Job Description

Title: Infant and Toddler Specialist/Parent Educator (2 openings)

Position Number: 100023 & 100024

Unit/Department: Drake Head Start

Salary: Commensurate with qualifications and experience

Department Summary:

The Mission of Head Start and Early Head Start is a noble one: “better preparing young children and their families for life experiences now and in the future.”
Drake University Head Start offers a comprehensive early childhood program.
Drake University Head Start and Early Head Start programs support the comprehensive development of children from birth to age 5, in classroom settings, home-based programs, & childcare partner locations.

Drake University Head Start is seeking energetic candidates to join our team of classroom staff and carry out the Head Start/Early Head Start Mission to “better prepare young children and their families for life experiences now and in the future.”
This is a full time, 12-month, benefits eligible position supporting our lead teachers and children in daily classroom activities. Drake University offers amazing benefits that include tuition waiver and tuition exchange for employees, their partners, and dependents interested in pursuing a degree.
We are hiring individuals who are excited to join an agency of dedicated and supportive staff who take pride in serving the families of the community. This position works with an assigned group of families in Early Head Start programs by providing parent education and in home early childhood instruction and assessments. This position is responsible for implementing and evaluating early childhood, developmentally appropriate practice and may also assist with providing community resource information to families.

An ideal candidate will be resourceful and culturally competent. You must be prepared to travel to multiple homes with the benefit of mileage reimbursement and paid time for travel, have flexibility for adjusting to different home settings. The role consists of working directly with children in their home setting.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in infant and toddler development, child development, early childhood education, child, adult and family services, or related field.
• Two years’ experience working with infants, toddlers, and their families.
• Current Iowa Driver's License and the ability to be covered by the University's insurance carrier required.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Head Start Experience
• Training in adult learning strategies and demonstrated experience in providing parent education.
• Bilingual skills and home visiting experience

Job Duties:

• 35% - Provide parent education in the context of the home environment, through the use of adult learning strategies and support for individual parent needs, to enhance parent’s knowledge of child development and parenting skills. Possess expertise in the area of adult learning. Conduct instruction to parents and support the use of appropriate learning strategies to promote school readiness skills. Travel for business purposes within Polk County. - (Essential)
• 20% - Conduct research-based screening and assessment to determine child proficiency and to enhance parent knowledge in the identification of typical and non-typical child development. Possess expertise in the area of child development and learning including typical/non-typical growth trajectory in all domain areas, including health and mental health. - (Essential)
• 15% - Collaborate with parents to develop and achieve reasonable goals for their child and family to enhance family self-sufficiency. Support families to acquire appropriate social service information and community resource referrals. Use professional judgment and knowledge to enhance parent advocacy skills for their child and themselves, including navigation of systems supporting children with special needs. Possess cultural humility and awareness and utilize these skills to promote parent education and family self-sufficiency. - (Essential)
• 10% - Implement research-based curricula to enhance parent’s ability to foster appropriate learning environments and experiences in the home environment to promote their child’s school readiness skills. - (Essential)
• 10% - Evaluate parent-child relationship and interactions to determine individual education needs of the parent to support school readiness skills. Coach parents, using shared observation and reflection strategies, to help them become better observers of their children in the home and group setting. - (Essential)
• 5% - Use technology to create and maintain accurate and confidential records and reports within applicable regulations and performance standards. Complete and file all documents within established guidelines. Develop and maintain professional communication while maintaining confidentiality. Maintain appropriate certifications and reliability in determined assessment and curriculum. - (Essential)
• 5% - Federal Head Start Program Performance Standards, state and local regulations, rules and requirements compliance. Maintain strict confidentiality of all records and documents. Maintain department records and reports in a secure manner. Represent Drake University and Drake University Head Start in a professional manner. Treat clients, co-workers, staff, parents and community members with respect and civility, and ensure a safe and inclusive environment for everyone at all times. React to change productively, maintain prompt and regular attendance, and perform all other duties as assigned. Promote Head Start philosophy and initiatives. - (Essential)

Special Instructions to Applicants:

For consideration, you must apply online. Please include a resume and cover letter.

Review of Applications Begins:

A review of applications will begin immediately. This position will remain open until filled.

Salary and Benefits:

At Drake, we are proud to offer our employees, their spouses, and eligible dependents a comprehensive benefits package, which includes a wide range of core benefits, perks, and discounts. If you are exploring a job with Drake University, we invite you to spend a little time with our Drake Benefits Guide 2025 One of our popular policies provides a tuition waiver for Drake employees, their spouses, and eligible dependents. Drake also participates in not one, but two tuition exchange programs available to dependent children. Tuition Benefits