Early Learning Specialist

About Masa

Masa partners with Mexican and Latin American children, youth, and families in the South Bronx to develop strong learners and leaders who fully contribute to the larger community. We envision a community that is civically engaged, empowered, and educated.

Masa’s community-led, integrated model engages the entire family, grounded in a deep commitment to strengthening literacy, leadership, and power for Mexican, Central American, and Indigenous People. Masa fosters a culturally responsive learning community in which families engage with direct service and advocacy programs to dismantle barriers to success. 

About the Early Learning Specialist

We are seeking an Early Learning Specialist to implement the Parent-Child+ home visiting model (virtually, until it is safe to do in-person home visits) with families and children. Under the supervision of the Program Coordinator, the Early Learning Specialist serves as a mentor/educator, working with parents/guardians of children aged sixteen months through three years old. Early Learning Specialists promote each child's growth and development by planning and implementing developmentally appropriate experiences focused on learning through play. In partnerships with parents, early learning specialists create environments in which children can develop personal relationships, experiment, make choices, solve problems, and develop age-appropriate social and self-help skills.

The successful Early Learning Specialist will have a strength-based approach, understand her/his role as a mentor/model to the parent/guardian, and as an observer of the home environment and situations to make appropriate referrals. Due to COVID-19, these sessions are being held virtually but may return to in-person at any time during the program once it is safe to do so.

The Early Learning Specialist is expected to participate in training, case conferences, and presentations as requested by Masa and ParentChild+. Additionally, the successful candidate should support the mission and goals of Masa.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

 Home Visiting Program Implementation:

• Assist site Coordinator with recruitment of families and building community connections
• Meet with the parent and child (initially program will be delivered virtually but will shift to in-person when it is safe to do so), twice a week for 30 minutes modeling, nurturing, and responsive care-giving
• Forge meaningful relationships with parent and child rooted in cultural fluency and trauma-informed practice, as well as a strengths-based and relationship-based approach
• Relate to Parents/Guardians as peers, equal partners in helping prepare children for life success; non-judgmental; involving them in the child's education and well-being with every activity and during each visit
• Model the design of an emergent curriculum that reflects the developmental stages, interests, and parents’ goals for implementation in care
• Prepare and provide materials to families as required by the curricula and as approved by the Program Coordinator

Training, Assessments, and Reporting:

• Complete a minimum of 16-hours of training in the ParentChild+ framework delivered by the local site Coordinator(s) prior to sessions, as well as training on CPR, mandated reporting, and other required topics
• Complete required assessments, screenings and other data collection with families
• Complete a session report after each visit and enter it into programs’ management information system

Meetings and Weekly Supervision

• Attend and participate in weekly group supervision and professional development (minimum of two hours a week) staff meetings; participates in formal one-on-one supervision a minimum of twice per program cycle and additionally as needed, and/or as often as weekly as required by the local partner agency

Requirements and Qualifications 

• Fully bilingual in Spanish and English
• Have a strong knowledge base of early childhood education and child development; experience working in a pre-school, Head Start, Early Head Start setting, or childcare setting preferred
• Enjoy playing and reading with young children
• An interest in and aptitude for learning the theory, techniques, and goals of the Program and a willingness to learn on an ongoing basis
• Flexibility in adapting to different environments, the ability to operate within a variety of circumstances and challenges that may arise, and the judgment to seek help when needed
• Clear understanding of client confidentiality; strong sense of responsibility
• Basic knowledge of computers, ability to use zoom, and knowledge of Microsoft Office programs including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint a plus
• Remain committed to the program if it should move from virtual to in-person
• Must enjoy working independently but able to work as a team and collaborate 
• With the support of the program coordinator, provide referrals to program families for early childhood and social services on an as-needed basis
• Attend and participate in weekly group supervision and professional development (minimum of two hours a week) staff meetings; participates in formal one-on-one supervision a minimum of twice per program cycle and additionally as needed, and/or as often as weekly as required by the local partner agency
• Regular, predictable attendance is required

Physical demands: 

• Once in-person visits resume, this position will require significant time walking/working outside the office visiting homes, including during the winter months. 
• Ability to uphold the stress of traveling
• Light to moderate carrying of program materials is required (15 - 25 lbs)
• Regular, predictable attendance is required 

How to apply

Send cover letter and resume to jobs@masany.org. Include "Early Learning Specialist" in the subject line. DO NOT APPLY FOR THIS JOB IF YOU ARE NOT FULLY BILINGUAL IN SPANISH.