Roles and Responsibilities
On-Site Program Support for NM PreK Programs
Between the following parties:
The NM PreK Consultant Program Manager
The NM PreK Consultant
The NM PreK Administrator
The NM PreK Lead Teacher
The NM PreK Educational Assistant
The Early Childhood Services Center at UNM Continuing Education Office will:
Provide technical support in the form of on-site consultation/coaching and professional development training
sessions to NM PreK Teachers and Educational Assistants to enable them to provide quality learning experiences
for children based on nationally recognized, developmentally appropriate practices.
Every effort will be made to create a good match between the teacher and the consultant. If a problem should
arise, the program and/or the consultant will contact the regional Consultant Program Manager,
_________________________________________at ___________________________.
______________________________________________
NM PreK Consultant Program Manager
Early Childhood Services Center at UNM Continuing Education
______________________
Date
The New Mexico PreK Consultant will:
#1. Communicate via email, telephone and during on-site visits:
With NM PreK Teachers, Educational Assistants and internal Support Staff to schedule regular classroom visits,
provide feedback and support and answer questions related to NM PreK assessment and curriculum. Consultants
will be using NM PreK Program Standards, NM Early Learning Guidelines, the NM PreK Observational Assessment
Tool, the NM PreK recommended curricular approaches, NM Best Practices, NAEYC Developmentally Appropriate
Practices, NM PreK Curriculum Policy Brief, The Developmental-Interaction Approach, LETRS®, Guiding Principles
for the Full Participation of Each Child, Pyramid Model for Social Emotional Competence in Infants & Young
Children, and the ECERS-R and ECERS-E as primary sources for reference and guidance.
The teacher/consultant relationship shall be respectful, helpful and supportive so that teachers and educational
assistants are free to take risks, try new approaches, and ask questions. Each party (Consultant, Teacher,
Educational Assistant and PreK Administrator) recognizes that the consultant’s role is non-evaluative; it is
supportive in nature.
2015-16
#2. Conduct regularly scheduled classroom visits to:
Respectfully observe for a minimum of 2 ½ hours in the classroom without being intrusive. NM PreK Consultants
will provide technical support to NM PreK Teachers, Educational Assistants and internal Support Staff related to
the NM PreK Observational Assessment Tool and recommended NM PreK curricular approaches. This may include
helping in the classroom, modeling or demonstrating effective observational techniques and documentation
processes as well as showing how to provide a stimulating learning environment and use curricular strategies that
support the early learning indicators and developmentally appropriate practices.
Review the portfolio collections and quick look recording sheets for NM PreK students to determine
accountability to the requirements of NM PreK.
Review the portfolio collections and quick look recording sheets for NM PreK students to determine any needs
for coaching or clarification in the assessment process.
Meet for a minimum of 30 minutes with the NM PreK Teacher and the Educational Assistant (may be done
separately or together, outside of the classroom – no children present) on every classroom visit to review the NM
PreK Consultant’s classroom observations, discuss implementation of the NM PreK Observational Assessment Tool
and recommended NM PreK curricular approaches, and to discuss the results of the NM PreK Consultant’s review
of portfolio collections. The consultant, with agreement from the teachers, may suggest using a Continuous
Quality Improvement Plan as a tool to track progress toward goals agreed upon by both parties.
#3. Communicate with the NM PreK Administrator, State Monitors, FOCUS Consultant
(if applicable) and the NM PreK Consultant’s Supervisors about the following topics (all of
the above mentioned people will have access to all reports submitted by the NM PreK Consultant):
The status of portfolio accountability, use of quick look recording sheets, and the Calendar of Implementation.
Positive observations and suggested recommendations for ongoing improvements in The Individualizing &
Curriculum Planning Process. This includes implementation of NM PreK expectations for both assessment and
curricular approaches including general progress and other appropriate issues that may arise.
Questions raised by the NM PreK Teacher or Educational Assistant.
Any serious, unsafe or harmful practices where the safety of a child is a concern. It is the responsibility of the NM
PreK Teacher, the Support Staff and the NM PreK Consultant in the presence of the children to actively help when
there is an unsafe or harmful situation. Suspicions of abuse or neglect will be reported immediately to the proper
authorities and information about the report will be shared with the above stated individuals.
______________________________________________
NM PreK Consultant
______________________
Date
2015-16
The NM PreK Teacher and Educational Assistant(s) will:
Participate in the consultation support provided by the NM PreK Consultant in an open, receptive and responsible
manner. The NM PreK Teacher and/or Educational Assistant(s) will provide access to the NM PreK student
portfolios and quick look recording sheets for the NM PreK Consultant’s review. Portfolios and lesson plans will be
available on-site at all times and the NM PreK Teacher and/or Educational Assistant(s) will work with the NM PreK
Consultant to ensure that a system for completing documentation, such as the Calendar of Implementation, is
being followed. The NM PreK Consultant will be welcomed in the classroom, introduced to the children and
included in the activities and daily routines occurring at the time of the visit.
Work with the NM PreK Administrator on-site to schedule coverage of the classroom in order to meet in private
(outside of the classroom – no children present) with the NM PreK Consultant for a minimum of 30 minutes
during every classroom visit. The NM PreK Teacher and Educational Assistant(s) may meet individually or jointly
with the NM PreK Consultant.
Communicate through e-mail or telephone with the NM PreK Consultant if appointments need to be rescheduled.
*It is in the best interest of all parties that the NM PreK Consultant, Teacher and Educational Assistant(s) work
well with each other.
______________________________________________
Lead Teacher
______________________
Date
______________________________________________
Educational Assistant
______________________
Date
______________________________________________
Educational Assistant
______________________
Date
2015-16
The NM PreK Administrator (on- site) will:
Provide adequate release time and classroom coverage for the NM PreK Teacher and the Educational Assistant(s)
to meet with the NM PreK Consultant on a regular basis. At least one shall meet in private (outside of the
classroom – no children present) with the NM PreK Consultant for a minimum of 30 minutes on every classroom
visit.
Support the efforts of NM PreK Consultant, Teacher and Educational Assistant(s) to implement the Observational
Assessment Tool and recommended NM PreK curricular approaches.
The NM PreK Administrator will meet with the NM PreK Consultant at least twice per program year (fall and
spring) and will receive copies of the Consultant Reports in order to provide support for the teaching staff.
___________________________________________ __
Principal/Center Director
______________________
Date
______________________________________________
NM PreK Administrator
______________________
Date
2015-16