Long-Term Substitute Early Head Start Family Education Specialist (Teacher)

WEST CENTRAL COMMUNITY ACTION PARTNERSHIp; Minnesota; On-site; USD 25,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

West Central Minnesota Communities Action, Inc. is seeking a Long-Term Substitute Early Head Start Family Education Specialist to support infants, toddlers, and their families in Grant County.

The role focuses on two-generational programming, family engagement, and strength-based home visits. The position emphasizes building relationships with families, maintaining records, and collaborating with community partners to ensure continuity of services during the extended leave.

Qualifications

• BA/BS or higher with Early Childhood Education as major or licensure in Minnesota.
• CDA credential or AA in ECE and plans to earn BA/BS or licensure.

Responsibilities

• Deliver engaging home visits and two-generational programming.
• Strengthen families to support child development.
• Participate in Head Start activities and policy councils as needed.
• Maintain timely documentation and scheduling for visits.

Skills

Family engagement

Communication

Time management

Driver’s license

Education

Bachelor’s or advanced degree in Early Childhood Education

Minnesota licensure or CDA credential

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Long-Term Substitute Early Head Start Family Education Specialist (Teacher)

Introduction

West Central Minnesota Communities Action is seeking a Long-Term Substitute Early Head Start Family Education Specialist to serve families near Wadena.

This is more than filling a gap, it’s stepping into meaningful work that directly impacts infants, toddlers, and their parents during some of the most important years of life.

What You’ll Be Doing

You will:

Strengthen parents’ ability to support their child’s development
Provide engaging, high-quality home visits and family socializations
Deliver two-generational programming focused on early childhood education and family engagement
Build strong, trusting relationships with families
Support families as they work toward greater stability and self-sufficiency

You’ll be walking alongside parents, empowering them, encouraging them, and helping create safe, nurturing environments where children can thrive.

Why This Role Is Critical

Early Head Start families rely on consistency, connection, and support. During this extended leave, we are committed to ensuring families in Grant County continue receiving the high-quality services they deserve.

If you are compassionate, dependable, relationship-driven, and passionate about early childhood and family engagement — we would love to have you!

Primary Responsibilities

• Strengthen the capacity of parents in facilitating the development of their own children and assist the family in efforts to achieve self-sufficiency; and improve the conditions and quality of family life.
• Provide home visits and socializations to families with high-quality, two-generational programming that focuses on Early Childhood Education and family engagement.
• Responsible for cultivating strong relationships with parents. This includes inviting them to participate and feel empowered in all Head Start opportunities/programs. Opportunities will be equitable.
• Responsible for training parents in their roles on parent committees and Head Start Policy Council. Responsibilities to include election of parents from centers to Head Start Policy Council.
• Adhere to Agency and Department policies and procedures.
• Act as a role model within and outside the Agency.
• Provide friendly, responsive service to the public, community organizations, and to those we serve.
• With a respectful and positive attitude, work with low-income individuals and families with diverse backgrounds.
• Support, develop, and maintain productive relationships required to carry out job activities.
• Demonstrate flexible and efficient time management.
• Maintain the security and confidentiality of all records and interpersonal interactions.
• Serve as an advocate.
• Work effectively and cooperatively with community partners, co-workers, and volunteers.
• Participate in Agency-wide and program events.
• Communicate with Human Resources (HR) on topics/policies that you may need training on/have questions about.
• Keep KPay updated with any personal information changes such as name, address, phone number, etc.
• Check email daily and promptly respond to messages.
• Enter hours and work codes on your time sheet at the end of each day worked.

Qualifications

Minimum – Family Education Specialist I

• Must be 18 years of age.
• BA/BS or Advanced degree with Early Childhood Education as a major field of study or with Early Childhood licensure from Minnesota.
• 1-3 years of experience in working with families and children birth to age 5.
• Meet minimum standards per Head Start Program Performance Standards and Minnesota Certified Exempt Licensing.
• Thorough knowledge of Microsoft Office applications.
• Proof of valid driver’s license and current/adequate vehicle insurance coverage.

Minimum – Family Education Specialist II

• Must be 18 years of age.
• Minimum of Child Development Associate (CDA) credential or AA in Early Childhood Education and be enrolled in a program to earn a BA or BS or Advanced degree with either Early Childhood as a major field of study or with Early Childhood licensure from Minnesota.
• One (1) year work-related experience with families and children birth to age 5.
• Meet minimum standards per Head Start Program Performance Standards and Minnesota Certified Exempt Licensing.
• Thorough knowledge of Microsoft Office applications.
• Proof of valid driver’s license and current/adequate vehicle insurance coverage.

Preferred

• General knowledge of the Head Start program.
• Demonstrate an understanding of diverse backgrounds, cultures, and teaching children with disabilities.
• Experience of working independently.

Essential Functions

• Become certified in the Family Service Credential and provide comprehensive family services.
• Facilitate weekly home visits focusing on family partnership in planning learning outcomes and guiding parents toward answering their own questions. Conduct home visits to establish/ strengthen the home and school connection and facilitate learning.
• Practice safe home visiting procedures such as documenting the location of your home visits, communicating your schedule to another staff member and having your work cell phone at your immediate reach during a visit.
• Oversee the development of appropriate lesson plans, their implementation and the documentation of children’s observations. Both lesson plans and observations should be completed according to the expected timeline.
• Establish habits and goals with parents for all children in the context of the program plan.
• Assist families in their efforts to improve family life and connect them with the appropriate resources.
• Organize and facilitate 22 socializations/family events annually to support program goals in collaboration with community events. Act as socialization/site facilitator when implementing events for children and families.
• Adhere to health and safety policies and procedures to ensure a safe and healthy environment for children and families at events.
• Be familiar with community resources and act as an advocate effectively collaborating with other organizations.
• Implement ongoing outreach and recruitment to fulfill enrollment expectations.
• Using the parent curriculum, plan with the family to create and maintain a positive environment allowing for individualization.
• Observe and record children’s behavior and development. Implement appropriate modifications through data analysis and parent communication to meet children’s individual needs.
• Understand and implement appropriate family/child and health documentation processes.
• Attend ISFP meetings, district/partner collaboration meetings, area staff meetings and complete monthly team meetings following the team meeting agenda template.
• Help to identify and track children who have or require a referral to health or education specialists and monitor progress in achieving goals.
• Lead small team area rap (S.T.A.R.) meetings to collaborate with HS Supervisor, HS Health Coordinator, HS Mental Health Consultant and HS Family Systems Specialist to identify child or family needs and appropriate follow-up services.
• Participate in all required training including First Aid and Pediatric CPR, SUIDS and which are necessary for certification/licensure and Professional Development facilitated by WCMCA. Maintain a current status of all required certifications.
• Supervise volunteers as needed.
• Keep immediate Supervisor informed of all problems, unusual or extraordinary matters of significance coming to his/her attention, so that prompt corrective action can be taken as needed.
• All other duties as assigned by Supervisor, including participation in Agency and program committees and being familiar with Certified Exempt Licensing in preparation for substituting in a local Head Start center as needed and when home visiting schedule allows.

Americans with Disabilities Act

Physical demands:

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls; each with hands and arms; climb stairs; balance, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; talk or hear; taste or smell.
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50
• Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment:

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Contact

Danie St. John
Director of Administration 218-405-3013
[e-mail]