Smart Start’s Coaching for Technical Assistants
Technical assistants are essential early childhood professionals who work with teachers and caregivers in early learning sites, ensuring educators have the tools, resources and support they need to provide high-quality care and early learning.
Coaching for Technical Assistants is a Smart Start Initiative that focuses on working with Smart Start Local Partnerships, technical assistance providers, and early learning programs to implement best practices.
The Initiative grew out of Shape NC, a Smart Start Initiative that focused on working with Smart Start Local Partnerships, technical assistance providers, and child care programs to implement best practices in physical activity, child nutrition, and outdoor play and learning environments.
Coaching for Technical Assistants uses the essential lesson from Shape NC—technical assistance is a key support for early care providers—to consistently incorporate best practices. Coaching for Technical Assistants aims to expand coaching and professional supports for technical assistants in the Smart Start Network, providing coaching and consultation to providers towards implementation of healthy best practices in the early care and education setting.
The Initiative includes resource creation, the development of a technical assistant resource repository, and the creation of professional development and training opportunities to enhance teacher practice and effectiveness, as identified as needed by the Smart Start Network .