The Quality First Coach provides coaching services to early childhood programs enrolled in Quality First in a collaborative, reflective, and efficient manner for the purpose of improving quality of care and education in assigned programs. Quality First Coaches provide onsite coaching to childcare programs interested in improving quality practices in their childcare setting. Quality First Coaches provide assessment interpretation, goal formation guidance, and reflective coaching in order to assist providers to make changes in the classroom and to administrative practices that support highest quality. Quality First Coaches must have a background in childcare and early childhood education.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Conduct off-site orientation for newly accepted participants
• Complete the Quality First! enrollment agreement with participants
• Work off-site in child care centers, group homes and family child care homes providing coaching, collaborating, training and modeling around best practice in early childhood education
• Attend full day and at times multi-day training sessions at various locations.
• Facilitate decisions on classroom management tips and techniques
• Address health, safety and environmental issues
• Model appropriate strategies and interactions with children
• Cooperatively identify activities that encourage parent and family participation and involvement
• Review and provide feedback to administrative policies and procedures
• Identify resources and training opportunities in the area
• Provide information about enrollment of center or home staff in the T.E.A.C.H scholarship program
• Link center or home to a child care health consultant and additional support programs as appropriate
• Use First Things First Quality First Implementation Guide and accompanying forms as a primary resource for administering the program
• Adhere to program specific timelines for orientation, enrollment, development of Quality Improvement Plans with providers.
• Meet the minimum required site visit hours with providers each month
• Enter documentation of all visits, phone calls or emails within 2 weeks of that event
• Update data base for each provider quarterly
• Submit all requested documents for collecting demographic information or reporting to our funder on or before established due dates
• Maintain a well-organized and complete site file for each provider
• Communicate directly with supervisor (not the funder) regarding any questions, points of clarification, comments, reports, etc.
• Complete additional duties as assigned.

Education –

• Bachelor’s degree in early childhood education (ECE) or a bachelor’s degree that includes at least 24 college credits in ECE or a related field.

Experience –

• Five years of experience working in a licensed/regulated early childhood program with children birth through 8 years of age.
• Experience working in an early childhood education setting with infants, toddlers or preschoolers and/or early childhood program director experience is preferred. In addition, five years of experience in or knowledge of the following is preferred
• Bilingual in Spanish/English is required.
• Familiar with Indigenous Cultures

Regulatory –

• Minimum 21 years of age.
• Valid, unrestricted Arizona driver’s license and the willingness to use personal vehicle in the course of employment.
• 39-month Motor Vehicle Report and proof of vehicle registration and liability insurance that meets insurance requirements.
• Must possess a valid AZ DPS Level 1 fingerprint clearance card.
• CPR and First Aid certification (Employer provides).
• Initial current negative TB test result (Employer provides).

Physical Requirements:

• Must be able to utilize Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), such as face mask, gown, goggles and gloves, for any amount of time necessary to provide a physical barrier to protect the employee and others.
• Must be able to remain in a stationary position.
• Must be able to operate a computer, phone and other office equipment.
• Must be able to stoop, squat, reach, stretch, ascend and descend stairs.

Psychological Requirements:

• Must be able to remain calm, non-defensive with a supportive attitude during stressful, potential crisis, and crisis situations.
• Must be able to remain flexible and reprioritize according to the changing demands of the day.
• Must be able to manage stress in a fast-paced, unpredictable, intense setting.
• Must be able to adapt to diverse cultural environments and communicate in a culturally inclusive manner.

Working Conditions:

• Requires high level of energy to perform the daily activities of a primarily administrative nature. Requires standing, walking, sitting, stooping, bending, and squatting. Requires extensive typing and writing.
• Additional Information:
• This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all possible duties, responsibilities and/or qualifications. Other duties, responsibilities and/or qualifications may be assigned to this position.

Easterseals Blake Foundation is an EEO/AA/Vet/Disabled Employer