Parenting Educator
We PLAY Center
About us
TrainingGrounds is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization located inside the Sojourner Truth Neighborhood Center in New Orleans. Our mission is to increase early childhood outcomes by providing rich learning opportunities for children, parents, caregivers and educators.
To fulfill this mission, TrainingGrounds operates the We PLAY Center. A free playspace for caregivers and children who currently do not have access to quality early childhood learning centers or experiences. The Center provides low to middle-income families with children from birth to age three with a nurturing and supportive learning environment. During play sessions, parent educators’ model appropriate adult/child interactions for parents and facilitate learning opportunities for children that stimulate brain development and foster social emotional, language, cognitive and school readiness skills. Through the We PLAY Center, caregivers and children both develop competence and confidence that contribute to the child's success in school and beyond.
Job Description
The We PLAY Center Parenting Educator interacts with parents and caregivers and assists them with building their resilience and their belief in themselves as parents and capable decision-makers. We PLAY Center Parenting Educators provide parents and caregivers with education, developmental information and support. In the We PLAY Center and through our programming, we promote the healthy development of children, support parents and caregivers in their role as their child’s first teacher and frontline public health workers, and serve as a trusted resource to the community. Each contact you have with the family provides an important opportunity to link them to parenting resources, provide child development information and model and validate nurturing caregiving.
Full Time: 40 hours per week
Application Deadline: Ongoing
Start Date: Immediately
Length of Engagement: Spring, Summer, and Fall Semester placements.
Compensation: Negotiable
Major Duties and Responsibilities
● Parenting Education: Positive parent-child relationships set the stage for children's success in school and in life. Therefore, parents are our most important partners for supporting the development and well-being of young children. Parenting Education provides valuable knowledge and resources to parents utilizing PLAY as the medium.
○ Leadership Actions (can include but are not limited to
■ Maintain up to date knowledge about child development, models continual
improvement, demonstrates lifelong learning, and apply new learning to help all children and families succeed.
■ Communicate with families with a shared desire to provide the best support and learning environment for them and their children
■ Utilize EMS messaging system, email and postcards to stay connected to families, send out reminders about We PLAY Center programming and inquire about the family’s well-being.
■ Facilitate We PLAY Center sessions with caregivers and children and deliver We PLAY Center programming: Parent Learning Opportunities, HUG, Bonding and Brain Building and additional programming that may develop as a response to community needs.
■ Conduct developmental screenings and make appropriate referrals when necessary
■ Model appropriate adult and child interactions that promote healthy brain development and foster cognitive, language, and social-emotional skills for children (birth to five) in the We PLAY Center
■ Ensure all families feel welcome and supported when they attend We PLAY Center programming
■ Complete safety and compliance related documents (e.g., incident reports, daily checks, etc.)
■ Participate in Reflective Supervision sessions twice monthly with the Director of Relational Health and Staff Training. Incorporate all prescriptive coaching into everyday practice.
■ Clean and sanitize all materials after each play session and monitor for potential safety risks.
■ Represent TrainingGround at local events, community gatherings, or workshops and training.
● Driving Business Results Increasing TrainingGrounds presence in the community, recruiting new families and children to the center and maintaining relationships with the current membership is the primary goal of all staff at TrainingGrounds. The Parenting Educator role is to continuously be mindful of the importance of serving our targeted population.
○ Leadership Actions (can include but are not limited to
■ Act as a thought partner to increase the We PLAY Center’s presence in the community and recruit new families and children to the center while maintaining attendance and enrollment of current families and children.
■ Ensure targeted population is represented in We PLAY Center programming including Parent Learning Opportunities, HUG, Bonding and Brain Building
■ Utilize reflective supervision to identify and explore how strengths and biases show up in the workplace.
● Collaborate Closely with Colleagues and Leaders Under the Direction of the Director of Programming and We PlAY Center Coordinator work closely with all staff to provide comprehensive services and referrals to priority populations
■ Attend bi-monthly team meetings and check-ins to discuss programmatic updates, challenges, and opportunities.
■ Follow clear intake and referral protocols and procedures for connecting families to resources and services.
■ Collect feedback from families and stakeholders to evaluate the impact of services on their well-being and satisfaction.
■ Use data and feedback to inform decision-making and refine parent engagement services and programs
● Instill and Maintain a Culture of Inclusivity: The Parenting Educator will need to maintain a culture of respect and inclusivity by consistently demonstrating a high degree of emotional intelligence and cultural competency as they engage with various types of stakeholders. ○ Leadership Actions (can include but are not limited to):
■ Actively participate in opportunities (e.g. staff dialogue, professional development workshops, etc.) to learn inclusive and equitable practices
■ Follow and support inclusive and equitable practices and norms
■ Maintain positive relationships with community partners and referral agencies
■ Communicate with families with a shared desire to provide the best support and learning environment for them and their children
Education and Experience Required
● College degree preferred (education, social work, psychology, sociology, family & consumer science early childhood development or related field)
● Fundamental knowledge regarding parent-child relationships and early childhood development
● Must demonstrate initiative and have a high level of passion, energy and enthusiasm
● Must be physically able to use a computer with advanced proficiency with Word, PowerPoint, and Excel
● Good organizational and multitasking skills
● 2 years + experience working with young children and families as an early childhood educator, coach, or in another social services field
● Strong communication, presentation and training skills
● Ability to work independently and with minimal supervision
● Ability to be flexible and adaptable to meet the needs of various types of families, showing cultural competency and mindfulness of individual, cultural, and ethnic differences
● Ability to build relationships with families and staff and create a dynamic environment where play, discovery and learning go hand-in-hand
● Outstanding customer service skills, strong organizational skills, and the ability to multi-task and manage multiple situations effectively
● Ability to treat people in a caring and respectful fashion and maintain emotional control in stressful situations
● Ability to speak, read, and write English (Spanish a plus)
● Reliable transportation & ability to travel to appointments, meetings and professional development opportunities
● Excellent knowledge and education on developmentally appropriate practice and how young children develop and learn
● Excellent oral and written communication, interpersonal communication, and organizational skills
● Regular walking, kneeling, stooping, bending, and sitting on the floor to attend to children’s needs and model behaviors for parents
● Complete safety and compliance related documents (e.g., incident reports, daily checks, etc.)
Working Conditions
Must be able to assume postures at low levels to allow physical and visual contact with children, see and hear well enough to keep children safe, and engage in physical activity with them.
Must be able and willing to sweep, mop and vacuum floors, dust and re-shelve toys, count inventory, enter data and set up and break down outside play space, and lift to 40 lbs.
To Apply
In order to be considered, please submit the following items to: melanie@mytraininggrounds.org
Your resume
A cover letter explaining why you are interested in the Brain Builder Position with TrainingGrounds, what skills you would bring, and why you would be a great member of the team.
Provide the names and contact information of two references.