Partners for Rural Impact’s (PRI)
ultimate goal is for an America where all kids are successful, regardless of zip code, income, background, or ability. At PRI, our focus is on ensuring that all children in rural places achieve success. Partners for Rural Impact was born out of our place-based partnership in Appalachia, where we’ve worked for 25 years to create student opportunity and success.

Position Summary

The Early Learning Coach (ELC) reports to the Program Manager, Letcher Promise Neighborhood, and is a full-time key role for the Letcher Promise Neighborhood grant. The ELC works to ensure that all young children in Letcher County are prepared for kindergarten. The role focuses on strengthening early learning environments by mentoring educators, supporting families, and promoting developmentally appropriate practices. The ELC collaborates closely with early childhood providers, caregivers, and community partners to foster high-quality instruction and holistic development from birth through age five. The ELC also partners with the project director, PRI staff, school personnel, and community members to implement individualized support strategies for children and families, including coaching educators, facilitating family engagement, and aligning early childhood efforts with long-term educational success. The position leads and operates with the goal that All Rural Students Succeed.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each primary duty satisfactorily. The requirements of the position are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required, with regular and predictable attendance essential. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Work in person and virtually with children, families, and educators to build foundational skills and address developmental gaps

• Partner with PRI staff and other stakeholders to coordinate professional development for daycare, early childhood, and preschool centers within the Neighborhood

• Provide tools, resources, and support to early childhood centers for use by the children and families they serve

• Collaborate with community partners to strengthen wraparound services that support early learning and development

• Deliver and coordinate early learning support such as literacy activities, play-based learning strategies, and parent education workshops

• Create individualized Readiness Plans for children, identifying strengths, developmental needs, and strategies to build language, literacy, motor, and social-emotional skills

• Mentor and support volunteers and community members involved in early childhood programming

• Participate in school-level and community partnership council meetings to align early childhood efforts with district and regional goals

• Assist families in accessing early intervention services, preschool enrollment, and transition planning for kindergarten

• Continuously assess the needs of students, families, and schools, and evaluate the impact of services provided

• Maintain professional relationships with students, families, and teachers, upholding the highest ethical standards

• Other roles/duties will be assigned as necessary to assist and support in the attainment of our mission, All Rural Students Succeed

Position Location & Schedule

This position is hybrid, combining remote work with regular in-person responsibilities at locations throughout Letcher County. Local, state, and sometimes national travel required.

Normal business hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET with in-office, hybrid and/or remote work a possibility. Because of the nature of the responsibility to schools, partners, funders, and to the service region, individual offices or departments may have operating hours that extend beyond this period and may include evening and/or weekend hours.

Minimum Qualifications

Education required to ensure success in this position:

• Bachelor’s degree required; a concentration in education or a related field is preferred

Experience required to ensure success in this position:

• 3-5 years of experience in early learning, social services, community engagement or related

• Experience collaborating effectively with rural schools and communities

Special skills, knowledge and abilities:

• Proven ability to coordinate multi-faceted programs

• Understanding of the needs and experiences of first-generation and low-income youth

• Excellent written and oral communication skills

• Superior interpersonal and organizational skills

• Collaborative and collegial leadership style

• Demonstrated ability to cross boundaries of race, class, ethnic origin and personal philosophy; capacity to work effectively with a broad range of constituencies

• The skills to effectively represent Partners for Rural Impact in meetings for sharing knowledge, collaborating and building partnerships

License, certification, or registration necessary:

• Valid driver’s license

• Successfully complete pre-employment background check

Physical requirements:

• Ability to work in a high energy office

• Ability to accurately communicate and exchange information with partners, stakeholders, and/or meeting participants

• Ability to occasionally lift up to 25 lbs

• Ability to travel independently by car and plane regionally and nationally

• Ability to operate standard office equipment

• Ability to operate motor vehicle

Environmental conditions:

• Work in a fast-paced setting with frequent interruptions and shifting priorities
  

Additional Company Information

PRI offers a wide array of benefit options, to meet the financial, educational, and health needs of you and your family.

• Comprehensive insurance plans including medical, dental, vision, and prescription coverage.

• Flexible spending accounts, plus an employee assistance program.

• Life and long-term disability insurance and retirement plan.

• Generous paid time off work options including vacation, sick leave, and annual holidays, in addition to paid parental leave.

• Tuition assistance and professional development for employees.

Partners for Rural Impact is an Equal Opportunity Employer that recruits and hires qualified candidates without regard to race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, disability, or veteran status.