Job Description

A nanny provides daily care to children at their home. Nannies perform many of the parents’ duties. They prepare meals, transport children to appointments or school, organize play or recreational activities, attend to the health and safety of children, and perform some housekeeping. A nanny typically has some minor emergency medical knowledge, such as the ability to perform CPR or first aid until a first responder can arrive.

Job Description

Counselors are assigned to certain groups of children and are required to know where those children are at all times. They assist program directors and other staff during activities. They demonstrate good leadership and maturity, helping children learn problem-solving skills and basic knowledge in a specific area (camping, hunting, sports, nature, science, and so forth). 

Job Description

A Guardian ad Litem is appointed by the court to be an advocate for a child who is involved in court proceedings. Guardians ad Litem can be appointed to different types of cases including child abuse and neglect cases, divorce and custody cases. They write reports to the court that can be used as evidence in legal hearings. Sometimes guardians are lawyers, but many guardians are laypersons. Some positions are paid staff as part of the district court; others are volunteers. 

For more information on Guardian ad Litems, visit the Minnesota Guardian ad Litem Board. 

Job Description

Assistant Teachers support the primary teacher by assisting in grasping daily lessons. They copy worksheets for classes, assist in developing lesson plans, help students to complete assignments, and perform clerical and non-instructional assignments as assigned. 

Assistant Teachers work under the supervision of a Child Care Teacher and must be at least 18 years of age. 

Job Description

As a Center Director you are responsible for managing the activities of child development facilities to provide instruction and care for children. Director duties include preparing budgets, authorizing the purchase of materials, interviewing and recommending hiring of staff, and other administrative duties, as well as maintaining a safe and healthy learning environment. Some directors also act as teachers. 

Job Description

Youth workers work with families experiencing financial, relationship or other difficulties. They offer practical help, emotional support and advice on coping strategies, allowing children to stay with their families rather than under state care. They work in schools, hospitals, corrective institutions, youth refuges, community centers and organizations such as Scouts, Guides, YWCA, and YMCA. They also work in places where young people congregate, including shopping centers, parks, and reserves. Youth workers often work unsupervised and much of their work takes place outside normal hours. 

Job Description

Recreation camp directors oversee the operations of a youth activities camp or site. 

Recreation directors plan, schedule and implement programs for children to keep them educated, entertained and active. They gather and distribute supplies, secure locations for outdoor activities and teach children basic skills on a variety of topics. 

Job Description

Under general supervision, provide developmental care and supervision to children enrolled in a center-based program. These individuals help implement age-appropriate curriculum for children, establish and maintain supportive relationships with children and parents, and model appropriate childcare practices. 

Job Description

Carries out the child care program activities under the supervision of a teacher or assistant teacher. Must be at least 16 years of age; if under 18 years of age, must be directly supervised by a teacher or assistant teacher at all times except with sleeping children or assisting with toileting and diapering. 

Job Description

Child care providers nurture and supervise children for parents while they are at work or away. 

The type of work involved depends on the age of the child, the type of setting, and the amount of time the child spends in care. Monitoring and meeting the health, safety and nutritional needs of the client are the highest priority. Care providers also create and organize activities that help stimulate a child’s mental, physical, and social development. For younger children, a care setting can prepare a child to enter school. 

Must be 18 years old to hold this position. 

Job Description

Head Start teachers provide education to preschoolers in national Head Start programs. Head Start teachers are guided by educational standards set by the program. They create and implement curriculum designed to meet the individual needs of a diverse population. They meet with parents to review their children’s progress and sometimes make home visits. 

Job Description

These individuals organize documents submitted from child care centers or family child care providers so they can receive reimbursement from the Minnesota Department of Health.  Duties could include data entry, reviewing menus for completeness, classifying children’s enrollment forms, and scanning documents into a computer system. 

Job Description

RBPD (Relationship-based Professional Development) Specialists provide additional support to new practitioners of early childhood and care or school-age care, or to experienced practitioners who have acquired new learning to be put into practice. Together the RBPD specialist and the practitioner set goals and plan how to accomplish them. RBPD Specialist is an overarching term used to describe a consultant, TA provider, coach or mentor. An RBPD Specialist in Minnesota includes Parent Aware Quality Coaching, CLASS coaching, TACSEI coaching, MNAEYC coaching, CICC consulting, SEEDS of Early Literacy coaching, Child Care Health consultants, Infant Mental Health consultants, and so forth.

