JOB DESCRIPTION

Title: Education Manager

Reports to: Associate Director, Education

FLSA: Exempt

Responsibilities:

• Learns and adheres to the philosophy and mandates of Head Start/Early Head Start as outlined in the Performance Standards, licensing requirements, and the Policies and Procedures of Greater Bergen Community Action (GBCA).
• Assists the Associate Director, Education with planning and designing programs and systems to accommodate current needs and future expansion.
• Ensures children receive individual attention and supervises children by using your eyes and ears.
• Serves as resource to staff and parents in implementing the Head Start/Early Head Start Performance Standards and other policies that relate to the Education Content Area and on early childhood education and development.
• Communicates with staff to share information, build skills, oversee performance and resolve problems.
• Collaborates with Head Start Leadership to ensure that services are integrated into one comprehensive program.
• Serves as an advocate for quality programs for children and families.
• Works with the Associate Director, Education in the annual review and if necessary, revises and updates the Early Childhood Development and Health Service Content Plan.
• When necessary, plans for and participates in home visits, parent/teacher conferences and back to school events. These activities will be scheduled during the day and evening.
• Assists in providing orientation to all new education personnel and substitute personnel.
• Demonstrates a commitment to and understanding of the School Readiness Plan and the Education Content Plan by serving as a resource to staff.
• At the direction of the Associate Director, assists with providing education/curriculum training.
• Assists staff in designing and/or using a learning environment that supports the curriculum.
• Assists with selecting the equipment and materials for developmental activities with the staff.
• Reviews schedules and helps the staff achieve a balance of activities in the classroom.
• Supports staff in their development of positive discipline skills to promote self-regulation and a positive self-image of each child.
• Ensures that staff observe and record children’s behaviors and activities on a daily basis, using this information to individualize the child’s education plan.
• Reviews weekly plans of the classroom staff to ensure that they reflect an understanding of the curriculum, individualization, and coordination with other components.
• Encourages parent involvement and explains classroom curriculum when needed.
• Reinforces adherence to policies and procedures and Head Start Program Performance Standards (HSPPS).
• Assists with the review and maintenance of education records.
• Assists with regularly scheduled education staff meetings.
• Provides individualized supervision to assigned staff and assesses the need for training.
• Conducts regular observation of staff performance and provides written feedback.
• Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with management, clients, representatives of community organizations and other staff members.
• Assumes and performs any other additional assignment as directed by the Head Start Leadership in order to ensure the effective servicing of the clients in our care.

• Responsible for the overall safety of each child in the GBCA HS/EHS program.
• Other relevant duties as assigned.

Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices involving the implementation of a developmentally appropriate curriculum.
• Applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations relating to preschools and childcare.
• Cultural and socio-economic issues relevant to providing appropriate services to special population groups.
• How student learning is influenced by individual experiences, talents, and prior learning, as well as language, culture, family, and community values.
• Characteristics, uses, advantages, and limitations of different types of assessments.
• Head Start Performance Standards

Mandated Reporting:

As per New Jersey mandated reporting guidelines, any person having reasonable cause to believe that a child has been subjected to abuse or acts of abuse should immediately report this information to the State Central Registry (SCR). If the child is in immediate danger, call 911 as well as 1-877 NJ ABUSE (1-877-652-2873).”

Qualifications:

• Communicates clearly and effectively.
• Must demonstrate English proficiency - both oral and written

• Demonstrates good computer skills and ability to integrate technology into the classroom and can accurately enter information into agency data management systems.
• Ability to physically care for the needs of the children in the classroom. This includes being able to sit, stand, bend, and lift up to fifty (50) pounds.
• May work outdoors with children during part of the day during each season.

TIER I

• Master’s degree in early childhood education or related field
• NJ P-3
• NJ Master Teacher (pre-school instructional coach) certification a plus.
• Valid NJ driver’s license and use of own vehicle for self-transportation.

TIER II

• Bachelor’s degree in early childhood education or a related field
• NJ P-3
• NJ Master Teacher (pre-school instructional coach) certification a plus

• Valid NJ driver’s license and use of own vehicle for self-transportation.

TIER III

• Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in early childhood education or a related field
• NJ P-3 a plus

• Valid NJ driver’s license and use of own vehicle for self-transportation.

Ability to:

• Organize, set priorities and exercise sound independent judgment within areas of assigned responsibility.
• Exercise tact, objectivity, sensitivity, strategy and judgment in dealing with volunteers, parents and staff.
• Instruct and train individuals in a group setting and/or one-on-one.
• Prepare clear, concise and accurate reports, correspondence and other written materials.
• Assign, schedule, review and evaluate the work of assigned staff.

EEO Statement

Greater Bergen Community Action, Inc. provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.