Lead Early Childhood and Education Specialist

Lead Early Childhood and Education Specialist

GET TO KNOW US:

For over 100 years, Vista Del Mar Child & Family Services (VDM) has taken great pride in providing exceptional programs and services for children and families throughout LA County. VDM envisions a community where all children and families are equipped and prepared to live productive, fulfilling lives. We serve the most vulnerable in Los Angeles, many of whom have faced multi-generational inequities.

Vista Del Mar is guided by core values of empowerment, equity, and excellence.

CULTURE:

At Vista Del Mar, our success is empowered by our staff, families, residents, and clients. We believe in the inclusion and liberation of marginalized communities, standing in unity for justice and recognizing long-standing systemic oppression. We acknowledge we are part of an unjust system and strongly advocate to change oppressive systems and the unconscious bias that affect staff, clients, and families in all communities.

Vista is committed to developing a culture of healing, community care, and creating a sense of belonging. Our actions will be louder than our words.

Folks who are Black, Indigenous, people of color, LGBTQ+, of a marginalized gender, disabled, parents, are/have been system-impacted, are immigrants, and anyone who has experienced systemic oppression, and/or gender-based violence are encouraged to apply.

MISSION:

Vista Del Mar provides a trauma-responsive continuum of services to empower children, youth, and families in Southern California to lead fulfilling lives.

ABOUT VISTA VILLAGE:

Vista Village is committed to strengthening early childhood experiences by providing high-quality learning opportunities, fostering strong family bonds, and connecting families with vital community resources.

POSITION OVERVIEW:

The Lead
Early Childhood & Education Specialist (ECE) provides instructional support, mentoring, and coaching to family childcare providers and center‑based teachers to enhance the overall quality of early care and education. The ECE conducts regular visits with providers to assess and strengthen environmental quality, teaching practices, and children’s development. The ECE provides child development and tailored family support services through individual child and family needs assessments, family partnership plans, parent education/support groups, and case management services.

Additionally, the ECE ensures providers, teachers in compliance with Head Start Program Performance Standards and Community Care Licensing Regulations.

• Work with a mixed caseload of up to 15 childcare providers and families.
• Conduct at least two 90-minute visits per month (and as many as needed) to provide coaching, consultation and guidance.
• Plan and facilitate educational activities in assigned childcare settings at least one time a month.
• Assess childcare providers utilizing various tools such as FCCERS, ITERS and curriculum fidelity checklists to monitor and support teacher interactions, refine learning environments, and ensure curriculum fidelity.
• Use a strength-based approach to working with providers and center-based teachers on specific and measurable professional goals. Uses standardized documentation to track provider/teacher goal completion and outcomes.
• Facilitate Practice Based Coaching alongside equity-centered and trauma-informed coaching techniques to refine teaching practices. This includes but is not limited to conducting regular focused observations, assessing educators’ strengths and needs, collaboratively establishing SMART goals through co-created agreements, and cultivating a space for reflective practice and feedback.
• Assist in facilitating and/or planning of provider workshops. Track and monitor training completion for providers in Child Plus.
• Conduct developmental screenings and ongoing child assessments (ASQs, DRDPs) and assist Education Manager to track and aggregate child development data.
• Review screening and assessment results with providers and teachers; uses this information to help co-create engaging and individualized lesson plans and inclusive learning environments. Ensures that intervention activities are offered regularly within the…