Visit the RBPD Specialist Page for more information.

Job Description

A home visitor visits homes (or other care settings) on behalf of the government, a school, or a private agency. 

Home visitors go to their clients to provide services. In an educational setting, they conduct lessons and development plans for individual children with special needs, or for groups of children in a daycare. In a social services setting, they may check to ensure that government or justice department requirements are being fulfilled. 

Job Description

Trainers provide training for workers in the field of early childhood and school-age care and education.

They communicate their knowledge and skills to facilitate adult learning. This communication can take the form of presentations, demonstrations and/or documentation.

For more information on how to become an Achieve Trainer I, visit the Trainer Approval Guide.

Job Description

Child care providers nurture and supervise children for parents while they are at work or away. 

The type of work involved depends on the age of the child, the type of setting, and the amount of time the child spends in care. Monitoring and meeting the health, safety and nutritional needs of the client are the highest priority. Care providers also create and organize activities that help stimulate a child’s mental, physical, and social development. For younger children, a care setting can prepare a child to enter school. 

Must be 18 years old to hold this position. 

Job Description

RBPD (Relationship-based Professional Development) specialists provide additional support to new practitioners of early childhood and care or school-age care, or to experienced practitioners who have acquired new learning to be put into practice. Together the RBPD specialist and the practitioner set goals and plan how to accomplish them. RBPD Specialist is an overarching term used to describe consultant, TA provider, coach or mentor. RBPD Specialist in Minnesota includes Parent Aware Quality Coaching, CLASS coaching, TACSEI coaching, MNAEYC coaching, CICC consulting, SEEDS of Early Literacy coaching, Child Care Health consultants, Infant Mental Health consultants, and so forth.

Visit the RBPD Specialist Page for more information.

Job Description

Counselors help individuals overcome obstacles and achieve goals. Child and family counselors work with parents and children to improve communication, modify perceptions, and as needed, work through family crises. Depending on their child and family counselor training, these professionals may also provide marriage therapy services. 

Job Description

Social work is a broad term for fields in which professionals help people cope with issues that disrupt their everyday lives. 

Social workers are typically defined by a specific field – they can work with children and schools, medical or public health issues, or mental health and substance abuse issues. They may offer advising services, provide individual or group therapy, or help a client find help with housing, food, or safety. A social worker may serve as a link between the client and another organization such as a school, place of employment or government agency. 

Job Description

An ECFE teacher plans, coordinates, and teaches in an instructional program that addresses the intellectual, emotional, cultural, social, and physical needs children. Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) is a program for all Minnesota families with children between the ages of birth to kindergarten entrance and it is offered through Minnesota public school districts. ECFE is based on the idea that the family provides a child’s first and most significant learning environment and parents are a child’s first and most important teachers. ECFE’s goal is to enhance the ability of all parents and other family members to provide the best possible environment for their child’s learning and growth.

For more information on the Early Childhood and Family Education program, visit the Minnesota Department of Education.

Job Description

Special education teachers work with students who have a wide range of learning, mental, emotional, and physical disabilities. For students who have mild or moderate disabilities, they ensure that lessons and teaching strategies are modified to meet the students’ needs. For students who have severe disabilities, they teach the students independent living skills and basic literacy, communication, and math. Special education teachers work in either public or private schools. They generally work school hours when students are present but use nights and weekends to prepare lessons, do paperwork, and grade papers. 

Job Description

Registered Dieticians and Nutritionists plan and conduct food service or nutritional programs to promote healthy lifestyles. They may supervise activities of a department providing food services, counseling individuals, or conducting nutritional research, if needed. 

Job Description

Human Service Directors ensure the continued operation of a human services agency. 

Administrative work in a human services agency balances day-to-day logistical needs with the agency’s mission statement. This work involves clerical organization and office management; administrators may be responsible for communicating with both employees as well as outside organizations. Directors coordinate the agency’s general and specific goals and activities. 

