Job Description

Posting number: 193339

Department: First Steps

Division: SC First Steps

Job classification: Education Associate

Posting type: Open

Categories: Education

Summary

Are you an experienced professional looking for new opportunities to further your career? South Carolina First Steps is seeking a hardworking and dependable candidate just like you to apply! This position will offer great benefits with the state, including 15 days of annual and sick leave per year or more depending on applicable state service.

Recruiting locations are for the following counties: Anderson, Berkeley, Darlington, Florence, Greenville, Horry, Lexington, Richland, Pickens, and Spartanburg.

A cover letter and resume are required by the agency to be considered for this position

10 Vacancies Available

The Responsibilities of the 4K Coach:

Using a quality improvement plan driven by individual CLASS observation scores, the 4K Coach provides high-quality, continuous mentoring and coaching to early childhood educators and site administrators participating in the First Steps 4K program. Maintaining a direct classroom portfolio, this position models CLASS-driven instructional strategies, supports data-informed lesson planning, and supports high-impact professional development opportunities. The 4K Coach works collaboratively with the broader 4K Team to ensure services align with First Steps 4K Program Guidelines, drive instructional excellence, and support continuous quality improvement across all participating sites.

This position will work under the direct supervision of a 4K Lead Coach. Must display the ability to work independently while maintaining accountability. Extensive knowledge of child development/early childhood pedagogy and preschool curriculum; knowledge of early childhood classroom quality and child assessment tools. Knowledge of adult learning methodologies. Proficient in Microsoft Word and Excel software. Strong problem solving, leadership and analytical skills. Demonstrates exceptional organizational and effective time management skills. Excellent oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills; attention to detail; reliable and prompt. Must be self-motivated and capable of delivering high-quality work.

• Provides ongoing mentoring and coaching to providers participating in the First Steps 4K program. Maintains a direct coaching portfolio of First Steps 4K classrooms and models "gold standard" CLASS-driven coaching techniques, effective teaching strategies, classroom management, and play-based learning integration across literacy, numeracy, and social-emotional development. Assesses instructional effectiveness to support teachers in improving lesson planning, emotional support, classroom organization, and instructional delivery.
• Oversees student assessment implementation and guides 4K instructional staff in using data to inform instruction and lesson planning. Documents all provider visits, provide constructive feedback to teachers and administrators, and maintain daily and weekly coaching tools for accountability. Ensure all services align with First Steps 4K Program Guidelines and performance measures.
• In collaboration with the 4K Lead Coach, proactively develops and maintains a visit schedule, consistently participating in field shadowing, regional coaching meetings, and peer-to-peer side-by-side coaching opportunities.
• Partners with the Director of 4K Professional Development to facilitate and support the 4K Training and Professional Development Calendar for 4K site administrators, teachers, and instructional assistants to promote instructional excellence.
• Collaborates with the 4K Team to advance program goals, support strategic initiatives, and foster continuous quality improvement across the First Steps 4K program.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Examples of duties

• A bachelor's degree and experience in education, management or business.

Additional Requirements:

• Position may require overnight travel.
• Position requires routine driver duties.
• Position requires frequent stooping and/or bending.
• Position requires non-essential declaration.
• Must have a valid Class D driver's license.
• Must have reliable transportation to travel to 4K sites (mileage will be reimbursed.)

Qualifications

• Experience in CLASS observations and Practice-Based Coaching. Must be willing and able to perform weekly travel around their region to conduct on-site coaching at 4K sites.

Supplemental information

SC First Steps is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, including, but not limited, to lactation), national origin, age (40 or older), disability or genetic information.

Supplemental questions are considered part of your official application. Any misrepresentation will result in your disqualification from employment. Please complete the state application to include all current and previous work history and education. A resume will not be accepted nor reviewed to determine if an applicant has met the qualifications for the position.

SC First Steps offers an exceptional benefits package for full time (FTE) employees:

1. Health, dental, vision, long-term disability, and life insurance for employees, spouses, and children. Click here for additional information.
2. 15 days annual (vacation) leave per year
3. 15 days sick leave per year
4. 13 paid holidays
5. Paid Parental Leave
6. S.C. Deferred Compensation Program available (S.C. Deferred Compensation)
7. Retirement benefit choices*
8. State Retirement Plan (SCRS)
9. State Optional Retirement Program (State ORP)

*Enrollment in one of the listed plans is required for all FTE employees; please refer to the contribution section of hyperlinked retirement sites for the current contribution rate of gross pay.