Bridge to Preschool Lead Facilitator

ABOUT US

The Primary School is creating a new school model that brings together all of the adults in a child’s life, including parents, educators, and medical and mental health providers, starting from a very early age. We recognize the entrenched racism that exists within our public systems and the unjust impact this has had on families of color. Our aim is that children and families most impacted by systemic poverty and racism receive the multidisciplinary support they deserve to be well, learn, and thrive.

Long-term, we hope to create a game-changing school model that can be replicated across the country. As we continue to learn and grow, we plan to share what we’ve learned and pursue policy and systems change on a local, state, and national level. We are proud to receive funding from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, a major national philanthropy.

Our approach has three defining characteristics:

• We start early. We start working with children as young as 8 months and provide full-time school starting at age three to reach them at a critical stage in development.
• We partner with parents. We believe that when parents thrive, children thrive, so we support the wellness and growth of parents alongside the growth of their children.
• We integrate services. Our unique model unites health care and education, building a multi-disciplinary team and holistic system of care around a child’s full needs.

In 2016, we opened our flagship school in East Palo Alto, California, with our first class of four year olds. We have grown to serve over 300 children and their families through a birth to three program, parent wellness program, full-day preschool, and elementary school, which will grow through eighth grade. In 2020, we began programming at our second site in Hayward, California.

ABOUT THE ROLEThis position reports to the Bridge to Preschool Program Manager. Under the guidance and supervision of the Bridge to Preschool Program Manager, the Lead Facilitator will be leading dual-generation intervention groups and facilitating parent-only discussions. Prior to the start of Bridge to Preschool, the Lead Facilitator will receive training on the curriculum and pedagogical methods of the program. The Bridge to Preschool Lead Facilitator role is a part-time, short-term contract position for 16 hours a week from mid-February to mid-August. There may be an opportunity for this role to continue after August 2021, for interested and qualified individuals.

The Bridge to Preschool Program

The Lead Facilitator will play a key role in implementing our Bridge to Preschool program, a highly structured small group intervention that targets children aged 2.5 to 3.5 and their families, as they prepare for preschool or entrance into their first formal care setting. Children are identified and invited to participate in the Bridge to Preschool program based on their developmental screening results, with special attention given to children who need more support in their social and emotional development.

There will be four sessions of programming offered over two days a week, from May to July 2021. Bridge to Preschool staff will support children’s transition into preschool over the month of August.

The ideal candidate for this position has Early Intervention experience working with children with identified needs, or is pursuing advanced education degrees in fields such as in special education, occupational therapy, speech and language pathology or early intervention. The Primary School encourages both those who are only interested in a short-term position, as well as those interested in expansion to a full-time role, to apply.

Responsibilities

Lead Teaching

• Under the supervision of the Bridge to Preschool Program Manager, implement Bridge to Preschool intervention groups.
• Supervise and participate in outdoor and indoor activities with children.
• Model for parents high impact language development strategies through songs, stories and talking with children.
• Scaffold and support young children to develop positive interpersonal relationships with peers and caregivers.
• Function as a positive role model for children and families.

Data Collection & Analysis

• Observe and track children's development and progress.
• Observe and track parent’s engagement.
• Provide relevant feedback on student progress through observation, interaction and maintaining accurate records.
• Implement pre- and post- measurements.

Materials & Space Management

• Create visuals and classroom materials as needed.
• Set up and clean up the intervention space and materials.

Other Responsibilities

• Attend staff meetings and in-service training as needed.
• Maintain collaborative relationships with partners, staff, families, and children.
• Maintains strict confidentiality on all job-related matters.
• Other responsibilities as needed.

QUALIFICATIONS

• You are passionate about and have experience in working with toddlers and preschool-aged children.
• You value the importance of the parent as the child’s first teacher.
• You are knowledgeable about child development.
• You are a strong communicator who values collaboration.
• You interact with families and advocate for others in a way that is compassionate, culturally-responsive, strengths-based and non-judgmental.
• You are a natural problem-solver, and a fixer and finder of resources.
• You love collaboration and learning and are excited to work with and learn from all The Primary School team members and our San Francisco partners.
• You believe in the mission of The Primary School and that all children and families are capable of extraordinary things.
• You are physically able and willing to lift and move up to 50lbs with or without a reasonable accommodation.

A Plus If

• You are familiar with or have experience working in the Mission or Bayview neighborhoods in San Francisco.
• You speak fluent Spanish OR Cantonese and you feel confident communicating with children and families in either of those languages alongside English.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions. While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to talk, hear, and communicate with both adults and children. The employee frequently is required to use hands or fingers, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls. The employee is frequently required to stand, walk, sit, and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus. The noise level in the work environment is moderate to high.

COMPENSATION

Compensation is commensurate with qualifications and experience, plus excellent health benefits, 401k retirement plan with employer matching, flexible spending account (FSA), dependent care FSA, and generous paid time off, including a competitive paid parental leave benefit.