Director of Education for Early Childhood Services

POSITION OVERVIEW: The Director of Education for Early Childhood Services will ensure that the Department’s systems are running effectively in order to ensure that all children reach developmentally appropriate milestones through the implementation of evidence-based curricula, individualized support and high quality learning environments. By leading our educational support across the Department, the Director of Education will focus on ensuring that all the children and families are prepared and ready to be successful in Kindergarten and in life, while ensuring that all Head Start Performance Standards and specific funding regulations are met or exceeded. Direct reports include Site Education Directors. 

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS: 

• Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education or related field. 
• Significant experience in planning and setting education goals, developing training, monitoring and evaluation. 
• Strong organizational, communication and supervisory skills.  
• Significant experience in Early Childhood and Head Start Standards, working with parents and computer literacy.  

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: 

• NYS N-6 Certificate. 
• Service-oriented, empathetic and diplomatic.
• Skilled in identifying problems and brainstorming potential solutions, 
• Comfortable working independently and collaboratively and passionate about early childhood.
• Bilingual (Chinese or Spanish) helpful.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Build a culture across sites that develops and maintains high-quality, safe and nurturing environments where children develop trusting and accepting relationships with adults and peers that foster growth and development.
• Oversee and support the implementation of high quality programming with evidence-based curricular and child outcomes, including lesson planning, observations, portfolios and Parent/Teacher conferences
• Recruit, supervise, manage, train and evaluate a team of staff
• Provide guidance, training and coaching to site directors on implementing lesson plans and responding to the social emotional needs of children
• Provide strengths-based coaching and mentorship to staff to meet professional development goals
• Develop and implement staff meetings
• Responsible for coordinating and implementing yearly in-service trainings
• Support staff in meeting the individual needs of children through individualized planning, within the context of their families and communities
• Support staff in collaborating with other support services
• Support the FCE Director in recruitment and enrollment
• Assist with the review of program practices and update program plans, policies and procedures
• Work with site directors to implement the child assessment system reliably, including understanding child outcomes data and using them to plan and individualize.
• Synthesize and analyze program data to ensure needs of children, families and the community are being met.
• Monitor contract compliance
• Implement continuous monitoring of educational activities
• Represent program and agency at various meetings
• Ensure appropriate and accurate documentation of services is maintained
• Work with teachers, parents and local schools in developing and implementing a transition plan for children
• Solicit ideas from participants and staff in developing the program’s community building efforts/activities
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

WORKING CONDITIONS: Travel between multiple sites consisting of school, office, and community center environments.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: Must be able to occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Ability to read printed materials and computer screens. Able to operate a computer keyboard, mouse, & other office equipment.

I have read and received a copy of this job description.