Head Start Associate Mentor

Tacoma Public Schools; Tacoma (WA); On-site; USD 50,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

Tacoma Public Schools is seeking a dedicated Head Start Mentor to guide direct service staff in delivering developmentally appropriate activities and health-focused daily routines. You will support family involvement, coordinate training, and contribute to program quality within Head Start.

The role emphasizes collaboration with families, documentation, and ongoing professional development to ensure high-quality early childhood education services.

Qualifications

• Associate’s degree in early childhood education or WA teaching cert with ECE endorsement.
• Two years experience with preschool children, preferably from low-income families.
• Head Start knowledge and experience is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Mentor direct service staff by modeling effective classroom environments and schedules.
• Promote parent involvement and carry-out family services plans.
• Foster learning and literacy development of young children.
• Prepare daily activity plans and select activities based on observation and screening.
• Train and mentor staff to record and track student progress.
• Plan parent/family participation and train volunteers in positive interaction techniques.

Skills

Mentoring

Staff training

Family engagement

Literacy development

Documentation

Education

Associate’s degree in ECE

Washington State teaching certification with ECE endorsement

Job description

Tacoma Public Schools

Expected Start Date: As soon as possible

FTE: 1.0

Hours per day: 8 plus a 30-minute lunch

Salary Level:
PA 7A/01 No degree: 36.03
PA 7E/01: AA Degree: 36.78
PA 7F/01: BA Degree or Higher: 37.03

This position serves as a mentor to direct service staff in the area of Child Development, Family/Community partnerships, and health services. This position also assists in the planning and delivery of training in all aspects of the Head Start program and serves on the Head Start management team.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

1. 1. Mentors direct service staff by modeling and teaching effective classroom learning environments and schedules; teaches staff to integrate health, nutrition, and safety components into daily activities.
2. 2. Assists direct service staff in how to promote parent involvement and carry-out family services plans.
3. 3. Assists direct service staff in fostering learning and literacy development of young children.
4. 4. Guides staff in the preparation of daily activity plans which enable students to function as individuals and group members among peers and adults; teaches staff to select individualized and group activities based on information gathered through observation, interviewing, and screening.
5. 5. Trains and mentors staff to record and track students= developmental progress.
6. 6. Trains and mentors staff in how to promote and plan parent/family participation in learning activities, and how to train volunteers in techniques for positive interaction with children in classroom and at home through modeling and effective management techniques and utilization of behavior management tools.
7. 7. Works with direct service staff to involve parents in program planning, to support home activities, to participate in parent meeting, to help establish and maintain a system of communication with families.
8. 8. Maintains documentation of program activities and confidential records of interactions with staff; submits reports and/or records as requested.
9. 9. Works with direct service staff in following the appropriate process when making a referral upon recognition of a special need with a child or family.
10. 10. Attends a variety of meetings, classes, workshops, seminars, and other training sessions to ensure knowledge of current developments in Early Childhood Education, developmentally appropriate practices, family/community partnerships, and Head Start Performance Standards.
11. 11. Assists in the development and implementation of annual Head Start work plans, policies, and procedures, and training plans; and works with direct service staff to improve program quality for students and families.

OTHER JOB DUTIES

1. 1. Performs related duties as assigned, on a temporary basis.
2. 2. Maintains and updates knowledge and skills necessary for success in the position by attending meetings, workshops, and/or other in-service activities, as assigned.
3. 3. Regular, reliable, predictable attendance or physical presence is an essential job requirement and critical to the performance of the work.

CONDITIONS

May work flexible hours; longer work day required to travel within community to homes and agencies; may be exposed to infectious disease; may be required to deal with, and defuse, if appropriate, sensitive situations and/or people; may be required to lift and carry up to 20 pounds, bend, squat, stoop, kneel, crouch, walk, twist, climb, and/or be mobile.

Education and Experience

Associate’s degree in early childhood education or Washington State teaching certification with ECE endorsement; two years experience working with pre-school children, preferably from low-income families, desired; prior Head Start experience is desired; or any combination of experience and training which provides the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and ability required to perform the work.

Allowable Substitution

Associate’s degree in a related field and a commitment to complete 34 quarter credits in assigned ECE/Family Support course work within the first three years of employment.

Licenses/Special Requirements

Valid Washington State driver’s license with access to personal transportation.

First Aid and CPR certification is required within 60 days of employment; Food Handler’s Card within four weeks.

An occupational health screening is required within the first 30 days of Head Start employment and periodically thereafter.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge of Head Start Program.

Knowledge of early childhood education and child development.

Knowledge of community resources related to family needs.

Skill in problem solving and handling crisis situations.

Skill in obtaining, clarifying, and exchanging information.

Skill in drafting original correspondence and newsletters.

Ability to support the philosophy and components of the program.

Ability to lift and carry students, sit, stoop, bend, and run.

Ability to maintain confidentiality

Ability to produce and maintain documentation and records.

Ability to work with special needs students and adapt curriculum.

Ability to prioritize, coordinate, and multi-task.

Ability to demonstrate reasonable, reliable, and regular attendance.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with a variety of people in a multi-cultural, diverse socio-economic setting.

Ability to work as a cooperative team member.