Child Development Specialist

Ready to make a difference in early childhood education? As a mentor and guide, you'll help childcare programs achieve and maintain Texas Rising Star (TRS) certification. From providing hands-on mentoring and technical assistance to directors, teachers, and staff, to modeling best practices and crafting engaging workshops, your role ensures that quality improvement plans are set and goals are met!

You'll also be an advocate for growth and excellence, conducting assessments, supporting professional development, and helping directors become leaders in the field. Whether it's through mock assessments, leadership training, or creating a network of resources, you'll be a critical part of expanding high-quality childcare programs in the Workforce Solutions East Texas Board's 14-county region.

Join us to make a meaningful impact and grow with a team dedicated to serving East Texas Childcare programs. Review the full application at www.etcog.org and apply now!

Education and Experience Requirements:

Please carefully review the full job description attached for more details. An additional requirement of this position, due to the nature and direct access to children in childcare settings, employees are required to successfully pass and maintain an annual background and criminal history check in accordance with Texas Child Care Regulation (CCR) requirements, Texas State Law §42.159.

High School Diploma or equivalent and must meet one of the two following education criteria:

• Bachelor's or Associate degree in any field that includes at least 18 credit hours in one or more of the following areas: early childhood education, child development, special education, child psychology, educational psychology, elementary education, or family and consumer science with two years of suitable experience in early childhood education or;

• Must have a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential with a commitment to attain the Texas Rising Star mentor micro-credential within two years of employment.

Additionally, must be able to obtain 36 hours of annual professional development and continuing education consistent with Texas Rising Star training requirements for a center director; complete the Texas Rising Star certification course; all mentors must attain the Texas Rising Star mentor micro-credential within two years of employment; demonstrate knowledge of and use of the Texas Early Childhood Professional Development System (TECPDS); and complete any additional requirements applicable to the Texas Rising Star Mentor position. Minimum two years of full-time early childhood experience in child care, Early Head Start, Head Start or pre-kindergarten through third grade school program; 3 to 5 years of experience following best practices in early childhood classroom education, understanding of and experience with evaluations, observations and assessments of teachers, and children between the ages 0 to 6; prefer knowledge and understanding of TRS Certification Guidelines and the minimum standards of Texas childcare licensing.

East Texas Council of Governments is a voluntary association of counties, cities, school districts and special districts within the fourteen-county East Texas region. We assist local governments in planning for common needs, cooperating for mutual benefit and coordinating for sound regional development. Either directly, or through our contractors, ETCOG provides programs and services for East Texas seniors, employers and job seekers. We also build the 9-1-1 emergency call delivery system, provide peace officer training and homeland security planning services; and deliver rural transportation services, business finance programs, grant writing services and environmental grant funding for the region.