Job Description

Trainers provide training for workers in the field of early childhood and school-age care and education. They communicate their knowledge and skills in the form of presentations, demonstrations, and/or documentation.

For more information on how to become an Achieve Trainer II, view the Trainer Approval Guide.

Job Description

A child support officer works for the court system to help secure child support for parents. 

Child support officers review cases to help determine if individuals are responsible for financial support of a child. To do this, officers conduct hearings where they collect evidence and take testimony, then make recommendations to a judge. 

Job Description

A teacher provides education for children during a critical part of their intellectual development. They create lesson plans that cover all the state requirements, give presentations to the class, and introduce and explain new concepts. Instructors engage the children by using pictures, drawings, recitation and reading; they assign homework and then grade the assignments, watching to see where individual students may need help. Teachers stay in close contact with parents, keeping them informed about their children’s progress. 

Job Description

A parent educator plans, coordinates, and teaches in an instructional program that addresses the intellectual, emotional, cultural, social, and physical needs of both parents and children. In Minnesota, a parent and family education is authorized to instruct parents in an early childhood family education (ECFE) program. 

For more information on the Early Childhood Family Education program, visit the Minnesota Department of Education website. 

Job Description

Early intervention specialists provide support to families of children with special needs. Early intervention specialists evaluate and assess children with developmental delays and make recommendations on services or therapies that can help children overcome limitations. The specialists manage the cases of their clients, keeping records of treatments, activities, and test results. The records are used to help parents make the best choices for their child’s development. 

Job Description

Head Start teachers provide education to preschoolers in national Head Start programs. They plan, coordinate, and teach to address the intellectual, emotional, cultural, social, and physical needs of children. 

Head Start teachers create and implement curriculum to meet the individual needs of a varied population. They meet with parents to update them of their children’s progress and sometimes even make home visits. 

Job Description

In Professional Development (PD) advising, an expert with knowledge on PD planning and career growth provides information to address an identified need. PD advising is limited to helping early care and education providers create and implement goals to advance them on the career lattice. Advisors provide information about training organizations and higher education institutions and connect advisees to resources that help the advisee make decisions about advancing on the career lattice. Advisors may review PD plans with advisees and administer (or suggest administration of) needs assessments or self-assessments to gain a better perspective of the advisee’s goals. 

Job Description

An infant mental health specialist is a psychologist who chooses to work with very young children (5 years or less). They help babies develop physically and mentally; this work may take the form of a therapist between child and caregiver. With a focus in social work, a specialist in infant mental health may serve as a consultant in a child care, group home or school setting. For those who pursue a doctorate degree, becoming a clinician specializing in autism could be an option. 

Job Description

An educational researcher studies education specifically related to children. They develop experiment designs, track progress of ongoing research, and perform fieldwork to collect data. They maintain databases and use statistical methods to find results of their studies. Then they write up their findings in research reports and present this information to their sponsor, the scientific community, or the general public. 

Job Description

Trainers provide training for workers in the field of early childhood and school-age care and education. Trainers communicate their knowledge and skills to facilitate adult learning. This communication can take the form of presentations, demonstrations and/or documentation.

For more information about how to become an Achieve Master Trainer, visit the Trainer Approval Guide.

Job Description

Librarians help library users find information. They have a wide knowledge of scholarly and public information sources. They keep up with new literature and help a library select new material. Librarians analyze users’ needs and then organize, catalogue, and prepare materials so that they are easy to find. 

Job Description

Therapists are trained to deal specifically with interpersonal issues that arise in individuals, couples, families, and children. They may assess, diagnose, and treat mental illness and psychological distress within the context of the marriage and family systems. The professionals provide counseling services in several different areas including premarital counseling, relationship counseling, child counseling, and separation and divorce counseling. 

Job Description

Child development specialists provide family services to increase parenting skills and aid in the development potential of young children. They conduct workshops to educate parents about child development, provide assessments for children along with in-service training to staff at Head Start, daycare, and preschool programs. They collaborate with other agencies to promote health and behavioral well-being for youth in a community. 

