WHO WE ARE

Cornerstone Education Group is a non-profit organization that manages the Cornerstone Charter School network in Detroit, serving the community for nearly 30 years. Our Mission is to prepare our students to live a Complete Life through an excellent education, a foundation of strong character, meaningful relationships, and real-world experiences for career and/or college. We need further to encourage our broad and beloved Cornerstone community to live the Complete Life as well. We seek to hire top talent to help us fulfill this great mission.

THE CORNERSTONE FAMILY

Our faculty, staff, parents and students are all part of the Cornerstone family. We work hard together to help each other succeed. If you want to work alongside a group of people who are passionate about what they do, the city in which they do it, and the families they serve, then Cornerstone is the right place for you.

TITLE: Early Childhood Specialist

FLSA STATUS :

REPORTS TO: Superintendent or Director of Academics

HERE’S WHAT YOU’LL DO:

We are seeking an Early Childhood Specialist (ECS) to be an educational leader and coach responsible for standing up and ensuring high-quality PreK programming in classrooms across the Cornerstone Schools network. By providing strength-based coaching, training, and ongoing support, the ECS promotes continuous quality improvement and fidelity to the Cornerstone Schools mission, and the GSRP model. The ECS plays a pivotal role in helping teaching teams deliver a developmentally appropriate, science-based, child-centered curriculum aligned with the Cornerstone Schools way, Michigan’s early learning standards, licensing regulations, and GSRP requirements. We are leaning toward using Success For All’s curriculum, pending approval by MiLEAP; otherwise, we’ll be using another program that focuses on structured phonological awareness, language development, and small-group instruction.

Coaching & Classroom Support

1. Develop collaborative, trust-based relationships with teaching teams to foster continuous improvement.
2. Conduct a minimum of three in-depth classroom visits annually when children are present, observing all parts of the day over time. Provide timely, actionable feedback to support instructional excellence.
3. Model effective teaching strategies, demonstrate best practices in adult-child interactions, and offer instructional resources.
4. Work with new teaching staff to familiarize them with the Cornerstone Schools mission and strategies, GSRP requirements, and the ECS role, ensuring multiple early-year visits and feedback sessions.

Program Quality & Compliance

1. Ensure that daily routines, classroom environments, and curricula are fully aligned with Cornerstone Schools mission and strategies, GSRP requirements, State of Michigan Child Care Licensing Rules, and the Early Childhood Standards of Quality for Birth to Kindergarten (ECSQ).
2. Monitor the fidelity of approved curriculum and child assessment tools, ensuring that no supplemental curricula or assessments are used without proper approval.
3. Support administrators and teachers in meeting or exceeding licensing requirements, promptly addressing any concerns.

Assessment & Data Analysis

1. Maintain or obtain certification as a reliable assessor/observer for applicable program evaluation tools (e.g., Classroom Coach, CLASS Observer).

2. Assist teachers with high-quality narrative anecdotal evidence in child assessment tools, reviewing and analyzing child progress regularly.

3. Guide teaching teams in using assessment data to inform lesson planning, individualize instruction, and strengthen family partnerships.

4. Collaborate with administrators and advisory committees to analyze program-level data, identify trends, and refine professional learning priorities.

Professional Growth & Development

1. Provide monthly coaching based on individualized professional growth plans, offering observations, feedback, modeling, and strategic resources.

2. Contribute to designing annual data-driven professional development calendars, ensuring trainings align with identified needs and GSRP guidelines.

3. Participate in and often lead professional learning opportunities (e.g., MiLEAP-sponsored training, local/regional ECS meetings, and national early childhood conferences).

• Program Evaluation & Continuous Improvement

1. Administer or coordinate program evaluation tools (e.g., Classroom Coach, CLASS) between March 1 and May 30, entering data by June 15.

2. Analyze results in collaboration with teaching teams to develop or update strength-based professional growth plans, documenting progress and adjustments over time.

3. Work closely with the GSRP Early Childhood Contact (ECC) and local advisory committees to review aggregated data and measure overall program success, informing key decisions and next steps.

