Parents As Teachers at Kearney School District

Parents As Teachers ~ Parent Educator 

Job Title: Parents As Teachers

Department: Early Education 

Reports to: Parents As Teachers Supervisor/Early Education Center Principal

Classification: Non-Exempt 

Summary

Parent educators provide services to families from pregnancy through kindergarten entry. Through these partnerships, Parent Educators help parents to grow in their understanding of child development, feel encouraged and connected to their community, and become empowered to serve as their child’s first and most important teacher.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills and abilities required.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Maintain and keep up to date assigned family caseload, using the necessary documents to make sure you are meeting your visit requirements for each family and meeting the number of visit and hour goals as determined by the district.

• Conduct personal visits as outlined by DESE and PATNC.

• Plan the visit using the district’s data tracking system, gather materials, travel and conduct visits in homes, at the school, or via a virtual platform with supervisor approval.

• Document the visit in the district’s data system as well as perform all follow-up tasks necessary within 48 hours of the visit.

• Accurately maintain and submit in a timely manner all required family and program documentation.

• Participate in group connections events quarterly.

• Complete developmental screenings for each child, annually.

• Contribute to a community resource network in order to be able to link families with resources as needed.

• Attend all required individual meetings with the PAT program supervisor as assigned.

• Collaborate with the program supervisor to create a professional growth plan.

• Attend staff meetings and other required professional development throughout the year.

• Complete annual required competency-based professional development hours in order to remain a certified Parents as Teachers parent educator.

• Complete annual required school district employee trainings

• Assist in the recruitment and retention of families for the PAT program.

• Be available to communicate with parents between scheduled personal visits when appropriate.

• Keep current on literature and research in the field of child development and parenting issues.

• Display appropriate personal and professional traits that exhibit a positive role model and produce a positive culture within the Kearney School District.

• Maintain confidentiality in regards to all families and services.

• Maintain Kearney School District’s values and goals as stated in our mission, vision and ethics statement.

• Perform other duties as assigned.

Terms of Employment

• This part time position works 9 months of the year, with the possibility of additional summer hours, if desired.  Work hours are highly flexible, including evenings and weekends.

• Salary: Flat rate based visit and visit type 

Supervisory Duties 

None 

Qualifications 

Education/Experience

• Education: Certification and/or a four-year degree in either Early Childhood Education, Early Childhood Special Education, Elementary Education, Health, Psychology, Social Work, or a related field and demonstrated ability in working with young children and their parents

• Will consider related degrees or a two-year associate degree or two-year certificate program in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, Nursing and demonstrated

ability and experience in working with young children and their parents.

• Sixty (60) semester hours or more of credit from an academic degree from a granting

institution and two (2) years of successful experience in a program working with 

young children and their parents, as approved by DESE; or

• Five (5) years of successful experience in a program working with young children and their parents as approved by DESE and a high school diploma or equivalent. Individuals that qualify for training under this specific criterion may be required to complete additional training at the discretion of DESE.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations 

Current certification as a Parent Educator from the Parents as Teachers National Center is highly desirable. However, if you do not have the certification, we will provide the necessary training.

Skills and Abilities  

• Strong interpersonal skills in communication to assist in working with the Kearney School District team as well as in building trust and rapport with families.

• Strong growth mindset with an ability to reflect and assess one’s own skills so they can focus on what they need for their growth and development as a parent educator.

• Effective organizational skills to maintain documentation and caseload management.

• Self-motivated with the ability to work independently.

• Basic computer skills specifically with google programming, including data entry, website navigation, e-mail and other software.

• Personal, reliable transportation is necessary for the selected applicant to conduct home visits.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Physical Demands 

An individual who holds this position must have the ability to:

• Speak and hear in an environment where numerous conversations and activities may be taking place simultaneously

• Transport self to and from home visits with own vehicle

• Drive in variety of weather conditions

• Be able to sit on a floor for a period of greater than one hour

• Be able to lift twenty pounds or greater

• Read handwritten or printed material 

Attendance
Consistent and regular attendance is an essential function of this position. Parent Educators have a flexible work schedule in order to accommodate a wide range of our parent’s schedules. Home visits are scheduled at a mutually agreed upon time. It is imperative that every effort is made to keep those appointments. In the rare event of a cancellation on either individual's part, the Parent Educator must contact the family within a week to reschedule the appointment. Ideally, the rescheduling of the appointment will happen at the time of cancellation.

The work conditions and environment described here are representative of those that an individual will encounter while performing the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Conditions and Environment
The individual who holds this position will regularly work in a home environment that is noisy and active.  Oftentimes this involves pets and a wide range of cleanliness.  Occasionally, the individual will be required to work outdoors for Group Connections. This often requires performing such tasks as transporting equipment and the loading and unloading of the equipment.