Texas Rising Star (TRS) Mentor

We help job seekers and career changers prepare for and advance in careers with a focus on sustainable, high-growth, high-demand industries. Our committed and well-trained workforce professionals deliver comprehensive workforce solutions at integrated career centers, sector-focused centers and community, and partner sites.

The Texas Rising Star Mentor primary duties will include providing remote or face-to-face coaching to Early Learning Programs (ELPs). Additional duties include: guiding, advising, advertising, and supporting ELPs in attaining or maintaining Texas Rising Star certification. The Texas Rising Star Mentor will assist early learning programs to improve their practice and achieve progressively higher levels of quality. Texas Rising Star Mentors also provide ongoing professional development and assist early learning programs in accessing resources and materials. This position will be a mentor to and associated with the Child Care Services Program in the 11-county region our office serves.

Essential Job Functions:

• Provides coaching designed to support continuous quality improvement for our providers. Provides face-to-face and/or remote coaching and mentoring to classroom teachers and administrators as scheduled and required, and uses a variety of Texas Rising Star mentoring strategies.
• Ensure that accurate and detailed case files are maintained for all contracted Child Care Providers.
• Prepare and generate Provider Contractual agreements and effectively explain contract terms to newly contracted child care centers.
• Partners with providers to develop and implement Texas Rising Star Continuous Quality Improvement Plans (CQIPs).
• Provides a variety of professional development experiences to support continuous quality improvement among ELPs.
• Collaborate and support administrators, teachers, and others to complete and interpret child data to support growth and development and to improve instructional practices.
• Promote the Texas Rising Star program with partnering agencies, clients, child care centers and the general public.
• Maintain caseloads as assigned of TRS Providers in accordance with TWC and Workforce Solutions Board guidelines and requirements.
• Complete documentation and data entry accurately for contracted child care centers.
• Implement corrective action plans and sanctions with Providers as necessary.
• Create workshops and other training activities as appropriate.
• Provide consultation and directions to Providers, teachers, and classroom staff as requested.
• Develop an Inclusion Plan for all children identified as a child with a disability which includes verifying that the child is eligible for an enhanced rate. Ensure that all policies and procedures that apply to children with a disability are followed.
• Serve as liaison with other local entities who are working to improve the quality of care provided in a child care environment.
• Conduct ongoing evaluations and follow up strategies to assess the effectiveness of the trainings offered.
• Maintain Provider files according to department policies.
• Notify management of any real or perceived problems.
• Demonstrate continuous effort to improve operations, streamline work processes and work cooperatively and jointly with providers, other staff, vendors, funding source staff, and monitors.
• Establish, maintain, and foster positive and harmonious working relationships.
• Arrive at work, on time, ready to work scheduled hours.
• Accurately document pertinent information in Provider files.
• Complete all paperwork in a timely and accurate manner.
• Complete time sheets are submitted accurately and timely.

Other Responsibilities and Job Requirements:

• Adjust schedules to include evening or weekend work, as needed.
• Communicate positively with parents, primary caregivers, and child care providers.
• Work independently and cooperatively, using good time management skills and flexibility.
• Must be aware of the legal and professional responsibilities of reporting suspected child abuse and neglect by parents/child care providers/co-workers/others in accordance with the provisions of Federal, State, or local law.
• Report any suspected fraud and abuse to the direct supervisor or other appropriate management.
• Ensure all customers/children/co-workers/child care providers of all races, religions, family backgrounds and cultures are not discriminated against.
• Ensure punctuality.
• Ensure work time is submitted accurately and timely in payroll system.
• Participate in job-related in-service trainings, conferences, and workshops.
• Ability to operate all office equipment including but not limited to computers, scanners, copiers, printers, calculators, multi-line telephone system, etc.
• Ability to work in a team environment and independently.
• Ability to handle and prioritize a variety of assignments and meet deadlines.
• Ensure any on-the-job accidents are reported immediately.

**The above statements are not a complete list of all responsibilities and duties performed by employees in this job.  Employees may perform other related duties and special projects as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Education/credentials: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university in early childhood education, child development, special education, child psychology, educational psychology, elementary education, or family consumer science.
• One-year experience of full-time early childhood classroom experience in a child care facility, Early Head, Early Head Start, Head Start, or prekindergarten through third grade school program.
• Must have experience in social services skills relating to parents, children, and providers in the child care industry.
• Must be willing to take and pass Texas Rising Star Mentor certification. If unable to pass certification, would be terminated.
• Knowledge of child care licensing standards and the needs of young children preferred.
• Must have the capacity to write clearly and succinctly to maintain records.
• Must be able to relate to diverse groups.
• Ability and desire to work with a diverse population and low-income individuals.
• Knowledge of developmentally appropriate practices for young children.
• Ability to coordinate trainings for adults working in early childhood.
• Ability to organize and implement systems for monitoring and tracking child care provider agreement end dates and accreditation end dates and deadlines. 
• Demonstrate the ability to work in Microsoft Windows and Microsoft Suite.
• Ability to communicate effectively with all levels of employees and management, both orally and in writing using correct business English, including spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
• Ability to balance a variety of duties, prioritize and meet deadlines required.
• Must be willing to take and pass a drug/alcohol test and comply with the “Drug Free” agency policy.

• Must be a minimum of 25 years of age to operate a company vehicle. One year may be waived provided that the individual has a satisfactory motor vehicle report (MVR).
• Must possess ability to provide reliable self-transportation capable of regional travel. 
• Must possess and maintain valid Texas motor vehicle operator’s permit of appropriate classification and endorsement as required.  Must agree to maintain a satisfactory MVR and minimum requirement of insurability as required by law.  MVR background checks may be conducted by the agency.

 Physical Demands:

• Ability to maintain physical condition and stamina appropriate to the performance of assigned duties and responsibilities which may include sitting or standing for extended periods of time, driving or riding in bus/van, operating assigned office equipment, and performing other duties as assigned.
• On occasion, employees may be required to lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
• On occasion, employees may be required to push and/or pull weight over 25 pounds.
• The physical requirements in an office environment may require lifting boxes of supplies, equipment and occasional adjustments of office furniture.

Work environments:

• Ability to adapt to inclement weather conditions and/or situations.
• Ability to drive long distances within or outside of the service area.
• Adaptability to a moderate noise level within the office environment.
• Ability to work in a stressful environment and deal effectively with stress.
• Ability to perform duties and adapt to flexible work schedules as established by management.
• Working from home could be a requirement under extraordinary circumstances as established by management.

Travel Requirements:

• Normal to heavy travel – ability to travel to Provider locations within the Workforce Solutions Workforce Resource Child Care area.  Must be able to travel for other activities such as meetings, classes, and workshops in and out of the service area. 
• Must be able to travel by air as needed to attend training, conferences, and related activities.

Equus Workforce Solutions is a leading provider of workforce development services in North America. With a dedicated and passionate team, Equus puts the industry’s best practices to work by focusing on the development, design, and delivery of demand-driven workforce solutions.

When you join Equus, you can expect extensive learning opportunities and networking programs. But most of all you can expect to make a lasting impact on the lives of others.

APM, including Equus Workforce Solutions, Ross Innovative Employment Solutions, Dynamic Workforce Solutions, DESI, AGELIC, and Grant Associates, is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

APM is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities throughout the application and hiring process. If you require a reasonable accommodation during the application, interview, or selection process, please contact [email protected].