ABOUT US

The Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) is one of the leading school systems in Maryland and the nation. To learn more about us and our 2024 -2029 Strategic Plan, please visit our website and our careers page. Join our award-winning workforce and make a difference in the lives of our students!

ABOUT THE APPLICATION PROCESS

Before you begin, please read the job posting below carefully including the Application Requirements specific to this position. Be sure your application reflects experience and education required to meet the minimum and any preferred qualifications listed. Our application guide includes detailed instructions to assist you. Once your application has been submitted, you will not be able to add documentation or make any changes.

Please note that application submission will be available only through 11:59 PM on the date prior to the indicated end date. If no end date is indicated, the posting will remain open indefinitely.

Job Posting End Date:

Reminder: Current permanent and temporary employees must apply through the Jobs Hub in Workday, not the external career site.

This position will be available to fill July 1, 2027 pending budget approval.

DESCRIPTION

Under the direction of the Coordinator, Early Childhood Access and Opportunity, the Resource Teacher provides professional learning, instructional support and coaching, local and state prekindergarten expansion initiatives, and accreditation assistance to early childhood educators, support staff, and school administrators. The Resource Teacher will support recruitment, registration, enrollment, school readiness, and community outreach for prekindergarten. This role also supports the design, development, and evaluation of instructional resources and provides ongoing guidance to designated schools, with a focus on strengthening foundational academic learning and social-emotional development for young children.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Applicants must meet all qualifications below to be considered for the vacancy.

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.

Certification/Licensure:

Priority will be given to applicants who:

• Hold a current Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) professional certificate or license in Early Childhood Education (PreK-3).

Applicants may be considered who:

• Hold a current out-of-state license and are eligible for a MSDE professional license in Early Childhood Education (PreK-3).

Out-of-state applicants are strongly encouraged to begin the application process for educator licensure with the Maryland State Department of Education in addition to uploading all required materials to your HCPSS employment application.

Experience:

• Three years of teaching experience in an early childhood education setting.

• One year of experience with leadership duties, responsibilities, and/or roles (e.g., Instructional Team Leader, School Improvement Team, school-based committees).

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

The ideal candidate for this role will also possess a combination of the additional qualifications below. If you don’t meet every one of the preferred qualifications, we still encourage you to apply, as we welcome applications from candidates with diverse backgrounds and experiences.

• Master’s degree from an accredited college or university in education, administration, or a related field.

• Three years of experience teaching PreK or kindergarten.

• One year of leadership experience at a whole school or school system level that includes project management.

• Experience designing and delivering professional learning for early childhood educators and support staff.

• Experience mentoring or coaching educators to improve instruction and meet the needs of all students.

• Experience collecting and analyzing data to evaluate the success of education initiatives.

ESSENTIAL POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES

The below list is a summary of the functions of the job, not an exhaustive or comprehensive list of all possible job responsibilities, tasks, and duties.

• Supports prekindergarten expansion initiatives and implementation of Early Childhood programming and HCPSS initiatives, including teacher recruitment, registration, centralization, school readiness, early admission, family engagement, community outreach, and instructional support.

• Provides coaching and instructional support to early childhood teachers, teams, administrators, and community partners working with early childhood students, including support through continuous quality improvement and the achievement of the Maryland EXCELS and Maryland Accreditation.

• Assists with the design and delivery of professional learning for early childhood educators and support staff. Assists with the training of school-based staff on recruitment, registration, and school readiness.

• Assists in the design, development, and evaluation of instructional resources. Collects and analyzes data to help evaluate the success of prekindergarten initiatives and monitoring requirements.

• Supports effective communication and partnerships among parents, the community, local early childhood centers, and the Early Childhood office for students to access programming.

• Communicates clear and accurate enrollment information to internal and external stakeholders, including family and community members, in compliance with school district policies.

ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

The below list is a summary of the knowledge, skills, and abilities required for success in this position, not an exhaustive or comprehensive list.