• Family & Community Engagement

1. Ensure teachers implement robust family engagement strategies, fostering reciprocal communication about children’s development, curriculum, and progress.

2. Promote smooth transitions for children and families, collaborating with K–12 leadership and other community resources.

• Collaboration & Administration

1. Communicate regularly with building administration regarding program quality, professional learning needs, and strategic resource allocation.

2. Provide input on capital outlay requests and ensure funds are used to enhance classroom quality.

3. Act as a liaison or primary contact for local advisory committees, maintaining strong relationships and open communication channels.

HERE’S WHAT EVERYONE AT CORNERSTONE DOES

• the ability to prioritize student-learning needs over the customs, routines, and established relationships that can stand in the way of necessary change;
• the strong desire to achieve outstanding results in a short amount of time;
• the ability to motivate others and influence their behaviors;
• the power to stay visibly focused and self-assured;
• the talent to foster collective responsibility and ownership for greater student achievement;
• the aptitude to sustain an effective system of shared leadership and responsibility throughout Cornerstone;

HERE’S WHY WE’LL LOVE YOU

Required Education & Experience Candidates must meet one of the following pathways:

1. Graduate Degree in early childhood education or child development (or a related field) AND 5+ years of relevant experience in early childhood education.

2. Bachelor’s Degree equivalent to a GSRP lead teacher requirement (or a related field) AND 10+ years of relevant experience in early childhood education.

Additional Competencies & Knowledge

1. Familiarity with Success for All, and the science of reading; including the importance of structured phonological awareness, language development, small-group instruction in preK

2. Familiarity with GSRP Implementation Manual , Michigan Child Care Licensing Rules , and Early Childhood Standards of Quality for Birth to Kindergarten (ECSQ).

3. Training or formal education in coaching , adult learning , and early childhood assessment tools (e.g., HighScope, CLASS, etc.).

4. Certified or able to gain certification as a CLASS Observer and/or Classroom Coach (annual recertification or reliability tests as required).

5. Expertise in the Key Elements of High-Quality Early Childhood Learning Environments: Preschool and the Essential Instructional Practices in Early Literacy and Early Mathematics.

6. Competence in data analysis and documentation for continuous program improvement.

Skills & Attributes

1. Strong interpersonal and communication skills to build trusting, collaborative coaching relationships.

2. Organizational and time-management abilities to meet multiple classroom visit requirements, document outcomes, and maintain reliability certification.

3. Leadership and advocacy for high quality early childhood practices, inclusive environments, and family engagement.

4. Analytical thinking for interpreting child outcome data and program evaluation results to guide strategic improvements.

5. Flexibility and adaptability to handle unique program structures (e.g., GSRP/Head Start blends) and various coaching configurations.

Working Conditions & Additional Requirements:

1. Must be available to travel across the Cornerstone Schools network in Wayne County to conduct classroom observations and provide on-site coaching.

2. Attendance at local, regional, or state-level professional development meetings, conferences, and ECS gatherings is required.

3. Must maintain reliable assessor/observer status as outlined in program policies (e.g., two consecutive years for reliability, then every two years).

HERE’S WHY YOU’LL LOVE US

For fulltime colleagues, we are proud to offer a competitive compensation and benefits package commensurate with experience and subject to plan eligibility.

• Medical, Dental and Vision Coverage
• Retirement Savings Plan with Employer Match
• Paid Time-Off
• Short- and Long-Term Disability
• Flexible Care Spending Account
• Dependent Care Spending Account
• Group Life Insurance
• Optional Income Protection Plans
• We operate a positive and supportive working environment
• We foster and encourage innovation in student education and career development
• We facilitate professional development and other faculty and staff experiences
• We provide opportunities to engage in the Partner Program, Career Pathways and other sponsored Cornerstone community programs

This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by an employee in this position and the qualifications needed. The job description should not be construed as an exhaustive list of all duties that may be performed by a person so classified and should not be taken as a comprehensive list of all qualifications that may be required. Cornerstone Education Group is an equal-opportunity employer.