Social Emotional and Mental Health (SEAM) & Curriculum Specialist
9 days ago
Saint Louis
Job Description Social Emotional Learning Expert Reports to: Education Specialist FLSA Classification: Exempt Status: Full Time Gender: Any Shift: Varies THE CENTER The Flance Early Learning Center is a diverse early childhood community that respects and nurtures children and adults in a trusting culture of love, empathy, compassion, and joy. An integral part of our mission and practice is to develop partnerships with families and community organizations that prepare and empower children to embrace learning, a strong sense of self, and social connection as essential tools for growth and achievement. Overall Responsibility The SEAM & Curriculum Specialist supports the social-emotional and mental health needs of children from birth to age five through the SMILE program. This role focuses on daily classroom observations, constructive feedback, and coaching plans to help educators create nurturing, trauma-sensitive environments where all children can thrive. By using a whole-child perspective, the specialist helps educators understand how different life factors impact each child's classroom experience. Additionally, the role develops strategies for social-emotional learning, designs individualized behavior support plans for children who need extra help, and provides case management to support families with stability, mobility, and other personal goals. Interactions • Using a Conscious Discipline approach, work collaboratively with parents, Classroom Executives, and Education Specialist to meet children and family's needs, • Provides and conducts supportive and positive daily interactions with classroom executives to design appropriate intervention strategies to improve necessary interactions with families daily, • Models Conscious Discipline appropriate practices and activities in all aspects of the job, • Supports SEL by modeling, coaching, assessing, and observing in the classroom for staff and children, • Directly support children's social and emotional health to ensure their well-being and safety through one-on-one and small group work, • Educate parents and Classroom Executives on children's mental health and development; provide parent workshops and facilitate parent support groups as needed, • Work with professional outcomes evaluator to verify that Flance is meeting/exceeding SMILE program expectations as well as identifying any necessary program changes to better serve children, • Provide referrals for community mental health and support services (LEA, MHB, LDA, etc.); identify community resources and build relationships with community partners, • Educate staff on issues related to trauma and children's mental health; provide support with individual child behavior and classroom support; work alongside Classroom Executives to develop responsive behavior plans for children exhibiting challenging behaviors, • Connect children, families, and Classroom Executives to resources internal and external to Flance, • Promote and incorporate Conscious Discipline practices/strategies and SEL (social-emotional learning) to nurture children's social-emotional development, • Create, conduct, and maintain SEL plans for every child at Flance, • Design child and family support plans and interventions that are culturally and linguistically appropriate and responsive to cultural differences among staff and families, • Coordinate stakeholders (children, families, Classroom Executives, service providers) and monitor the delivery of behavior plans to ensure follow-through, • Coordinate all SEL contracted providers such as art, music, and movement therapists or providers, • Organize CARE team meetings between staff and parents, • Coordinate external professional development, plan and deliver internal professional development around issues of trauma, social-emotional development, and children's mental health, • Support Classroom Executives with home visits and parent-teacher conferences to build relationships and encourage connections between home and school, • Maintain concise and factual documentation in children's files, including case notes (paper & electronically) for children and families including SEL plans and follow up as it pertains to the SEAM Specialist role Skills and Attributes • Utilize assessment tools such as e-DECA to analyze all SEL efforts to meet/exceed program outcomes and goals, • Proficient in all Microsoft Suite applications, i.e - Word, Excel, etc., • Ability to communicate with and maintain a welcoming and constructive relationship with children and adults, • Must be patient, nurturing, flexible and dedicated; be willing to take responsibility and initiative; able to see the individuality in every child, • Committed to continuous learning and growth as a professional, • Must have CPR and First Aid training/certification or obtain within 60 days of employment Environmental Factors The Social Emotional Learning Expert primarily works in the classroom and office areas. Noise and activity levels can be high; children require constant supervision and cooperation by Classroom Executives. Position requires a health screen, TB test, Hepatitis A vaccinations, and annual background check (includes fingerprinting). Flance Center is a busy, unique environment. Employees are expected to participate fully in the life of the Center. Because of the constant interaction with children, must be able to lift and carry 25 lbs. and be active in the classroom and outdoors (including sitting on the floor, standing for long periods, squatting, bending, stooping, moving about quickly, etc.) Education/Experience • Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education, Masters preferred, • 3 to 5 years of experience required working with children between the ages of birth to age 5 and their families preferred, • Demonstrated knowledge of community resources for children and families, • Ability to interact with families of diverse religious, cultural, and social backgrounds required. Knowledge of risk factors experienced by families including homelessness, intimate partner violence, and substance abuse, • Knowledge of behavior management and Developmentally Appropriate Practices Flance Early Learning Center is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applicants for all positions equally without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, veteran status, genetic condition, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation (real or perceived), any disability as defined in the Americans with Disabilities Act, or for any other characteristic protected by applicable United States federal or state law.