Under the direction and guidance of the Education Coordinator, the Curriculum Specialist is responsible for the daily educational activities at each center to ensure teachers and other instruction staff provide high quality early education and child development services, including for children with disabilities, which promote children’s cognitive, social and emotional growth for later success in school. Curriculum specialists ensure teachers embed responsive and effective teacher-child interactions, along with the implementation of a research based curriculum and curricular enhancements (HSPPS 1302.30).
Curriculum Specialists integrate regular and ongoing supervision of teaching staff and provide a system of individualized and ongoing professional development (HSPPS 1302.31) and are responsible for ensuring teacher/child ratio is met through adequate classroom coverage, and appropriate active supervision. (HSPPS 1302.21).
The Curriculum Specialist will:
- Provide training in the selected curriculum, assessment, screenings, and classroom practices to new instructional staff. Such training must include the goals and underlying philosophy of the program. Ensure that seasoned staff who require additional training also participate in trainings (HSPPS 1302.92 (a)).
- Assist staff with on-going professional development through local colleges, pre-service training, consultants and other resources. Enter staff trainings in the ChildPlus database with the specific training topics. HSPPS: 1302.91.
- Ensure staff are trained in the following, including but not limited to:
- Health/ Safety
- Head Start Performance Standards
- Classroom Environment
- Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework
- Teaching and Learning Environment
- Teaching practices
- Creative or High Scope Curriculum
- Individualization
- CLASS
- Lesson Planning and Galileo Classroom Observation Record
- Redundancy Procedures
- Tooth brushing/ Hand washing/ Diapering Procedures
- Dual Language Learners
- Prevention of children abuse and reporting of suspected child abuse and/or neglect (HSPPS 1302.47 (4)).
- For dual language learners, the curriculum specialist must ensure that teachers employ practices that focus on the development of the home language. (HSPPS 1302.31(2)(i))
- Provide regular assessment and evaluation of teaching staff to include, at a minimum coaching and mentoring visits, utilizing a research-based coaching model, for EHS/HS teachers and enter into Child Plus. Such coaching visits will focus on teachers who are not direct reports and will encompass a coaching visit every three-to-four weeks, with on-going informal contact (telephone, email). (HSPPS 1303.92(c)).
- Provide supervision to floaters, teachers and assistant teachers, which includes an (at a minimum) annual evaluation and professional development plan updates. (HSPPS 1302.92(c)1-3).
- Monitor curriculum implementation and fidelity. Provide support, feedback, and supervision for continuous improvement to include regular monitoring of daily lesson plans, assessment of classroom arrangements, Galileo, and appropriate and individualized classroom arrangements (HSPPS 1302.32 (a)(2).
- Ensure classrooms are organized learning environments to include a variety of learning materials and appropriate furnishings. Request supplies from supervisor that align with program goals and school-readiness goals. Conduct ITERS/PQA at least once a year. (HSPPS 1302.31 (c).
- Ensure all teachers are responsive and have effective teacher-child interaction. Conduct CLASS observations for all classroom using a minimum of two cycles. (HSSPPS 1302.30)
- Ensure that all children receive a current developmental, sensory, and social/emotional screening within 45 calendar days of when a child attends the program. (HSPPS 1302.33).
- Ensure that teachers conduct standardized and structured assessments to evaluate children’s development level and progress in outcomes aligned to the goals described in the HSELOF (HSPPS 1302.33(b)(1))
- Ensure teachers regularly communicate with parents so that families are well-informed about their child’s routines, activities and behavior. (HSPPS 1302.34 (3).
- Ensure that teachers conduct at least two parent-teacher conferences per year along with two home visits per program year, coordinated with Family Workers. (HSPPS 1302.34(3 – 7).
- Monitor, collect, and review all home visit requests, home visits, and parent teacher conferences. Enter information into the Child Plus Database and a log. (HSPPS 1302.34(3 – 7).
- Maintain and protect confidentiality and respect the privacy of others according to the regulations as stipulated in HSPPS 1303, Subpart C.
- Monitor classrooms to ensure staff-child ratios and group size maximums are met through:
- Monitoring time sheets, sign-in, break schedule and ensure adequate coverage in all classrooms. HSPPS: 1302.21 (b)
- Reassigning staff to ensure adequate staffing during the daily operation of the center. Requesting substitutes or assigning floaters as needed. HSPPS: 1302.21 (b)
- Approving (or denying) teacher/assistant time off requests. HSPPS: 1302.31
- Work with existing community partners to plan and facilitate field trips and on-site delivery of community services that are responsive to children’s and families’ needs and family partnership goals, and community needs and resources, as determined by the community assessment. (HSPPS 1302.53). The Early Head Start program will plan and facilitate on-site experiences for students by bring opportunities to the center in lieu of field trips.
- Participate in transition meetings from home to Early Head Start, and from Early Head Start to Head Start, internal transition from classroom to classroom, or another program that serves three-to-five-year-old children. (HSPPS: 1302.71 (b) (c)).
- As part of the transition from Head Start to kindergarten Curriculum Specialist will participate in transition meetings, field trips to local schools, and assist the Family Workers with school speakers from (HSPPS: 1302.70).
- Serve as a liaison for teaching staff and other program components. (HSPPS 1302.50 (a)(b)).
- Maintain appropriate documentation including, but not limited to - Education Binders, VPK Binders, and Meetings/Trainings binder up to date and easily accessible for monitoring purposes. HSPPS: 1302.
- Assist in the recruitment of children for the Early Childhood Programs. HSPPS: 1302.13
- Assist maintaining the staff personnel files and center license active and current. HSPPS: 1302.21 (d) (1),1302.23 (d).
- Maintain and protect confidential and respect for the privacy of others in accordance with HSPPS 1302.92(c)(iii)(iv).
- Research, develop, and foster community partnerships to bring resources and in-kind
- Administration has the authority to assign additional duties as seen fir for the benefit of the organization. HSPPS 1302.91
- Update Standard Operating Procedure Manual
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education or relevant field with 18 Early Childhood Education credits
- 45 FDCF hours including the exams as required by funding streams.
- Experience teaching infants and toddlers and/or preschool-age children.
- Experience or education in the fields of leadership, management or supervision.
- Must acquire a Director's/Administrator Credential within 1 year of starting position and keep credential valid and current.
- Must acquire CLASS certification
- Thorough knowledge of supervisory principles and practices and the capacity to exercise good judgment.
- Knowledge, experience or the capacity to learn the HighScope and/or Creative Curriculum, Florida State Standards, and the Galileo Assessment of Learning preferred.
- Head Start and/or Early Head Start experience strongly preferred.
- Ability to stand and sit for extended periods
- Ability to lift 40 pounds
Salary: See the most recent salary schedule.
FLSA Status: Exempt