Job Description

An ECFE teacher plans, coordinates, and teaches in an instructional program that addresses the intellectual, emotional, cultural, social, and physical needs of children. Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) is a program for all Minnesota families with children between the ages of birth to kindergarten entrance and it is offered through Minnesota public school districts. ECFE is based on the idea that the family provides a child’s first and most significant learning environment and parents are a child’s first and most important teachers. ECFE’s goal is to enhance the ability of all parents and other family members to provide the best possible environment for their child’s learning and growth. 

For more information on the Early Childhood and Family Education program, visit the Minnesota Department of Education website. 

Job Description

School counselors work within an educational setting to help students develop mentally and academically. 

School counseling typically involves several duties. Counselors may help develop guidance curriculum for the school they work at. They spend a lot of time in one-on-one sessions helping students select classes and explore educational options. When students are troubled or experiencing psychological distress, school counselors provide therapeutic services or referral to more qualified mental health professionals. 

Job Description

Speech and language pathologists (sometimes called speech therapists) treat disorders related to speech and voice. 

Speech therapists use special diagnostic and assessment methods to identify specific problems their clients face. They develop individual plans to meet their patient’s needs, provide instruction in the use of automated devices, and teach their patients how to make sounds, how to strengthen specific muscles, or use sign language. 

Job Description

A child psychologist works specifically with children. The job can take the form of therapy to school-age youth, or research into the testing of child mental health. Sometimes child psychologists work with schools to create policy or programming. 

Achieve welcomed Tara to the team in February 2014. During her tenure as a Data Verification Specialist she demonstrated exceptional organizational and customer service skills. In 2016, she assumed a new role as the Lead Professional Development Specialist and in 2017, she took on the role of Professional Development Coordinator, and in 2018 became Achieve’s Operations Coordinator. Tara supports our organization by ensuring operational policies and procedures are in full compliance with contract requirements and standards. Her commitment to looking after children’s best interests along with her respect for the ECE workforce, guides her path in supporting our clients and their achievement goals.

Awards: Various video and photo contests
Love of: Peacocks and all things that sparkle

The Mental Health Consultants provide a combination of training, supported skill building, and reflective consultation – active listening, exploration of the teacher’s attitudes and beliefs about situations, and problem solving.

Endorsement Requirements

The Assessment Coach – GOLD® is contracted by the Minnesota Department of Education and/or the Minnesota Department of Human Services to offer coaching at the group and individual levels to early educators.

Endorsement Requirements

Assistance Network – Wayfinders are employed by local Child Care Aware agencies. Wayfinders perform the following activities:

• Outreach and recruitment of individuals interested in starting a licensed family child care or group family child care program or child care center
• Guide interested parties through the process of starting their own child care business
• Assist licensed family child care programs or child care centers experiencing challenges by problem solving solutions and connecting to appropriate resources
• Provide technical assistance to licensed programs looking to expand their business
• Work in collaboration with Local and State Licensors, Professional Development Advisors, Grant Administrators, Parent Aware Quality Coaches and Recruiters, and other local agencies to establish, sustain, and expand early childhood programs

Initial Endorsement Requirements

Renewal Endorsement Requirements

A Parent Aware Quality Coach is an employee of a Child Care Aware of Minnesota local agency. Quality Coaches perform the following activities:

• Recruit licensed child care centers and family child care programs to join or Re-rate in a Building Quality Cohort or Full-Rating Cohort of Parent Aware
• Support all participants in the Full-Rating Pathway in one-to-one and group settings
• Implement the Parent Aware Building Quality coaching model with fidelity
• Provide technical assistance to programs in the Full-Rating Cohort
• Work in collaboration with Recruiters, Professional Development Advisors, Grant Administrators, and CLASS® Coaches
• Facilitate partnerships through community outreach

Initial Endorsement Requirements

Renewal Endorsement Requirements

Professional Development Advisors (PDA’s) are employees of Child Care Aware of Minnesota. PDA’s offer career advising services to child care programs and individual providers to help them plan and meet their
career goals.

Initial Endorsement Requirements

Renewal Endorsement Requirements

The Business Consultants provide a combination of training, consultation, coaching and technical assistance regarding the operation and financial management of child care and early education businesses.

Endorsement Requirements

Health/Safety Specialist-Coaches are employees of the Center for Inclusive Child Care. The specialist-coaches provide support, training, modeling, and resources to child care programs throughout Minnesota.

