Position: Parent Educator- Parents as Teachers Program (PAT)
Term: Full-time
Classification: Classified/Non-exempt
Location: District Wide
Qualifications:
- Certification and/or a four (4) year bachelor’s degree in either early childhood, social work, health, psychology, or a related field and demonstrated ability in working with young children and their parents;
- A two (2) year associate degree or two (2) year certificate program in early childhood education, child development, or nursing and demonstrated ability in working with young children and their parent
- Sixty (60) semester hours or more of credit from an academic degree granting institution, which is contained within the United States Department of Education’s Directory of Post secondary Institutions 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.
Supervisory: No
Reports to: Parents as Teachers Coordinator
Code: 001-3511-6151-7500-32400-3-000
Position #: 569
Parent Educators provide information, support, and encouragement to families to help their children develop optimally during the crucial early years of life.
General Expectations:
- Supports the mission of Joplin Schools.
- Supports the value of education.
- Complies with the privacy rights of students.
- Safeguards confidential and/or sensitive information.
- Communicates effectively with all the members of the school district and community.
- Provides excellence in customer service both internally and externally.
- Reacts to change productively.
- Keeps abreast of new information, innovative ideas and techniques.
- Maintains accurate records and filing systems for accountability and audit purposes.
- Ensures that all activities conform to district and state guidelines.
Essential Functions:
- Provide for early detection of developmental problems- health, motor, speech, and intellectual.
- Prevent child abuse and neglect.
- Empower parents to give their children the best possible start in life.
- Increase parent knowledge of child development and appropriate ways to stimulate their children’s intellectual, language, social, and physical development.
- Provide children a solid foundation for school and life success.
- Increase parent feelings of competence and confidence.
- Enhance parent-child interaction and strengthen family relationships.
- Develop strong partnerships between parents and schools.
- Plan, organize, and implement the parents as Teachers program as set forth by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).
- Visit assigned families in their homes in order to share information with parents about their child’s physical, academic, social, and emotional development.
- Provide support and information to families in order to obtain needed resources.
- Conduct informational group meetings (e.g. how to work with children, where to obtain needed supports and resources – e.g. health, economic).
- Administer developmental health, vision, and hearing screenings and share findings with families.
- Maintain necessary documentation, complete reports, etc.
- Maintain confidentiality and other professional responsibilities.
- Carry out all other responsibilities as assigned.
- Demonstrate initiative and enthusiasm toward work.
- Demonstrate a sense of professional responsibility.
- Carry out all other duties as assigned.
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
- Move around the classroom
- Read handwritten or printed material
- Lift up to 25 pounds
Attendance
Regular and consistent attendance is an essential function of this position.
The work conditions and environment described here are representative of those that an employee encounters 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
Conditions and environment consist of typical home environments as well as school office environments.
Note: The statements herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees, and are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. Furthermore, they do not establish a contract for employment and are subject to change at the discretion of the employer.