Head Start Child Development Specialist

Early Learning/East; Athens (GA); On-site; USD 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

Clarke County School District Head Start program in Athens, Georgia seeks a Child Development Specialist to deliver standards-based instruction across developmental domains. The role emphasizes data collection and family engagement, reporting to the Director of Early Learning.

The position requires an Associate’s degree in Early Childhood Education (Bachelor’s preferred), Criminal background checks, a Georgia driver’s license, a health exam, and a willingness to collaborate with families and

Qualifications

• Associate degree in Early Childhood Education or related field.
• Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education preferred.
• Criminal background checks required.
• Valid Georgia driver’s license and reliable transportation.
• Pre-employment health examination.
• Bilingual in English and Spanish preferred.

Responsibilities

• Implements instructional programming and adapts lessons to individualized learning needs within established lesson plans.
• Advises parents/guardians of student progress and reinforces classroom goals at home.
• Collects and analyzes data to adjust instructional strategies and communicates with families and staff.
• Develops weekly standards-based lesson plans to meet curriculum requirements.
• Maintains safe and clean classroom and playground environments and implements wellness protocols.
• Organizes activities and prepares written materials for substitutes and parents.
• Provides ongoing feedback on student progress to supervisor and families.
• Engages families through Parent And Child Together (PACT) activities and conferences four times a year.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Skills

Records management

Software applications

Organizational skills

Education

Associate’s degree in Early Childhood Education

Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education preferred

Tools

ChildPlus

Teaching Strategies

ASQ

Infinite Campus

Job description

Head Start Child Development Specialist

Clarke County School District Early Learning/East - Athens, Georgia Open in Google Maps

This job is also posted in Clarke County School District

Job Details

Job ID: 5917601

Application Deadline: Sep 30, 2026 11:59 PM (Eastern Standard Time)

Posted: Sep 07, 2026 4:00 AM (UTC)

Starting Date: Immediately

Job Description

DIVISION: Office of Early Learning

GRADE: G29-H

DEPARTMENT: Head Start

WORK DAY: 190

REPORTS TO: Director of Early Learning

FLSA STATUS: Non Exempt

JOB CLASS: 433D

GROUP: Classified

POSITION SUMMARY

The job of HS Child Development Specialist (190 day classified teacher) is done for the purpose/s of delivering instruction that includes all elements of standards based instruction across all developmental domains; assess student progress and adjusts instruction according to student’s needs; and provides a well-organized, smoothly functioning classroom environment in which students are achieving.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

EDUCATION:

• Associate’s degree in Early Childhood Education, Child Development or equivalent coursework
• Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education preferred

CERTIFICATION/LICENSE:

• Criminal Justice Fingerprint, Background Clearance, Sex Offender Registry Check, Child Abuse Registry Check
• Valid Georgia driver’s license and reliable transportation
• Pre-Employment Health Examination
• Bilingual and bi-literate in English and Spanish preferred

WORK EXPERIENCE:

• Experience working with children under age five and their families.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, & ABILITIES

• Skills-based Competencies: Required to perform multiple tasks with a need to occasionally upgrade skills in order to meet changing job conditions. Specific skill based competencies required to satisfactorily perform the functions of the job include: preparing and maintaining accurate records; using pertinent software applications; and organizational skills.

• Knowledge-based Competencies: Required to perform basic math, including calculations using fractions, percentages, and/or ratios; read a variety of manuals, write documents following prescribed formats, and/or present information to others; and analyze situations to define issues and draw conclusions. Specific knowledge based competencies required to satisfactorily perform the functions of the job include: stages of child development; age appropriate activities; lesson plan requirements; methods of motivating and controlling responding to the individual needs of children; and awareness of codes, regulations, and laws related to counseling students.

• Ability-based Competencies: Required to schedule activities, meetings, and/or events; often gather, collate, and/or classify data; and use basic, job-related equipment. Flexibility is required to work with others in a variety of circumstances; work with data utilizing specific, defined processes; and operate equipment using standardized methods. Ability is also required to work with a wide diversity of individuals; work with similar types of data; and utilize job-related equipment. Problem solving is required to identify issues and create action plans. Problem solving with data requires independent interpretation of guidelines; and problem solving with equipment is limited to moderate. Specific ability based competencies required to satisfactorily perform the functions of the job include: providing direction and leadership; communicating with persons of varied backgrounds; maintaining confidentiality; establishing and maintaining constructive relationships; and adapting to changing priorities.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

• Implements instructional programming and adapts classroom work for the purpose of providing students with instructional materials that address individualized learning needs within established lesson plans.
• Advises parents and/or legal guardians of student progress (parent-teacher meetings, home visits, etc.) for the purpose of communicating expectations, student's achievements, developing methods for improvement, and/or reinforcing classroom goals in the home environment.
• Collects and analyzes data (screening, formative and summative assessment, etc.) for the purpose of adjusting instructional strategies; attends meetings and in-service presentations (scheduled professional development, etc.) for the purpose of acquiring knowledge and/or conveying information relative to job functions; communicates with a variety of individuals and groups (parents, guardians, appropriate district personnel, etc.) for the purpose of conveying and/or receiving information required to perform job functions.
• Develops weekly standards based lesson plans for the purpose of implementing designated curriculum, meeting federal, state, and local requirements for the purpose of facilitating student learning and achieving success in academic, interpersonal, and daily living skills.
• Implements security measures, and wellness protocols (active supervision, daily sanitizing of touched surfaces, handwashing, safety drills, care plans, etc.) for the purpose of presenting and/or reinforcing learning concepts and safe and healthy practices. responds to emergency situations (security problems, emergency health issues, weather-related actions, etc.) for the purpose of resolving immediate safety concerns and/or directing to appropriate personnel for resolution.
• Maintains learning and play spaces (classroom and playground safety checks, etc.) for the purpose of creating a comfortable, supportive, safe environment; ensures family-style meal service, for the compliance with federal regulations; manages assigned projects and activities (reports, goals, etc.) for the purpose of meeting established timelines and objectives.
• Organizes age appropriate indoor and outdoor activities for the purpose of ensuring student participation in learning activities; prepares/composes a variety of written documents and/or materials (materials for substitute teachers, written documents for parents or guardians, Child Plus, Teaching Strategies, ASQ, and Infinite Campus data entry, etc.) for the purpose of documenting activities, providing written reference, and/or conveying information.
• Provides ongoing feedback (adjustments based upon formative assessment, etc.) for the purpose of informing supervisor, teacher, and parents or guardians of students' progress
• Establishes positive individual relationships (working with parents and their children together, etc.) for the purpose of building trusting relationships and parental confidence by providing opportunities for children and families to participate fully in interactive Parent And Child Together (PACT) activities; to take home PACT activities; to make progress on family goals; to engage in parent-teacher conferences four times a year (2 at the school and 2 in the home of the child), to improve school attendance; and to attend to family engagement activities and additional conferences as needed.
• Performs other related duties as assigned for the purpose of ensuring the efficient and effective functioning of the work unit and effective functioning of the work unit.

PHYSICAL ABILITIES AND WORKING CONDITIONS

The Physical Abilities and Other Conditions of Continued Employment listed in this section are representative of, but are not intended to provide an exhaustive list of Physical Abilities and Other Conditions of Continued Employment which may be required of positions in this class. Clarke County School District encourages persons with disabilities who are interested in employment in this class and need reasonable accommodation of those disabilities to contact the Human Resources Department for further information.

Vision : Ability to read small print and view a computer screen for prolonged periods.

Hearing : Ability to tolerate exposure to noisy conditions.

Speech : Ability to be understood in face‑to‑face communications, to speak