• Deep understanding of developmentally appropriate practices for prekindergarten students and school readiness benchmarks.

• Ability to provide hands-on mentorship to teachers and administrators to improve classroom quality and student outcomes.

• Skill in developing and evaluating instructional materials tailored for early learners and diverse student needs.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills for interacting with internal stakeholders (HCPSS offices) and external partners (community centers, families).

• Ability to work effectively across teams (teachers, administrators, and community partners) to ensure a unified approach to early childhood education.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

Complete applications must be submitted, and once your application has been submitted, you will not be able to add documentation or make any changes. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed application.
 
Supplemental Application Questions

This position requires applicants to provide responses to the below supplemental application questions to determine whether you meet the minimum and preferred qualifications. Please upload your responses in a separate file to the supplemental application questions section of the application.

1) Please identify your experience teaching in an early childhood education setting. For each position held, please indicate your position, the school/setting, and grade level(s) served.

2) Please describe your experience with leadership duties, responsibilities, and/or roles including any project management experience you have. Include the position you held for each experience gained.

3) Please describe any experience you possess designing and delivering professional learning for early childhood educators and support staff. Include up to two examples of specific professional learnings you have designed and delivered and for each identify the audience, delivery method, and any outcomes achieved.

4) Please describe any experience you possess mentoring or coaching educators to improve instruction and meet the needs of all students. Include up to two examples and identify specific strategies you utilized and any outcomes achieved.

5) Please describe any experience you possess collecting and analyzing data to evaluate the success of education initiatives. Include the specific data utilized and the initiatives you evaluated.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications will be included in further evaluation. Interviews will be limited to those applicants who, in addition to meeting the basic requirements, have experience and education which most closely match the position qualifications and the needs of the school system.

EMPLOYMENT INFORMATION

Compensation

This is an 11-month (215 days) per year position in the Howard County Educators Association (HCEA) employee bargaining unit. The current salary ranges for this position are on the 11-Month Teacher salary scale. Actual placement will be in accordance with the salary procedures of the Howard County Public School System and the HCEA Master Agreement which considers education and relevant prior experience. Under the Fair Labor Standards Act, this position is exempt from overtime.

Retirement

Membership in the Maryland State Retirement Agency (MSRA) pension plan is a mandatory condition of employment for all employees who meet the eligibility and membership criteria defined in the State Personnel and Pensions Article and the Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR). A qualifying employee cannot reject membership, nor can an ineligible employee elect membership. The annual contribution to the pension plan will be 7% of an employee’s annual salary.

Telework

This position is eligible to participate after the first 60 working days of employment. Telework schedules will be subject to approval and determined by the department and/or supervisor. 

Benefits

HCPSS offers a comprehensive benefits package for eligible employees. Information about additional benefits such as paid time off can be found in the negotiated agreement for employees in this bargaining unit.

Pre-Employment Requirements

Professional references will be contacted prior to any offer of employment. Recommended candidates will be required to provide references from current and recent supervisors.

All employees, regular and temporary, must be fingerprinted, have a criminal background investigation completed, and successfully complete the Maryland Employment History Review, pursuant to Section 6-113.2 of the Education Article, Annotated Code of Maryland. In addition, some positions will require completion of a physical examination and/or drug testing.

Anyone offered employment is required to provide proper identification and documentation of eligibility for employment in the United States. HCPSS participates in E-Verify and does not offer employee sponsorship.

For questions regarding this posting, please contact Sandy Saval at sandy_saval@hcpss.org.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

To request an accommodation during the application or interview process due to a documented disability, please email humanresources@hcpss.org.

HCPSS celebrates diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and applicants and prohibits discrimination, harassment, and retaliation of any kind. HCPSS is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all employees in providing them with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions at HCPSS are based on organizational needs, job requirements and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion or belief, national, social or ethnic origin, sex (including pregnancy), age, physical, mental or sensory disability,  sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital, civil union or domestic partnership status, veteran status or present military service, family medical history or genetic information, family or parental status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.