Child Development Specialist

Company:

For more than six decades, Goodwill Central Texas has been relentlessly focused on empowering thousands of people to work. We transform revenue from over 37 retail locations into a combination of education, career training, job placement, career coaching and support, and more. Every time you shop or support Goodwill, you are helping fund our greater mission to serve our community. Goodwill’s vision extends far beyond our retail stores and your generous donations: We envision a Central Texas where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

The Goodwill Excel Center for Adults opened in 2014 as an open-enrollment public charter high school for adults ages 18 to 50. The Excel Center Adult High School transforms lives in a supportive and holistic learning environment where all students are empowered to achieve. 

For more information on the Goodwill Excel Center Adult High School, visit https://excelcenterhighschool.org

Commitment to Excellence

At The Excel Center, we are building a high-performing organization focused on transforming lives through the power of education and work and becoming the model of excellence for adult education across Texas. Our team members contribute to a culture grounded in our values of caring, innovation, and accountability and focused on strong graduate outcomes.

All Excel team members:

• Deliver Excellence - Uphold high standards of professionalism, execution, and service to students
• Own the Outcome - Demonstrate accountability through ownership, reliability, follow-through, and continuous improvement.
• Work as One Team - Collaborate and contribute positively to a solutions-oriented culture
• Lead with Purpose - Align actions and decisions to the organization’s mission, vision, values, and strategic priorities
• Strengthen the System - Support systems, processes, and practices that strengthen organizational effectiveness and student impact

All team members demonstrate our standards through strong individual performance and a commitment to collective excellence.

Important Retirement Information

The Goodwill Excel Center for Adults is a Texas public charter school district. Employees in TRS-eligible positions participate in the Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS).

Eligible employees are required to contribute a portion of their salary to TRS retirement and TRS-Care through automatic payroll deductions. TRS is a defined-benefit retirement system, and employees generally become vested after earning five years of TRS service credit.

Candidates should consider these required retirement contributions when evaluating compensation and long-term employment with the district. Additional information about TRS eligibility, contributions, vesting, and retirement benefits is available through the Teacher Retirement System of Texas.

The Goodwill Excel Center Adult High School is currently recruiting for a Child Development Specialist for our Norwood Campus located at 1015 Norwood Park Blvd Austin, TX 78753. 

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Child Development Specialist is responsible for providing exceptional, high-quality care and educational experiences for children enrolled in the Exploration Center. This role supports the holistic development of each child by fostering a safe, nurturing, and developmentally appropriate learning environment that promotes growth across all developmental domains. The Child Development Specialist is accountable for ensuring the health, safety, well-being, and engagement of children while implementing best practices in early childhood education. Through intentional interactions, individualized support, and strong partnerships with families, this position contributes to each child's social-emotional, cognitive, physical, and language development and advances the center's mission of excellence in early learning and care.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Provide high-quality early childhood education by designing and implementing developmentally appropriate learning experiences that support children's growth across all developmental domains, including social-emotional, physical, language, cognitive, literacy, mathematics, science and technology, social studies, and the arts.

2. Maintain a safe, healthy, and nurturing environment that promotes children's well-being, learning, and development.

3. Ensure full compliance with all applicable licensing, accreditation, and quality standards, including Child Care Regulation (CCR), National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), Texas Rising Star (TRS), and other regulatory requirements.

4. Model and implement best practices in early childhood education, positive guidance, classroom management, and child development.

5. Observe, assess, and document children's developmental progress and learning outcomes through formal and informal assessments, maintaining accurate records and individualized child portfolios.

6. Foster strong partnerships between home and school by sharing child development information, supporting families with research-based parenting practices, and planning and conducting parent-teacher conferences.

7. Complete and maintain required program documentation, including attendance records, lesson plans, anecdotal observations, accident and incident reports, health and safety monitoring logs, and other required records.

8. Successfully complete all required training and professional development, including Pediatric First Aid/CPR, Child Abuse Prevention and Reporting, Pre-Service Training, and a minimum of 30 hours of annual professional development.

9. Communicate effectively and professionally with children, families, colleagues, and community partners while adhering to the NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct and the center's professional standards.

OTHER DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Maintain a clean, organized, and sanitary learning environment through routine cleaning, sanitizing, and classroom organization practices.

2. Ensure classrooms are well-equipped with developmentally appropriate materials and resources that encourage exploration, creativity, independence, and child-directed learning.

3. Provide families with guidance and information regarding child development milestones, learning expectations, and age-appropriate developmental practices.

4. Communicate center policies, procedures, and program expectations to staff and families in a clear, respectful, and professional manner.

5. Support the overall operation of the Exploration Center by performing additional duties as assigned and contributing to a positive, collaborative team environment.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY:

This position may be a mentor or peer-coach to Teacher Aide/Floater and/or Assistant Teacher.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

1. Associate degree in Early Childhood Education or a related field, or a minimum of 36 college credit hours from an accredited institution in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, Elementary Education, Early Childhood Special Education, or a closely related discipline.

2. Current Pediatric CPR and First Aid certification from an accredited in-person training provider, or the ability to obtain certification within 30 days of hire.

3. Minimum of two years of experience working with infants, toddlers, preschool-aged children, and/or pre-kindergarten children in a licensed childcare center, early learning program, or educational setting serving children from birth through kindergarten.

4. Ability to read, understand, and follow written and verbal instructions in English.

5. Proficiency in computer applications and internet-based platforms, including Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook), Google Workspace (Gmail, Docs, and related applications), and other technology used to support program operations and documentation.

6. Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with colleagues and build positive, professional relationships with children and families.

7. Demonstrated ability to respond promptly, appropriately, and compassionately to the individual needs of children while maintaining a supportive and nurturing environment.

8. Ability to safely lift, carry, and assist children as needed throughout the workday.

9. Ability to meet the physical demands of the position, including frequent walking, standing, bending, stooping, reaching, and active engagement with children for extended periods.

10. Commitment to fostering an inclusive environment that values diversity, equity, and respect for differing perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences.

11. Strong organizational skills, sound judgment, and the ability to maintain confidentiality while supporting children, families, and program operations.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Bilingual in English and Spanish, Arabic, Pashto, American Sign Language (ASL)

Compensation & Schedule

• Based on experience and qualifications.

What We Offer

Comprehensive Health Coverage: We provide top-tier medical, dental, and vision insurance to ensure you and your family stay healthy and happy.

Generous Paid Time Off: Recharge with our generous PTO policy, which includes vacation days, personal days, and company-wide holidays.

Teacher Retirement System & 403b Participation

Paid Parental Leave: We understand the importance of family. We offer a generous parental leave policy to support you during this significant life event.

Professional Development Opportunities: We believe in continuous growth! Take advantage of our access to workshops and online courses & tuition/certification support.

Wellness Programs: Prioritize your well-being with our wellness initiatives, including gym memberships and free mental health support.

Employee Recognition Programs: We celebrate our team members’ achievements with recognition awards.

Diverse and Inclusive Culture: Join a workplace that values diversity and inclusion, with regular team-building activities and events that foster a sense of belonging.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Goodwill Central Texas is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to a workplace where everyone feels included. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, or any other protected characteristic.

Background Check

Goodwill Excel Center is a public school and pre-employment background check and fingerprinting is required to ensure the applicant meets all eligibility requirements for the position. Additionally, positions that will be entering a campus located within a correctional facility are required to submit to pre-employment drug testing and receive a negative result as a condition of employment.