The Arkansas Research Center (ARC) at the University of Central Arkansas is seeking twelve full-time Regional CLASS Observers to conduct independent observations as part of its statewide CLASS Third-Party Observation Verification project, conducted on behalf of the Arkansas Department of Education, Office of Early Childhood. ARC has been engaged to conduct verification observations across all 75 Arkansas counties. Observers are organized into six geographic service areas, with two observers assigned to each region. Candidates must indicate their preferred region at the time of application and must reside in that region. Positions vary in county coverage and travel demand:

Northwest:

Covers 3 counties — Benton, Carroll, and Washington.

North/Ozarks:

Covers 18 counties across the Ozark region, from Faulkner and Pope counties north through Baxter, Boone, and Newton.

Northeast:

Covers 10 counties across the northeastern Delta and river corridor, including Craighead, Crittenden, and Mississippi counties.

Central:

Covers Pulaski and Saline counties.

West/River Valley:

Covers 23 counties across western and south-central Arkansas.

South/Delta:

Covers 19 counties across the southern Delta, from Jefferson and Lonoke counties south through Ashley, Chicot, and Union. Qualified candidates will hold active Teachstone CLASS Observer certification for both the Infant-Toddler 2.0 and Pre-K 2.0 tools and bring a minimum of five years of experience in early childhood education or a closely related field, including at least three years of direct professional experience in 0-5 classroom settings. Candidates may not hold existing coaching, professional development, or supervisory relationships with early childhood programs in their preferred regional service area. This position is currently funded by the Arkansas Department of Education, Office of Early Childhood, for July 1 through December 15 due to federal funding limitations. ADE-OEC will determine additional funding in the fall; the full twelve-month salary would be $75,000. Job Duties and Responsibilities Conduct CLASS Infant-Toddler 2.0 and Pre-K 2.0 verification observations across all assigned counties within the regional service area, completing four full CLASS cycles per classroom in accordance with Teachstone protocol and ARC's standardized observation procedures Contact program directors on the morning of each scheduled visit to confirm classroom availability; specific observation dates are not disclosed in advance to ensure observations reflect typical classroom practice Complete same-day data entry for all assigned observations, entering dimension-level scores and required documentation into ADE's designated data system Submit observation scores on a biweekly basis consistent with ARC's data reporting schedule Participate in ARC's pre-deployment reliability training Participate in ongoing double-coding with the regional pair partner for a minimum of 10% of individual caseload per observation window, with structured debriefs to address scoring discrepancies Participate in shadow scoring sessions with local leads on a rotating basis to support cross-agency calibration Participate in monthly accuracy audits conducted by the Project Lead Disclose all professional relationships with early childhood programs and educators in the assigned regional service area prior to receiving observation assignments; notify the Project Manager immediately if a potential conflict of interest is identified Refrain from providing coaching, feedback, or professional development to educators or program staff in connection with or following verification visits Maintain all observation data and records in compliance with FERPA and Arkansas state data privacy standards Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Knowledge Comprehensive knowledge of the Classroom Assessment Scoring System® (CLASS), including the Infant-Toddler 2.0 and Pre-K 2.0 tools, Teachstone observation protocol, and inter-rater reliability standards Knowledge of infant-toddler and pre-K classroom environments, developmentally appropriate practice, and the range of program types serving Arkansas's 0-5 population Knowledge of Arkansas's early childhood program landscape, including licensed child care centers, family child care homes, Head Start/Early Head Start, and Arkansas Better Chance programs Knowledge of applicable federal and state data privacy requirements, including FERPA Skills Skill in conducting structured classroom observations with precision and consistency, including accurate cycle-level scoring across all CLASS dimensions for both the Infant-Toddler 2.0 and Pre-K 2.0 tools Skill in accurate same-day data entry using tablet-based systems in field conditions Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage an individual observation caseload, maintain documentation standards, and meet recurring reporting deadlines independently Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to interact professionally with program directors, educators, and administrators across a wide range of community and program settings Abilities Ability to conduct CLASS Infant-Toddler 2.0 and Pre-K 2.0 observations independently with a documented percent-within-one-level agreement rate of 90% Ability to work independently in a field-based, travel-intensive environment with minimal day-to-day supervision Ability to exercise sound professional judgment in identifying and disclosing potential conflicts of interest and maintaining the evaluative boundaries required of a third-party verifier Ability to manage extended travel demands, including overnight stays, across a multi-county regional service area Skills Considered Essential for Success Knowledge of the organization and administration of higher education. Knowledge of state, federal, and university rules, regulations and procedures. Ability to work in a diverse and dynamic environment. Ability to work collaboratively and independently with common goals as a part of a team. Ability to make sound judgments. Effective interpersonal communication, writing, and organizational abilities. Civility in all interactions. Demonstrate effective follow-up. Required Education and/or Experience Education Bachelor's degree in early childhood education, child development, education, psychology, or a closely related field; or equivalent combination of education and professional experience Experience A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in early childhood education, child development, or a closely related field A minimum of three years of direct professional experience working in or closely with licensed 0-5 classroom settings, including infant-toddler and/or pre-K environments Demonstrated experience working with the full range of early childhood program types, including center-based child care, family child care homes, and/or school-based pre-K programs Other Requirements Must reside in the preferred regional service area Valid driver's license and reliable personal vehicle required Must be willing and able to travel extensively within the assigned regional service area, including overnight stays as required by regional assignment No existing coaching, professional development, or supervisory relationships with early childhood programs or educators in the preferred regional service area, or demonstrated ability to be assigned exclusively to sites free of such conflicts Preferred Education and/or Experience Experience Prior experience conducting CLASS observations in a formal program evaluation, quality rating, or third-party verification context Experience with structured observational data collection, inter-rater reliability protocols, or program evaluation data management systems Familiarity with Arkansas's early childhood system, including local lead organizations, Arkansas Better Chance, the Child Care Assistance Program, and QRIS participation requirements Bilingual proficiency in English and Spanish University, Campus, and Community Description Thank you for your interest in employment at the University of Central Arkansas. Founded in 1907, UCA has an enrollment of more than 10,000 students and employs over 1,300 full-time employees. The university offers more than 85 undergraduate and 59 graduate certificate and degree programs, including doctoral programs in five disciplines. UCA is proud of its tradition of teaching excellence and its contributions in research, scholarship, and creative activities. Desired start date 08/01/2026 Position Summary and Qualifications License(s)/Certifications Active Teachstone CLASS Observer certification for both the Infant-Toddler 2.0 and Pre-K 2.0 tools Physical Demands Checklist Physical Exertion Administrative Work - Exerting up to 10 pounds Posting Detail Information Background Check Statement This position may be subject to a pre-employment criminal, sex-offender registry, financial history background check and drug screening. A criminal conviction or arrest pending adjudication and/or adverse financial history alone shall not disqualify an applicant in the absence of a relationship to the requirements of the position. Background checks and drug screening information will be used in a confidential, non-discriminatory manner consistent with state and federal law.