Parent Educator

Job Title: Parent Educator  
Reports To:  Director of Family Literacy  
Classification: Exempt    
Part-Time: 20 hours/week, Monday - Thursday, 8:30 AM – 1:30 PM  
Supervisory Responsibilities: None   
Date: 6/8/2023  
                                                                            
Our Mission: Grace Place puts faith into action, providing pathways out of poverty by educating children and families.  

Summary/Objective:    

The Bright Beginnings Parent Educator will be responsible for the implementation of the Bright Beginnings literacy and workforce soft skills curriculum. The teacher will work under the direction of the Director of Family Literacy to provide guidance, resources, and lessons to help parents enhance their abilities in areas such as job readiness, career exploration, professional development, and other workforce-related topics.  

 
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:   
Curriculum Implementation:   

• Assume primary responsibility for the implementation and instruction of high-quality Bright Beginnings Parent Time classes.   
• Remain up to date on program curriculum to support the alignment between parent time and early childhood education classes.  
• Implement curriculum and instructional activities that facilitate challenging, engaging, and active learning experiences with measurable learning outcomes.   
• Lead weekly wellness activities.  
• Build positive, encouraging, and vibrant teacher-student relationships to foster strong commitment, participation, and retention.   
• Manage and maintain the classroom learning environment, including establishing daily routines, and classroom organization, set-up, and clean-up.  
• Implement systems to foster the development of support and collaboration between families. Work with program administration to provide referrals to school and community resources when needed.  
• Ensure that all requisite materials for class are prepared and ready in advance.  

 Curriculum Development:    

• Provide support in the development of weekly lessons plans.  
• Incorporate hands-on activities to do in class and at home to help us meet our objectives.  

Volunteer Management:    

• Welcome and effectively manage volunteer translators’ involvement in the classroom.   
• Provide effective on-going coaching in appropriate strategies and model these strategies in the classroom.   

Outcomes:    

• Conduct assessments and support data collection of measurable program outcomes.  
• Observe and evaluate student performance, progress, and development.  
• Maintain records on student progress and development for the purpose of planning and evaluation.   

Communication:   

• Communicate with parents regularly regarding their progress and needs.   
• Keep parents informed of program expectations, logistics, and activities.   
• Communicate regularly with direct team members.  
• Maintain high visibility and a hands-on presence with students, staff, volunteers, and parents in all aspects of the program.  
• Performs any other duties or responsibilities as requested.    

Qualifications:   
Education:   

• Bachelor’s’ degree required, concentration in education, business administration or related field preferred.   

Experience:   

• Minimum of three years of instructional teaching experience.  

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:   

• Bilingual, English and Spanish required. 
• Demonstrated experience working with diverse cultures and populations and ability to communicate effectively preferred.   
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel, use of the internet, and basic computer skills.   
• Excellent interpersonal skills and verbal and written communication skills.    
• Commitment to the mission and core values of Grace Place.    
• Current first aid and CPR certificates (can be obtained within 90 days of employment).    
• Willing to submit to Fingerprinting and Background Checks.    
• Compliance with Good Moral Character as described by DCF.      

Additional Information:   

As members of the Grace Place team, we all value and support the Grace Place Vision, Mission, Faith Statement and Organizational Core Values.    

• Work Environment: Position requires working in numerous locations which include varied temperature, noise level, and other factors that may affect a person’s working conditions while performing the job.   
• Position Type and Expected Working Hours: Part-time. Anticipated working hours of approximately 8:30am-1:30pm Monday and Tuesday, including some evenings and weekends as needed.    
• Physical Demands: Bending, sitting, and standing for long periods of time. May require lifting objects weighing up to 20 lbs. as needed.   
• Additional Eligibility Qualifications: Background check, fingerprinting required.   

Organizational Competencies:   
The following competencies are organizational in nature in that all Grace Place employees are expected to exhibit these competencies and will be part of the basis for their performance evaluation.     

Work Ethic and Commitment: Extent to which the employee takes pride in his or her work and is dedicated and committed to excellence in personal goals and organizational mission.  Extent to which a significant volume of quality work is performed efficiently in a specified period of time; employee is a peak performer with a high energy level.   

