Instructional Coach - Hickory Hills

Send Resumes to: jobs@eastersealschicago.org
POSITION:     Instructional Coach/Infant Toddler Specialist
REPORTS TO:   Site Supervisor                  
POSITION SUMMARY:
Under the supervision of the Site Supervisor , and Education and Inclusion Coordinator the Instructional Coach/Infant Toddler Specialist provides expertise, oversight, training, and leadership for the teaching staff in the Gilchrist-Marchman Child Development Center and ensures that all operations are in compliance with all funding sources and regulatory agencies.  Along with the GM Leadership Team, the Instructional Coach/Infant Toddler Specialist works with the teaching staff in implementing a research-based curriculum and coordinated coaching strategies; ensuring the review and analysis of education, disabilities, and mental health data to inform planning; and supporting the referral and inclusion of children with suspected and diagnosed disabilities. The Instructional Coach/Infant Toddler Specialist supports a plan for intensive and individualized professional development for all staff members that results in exemplary teacher-child interactions, instructional quality, and retention of staff
 
MAJOR FUNCTIONS/ACCOUNTABILITIES:
Implement a research-based curriculum and coordinated coaching strategies that include:

• Assess all education staff using a variety of tools, including staff self-reflections, to identify strengths, areas of needed support, and staff that would benefit most from intensive coaching.
• Provide opportunities for intensive coaching to identified education staff, including observation opportunities, feedback and modeling of effective teacher practices directly related to program performance goals.
• Align coaching with program's school readiness goals, curricula, and other approaches to professional development.
• Use assessment data to drive coaching strategies aligned with program performance goals.
• Provide ongoing communication between the coach, program director, education director, and any other relevant staff.
• Assist in providing a process for achieving program goals.
• Provide opportunities for education staff not identified for intensive coaching to receive other forms of research-based professional development aligned with program performance goals.
• Facilitate peer learning communities, reflecting on implementation of teaching practices and how optimal climate in the classroom impacts how children work and play together and maximizes learning and growth.
• Facilitate lesson-planning meetings to support job-embedded professional learning on an individualized level, with a single classroom teacher or team.
• Work with EHS/Head Start program sites and teaching staff to review and analyze child outcome data, home visits, parent/teacher conferences, and screenings to inform individual child and program planning.
• Provide intensive CLASS coaching to identified classrooms, resulting in improvements in teacher-child interactions, CLASS scores, and child outcomes.
• Provide coaching and modeling to teachers on effective home visits, parent/teacher conferences, and parent-child activities.
• Assist Education and Inclusion Leadership to provide ongoing training related to Education and Disabilities for all EHS/Head Start programs and center teaching staff as needed.
• Facilitate decision-making with the Leadership Team to coordinate staff schedules, professional development days, staff meetings and the hiring of qualified staff.
• Serve as one of the designated Director Qualified staff and provide leadership and guidance to all staff.
• Assist with classroom coverage as needed, including covering lunch breaks and substituting in the classroom in the absence of a teacher.
• Implement active supervision systems and monitor documentation to ensure the safety of children.
• Provide orientation for Curriculum implementation to new teaching staff.

Support the referral process of children with suspected disabilities and social emotional concerns and ensure the full inclusion of all children in the program:

• Perform individual child observations for children in referral process.
• Collaborate with site team to ensure that screening results are shared with parents and that re-screenings, referrals, and follow-ups are conducted as needed.
• Collaborate with site team to ensure timely referrals to the LEA and Early Intervention.
• Attend IFSP conferences, IEP conferences, and LEA meetings with parents of children with disabilities to support the families and to advocate for the children. Assist parents in understanding their rights and special education law.
• Collaborate with social emotional specialists to implement behavior intervention plans and to model strategies. 
• Provide CSEFEL coaching to identified classrooms.
• Assist teachers in modifying curriculum and individualizing lesson plans for children with disabilities based on IEP and IFSP goals.
• Work with EHS/Head Start staff and sites to implement an annual and ongoing outreach and recruitment plan for identifying and enrolling children with disabilities.  Attend play dates for children with special needs and collaboratively work with parents and staff to plan transitions into and out of the Head Start program.

Provide ongoing monitoring and support as part of the site team:

• As part of the center team, assist with monitoring EHS/HS classrooms to assure that classrooms are safe, nurturing and engaging learning environments for children.
• Participate in regular meetings to assess progress and planning for education and disabilities content areas.
• Assist director and teaching staff with compliance to and implementation of performance standards.
• Participate in Enrollment/Recruitment Campaign, and annual self-assessment and PIR.

Complete all requirements as part of the program:

• Maintain up-to-date calendar of activities in Outlook.
• Attend and participate in regular team meetings.
• Attend relevant workshops and trainings.  Share information from workshops and trainings with parents, teaching staff, and other team members. 
• All other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:
Education/Certification:

• Bachelor's Degree or higher in Early Childhood Education.
• Certified CLASS Pre-K and Toddler Observer within 12 months of hire, including annual renewal.
• DCFS Director Qualified
• Gateway Credential Level 5 Preschool and Infant Toddler

Experience Required:

• 3 years teaching in an early childhood classroom.
• 3 years working with children with disabilities.
• Bilingual language skills (English & Spanish) a plus.
• Working with Teaching Strategies Gold and COPA online systems a plus.
• Infant/Toddler programs a plus.

Required Knowledge:

• Working in a Head Start program.
• Knowledge of CLASS.
• 1 year coaching teachers.

Vehicle/Transportation Requirements:

• Valid driver's license.
• Auto insurance.
• Reliable vehicle.

Skills/Abilities:

• Ability to multi-task in a high stress environment.
• Ability to interact with diverse personalities.
• Ability to problem solve.
• Basic computer knowledge including Microsoft Office programs.
• Completion of a minimum of 15 hours of continuing education per year.
• Willing to work flexible hours to accommodate the needs of the families.

ADA: Easterseals will make reasonable accommodations in compliance with the Americans with Disability Act of 1990. Unless exempted by the Americans with Disabilities Act, all persons hired for this position are required to possess the ability to perform the physical tasks necessary to treat clients, i.e., bending, floor-sitting, etc., as well as to have the ability to lift up to 50 pounds frequently.