Early Childhood Quality Coach (Somali & English-Speaking) - Think Small

Think Small, Minnesota’s leader in early learning, is dedicated to advancing early childhood care and education. We are still committed to the principles that gave rise to our organization 50 years ago - that the quality of a child's early experiences greatly influences their success later in life and that more can be done to improve the quality of early childhood settings to optimize a child's development. To support the full potential for every child, Think Small commits to championing policies and practices of equity that empower a just, inclusive, and equitable care and education system for children in their crucial early years. 

The Early Childhood Quality Coach -Somali/English speaking position offers outreach and early childhood quality coaching to licensed child care centers and family child care businesses, focused on serving historically-underserved clients or new American clients and builds strong partnerships with early childhood educators, which supports intentional and culturally-affirming high-quality practices and positive early childhood outcomes. We use research-based principles of effective coaching in daily practices with early childhood educators, coordinate and facilitate networking opportunities to foster relationships, and actively recruit early childhood educators to participate in Think Small programs and activities that support ongoing professional development and kindergarten readiness. 

Essential Job Functions: 

• Implement the Parent Aware coaching models for Building Quality and Continuous Quality Improvement 

• Implement the CLASS coaching model 

• Provide technical assistance to child care educators in the Full Rating pathway of Parent Aware 

• Foster child care educators growth and development through providing resources, tools, and information relating to early childhood education. 

• Participate in the development and implementation of culturally relevant early childhood services 

• Collaborate with PDAs, Grant Administrators and other partner departments and agencies. 

• Document coaching and technical assistance of Relationship Based Professional Development events on Develop and Think Small digital platforms 

• Build capacity of new American child care educators through technical support 

• Expand and strengthen the child care delivery system by building and maintaining coaching, consultation, technical assistance contacts with parents, child care educators, members of historically underserved and new American communities, and other groups. 

• Work with Quality Supports Recruiter and child care educators to recruit licensed child care centers and family childcare owners to join Parent Aware and other Think Small initiatives 

• Work with Quality Supports Recruiter to facilitate Information Sessions and Orientations 

• Facilitate monthly learning community for Somali-speaking Parent Aware participants. 

• Facilitate partnerships through community research 

• Represent Think Small at community events and meetings 

• Assist community members preparing for licensing in partnership with Think Small's Capacity Building team 

Requirements: 

• Fluency (speaking, reading and writing) in English as well as Somali 

• Develop Individual Membership - www.developtoolmn.org 

• Meets one to the following experience pathways: 

Experience Pathway 1 

• Associate degree with 30 Approved Semester credits or  

• Some College with 60 total Semester Credits with 30 Approved Semester credits 

 OR 

Experience Pathway 2  

• Verified completion of High School or GED AND 

• Some College with 8 Approved Semester Credits 

• Current CDA from the Council for Professional Recognition OR 

National Association for Family Child Care(NAFCC) Accreditation  

AND 

• 8,320 hours of experience reflected on your Employment tab and KCF Learning Recor and contain one or more of the following roles: 

• Assistant Director 

• Director 

• Education Coordinator 

• Teacher 

• Primary Care Provider 

• Early Intervention/ Special Education 

These records may be consecutive or non-consecutive, in Minnesota or out of state, and Verified or Self- Reported in Develop.   

• Demonstrated cultural competence with a targeted community 

• Experience working with adult ELL and culturally and socio-economically diverse communities 

• Working knowledge of basic MS Office programs (Teams, Outlook, Word, Excel) and Zoom virtual meeting platform 

• Experience with laptop and tablet apps and usage 

• This position requires metro area travel and some statewide travel. 

• There are occasional requirements to lift over 20 pounds 

• Valid driver’s license, reliable personal vehicle and proof of insurance is required for metro area and statewide travel 

• Some evening and weekend hours required 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: 

This position is available immediately. 

Wage hiring range: $46,300 to $57,700 

Benefits: 

• Medical, dental, short- and long-term disability, life, vision, disability, critical illness and long term care insurance; medical and dependent care flex, HSA, legal and ID protection plans. 

• Pre-tax and ROTH 401k with 5% employer match. 

• 23 days of sick/vacation time earned the first year PLUS 9 scheduled holidays and 4 floating holidays for those whose needs don’t conform to the federal holiday calendar. 

• We recently introduced 2 new-parent benefits – 6 weeks paid parental leave and infants-at-work program (available after 1 year of employment.)