Job Goal:

Oversee and manages the planning, organizing, and implementation of education services for children and families in compliance with Federal Performance Standards and local educational goals. These services contribute to the increased school readiness, child well-being and social competence in children and the recognition and enhancement of parents as the primary educators of their children. Works as a part of an effective team to ensure that staff, parents and volunteers are well equipped to provide the best practices of Early Childhood Education.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Assist the Head Start Director UMCHS with planning and coordinating the Education Services for Head Start/EHS/EHSCCP/School District Pre School Program and other assigned preschool opportunities.
  • Advise the Head Start Director in education component planning, development, and operations
  • Assist the Head Start Director with UMHS annual Self-assessment
  • Supervise all classroom practices-room arrangement, lesson plans, daily schedules, routines and transitions to assure their adherence to program policies.
  • Facilitate effective integration of education strategies with best practice health, mental health, nutrition, licensing and licensing requirements
  • Act as an advisor for all staff, parents, and volunteers concerning Early Childhood Education and supervision in educational environments
  • Assist in the facilitation of multidisciplinary Intensive Case Staffing's and track follow up
  • Ensure integration of culturally effective objectives and resources to ensure equitable environments
  • Effectively communicate vision, policies practice and redirection in alignment with best practice
  • Coordinate hiring of ECE professionals including screening, interviewing, and selection and location appointment to discern supportive teaching teams
  • Guide the identification and procurement of education supplies to meet educational objectives
  • Maintain an active and supportive presence in the classrooms
• Ensure that all education tools including curricula, forms, meetings, Child Plus are well implemented
  • Ensure program curriculum planning & implementation supports are in place and effectively link to lesson plans, goal setting, documentation, and training
  • Ensure assessment tools prioritized by the agency and program are effectively delivered in a timely way, and assessed for continuous quality improvement
  • Ensure the evaluation of the education staff's daily plans and post-evaluation conferences
  • Ensure that goals for individual children and families are recorded and tracked on Staffing Forms and in progress notes and that related activities are planned on the daily planning book • Ensure Parent/Staff Conferences and Home visits occur according to schedule.
  • Ensure education staff maintain the required component information in each child’s file.
• Participate in Professional Development planning for HS/EHS/EHS CCP and Education Staff
  • Provide shadowing, mentorship and coaching options for equipping new and experienced ECE providers & identify model educational settings to serve as learning landscapes for those classrooms needing correction or remediation
  • Assist the Head start Director in developing and implementing a training plan for staff and volunteers
  • Facilitate Education Manager Meetings
  • Assist in assessing training needs in response to program data and in alignment School Readiness Goals and the ELOF
  • Develop training resources with assistance from other component staff
  • Assist in coordinating and implementing training at Staff Meetings
  • Provide training in Early Childhood Education for staff/parents as requested
  • Facilitate a coordinated coaching policy implementation using Reflective Supervision principles
  • Ensure Professional Success Plans are implemented and supported.
• Record keeping and monitoring
  • Complete monthly reports for Head Start Director, as required for the Early Learning Hubs and a Policy Council Report three times each year and provide necessary data as requested
  • Facilitate initial observation on individual children referred for developmental, social, or emotional concerns by participation or coordination with Education Managers
  • Collect TS Gold Check Point Data and analyze quarterly to ensure effective teaching practices.
  • Ensure monthly classroom observations and monitors occur according to the monitor schedule.
  • Complete quarterly Child file reviews according to the monitoring schedule.
  • Ensure accurate data input into Child Plus for the collection and submission of information needed for PIR
• Plan, coordinate, and supervise implementation of disabilities services for Head Start/EHS/EHS CCP/OPK
  • Ensure all children suspected of having a disability are referred to the LEA for an evaluation
  • Serve as liaison between UMCHS and the LEA
  • Provide consultation for staff, parents, and volunteers concerning services for children with documented disabilities
  • Ensure that a comprehensive staffing for each child with a documented disability occurs two times yearly and assist in developing goals and services
  • Provide training for staff and parents on the role of disability services within Head Start/EHS/EHS CCP/OPK
  • Ensure that UMHS staff are active participants in IFSP meetings
  • Ensure that copies of all necessary materials documenting a disability and the delivery of services are in the children's files
  • Ensure UMHS staff participation in the development of I.E.P. (Individual Education Plan) or I.F.S.P.'s (Individual Family Service Plan)
  • Ensure that data maintained in the system to track children with documented disabilities enrolled in Head Start/EHS/EHS CCP/OPK are accurate, up to date, and secure
  • Ensure that all children suspected of having a disability, but determined by the LEA to not be eligible for EI or ECSE services, are closely monitored and supported to ensure developmental milestones are met.
• Systems Coordination
  • Provide consultation and participation in school district preschool programs in order to facilitate curriculum implementation, quality staffing, and evaluation of outcomes.
  • Assist the Head Start Director with the coordination of school districts regarding kindergarten transitions and professional learning teams and cohorts
  • Coordinate collection, processing, and sharing of data pertinent to child outcomes and school readiness goals with school districts and HUBs
  • Coordinate the transition of children to Kindergarten, and assist with the children's transition to their next destination at the end of the season and foster Kinder-Bridge activities.
  • Work cooperatively with other components to plan education services integrated with health, mental health, dental health, nutrition, parent involvement, and social services
• Supervision
  • Supervise the teaching staff in program operations in fulfillment of Strategic Plan, Policies, practice and Performance Standards aligning with the Early Learning Outcomes Framework & other initiatives
  • Supervise all classroom practices - room arrangement, lesson plans, daily schedules, routines, & transitions to assure their adherence to program policies
  • Evaluate, with input from the HS Director, the Education Managers’ job performance annually
  • Work with Education Managers to develop Professional Development Plans for education staff and evaluate annually
  • Supervise Education Managers
  • Support and ensure timely follow up regarding possible difficulties with child behaviors, classroom and/or home visit attendance and staffing concerns.

Education Requirements:

• MA/BA degree in ECE, Business/Public/Education/Health Administration or related field

Experience and Skills Requirements:

• Four years teaching experience in a preschool setting
• Minimum 5 years’ experience managing, designing and implementing educational programs
• Strong knowledge of theories and practices of Early Childhood Education/Development and Family/Social Services.
• Ability to collaborate with and have working knowledge of local community resources
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office suite (Word, Excel, Outlook) along with knowledge of or demonstrated ability to use database applications.
• Ability to identify, analyze, and interpret trends or patterns in complex data sets
• Ability to establish relationship of trust and respect with staff, families and children.
• Skills in communicating effectively as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
• Effective interpersonal and oral communication skills
• Ability to exercise sound judgment in making critical decisions.
• Effective active listening skills
• Ability to conduct trainings and provide presentations to large and small groups
• Ability to use abstract reasoning, problem solving, planning, and analytical skills in training, evaluation, and program development
• Ability to prioritize and manage work load and deadlines
• Head Start/EHS/EHS CCP/OPK experience (preferred)
• Community service experience (preferred)
• Multi-cultural experience (preferred)
• Adequate means of transportation
• Desire to work with low-income children and their families