Early Childhood Content Area Specialist, Family and Community Partnerships

Internal applicants only The WISD's Mission Washtenaw ISD educates, serves, and advocates with students, families, schools, and the community. We disrupt racial inequities, build just educational systems, and expand access for all learners. We value human potential while striving to support current and future generations of Washtenaw County to enrich as many lives as we possibly can. The WISD's Vision is to be a leader in empowering, facilitating, and delivering high-quality, boundary-spanning, educational system that educates all children through an equitable, inclusive, and holistic approach.

SUMMARY:

This position plays a vital role in supporting the mission and goals of Head Start, Early Head Start, and the Great Start Readiness Program/Pre-k for All (GSRP) by strengthening relationships among families, staff, and community partners. They coordinate strategic partnerships between the WISD Early Childhood Department, partner programs, subrecipients, community agencies, stakeholders, and families across Washtenaw County; designs and supports the implementation of countywide programming for local districts and the WISD by aligning services with annual Community Needs Assessment; provides training and technical assistance to programs, and oversees the Policy Council; monitors compliance with Head Start Program Performance Standards and the GSRP/Pre-k for All Implementation Manual and develops Quality Improvement and Corrective Action Plans; manages community outreach, and co-coordinates the enrollment and transition processes for Early Head Start (EHS). They manage the Family Launch Initiative (FLI) and the Fatherhood Initiative in partnership with the Family Services Coordinator. This position provides direct support for a limited caseload of up to 8 families in the center-based Early Head Start program.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Demonstrates a strong commitment to equity, social justice, and inclusion in all practices and position responsibilities. Demonstrates the ability to examine how his/her/their position (directly or indirectly) impacts educational inequities in student achievement outcomes. Engages in reflection and ongoing learning and development on critical concepts and terms identified in the Washtenaw ISD Educational Equity Policy including concepts such as cultural proficiency, racial equity, and systemic and structural inequities. Maintains a thorough knowledge and understanding of all aspects of the Head Start Performance Standards and related regulations for Comprehensive Family Services and the Head Start Parent, Family, and Community Engagement (PFCE) Framework. Maintains a strong knowledge base of the GSRP requirements for family engagement as described in the GSRP Implementation Manual. Partners with members of the Content Area Specialist Team to recruit and enroll children in Head Start, Early Head Start, and the Great Start Readiness Program/Pre-k for All (GSRP). Develops policies and procedures that center children and families and directs accurate and effective implementation of services. Designs and manages family friendly transition processes for Early Head Start (EHS) children into Head Start. Provides on-boarding related to Family and Community Partnerships and Engagement for newly hired staff. Develops and documents Community Partnerhsips with identified community agencies (This may require collaboration with other WISD departments). Establishes reciprocal referral processes with family service agencies in Washtenaw County. Maintains a directory of family resources and inputs agency information into Child Plus. Designs and manages a system of direct services that includes the Family Partnership Agreement process, goal setting, progress monitoring, case management process, referral, and follow-up activities. Maintains the child tracking system related to Family and Community Partnerships and engagement. (Child Plus). Develops and implements Training and Technical Assistance, professional development for WISD and Sub-recipient Family Support Staff, and partner and sub-recipient program directors. Plans and facilitates monthly Family Support Specialist meetings. Conducts partner and sub-recipient site visits to support programs in implementation of family services. Establishes partnerships and connections with local universities and community colleges; identifies educational opportunities for families to support the Family Launch Initiative (FLI). Monitors and evaluates of programs to ensure that The Head Start Program Performance Standards, the GSRP Implementation Manual and WISD Early Childhood Department policies and procedures are being followed, and that programs address the needs of families. Develops quality improvement and corrective action plans with partner and subrecipient programs as needed. Coordinates and facilitates meetings and events to address the collective training needs of the family services staff, parent educators, volunteers, and policy council. Provides training to Family Support Staff, program directors and other relevant staff on shared governance, and the function of Parent Committees, Policy Committees, Policy Council, and the governing board and how to effectively recruit parents and community members. Attends site level parent meetings, policy meetings and events to support programs. Develops and provides annual Policy Council training and assists department leadership in training the governing board. Co-coordinates Policy Council meetings and assists the elected Policy Council Chair in the creation of meeting agendas; provides reports and documents to the council ahead of meetings and supports the chair in the facilitation of meetings as needed; manages the scheduling of Policy Council meetings with the chair and sends meeting invitations and reminders to center directors. Monitors Parent Policy Committee work/meetings at sites and Policy Council attendance. Represents the WISD Early Childhood Department at community networks and other community organization meetings for the purpose of sharing information and establishing linkages. Attends home visits, parent conferences and/or

IEP/IFSP

meetings when necessary or as requested. Assists directors, and teaching staff with transition of Head Start children to kindergarten as well as children transitioning in and out of programming. Designs and manages a volunteer program and provides orientation of parent and community volunteers. Works in partnership with the Content Area Specialist Team. Participates in the completion of the annual Community Needs Assessment. Serves as a team lead for the annual Program Self-Assessment. Supports the site directors, family support staff, parent educators, and classroom staff in ensuring Parent Committee activities and Family Nights are coordinated and offered monthly. Submits verbal and/or written reports on monitoring and follow-up to supervisor and/or Program Director on the area activities and status as needed. Assists the staff person responsible to track data and provide accurate information for the annual Program Information Report (PIR) as well as for monthly reports. Maintains records of all community partnership agreements and grantee volunteer records. Works in collaboration with the Health Specialist to establish a system for providing health and nutrition education to families through workshops, parent meetings, handouts, etc. Provides direct Family Support Specialist services to a small caseload as needed. Maintains regular, predictable attendance.

