The Marsico Institute for Early Learning is housed in the Morgridge College of Education (MCE) at the University of Denver. We have dedicated ourselves to improving learning environments and outcomes for children, birth to age 8. We identify the best in early learning research, practice, and policy, and we deliver that information at just the point it will be useful to academics, practitioners, policymakers, and parents — the people who can create and implement changes to improve the lives of young children. The quality of relationships and learning opportunities that young children experience can set the stage for what they will be able to accomplish throughout the rest of their lifetimes.
Position Summary
The Marsico Institute is accepting applications for Classroom Observers who will work as part of a team for an efficacy research study implementing and evaluating an early math intervention under the direct supervision of the Principal Investigators and Project Director. They will use a standardized observation tool, the Classroom Observation of Early Mathematics—Environment and Teaching (COEMET), to collect observational data on preschool classroom mathematics instruction.
This position involves driving or commuting to sites in and around Oakland and Wayne counties in Michigan, collecting and entering teacher observation data, including videotaping classroom instruction, and possibly conducting follow-up teacher interviews. All candidates will be required to fully participate in multiple in-person and/or virtual training sessions, fidelity work, inter-rater reliability training and observation sessions, and classroom-based and/or virtual observations in pre-kindergarten classrooms in Wayne and/or Oakland counties in Michigan.
This is a temporary, grant-funded position to begin work on or after March 24, 2025 through June 6, 2025, or until all observations have been collected. Each classroom observation takes approximately three consecutive hours to complete, with an additional 1-1.5 hours to complete observation forms and upload videos. Classroom Observers must be available to travel to classrooms at multiple school sites in Oakland and Wayne Counties in Michigan and observe in the classroom between 7:00 am to 3:00 pm at least 3 days a week Monday through Thursday (access to vehicle and adherence to DU Driving Procedures, including the successful completion of a driving background check and online driving safety course required).
Required training for observers will take place at a TBD location in the Greater Detroit Area at the following dates and times. Observers must fully attend all training sessions; failure to attend any sessions in their entirety may result in immediate separation.
To continue in this position, following training sessions, observers will be required to pass a certification process demonstrating they are able to reliably collect required information with fidelity to the instrument. The successful candidate must attend an in-person certification session at a local school site with an already-certified observer and accurately gather 100% of the required information and data points outlined in the observation protocol and upload all required information precisely as outlined in the protocol. Candidates will have up to two attempts to complete the certification process outlined above. If certification is not achieved after two rounds, the candidate will not be permitted to move forward in this role.
This is a temporary, non-benefited position not to exceed 1,000 hours in a calendar year.
Essential Functions
- Conduct classroom observations, including videotaping of classroom instruction, following strict protocols.
- Enter and verify data collected into Excel or a similar format.
- Participate fully in all fidelity work and inter-rater reliability training at specified dates, times, and locations, without exception.
- Travel to data collection sessions at specified dates, times, and locations.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Must be able to develop a good rapport with young children and school personnel.
- Facility with MS Office Suite/O365 programs, videotaping equipment, iPad use, and basic features of virtual collaboration software.
- Upload observation data (videos and data scans) on specified platforms in a timely and accurate manner
- Close attention to detail.
- Excellent time management and organizational skills.
- Capable of successfully working independently and as part of a team.
- Basic knowledge of research methods.
Required Qualifications
- Some college coursework.
- Experience working with young children, in a classroom setting, or in social science qualitative research.
- Must possess and maintain a valid drivers license and be insurable under University guidelines.
Preferred Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree or higher.
- College coursework in Education, Psychology, Research, Social Science, or related field.
- Experience conducting observations using standardized data collection tools (e.g., CLASS, ECERS, COEMET, etc.).
- Spanish language fluency.
Work Schedule
Part-time, varies with availability 7:00 am to 3:00 pm at least 3 days per week Monday through Thursday. Regular local travel to Wayne and Oakland counties in Michigan is required.
This is a temporary, grant-funded position to begin work on or after March 24, 2025 through June 6, 2025, or until all observations have been collected.
Application Deadline
For consideration, please submit your application materials by 4:00 p.m. (ET) on March 3, 2025.
Special Instructions
Candidates must apply online through jobs.du.edu to be considered. Only applications submitted online will be accepted.
Hourly Range
Hourly pay for this position ranges from $24.00-$28.00 an hour, commensurate with education and experience.
The University of Denver has provided a compensation range that represents its good faith estimate of what the University may pay for the position at the time of posting. The University may ultimately pay more or less than the posted compensation range. The salary offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal salary equity considerations, and available market information, but not based on a candidate’s sex or any other protected status.
Benefits
The University of Denver offers some benefits for non-benefited employees. The University of Denver is a private institution that empowers students who want to make a difference. Learn more about the University of Denver
Please include the following documents with your application:
- Resume
- Cover Letter highlighting relevant observation, assessment, and/or early childhood experience (no longer than one page).
The University of Denver is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including sex stereotypes, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression), marital, family, or parental status, pregnancy or related conditions, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran. The University of Denver does not discriminate and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, age, religion, creed, disability, sex (including sex stereotypes, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression), marital family, and parental status, pregnancy, genetic information, military enlistment, or veteran status, and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination under federal, state, or local law, regulation, or ordinance in any of the University’s educational programs and activities, and in the employment (including application for employment) and admissions (including application for admission) context, as required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; the Americans with Disabilities Act; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967; the Equal Pay Act; the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act; the Colorado Protecting Opportunities and Worker's Rights ("POWR") Act; and any other federal, state, and local laws, regulations, or ordinances that prohibit discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation. For more information, please see the University of Denver's Non‑Discrimination‑Statement.
All offers of employment are based upon satisfactory completion of a criminal history background check for both the University of Denver and participating school districts, as well as a satisfactory completion of a driving background check in line with University of Denver Driving Procedures.