TITLE: Parents as Teachers - Parent Educator
POSITION SUMMARY: A parent educator works with families with children from prenatal to kindergarten entry using skills in partnering, facilitating and reflecting with parents. Parent educators provide parent education and family support to enhance the quality of parenting, increase a parent's understanding of child development and work with parents to help their child learn, grow and develop to meet their full potential.
QUALIFICATIONS: Five years of successful experience in a program working with young children and their parents as approved by MODESE and a high school diploma or equivalent.
Experience: Supervised experience in working with young children and their families is recommended.
Certification: No previous certification required.
Other Requirements:
- Organized and accountable.
- An independent, self-motivated worker.
- Ability to partner with families and empower them by building on their strengths.
- Competent with computer skills including web browsing, email, word processing and the ability to learn to use the PAT record keeping program.
- Personal, reliable transportation is necessary for the selected applicant to provide home visits throughout the school district.
- Parenting experience preferred.
- Home internet access helpful, but not required.
TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT
- Full-time position
- Successful completion of 30 hours of pre-service district paid training in the Foundational Curriculum and Model Implementation training provided by the Parents as Teachers National Office.
- Start date: Immediately
- Payment will be based on degree and experience.
REPORTS TO: Parents as Teachers Coordinator, Assistant Superintendent
POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES
- Schedule visits with families in a regular, timely fashion.
- Conduct personal visits (50-60 minutes) with parents in their home using the PAT Curriculum.
- Plan the visit, gather materials, travel, conduct the visit and clearly document the visit.
- Complete developmental, health, vision and hearing screenings of age-appropriate children each year.
- Help develop and maintain a community resource network and link families to community resources.
- Maintain and submit to the coordinator accurate computer and paper documentation required by the District and State.
- Organize and inventory supplies and materials.
- Meet with supervisor for reflective supervision sessions. Help parents and children transition to other services as needed, to preschool, or to kindergarten.
- Complete annually required competency-based professional development hours in order to remain a certified Parents as Teachers parent educator.
- Be available to communicate with parents between scheduled personal visits when appropriate.
- Keep current on reading and research in the field of childhood development and parenting issues.
- Participate in staff meetings, advisory committee meetings and other necessary meetings.
- Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned.
SKILLS AND ABILITIES
Language
- Complete forms, write reports, and engage in written or phone correspondence with parents as needed.
- Present information effectively and respond to parent questions.
- Demonstrate excellent verbal and non-verbal communication skills.
- Demonstrate excellent listening skills.
Technology
- Perform basic computer functions such as word processing and internet usage.
Other Skills and Abilities
- Identify needs and abilities of individual children and parents and adapt instructional methods accordingly.
- Establish and maintain effective, appropriate relationships with children, parents and peers.
- Be comfortable visiting families in a variety of home environments.
Attendance
- Hours worked will be flexible but will include some evenings, possible Saturdays to provide personal visits, screenings or group connections.
- Consistent and regular attendance is essential.
For additional information regarding this position, please contact Dr. Amy Ross (amy.ross@zizzers.org) or Mr. Matthew Orchard (matthew.orchard@zizzers.org).
417-256-6155