PERFORMS OTHER RELATED DUTIES MAY BE ASSIGNED. SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

N/A

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Alternative requirements that may be appropriate and acceptable to the Board of Education may be considered. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. EDUCATION and/or

EXPERIENCE

REQUIRED:

Bachelor's degree in early childhood, Social Work or related field. Possesses three (3) years or more of experience working in a Head Start program.

PREFERRED

Posses three (3) years or more of relevant experience in early childhood, social work or a related field

LANGUAGE SKILLS

Demonstrates ability to communicate ideas and instructions orally and in writing. Demonstrates ability to read, analyze and interpret periodicals and professional journals. Demonstrates ability to write reports, business correspondence and procedure manuals. Demonstrates ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of educators, customers, and the general public.

TECHNICAL SKILLS

Demonstrates proficiency in the use of personal computer (PC) or MAC in a networked envireonment to utilize the Internet and other electronic communications mehanisms such as email, conferencing, bulletin boards, etc. Demonstrates excellent knowledge of productivity applications such as Microsoft Office (word processing, spreadsheets, database, and presentation software) and other technology to support efficient and effective office operation is required. Demonstrates ability to accurately use district-wide electronic reporting systems (Child Plus, MICR, Power-school). Demonstrates ability to integrate technology into the everyday workflow is necessary. Demonstrates ability to implement new technologies.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS

: Demonstrates ability to apply the concepts of basic math, algebra and geometry consistent with the duties of this position. Demonstrates ability to work within a budget. Demonstrates ability to calculate figures and amounts such as percentages. Demonstrates ability to produce and interpret graphs, charts, spreadsheets and other mathematical reports.

REASONING ABILITY

: Demonstrates a high proficiency in reasoing, problem solving, organizational dynamics and emotional intelligence. Demonstrates ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Demonstrates ability to read and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, governmental regulations, and forms. Demonstrates ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form. Exhibits high level of professionalism with the ability to handle confidential information, use good judgment, plan and handle complex projects, and maintain a flexible attitude. Demonstrates ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts and draw valid conclusions. Demonstrates ability to interpret an extensive variety of instructions. Demonstrates ability to facilitate effective group process. Demonstrates ability to summarize conclusions and instructions, then make recommendations and develop implementation strategies.

INTERPERSONAL SKILLS

Demonstrates ability to work independently with management guidance. Demonstrates ability to work effectively and collaboratively with other departments, agencies and individuals. Exhibits excellent customer service and communication skills with a client-centered focus. Demonstrates ability to build rapport with others and to serve diverse publics. Demonstrates ability to take initiative, work well with others as a collaborative team member and exhibit good communication skills.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, sit, talk, see and hear. The employee is occasionally required to stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl and reach with hands and arms. The employee is continuously repeating the same hand, arm or finger motion many times. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 35 pounds such as books and training materials. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distant vision and the ability to adjust focus. This position requires the individual to travel and/or drive to various off-site locations. The position requires the individual to sometimes work irregular or extended work hours and meet multiple demands from several people. Travel by car, bus, airplane, or train may also be required associated with attendance at conferences, meetings and other duties carried out at distant locations in and out of state and in some cases where some overnight travel may be required. Some exposure to communicable diseases. Work is generally performed in a classroom setting or in an office environment, involving face-to-face communication. Some evenings and weekend work required for events such as home visits, parent-teacher conferences, Parent Committee meetings, Family Nights, socializations and other Head Start/Early Head Start activities including social and community activities.

ENVIRONMENTAL ADAPTABILITY

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is quiet to loud depending upon the activity in the particular part of the day. The employee may be required to be outdoors for periods of time, and therefore subject to varying weather conditions, for purposes of accomplishing the essential functions of this job.

FUNCTIONS OF POSITION DESCRIPTION

: This position description has been prepared to define the general duties of the position, provide examples of work and to detail the required knowledge, skills and ability as well as the acceptable experience and training for the position. The description is not intended to limit or modify the right of any supervisor to assign, direct and control the duties of employees under supervision. The WISD retains and reserves any and all rights to change, modify, amend, add to or delete from any portion of this description in its sole judgment. This position description is not a contract for employment. The WISD is an equal opportunity employer, in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The District will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.

TERMS:

Salary and other employment conditions to be established by the Board of Education as reflected in the Non-Affiliated and Early Childhood Personnel 2025-2028 Manual . Starting Salary ranging from (dependent upon experience) $56,851 - $69,884. The WISD is an equal opportunity employer, in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The District will provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities and will encourage both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer. Washtenaw Intermediate School District is a drug-free workplace. It is the policy and commitment of the Washtenaw Intermediate School District not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability, age, height, weight, familial status, marital status, genetic information, sexual orientation or any legally protected characteristic, in its educational programs, activities, admissions, or employment policies in accordance with Title IX of the 1972 Educational Amendments, executive order 11246 as amended, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and all other pertinent state and Federal regulations. Apply Now