANT - 200 days/year

General Description of Position:
Provide leadership and coordination of professional development for the teachers in the CISD GSRP Consortium. The specialist will analyze Program Quality Assessment scores and ongoing student assessment results and work with instructional staff to develop program goals. The specialist will monitor goals for continuous quality improvement of the GSRP programs in Calhoun County. The early childhood specialist will lead and coordinate the work of the Early Childhood Connections preschool coach/coaches and GSRP instructional coach/coaches.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Work cooperatively with the Early Childhood Director for CISD and Early Childhood Connections Project Coordinator to align early childhood programs across Battle Creek and Calhoun County; to provide leadership and support to CISD GSRP classrooms; to monitor CISD GSRP Consortium classrooms.
• Work cooperatively with Calhoun ISD Department of Instruction to ensure alignment with K-12 programming and assessment.
• Collaborate with Head Start programs in Calhoun County to maximize the number of eligible children served in preschool programs for 3 and 4 year olds.
• Supervise, coordinate and monitor all activities of the preschool and provider coaches/mentors in the CISD GSRP Consortium.
• Lead and monitor the implementation of the HighScope curriculum in all preschool classrooms in the CISD GSRP Consortium.
• Develop, coordinate and implement professional development consistent with the needs of the CISD GSRP Consortium.
• Assist with grant coordination, management, budgets and evaluation.
• Assist GSRP teachers and administrators in the collection, analysis and use of data.
• Monitor student level data for all CISD GSRP Consortium classrooms.
• Conduct Preschool Quality Assessment (PQA) classroom observations as required.
• Provide individualized coaching that reflects Michigan Department of Education goals and objectives as determined in the Michigan Early Childhood Standards of Quality.
• Convene and lead a district (program) level team to periodically analyze program data including PQA scores and ongoing child assessment results to create program goals.
• Work with the CISD GSRP Consortium to ensure GSRP programs have the support necessary to align with local protocols for recruitment and enrollment.
• Support GSRP programs to ensure that parents are active decision makers for their child's development.
• Provide district level support to transition to the online version of the PQA-Program Quality Assessment as well as quality implementation and mandate fulfillment.
• Provide district, program and teacher support for the implementation of TQRIS - Great Start to Quality and for meeting Michigan DHS Licensing requirements.
• Ensure that the Developmental Screener (Ages and Stages - ASQ) is done with fidelity and used for the purpose for which it was designed.
• Determine that an ongoing child assessment is in place and administered with fidelity.
• Work with Ready Schools Team to create a community transition plan that highlights the core local transition agreements, timelines and activities.
• Work cooperatively with local buildingadministrators, teachers, counselors, secretaries and other school staff.
• Provide information to local districts regarding state and federal initiatives and legislation.
• Support and exhibit lifelong learning and knowledge and use best practice in educational improvement.
• Maintain regular consistent attendance and punctuality.
• Maintain a professional personal appearance.
• Adhere to district health and safety procedures.
• Adhere to Board policies.
• Maintain confidentiality.
• Other duties as assigned.

Education and/or Experience:

Required:

• Masters Degree in Early Childhood Education or Child Development.
• Minimum of five (5) years of classroom experience.
• Current Michigan teaching certificate.

Only those candidates that provide the requested information will be considered.

Application Procedure:

• Provide a resume and letter of interest including a review of relevant experience.
• With your letter of interest you must provide photographic evidence of meeting the minimal qualifications, i.e., copies of diplomas, educational transcripts, certifications and licensure.
• Current letters of reference.
• Materials received from applicants after the deadline will not be considered.
• Internal applicants are equally responsible for providing all requested information. Calhoun Intermediate School District will not retrieve or copy information from your personnel file. It is the applicant's sole responsibility and if necessary the person should make the needed arrangements in order to review their personnel file and obtain any copies to include with their letter of interest and resume.

Application Deadline:     April 23, 2012, at 4:00 p.m. (Internal Candidates)

                                       Open Until Filled (External Candidates)

The Calhoun Intermediate School District is an equal opportunity employer and will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, handicap, sex, age, religion, national origin, weight, height, or marital status in its employment practices.