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 Student Assessors 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 assessment tool, the Research-based Early Math Assessment (REMA), to collect baseline and post-intervention assessment data on preschool and kindergarten student knowledge and skills along research-based developmental progressions.

This position involves regularly driving or commuting to sites in the Boulder, CO area, assessing young students’ math understanding using a computer adaptive test, and interviewing students with a standardized protocol.  Assessors must videotape each assessment and review these recordings to verify data accuracy. During the month of March 2023 and prior to data collection, all assessors must participate fully in a 4-day in-person training on the REMA assessment at the University of Denver. All assessors must also complete a fidelity certification video in which they administer and score the entire assessment; certification is achieved once a minimum of 80% accuracy in administration and scoring has been achieved. Assessors who do not meet certification requirements will not move forward with child data collection. In addition to this fidelity work and inter-rater reliability work, assessors will be required to complete CITI Human Subjects online training prior to child data collection. Assessors may also be asked to enter and code collected data and other related duties, as assigned. All assessors must complete and pass a federal background check initiated by the participating school district; assessors will not be permitted in schools, and therefore will not be eligible for the assessor position, without this component.

This is a temporary, grant-funded position to begin work on or after March 13 – May 19, 2023. Student Assessors must be available to travel and observe classrooms at multiple school sites in Boulder, Colorado between 7:30 am to 3:30 pm at least 3 days a week (access to vehicle required). 

This is a non-benefited position not to exceed 1,000 hours in a calendar year. 

Essential Functions

• Conduct pre- and post-intervention student assessments.
• Verify data collected.
• Clean and code data.
• Participate in fidelity work and inter-rater reliability training.
• Travel to data collection sessions at specified dates, times, and locations in Boulder, CO.
• Provide general project support.

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, and basic features of virtual collaboration software.
• Close attention to detail.
• Excellent time management and organizational skills.
• Capable of successfully working independently and as part of a team.
• Ability to communicate effectively with people of all ages.
• 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.
• English language fluent.

Preferred Qualifications

• Spanish language fluent. 
• Bachelor's degree.
• College coursework in Education, Psychology, Research, Social Science, or related field.
• Experience conducting assessments using standardized data collection tools.

Work Schedule

Part-time, varies. Regular local travel to Boulder and occasional travel to Denver is required. 

Application Deadline

For best consideration, please submit your application materials by 4:00 p.m. (MST) on March 10, 2023. 

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 $20.00/hr - $27.00/hr, 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

In compliance with Colorado’s Healthy Families and Workplaces Act (HFWA), non-benefited employees accrue one hour of paid leave for every 30 hours worked up to a maximum of 48 hours per year.

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:
1. Resume
2. Cover Letter (no longer than one page)

The University of Denver is an equal opportunity employer. The University of Denver prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, age (40 years and over in the employment context), religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, marital status, veterans 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; Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended in 2008; 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; and any other federal, state, and local laws, regulations, or ordinances that prohibit discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation. For the university's complete Non-Discrimination Statement, please see non‑discrimination‑statement.

All offers of employment are contingent upon satisfactory completion of a criminal history background check.