Part-Time (temporary) Curriculum Development Specialist

Summary

Location:

Lihu`e, Kaua`i

Schedule:

Part-Time (temporary) | 5-20 hours per week (may increase during busier seasons)

Position Overview:

We are seeking a Part-Time Curriculum Development Specialist to design, refine, and support a kindergarten preparation curriculum for our early learning program. This role will focus on creating standards-aligned, developmentally appropriate, culturally grounded, and academically rigorous curriculum that ensures children are prepared academically, socially, emotionally, and physically for kindergarten.

The ideal candidate brings strong expertise in standards-based early childhood curriculum development, deep understanding of Common Core–aligned kindergarten readiness skills, familiarity with Hawaiʻi Early Learning Development Standards (HELDS), and experience integrating Hawaiian culture-based learning throughout instruction.

How to Apply:

Please submit:

• Resume
• Brief cover letter describing your experience with kindergarten readiness curriculum and Hawaiian culture-based education
• Sample lesson plans or curriculum work

Duties

Key Responsibilities:

Curriculum Design & Kindergarten Readiness

• Design and align curriculum that supports kindergarten readiness across academic, social-emotional, and developmental domains.
• Develop standards-based curriculum informed by:
• Common Core kindergarten expectations
• Hawaiʻi Early Learning Development Standards (HELDS)
• Create lesson plans, unit plans, and scope-and-sequence documents that intentionally build skills needed for a successful kindergarten transition.

Curriculum Development Across Content Areas

• Develop developmentally appropriate lessons across multiple domains, including:
• Language Arts (early literacy, phonological awareness, vocabulary)
• Mathematics (number sense, problem-solving, patterns)
• Fine Motor Development
• Gross Motor Development
• Visual & Performing Arts
• Hawaiian Studies
• STEM & Science
• Social Studies
• Cultural and Holiday-Based Learning
• Ensure lessons reflect increasing rigor, differentiation, and clear learning outcomes.

Hawaiian Culture-Based Education

• Integrate Hawaiian values, ʻike kupuna, place-based learning, language, and cultural practices into curriculum and lesson planning.
• Ensure cultural learning is embedded across content areas, not taught in isolation.

Instructional Quality, Accountability & Feedback

• Embed clear learning objectives, success criteria, and formative assessment strategies.
• Support accountability through alignment to standards and documented learning progressions.
• Design classroom structures and routines that promote strong classroom management.
• Provide clear, constructive feedback tools for both teachers and students.

Teacher Collaboration & Support

• Collaborate with teachers and leadership to support curriculum implementation.
• Provide guidance and feedback to teachers to strengthen instructional practice.
• Revise curriculum based on classroom data, observation, and educator input.

Requirements

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education, Education, Curriculum & Instruction, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience developing standards-based early childhood or kindergarten readiness curriculum.
• Strong understanding of:
• Common Core–aligned kindergarten readiness skills
• Hawaiʻi Early Learning Development Standards (HELDS)
• Differentiation and academic rigor
• Classroom management structures
• Assessment, accountability, and instructional feedback
• Experience integrating Hawaiian culture-based education into lesson planning.

Nice To Haves

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's Degree in Curriculum Development
• Experience working in preschool or early learning kindergarten preparation programs.
• Familiarity with Nā Hopena Aʻo (HĀ) and culturally responsive teaching frameworks.
• Experience coaching or mentoring early childhood educators.
• Experience with inquiry-based, project-based, or play-based learning models aligned to standards.

Skills & Attributes:

• Strong curriculum writing and organizational skills.
• Collaborative, reflective, and solution-oriented.
• Passion for early childhood education and culturally grounded learning.
• Ability to balance developmentally appropriate practice with accountability and readiness outcomes.

Benefits

Compensation:

Commensurate with experience and qualifications.

Benefits:

Medical, Dental, Vision, paid time off, matching 401k contributions (weekly hours worked requirement to obtain)