Early Learning Advocate .875 FTE - Stafford Elementary

Tacoma Public Schools

Expected Start Date: March 31, 2025

FTE: .875 (7 hours plus 30 min unpaid lunch)

PA 6 - $31.039

AA - $31.789

BA - $32.039

Additional Information:

Educational Support Professional positions hired after March 8th, 2025, will be paid in equal installments for each pay period between their start date and last pay period of the current school year. The last paycheck for the 24-25 school year is July 20 th . If this position continues into the next school year, the first paycheck will be September 20th, 2025.

Benefits: Once hired, if you are determined to be benefits eligible and enroll in benefits you will be billed for insurance premiums for the summer months that you are not receiving paychecks. If the position continues into the next school year and you waive (do not enroll) benefits now, you would be able to enroll for benefits at Open Enrollment in Oct/Nov 2025 and benefits would begin January 2026.

This position requires completion and attaining of the state mandated General Paraeducator Certificate. The Paraeducator Certificate Program offers statewide standards-based training for all paraeducator/Education Support Professionals (ESP), and supports a career growth ladder for those who wish to advance their career as a paraeducator or pursue a teaching profession.

Staff will be required to complete 28 hours of training on the Fundamental Course of Study provided by the district. The first two days of FCS training will be required to be completed within four months of the date of hire, and the second two days within six months of the date of hire, or by September 1 of the next school year. The general certificate is then earned by a paraeducator who completes ten days (70 clock hours) of professional development training.

This position has primary responsibility for the health, family involvement, and social services components of the ECEAP (Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program) service plans and state performance standards; this position collaborates with classroom staff to address the needs of families so they can optimize their children’s development.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

1. Establishes and maintains a mutually respectful partnership with families; communicates with parents through flyers, newsletters, telephone calls, and home and/or school visits; supports families in learning to advocate for their children’s needs at school and in the community.

2. Assists families in promoting the optimal health of students by screening, assessing and tracking health and growth status of each child; assists families to develop health care plans and get physical and dental examinations for students; maintains and reviews cumulative health data to address individual needs of students; tracks student immunizations and encourages parents to fully immunize children; makes health referrals as needed; assists in the prevention and control of communicable disease by providing adequate information, screening and follow-up.

3. Supports families in accessing community social services, employment, and training resources and support networks by maintaining current program and community resource information, matching resources to family needs, and identifying unmet family needs; refers families to community social services, employment and training resources and support networks and follows up on the effectiveness of referrals; provides appropriate assistance to families requiring emergency assistance or crisis intervention; assesses need for emergency efforts, deciding when to intervene and when to refer to appropriate community resources.

4. Conducts strength-based assessments; assists families to identify goals and strengths; develops individual family plans based on these goals and strengths; follows up with families on progress toward meeting their goals, supports families efforts to reach their goals and facilitates the building of problem solving skills; assists families to revise their goals and plans as needed

5. Establishes relationships with community groups and social service agencies serving young children and their families.

6. Recruits families for program; screens and enrolls eligible children and families; assists in removing obstacles that might prevent student and/or family participation in program; participates in developing and evaluating the recruitment and enrollment process.

7. Monitors student attendance on a daily basis; complies with required methods of record-keeping and follow-up with families to encourage and/or facilitate student attendance in the program; assists with transportation arrangements for students.

8. Completes and maintains a variety of records and forms; maintains all documentation required by state performance standards in a timely and confidential manner; submits reports and/or records as requested.

9. Attends classroom team meetings and staff meetings; participates and takes an active part in annual program evaluation.

10. Plans and offers monthly family meetings and activities based on identified interests of families in collaboration with families and the classroom team; assists parents in preparing and presenting appropriate reports at parent meetings.

OTHER JOB DUTIES

1. Maintains and updates knowledge and skills required for success in the position by participating in professional development and in-service activities as needed or as assigned.

2. Assists classroom staff in management of students; provides classroom coverage when substitute is unavailable; performs related duties as assigned.

3. Regular, reliable, predictable attendance or physical presence is an essential job requirement and critical to the performance of the work.

CONDITIONS

Requires frequent travel within the community; required to work flexible hours including evenings; may be exposed to infectious disease; required to deal with difficult and/or sensitive situations and/or people; may be required to lift and carry up to 20 pounds, bend, squat, stoop, kneel, crouch, walk, twist, climb, and/or be mobile.

Education and Experience

A two-year degree in the field of human services, social work, nursing, health education, early childhood education, or a related field from an accredited college and two years of successful, relevant, documented work experience with adults/parents and young children; a four-year degree in a related field is preferred; or any combination of experience and training which provides the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and ability required to perform the work and that meets federal and state requirements.

Allowable Substitution

A two-year degree in any field with at least 30 credit hours in social work, nursing, health education, public health, human services, psychology, or a related field and three years of successful work experience with adults/parents of young children.

Licenses/Special Requirements

Valid Washington State driver’s license with access to personal transportation.

Current CPR and first-aid certification and food handler’s permit.

TB test within first six weeks of employment.

Fingerprints and successful WSP and FBI background clearance/sexual misconduct clearance.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Knowledge of and ability to support ECEAP performance standards, program, and philosophy.

Knowledge of childhood intellectual, physical, social, and emotional development.

Knowledge of health assessment screening processes.

Knowledge of current community programs, support networks, and resources for low-income families.

Skill in obtaining, clarifying, and exchanging information.

Ability to demonstrate reasonable, reliable and regular attendance.

Ability to work without direct supervision.

Ability to advocate and negotiate for families.

Ability to coordinate, organize, prioritize, and follow-through on a variety of tasks.

Ability to organize and coordinate activities.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationship with a variety of people in a multi-cultural, diverse socioeconomic setting.

This job description is not an employment agreement or contract. District administration has the exclusive right to alter this job description at any time without notice. The statements contained herein reflect general details as necessary to describe the primary functions of this job, the level of knowledge and skill typically required and the scope of responsibility, but should not be considered an all-inclusive listing of work requirements. Individuals may perform other duties as assigned including work in other functional areas to cover absences or relief, to equalize peak work periods or otherwise balance the workload.

Tacoma Public Schools does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following employees have been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination:

• Civil Rights Coordinator: Tiffany Davis-Brantley, 253-571-1252,civilrights@tacoma.k12.wa.us
• Title IX Coordinator: Wayne Greer, 253-571-1191, wgreer@tacoma.k12.wa.us
• 504 Coordinator: Elise Friedrich-Nielsen, 253-571-1065, efriedr@tacoma.k12.wa.us

Mailing address: P.O. Box 1357, Tacoma, WA 98401-1357.

Closing Date/Time: Tue, 18 Mar 2025

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• Tacoma Public Schools

• 253-571-1157

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