Initiative and Problem Solving: Degree to which employee takes active steps to set and achieve tasks/goals on a timely basis. Is a self-starter and solution-seeker who possesses a sense of urgency and takes action with minimal instruction. Is able to identify issues/problems and possible solutions and is willing to act on the solutions.   

Service Orientation: Extent to which the employee understands and exhibits behaviors that enhance and improve the experience of various stakeholders:  students/families, volunteers, donors/supporters, and community partners.  Knows and acts upon what it takes to deliver value.  Makes a genuine effort to listen to stakeholders and seeks to understand and resolve needs/issues.   

Judgment and Decision Making: Ability to arrive at sound decisions in a timely manner with positive results.  Understands and utilizes core values of organization and relevant policies and seeks appropriate guidance when needed.   

Quality, Care, and Dependability: Extent to which work is accurate, thorough, and neat.  Degree of reliability in performing tasks, following instructions and meeting deadlines.  Employee possesses the ability to produce reliable work without follow-up or inspection.   

Teamwork and Interpersonal Relations: Extent to which employee is positive and projects a willing to-please attitude, cooperation, and team spirit.  Understands goals of the department, as well as collaboration with other departments, and is willing to accommodate the personnel, tasks, and situations involved in order to accomplish department and organizational goals.  Consider employee relationships with other staff, volunteers, students/families, and community partners.   

Communication Skills (oral and written): Communicates effectively and accurately both orally and in writing with individuals and groups; presents ideas in an organized, clear and concise manner; employs tact and discretion; listens well; offers appropriate feedback.  Listens to others.  Communicates with a clear message and is open to different perspectives.  Ensures that the receiver hears and understands the message.    

Job Knowledge and Technical Skills: Extent to which the employee possesses the practical and technical knowledge of duties, functions, work safety procedures, policies, and takes responsibility for reviewing and up-grading areas of expertise and development of new skills as needed.   

Planning and Organizing: Level of effectiveness in planning and organizing daily work.  Ability to achieve short- and long-range objectives.  Assess organization of work and time management skills.   

Professional Image: Extent to which the employee projects a professional image through appearance, conduct, and work areas.   

Background Screening Requirement :All applicants must successfully complete required State and National background screening as a condition of employment prior to beginning work at Grace Place for Children and Families. Screening is conducted in accordance with applicable Florida law, including Chapter 435, Florida Statutes, and, when applicable, Chapter 408, Florida Statutes. Background screening includes fingerprinting for FDLE and FBI criminal history checks and review through the Florida Care Provider Background Screening Clearinghouse. Employment is contingent upon receipt, review, and approval of screening results. Clearinghouse Clearinghouse | Florida Agency for Health Care Administration 

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:     
Grace Place values diversity in the workplace and among our partners and other stakeholders.    

It is the policy of Grace Place to provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified employees and applicants on the basis of experience, training, education, and ability to do the available work without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, marital status, pregnancy, veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information or any other protected characteristic under applicable law. This policy relates to all phases of employment, including, but not limited to, recruiting, employment, placement, promotion, transfer, demotion, reduction of workforce and termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation, selection for training, the use of all facilities, and participation in all company-sponsored employee activities. Provisions in applicable laws providing for bona fide occupational qualifications, business necessity or age limitations will be adhered to by the company where appropriate.    

Employees and applicants shall not be subjected to harassment, intimidation or any type of retaliation because they have (1) filed a complaint; (2) assisted or participated in an investigation, compliance review, hearing or any other activity related to the administration of any federal, state or local law requiring equal employment opportunity; (3) opposed any act or practice made unlawful by any federal, state or local law requiring equal opportunity; or (4) exercised any other legal right protected by federal, state or local law requiring equal opportunity.   

The above-mentioned policies shall be periodically brought to the attention of supervisors and shall be appropriately administered. It is the responsibility of each supervisor of the company to ensure affirmative implementation of these policies to avoid any discrimination in employment. All employees are expected to recognize these policies and cooperate with their implementation. Violation of these policies could be considered a disciplinary offense.   

Disclaimer: This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Other duties, responsibilities and activities may change or be assigned at any time with or without notice.