VPK Regional Facilitator

Department

Compensation

Job Description 

General Description/Primary Purpose: The position of VPK Regional Facilitator supports the Florida Division of Early Learning (DEL) and will conduct DEL activities. The VPK Regional Facilitator will provide multiple types of support primarily for VPK providers and stakeholders. The support includes, but is not limited to, professional learning, training, technical assistance, and guidance aligned with appropriate practices for early childhood, adult learning, and collaborative partnerships. This intentional effort on behalf of the State of Florida aims to improve instructional quality and quantity while using rigor and developmentally appropriate teaching practices so that children attending VPK meet the performance standards adopted for use in VPK. 

Job Function:  

• The VPK Regional Facilitator will perform ongoing technical assistance and training in a designated region, as directed by the FLDOE Division of Early Learning (DEL). Regular travel is expected (up to 80% of the time) throughout the assigned region, to provide professional learning, and technical assistance, and serve as a DEL representative, directly communicating with and supporting providers, coalitions, school districts, and other stakeholders. 

• Coordination of work activities within all counties and early learning coalitions (ELCs) within an assigned region is a critical requirement for the VPK regional facilitator’s successful completion of expectations. It is understood that the facilitator’s ability to build and maintain relationships with various stakeholder groups and with individuals within these groups will underlie success. 

• Travels to meet face-to-face with early learning coalitions (ELCs), school districts, and private VPK providers that are implementing a VPK program, within designated regions and throughout the State as needed to fulfill service tasks. 

• Training, Technical Assistance, and Coordination with Stakeholders (i.e., Early Learning Coalitions, School Districts, and VPK Trainers and/or Providers) 

• Ensure adequate VPK training sessions are offered and available across the region for those interested in participating in VPK trainings. 

• Provide instructor-led training to VPK participants, or train-the-trainer to approved applicants. 

• Provide train-the-trainer sessions, as directed by DEL, and manage existing DEL-approved trainers of VPK content. 

• Provide regional technical assistance and oversight to all approved DEL VPK trainers. 

• Coordinates the provision of technical assistance opportunities with coalitions, school districts, and other VPK stakeholders as requested by DEL or the above-mentioned stakeholders, as needed. 

• Provide frequent technical assistance (weekly, but usually daily) to VPK providers and other stakeholders. 

• Provide and lead at least an annual networking opportunity for staff from school districts and coalitions within assigned region. 

• Training, Technical Assistance, and coordination with Early Learning Coalitions, School Districts, and VPK Trainers and/or Providers. 

Collaborative Work with DEL 

• Participates and shares expertise in DEL and other stakeholder workgroups, committees, and social media. The frequency of participation may vary based on the specific activity or group involved.  

• Participates quarterly in professional learning (PL) and/or research opportunities to increase own expertise and capacity to support the implementation of the VPK program (e.g., webinars, conferences, book studies, and research in child development), and the focus of PL should always relate back to the statutory requirements of the VPK program (e.g., domains within the Standards, particularly emergent literacy, and mathematical thinking).  

• Present professional learning and/or research to increase own expertise and capacity to support the implementation of the VPK program.  

• Provides content expertise for various program initiatives as requested by DEL (e.g., provider newsletters, DEL newsletters, resources for providers, written feedback on content reviews). 

• Determine and accomplish at least one personal and professional goal within the fiscal year. 

Work with the DEL VPK Team  

• Participate in scheduled DEL VPK team meetings and/or training.  

• Participate in regularly scheduled VPK meetings and conference calls. 

  Marginal Functions  

  • Complete monthly administrative duties as necessary to fulfill service tasks.  

  • Perform other duties and tasks as assigned by the supervisor 

   

   

  Departmental Requirements 

This position serves the Northwest Florida Region and is assigned to Bay, Calhoun, Escambia, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, Madison, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Taylor, Wakulla, Walton, and Washington counties. Incumbent must live within the geographic region assigned unless permission is granted to live adjacent. The Incumbent must successfully complete a Level II background screening initiated by FLDOE/DEL.  

1. Experience working with early childhood teaching young children.  

2. Experience working with children and families from diverse backgrounds.  

3. Demonstrated success working collaboratively with adult early childhood educators in establishing goals, objectives, and action plans to increase student achievement.  

4. Experience training and/or presenting to early childhood educators or other early childhood stakeholders.  

5. Strong content knowledge of early childhood field and standards relating to developmentally appropriate practice.  

6. Knowledge and/or experience with various types of early childhood assessment tools.  

7. Clear communication skills when writing, speaking, and/or presenting.  

8. Must live within the geographic region assigned.  

9. Experience working in a leadership capacity with an early childhood program or school.  

10. Field experience providing technical assistance and/or coaching to providers and teachers in early learning programs.  

