Education Associate, Kindergarten Readiness & Alignment

This position is Exempt from the State of Delaware Merit System.

Recruitment #081315-P73004-370100

Summary Statement

The selected candidate will manage the Early Learner Survey process and other Early Learning Challenge projects designed to improve transitions from early childhood settings to kindergarten and promote coordination, collaboration, and alignment across early learning and K-12 to increase kindergarten readiness and school success. The selected candidate will work closely with the Office of Early Learning, the Department of Education (DDOE), and the local education agencies to ensure 100% of kindergarten classrooms, teachers, and children participate in the Early Learner survey. This position requires statewide travel.

Essential Functions

This description is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of duties and standards of the position. The Associate should expect to perform any other related activities needed to deliver the position’s key duties and responsibilities, and follow any other instructions as defined by the State of Delaware.

  • Manage the Early Learner Survey vendor contract.
  • Work collaboratively with DDOE, teachers, and Local Education Agencies, on Early Learner Survey implementation policies and procedures, including ensuring proper supports and professional development and alignment with other state policies.
  • Provide technical assistance to other units within the Department and to local school districts, including District Test Coordinators, on the assessments.
  • Help establish and maintain databases for multi-source assessment data.
  • Lead the preparation of annual reports to summarize school, district, and statewide progress toward benchmarks, state standards and federal reporting requirements.
  • Manage other projects to improve transitions from early learning settings to kindergarten and promote coordination, collaboration and alignment across birth through third grade to improve kindergarten readiness and school success, including, but not limited to: Delaware Early Readiness Teams (DEL TEAMS, which bring together partnerships of families, early childhood and K-12 educators, health care, human services, and civic leaders to create local solutions to increase school readiness and transition and family engagement in high need communities); revision of early learning standards; and, professional development initiatives such as the annual kindergarten conference.
  • Provide staff support to the Delaware Early Childhood Council Goal 3 Committee and other ad-hoc and subcommittees as needed.
  • Perform other tasks as assigned by the Executive Director.

Job Requirements

Please attach a resume in DEL to provide a detailed description of how your education, training and/or experience meet each job requirement. Applicants must have education and experience demonstrating competence in each of the following areas:

  1. Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education or related field.
  2. At least 5 years relevant work experience.
  3. Strong work experience in management of large scale projects.
  4. Proven experience in data analysis.
  5. Experience with federal grants desired.
  6. Experience providing technical assistant to serve a diverse clientele, preferably in an educational setting, is essential. 
  7. Experience in diversity issues as related to student achievement.
  8. Experience in applying the principles of multicultural education.
  9. Excellent oral and written communication skills.

Additional Posting Information

The selected candidate will oversee the implementation of the Delaware’s Early Learner Survey (kindergarten entry assessment) as outlined in the Early Learning Challenge grant application and mandated in legislation passed by the Delaware Legislature in June 2012. This legislation requires that common statewide kindergarten readiness assessment be fully implemented statewide by Fall 2015. Every child must be evaluated by the child’s teacher or member of the school team within 30 days of entering kindergarten. This readiness toll addresses five developmental domains: language and literacy, cognition and general knowledge, approaches toward learning, physical well-being and motor development, and social and emotional development.

This is position is currently funded with Race to the Top - Early Learning Challenge (RTTT-ELC) funding, which will expire December 2016. The RTTT-ELC grant, awarded in late 2011, initiated an ambitious set of reforms to strengthen Delaware’s early learning system.  Since then, the state has made great progress in creating a high-quality early learning system so that Delaware’s young children come to kindergarten ready for school success.  The person hired will be responsible for supporting the ongoing implementation of the proposals outlined in Delaware’s winning RTTT-ELC application.

The continuation of this position beyond December 2016 is expressly contingent in each succeeding fiscal year upon the availability of sufficient funds from state, federal, and/or appropriated special funds, and further contingent upon state allocated full-time equivalent (F.T.E.) authorizations in succeeding fiscal year budgets of the State of Delaware.

Conditions of Hire

Pre-employment Drug Testing:  Upon a conditional offer, you must undergo pre-employment drug testing as part of the hiring process.

Criminal background check:  A satisfactory criminal background check is required as a condition of hire. The recruiting agency may require the applicant to pay for the criminal background check as part of the conditional offer of hire.

Benefits

To learn more about the comprehensive benefit package please visit our website at http://ben.omb.delaware.gov/

Selection Process

The application and supplemental questionnaire are evaluated based upon a rating of your education, training and experience as they relate to the job requirements of the position.  It is essential that you provide complete and accurate information on your application and the supplemental questionnaire to include dates of employment, job title and job duties.  For education and training, list name of educational provider, training course titles and summary of course content.   Narrative information supplied in response to the questions must be supported by the information supplied on the application including your employment, education and training history as it relates to the job requirements. 

Once you have submitted your application on-line, all future correspondence related to your application will be sent via email.  Please keep your contact information current.  You may also view all correspondence sent to you by the State of Delaware in the “My Applications” tab at www.delawarestatejobs.com.

Accommodations

Accommodations are available for applicants with disabilities in all phases of the application and employment process.  To request an auxiliary aid or service please call (302) 739-5458. TDD users should call the Delaware Relay Service Number 1-800-232-5460 for assistance.  The State of Delaware – An Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer.