Early REACH Childhood Coach

United Way; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 60,000 - 69,000; Full time

Job summary

United Way in Harris County, Texas seeks an Early REACH Childhood Coach with expertise in maintaining high quality in early childhood settings. You will support educators with the Reggio Emilia approach, develop improvement plans, and provide targeted professional development to centers participating in the Early REACH program.

The role involves coordinating with ECE partners and centers, conducting observations, supporting accreditation efforts, and building strong community partnerships to

Responsibilities

• Provides coaching and professional development for Early Childhood Directors and Teachers.
• Monitors investments and promotes excellent program service.
• Serves as subject matter expert in early childhood education.
• Builds and maintains partnerships with early childhood professionals and networks.
• Other activities in support of Early REACH: communications, tours, trainings, reporting results and promotion of key initiative activities.
• Constituent Relationships: communicates community impact work and program goals to constituents.

Job description

SALARY: $60k

*Position is grant funded through October 2026 and subject to renewal.

OVERVIEW:

The Early REACH (Raising Educational Access for Children in Harris County) Childhood Coach will have expertise in strategies for maintaining high quality within early childhood settings. The Coach will demonstrate understanding of early childhood development (0-5 years), continuous quality improvement, and a firm experiential understanding of the impact of early childhood education (ECE) on student and family trajectories. Works in conjunction with external ECE partners and local childcare centers in Harris County. Works with childcare directors and teachers to provide training and technical assistance to ensure effective coordination, implementation and monitoring of childcare centers participating in the Early REACH program.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provides coaching and professional development for Early Childhood Directors and Teachers. Manages a portfolio of early childcare education centers, located in Harris County, Texas, prioritizing individual educator and child needs to meet program outcomes. Provides guidance to educators in executing the Reggio Emilia Approach in an ECE classroom environment that leads to positive child outcomes. Assists with developing classroom improvement plans in partnership with childcare center teachers and directors to support high quality child outcomes. Conducts individualized professional development to providers, and other training to meet program goals.
• Monitors investments and promotes excellent program service. Conducts bi-monthly center site and/or virtual observations to support NAEYC accreditation standards and developmentally appropriate practices. Works with center staff and external assessors, to conduct and support teachers in their creation of CLASS© assessments and classroom baselines. Develops CLASS© action plans and partners with Director and staff with the implementation of the action plan. Provides support to Child Development Associate (CDA) candidates through completion of credential. Provides support to Director and staff through NAEYC accreditation process. Provides one-to-one reflective strategies utilizing Touchpoints model.
• Serves as subject matter expert in early childhood education. Develops and maintains current information on needs of community as well as best practices to address needs. Develops in-depth understanding of community resources through research, involvement in community planning and advocacy groups and other activities. Uses knowledge to make recommendations about funding priorities, new activities, and direction. Participates in community collaborations, partnerships, and local organizations involved in community impact work, identifying appropriate roles for the program. Develops expertise of initiative partners by planning trainings, sharing information, and other activities.
• Builds and maintains partnerships with early childhood professionals and networks. Collaborates with individuals, public and private sector community institutions and nonprofit organizations to identify local early childhood needs, develops approaches to meeting needs, and ensures successful implementation of the Early REACH program’s mission in the community and early childhood sector. Establishes and build relationships with expert community stakeholders to determine the best practices for achieving highest impact results, identify effective program investments and analyze results of programming. Conducts outreach as needed to communicate services available through early childhood initiatives.
• Other activities in support of Early REACH: Compiles and assists in communicating outcomes and results of funded programs to Harris County, the community, and program stakeholders. Provide support to other efforts that advance the goals of the program such as: presentations, tours and trainings to service providers and potential clients, community conversations, reporting results and promotion of key initiative activities. Performs other related duties or special assignments in support of the program.
• Constituent Relationships: Works with program staff to identify, develop and implement opportunities to communicate community impact work, program goals and priorities to constituents. Be an effective and compelling communicator of the same to advance engagement and brand value.