11. Experience with Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS®) Pre-K (e.g., trained observer)  

12. Successful completion of UF Communities of Practice and/or Coaching courses.  

13. Experience facilitating workshops and/or technical assistance meetings.  

14. Experience using protocols or other innovative means for facilitating conversations among participants.  

15. Experience mentoring early childhood educators in assessment, observations, and data collection.  

16. Experience conducting observations and assessments of preschool children and/or programs  

17. Training listed below, marked with an asterisk (*), must be completed within the first 30 calendar days of the hire date. (All the other training must be successfully completed within 120 calendar days of the hire date.) 

• Implementing the Florida Standards in Preschool Classrooms: 3 Years Old to Kindergarten* (available online AND instructor-led)  

• VPK Director Credential Course* (available online)  

• Building a Strong Foundation for Emergent Literacy* (available online)  

• Phonological Awareness Development for Preschoolers* (available online)  

• Language and Vocabulary in the VPK Classroom* (available online)  

• Scaffolding and Think, Show, Tell, Talk: Language and Vocabulary Development for Preschoolers* (instructor-led)  

• Book Imbedded Vocabulary Instruction: Language and Vocabulary Development for Preschoolers* (instructor-led)  

• Dialogic Reading: Language and Vocabulary Development for Preschoolers* (instructor-led)  

• Emergent Literacy for VPK Instructors (2018 version) * (available online)  

• Mathematical Thinking for Early Learners* (available online)  

• Early Math for Early Learners: Making Sense of Sets and Numbers (instructor-led)  

• Early Math for Early Learners: Counting and Operating with Numbers (instructor-led)  

• Early Math for Early Learners: Patterns, Measurement, and Data (instructor-led)  

• Early Math for Early Learners: Shapes and Spatial Relationships (instructor-led)  

• English Language Learners in the VPK Classroom (available online)  

• Working to Create Positive Learning Environments: Preventive Strategies (available online)  

• Developing the Socially and Emotionally Competent Child (available online)  

• Implementing the Approaches to Learning Domain in Early Childhood Classrooms (available online)  

• Implementing the Scientific Inquiry Domain in Early Childhood Classrooms (available online)  

• Implementing the Social Studies Domain in Early Childhood Classrooms (available online)  

18. For existing staff:  

a. Demonstrated success working with various stakeholders to collaborate on initiatives and to ensure the facilitator’s role and full implementation of the VPK program requirements.  

b. Successful attendance and completion of the Voluntary Prekindergarten Courses (instructor-led and/or online) stated in most current DEL VPK Regional Facilitator Guidance. When a new training is available, successful attendance and completion are required within 30 calendar days. 

Required Qualifications: This position requires either (a) Master's degree from an acceptable accredited institution in a directly related area of specialization; (b) Bachelor's degree from an acceptable accredited institution in a directly related area of specialization and two years of experience directly related to the job functions; or (c ) 6 years of direct experience.

This is a remote position serving the Northwest Florida region and is assigned to Bay, Calhoun, Escambia, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, Madison, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Taylor, Wakulla, Walton, and Washington counties. Incumbent must live within the geographic region assigned unless permission is granted to live adjacent.

The Incumbent must complete a Level II background screening initiated by FLDOE/DEL.

All applications must upload a letter of Interest, a current resume, and 3 professional references with updated phone numbers and email addresses.

Please upload DCF Child Care Training transcript with application, if available

Statement(s) of Understanding

This position requires a background check. In conjunction with the University's policy, this position may also require a credit check.

The holder of this position is designated as a “Responsible Employee” pursuant to their role under Title IX. Therefore, the incumbent must promptly report allegations of sexual misconduct, sexual violence, and child sexual abuse by or against any student, employee, contractor, or visitor to the University’s Title IX Administrator or any divisional Title IX Coordinator

Equal Opportunity

In 2020, the University of North Florida (UNF) received the prestigious INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award, the only application-based national award for U.S. colleges and universities that exhibit an outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion across their campuses. In addition, UNF ranked highest among the HEED institutions and was recognized as a 2020 Diversity Champion.

The University of North Florida (UNF) is committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all who interact in our community. In building this environment, we strive to attract students, faculty and staff from a variety of cultures, backgrounds and life experiences. The University of North Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not commit or permit discrimination or harassment on the basis of genetic information, race, color, religion, age, sex, disability, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, or veteran status in any educational, employment, social, recreational program or activity that it offers. In addition, UNF will not commit or permit retaliation against an individual who reports discrimination or harassment or an individual who cooperates in an investigation of an alleged violation of university regulation.

Carnegie

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