Initial Endorsement Requirements

Renewal Endorsement Requirements

Inclusion Coaches/Consultants are employees of the Center for Inclusive Child Care. The coach/consultants provide support, training, modeling, and resources to child care programs throughout Minnesota.

Initial Endorsement Requirements

Renewal Endorsement Requirements

Infant/Toddler Specialist-Coaches are employees of the Center for Inclusive Child Care. The specialist-coaches provide support, training, modeling, and resources to child care programs throughout Minnesota.

Initial Endorsement Requirements

Renewal Endorsement Requirements

The MnAEYC Coach provides support, training, resources and consultation. The MnAEYC Coach promotes quality in early care and education by focusing on professional development, leadership, and program improvement.

Endorsement Requirements

The Infant CLASS® Coach can be independent or employed by various agencies. An Infant CLASS® coach maintain reliability in the Infant CLASS® Observation tool, which is renewed annually, and understands they cannot coach if their certification has lapsed.

Endorsement Requirements

The Pre-K CLASS® Coach can be independent or employed by various agencies. The Pre-K CLASS® coach maintain reliability in the Pre-K CLASS® Observation tool, which is renewed annually, and understands they cannot coach if their certification has lapsed.

Endorsement Requirements

The Toddler CLASS® Coach can be independent or employed by various agencies. A Toddler CLASS® coach maintain reliability in the Toddler CLASS® Observation tool, which is renewed annually, and understands they cannot coach if their certification has lapsed.

Endorsement Requirements

The Minnesota Department of Children,  Youth, and Families oversees the operation of the Minnesota Center for Professional Development (MNCPD).

Visit the DCYF Website

The Minnesota Department of Human Services, through its Child Care Services Division (State), oversees the operation of the Minnesota Center for Professional Development (MNCPD).

Visit the Develop Website

Parent Aware offers free tools and resources to help families find the quality child care and early education programs their children need to succeed in school and life. Parent Aware is Minnesota’s Quality Rating and Improvement System.

Visit the Parent Aware Website

Child Care Aware of Minnesota helps families fine the quality child care their children need to grow and they support the professional growth of child care professionals. Formerly the Minnesota Child Care Resource and Referral Network, Child Care Aware of Minnesota has been in operation for more than 25 years. In that time, their statewide system of agencies has served more than 600,000 parents looking for child care and more than 100,000 child care professionals seeking education and professional development.

Visit the Child Care Aware Website

First Children’s Finance provides loans and business-development assistance to high-quality child care businesses serving low- and moderate-income families, and builds partnerships that connect these vital businesses with the resources of the public and private sectors. First Children’s Finance provides financing, training and business-development assistance to child care businesses. In addition, they provide consulting and planning assistance to government agencies, intermediaries and regional child care organizations.

Visit the First Children’s Finance Website

CICC, the Center for Inclusive Child Care is a centralized, comprehensive resource network supporting inclusive care for children in community settings.  CICC provides leadership, technical assistance, training, and consultation to early care and education providers, school age care providers, parents, and other professionals in the field. CICC consultation and support services provide support to child care and school age care providers, enabling them to successfully include and retain children with special needs and those with challenging behaviors into their community child care programs. In addition, CICC offers a host of online courses in several formats which are easily accessed by users as well as Train the Trainer courses.

Visit the Center for Inclusive Child Care Website

NIC provides quality Information Technology solutions providing Tier 1 Develop technical support for all Develop users. Their innovative approaches and knowledgeable staff provide our clients with efficient, reliable, and productive outcomes.

CEED, the Center of Early Education and Development, helps early educators, caregivers, practitioners, and programs achieve the best outcomes for the infants and young children they serve. CEED provides consultation, evaluation, and observation services to maximize program understanding and effectiveness. In addition, CEED offers online and in-person professional development opportunities to support professionals in all disciplines who touch the lives of young children.

Visit the Center of Early Education and Development Website

MnTRECC is the Minnesota Tribal Resources for Early Childhood Care.  MnTRECC serves as a foundation and link where child care and other early childhood programs can gain access to resources and information that will enhance and strengthen the childcare delivery system for Native American children and families throughout the state of Minnesota.

Visit the Minnesota Tribal Resources for Early Childhood Care Website