The Organization: Acelero, Inc.

Who We Are: Acelero, Inc. is a for-profit, mission-driven company that aims to improve school readiness for low-income children, by both directly operating Head Start programs and offering programmatic support to other Head Start grantees.

Established in 2001, Acelero, Inc. is made up of two divisions - Acelero Learning and Shine Early Learning. Acelero Learning provides direct Head Start services to more than 5,000 children and families in four states (delegates) – New Jersey, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. Acelero Learning’s programs have been identified as a national exemplar (https://bellwethereducation.org/publication/leading-exemplar-data-utilization-head-start-programs) , a model to the nation (https://www.acelero.net/news/tag/House+Speaker+Nancy+Pelosi) for early childhood education, and most significantly, has demonstrated best-in-class child outcomes gains (https://annenberg.brown.edu/news/brown-university-annenberg-study-shows-acelero-learning-head-start-children-made-significant) , even during the pandemic.

Shine Early Learning (Shine), established in 2009, was created to scale the dissemination and utilization of Acelero Learning’s proven tools and approaches through partnerships to other Head Start programs nationally. In the past three years, Shine has further diversified its offerings through training, technical assistance, and consultation to publicly funded early childhood systems, including the launch of SPARK Learning Labs.

Our diverse employee workforce is made up of more than 1500 employees, comprising dedicated teachers, passionate family advocates, dynamic Center Directors and Coordinators, visionary senior leaders, and strategic executive leaders. Shine boasts partnerships across a wide expanse of states and territories throughout the country, ranging from Head Start grantees to comprehensive statewide systems. Together, we form a vibrant community committed to making a difference, fostering growth, and nurturing the potential in every child we serve.

The Current Landscape: At the forefront of educational innovation, Acelero Inc. is navigating a pivotal phase of strategic transformation, commenced in June 2021, with a clear vision to expand exponentially and dismantle inequities. Guided by the insights and leadership of a diverse and representative national Design Team, the company has meticulously crafted a new vision, mission, and core values, underpinned by a robust theory of change. This strategic evolution involves a deliberate restructuring of the organizational framework, positioning Acelero Inc. to achieve its objectives, and to surpass them significantly. Central to the company's ethos is an unwavering commitment to recognize and nurture every child's potential, ensuring no child is left behind due to systemic inequalities. Acelero Inc. is steadfast in its mission to empower families, fostering their ability to advocate effectively for their children and themselves. This period of transformative growth and commitment to equity presents a unique opportunity to contribute to Acelero Inc.'s journey towards shaping a more inclusive and empowering educational landscape.

The Purpose of the Role

At Shine Early Learning, we're not just adapting to change, we're driving it. As we prepare for potential new grants, we're looking for a talented Family Engagement and Health Specialist to join our team. This is more than a job — it’s an opportunity to be part of a movement that is shaping the future of early learning through innovation and a deep commitment to excellence.

The Family Engagement and Health Specialist at Acelero Learning plays a pivotal role in supporting Head Start and Early Head Start programs. This specialist ensures high-quality early childhood education by providing professional development, compliance monitoring, and technical support to community partners. They work closely with the PSI, Community Partners, and local teams to implement structured program evaluations, conduct audits, and drive quality improvement initiatives. By fostering inclusive, anti-bias approaches and leveraging data-driven decision-making, the specialist accelerates positive outcomes for children and families, honoring the diverse cultures and aspirations of the communities served.

What You’ll Work On

• Assesses the health and recruitment materials and equipment of Community partners and delegates, identifying needs and assisting with placing orders, collaborates and coordinates with other service area leadership.

• Supports the administration of structured program evaluation instruments with compliance of the family and community engagement model, e.g. Strategic Integration Start-Up System (SISS), and Transition

• Self-Assessment System for Continuous Improvement and Evaluation (SASCIE).

• Works with the PSI, Community Partners, and the local program team to plan and implement the initial, differentiated, and sequential professional development for the family engagement/health staff in the areas of ERSEA and Health compliance.

• Conducts quantitative and qualitative audits on child/family files and Shine Insight and works with the

• Family Engagement and Health Services Director to establish a quality improvement plan if needed.

• Conducts classroom visits including informal walkthroughs, formal observations of health concerns and/or allergies, required health postings, and all compliance requirements.

• Supports updating of the Integrated Service Plans/Policies and Procedures (ISP/PP) for specific programs as needed.

• Provides individualized follow-up and support to the family engagement and health leadership to develop and outline professional development strategies in the areas of ERSEA, Family Engagement and health compliance.

• Utilizes data and analytics to assess the effectiveness of family engagement and health services programs and make data-driven decisions to guide program improvements.

• Ensures compliance with federal, state, and local regulations related to family engagement, health services, and early childhood education programs.

• Supports new partners and the start-up team in building Head Start services within local communities during the first year of implementation, including supporting new partners in the identification, hiring, and training of partner staff, and assisting in the development or refinement of organizational structures such as service plans or policies and procedures in content areas.

• Provides Head Start-specific content and compliance support as partners are building their own staff capacity.

• Participates in assigned meetings, events and training as required.

About You (Requirements/competencies)

• Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Family and Community Engagement, Public Health (or a relatedfield) required.3+ years experience in Head Start /Early Head Start or family, community engagement and health.

• Physical exam and background checks are required for this position.

• Bilingual preferred (Spanish/English).

• Travel required locally or long-distance up to 75% of the time for work-related meetings and functions. Travel requirements during start-ups may increase depending on business needs.

• Must have a valid driver’s license and/or reliable transportation.

Please note that this hiring initiative is part of our strategic preparation for expected new grants. The continuation of the recruitment process is contingent upon the successful finalization of these grants. We commit to keeping final candidates informed of our progress and appreciate your interest in joining Shine Early Learning.

When/Where/How Much

• Start Date: Anticipated Summer/Fall 2024

• Location/Travel: Remote/Travel required locally or long-distance up to 75% of the time for work-related meetings and functions.

• Salary: $55,000 to $59,000

INTERESTED AND READY TO TAKE THE NEXT STEPS?

For more insights about our organization and the specific role, we encourage you to delve into our FAQs.

To access the FAQ, please copy and paste the following URL into your browser:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VjeQVdvJ3LOj20yJ3tnmR4gkAK4V4Xsv/view?usp=drive_link

Email Talent Acquisition Partner: aisling@shineearly.com

We are an equal opportunity employer, committed to creating a diverse and healthy workplace.