El Nogal Early Learning Lead

Description

Job Summary:

• The Early Learning Leader serves as the educational lead for one or more centers in the Head Start or Early Head Start program. The Early Learning Lead works side-by-side with Early Learning and Inclusion Leads to ensure that all necessary documentation and requirements are fulfilled when working with children and families with specific needs. The Early Learning Lead will collaborate with the Director of Education and Inclusion to ensure full implementation of all aspects of AVANCEs early learning system, policies/procedures, and tools, with the goal of supporting all children to achieve School Readiness Goals.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

The Early Learning Lead is responsible for:

• Supervising all teaching staff (teachers, assistant teachers, floaters, substitutes and extended day.)
• Providing ongoing coaching to teaching staff to support them in successfully fulfilling all aspects of their role, including but not limited to effective practices in the following:
  • CLASS Teacher-Child Interactions
  • Learning Environments
  • Curriculum
  • Child Assessment
  • Meeting All Childrens Needs
  • Working with Families
  • Professional Growth and Collaboration
  • Work with teachers to implement program curriculum with fidelity.
  • Work with teachers to implement child assessment systems reliably, including understanding child outcomes data and using them to plan and individualize.
• Achieving the following outcomes for the Head Start/Early Start program:

Education: Serve as education lead for the center, overseeing implementation of all aspects of education

services and providing teachers with supervision, training, coaching and monitoring.

• • Support the effective implementation of the education content area, implementing all relevant policies and procedures.
  • Oversee training of new hires (in conjunction with HR leads); develop, conduct or arrange other training as needed for staff, parents or volunteers.
  • Work with teachers to implement a program curriculum that incorporates all elements and meets all standards established by AVANCE (in compliance with Head Start standards and best practices).
  • Oversee and approve the preparation of weekly lesson plans, including individualization and all other required elements.
  • Ensure that teachers integrate goals from Individual Education Plans (IEPs) for children with disabilities (in consultation with Early Learning Inclusion Specialists).
  • Ensure the completion of all required child screenings and assessments, including 45 and 90-day requirements for new children and quarterly progress assessments for all children.
  • Ensure that classrooms, gym and outdoor areas are supplied with developmentally appropriate materials.
  • Participate in team meetings, home visits, and community events as needed.
  • Support teachers in understanding child outcomes data and using it to improve practice.
  • Provide teachers with coaching and support for quality improvement and professional growth through regular observation and formal and informal feedback.
  • Use the Education Leader Success Rubric (CDEL-SR) to self assess and set goals for continual growth as an Education Leader.

Family Partnerships: Supervise or coordinate with the Family Services team to ensure full implementation of family services and parent involvement.

• • Model strong, positive relationships with families.
  • Support Family Advocates to implement all aspects of family services program, including support and monitoring of AVANCEs Parent-Child and Education Program.

Human Resources & Supervision: Directly supervise center staff, ensure completion of all human resources activities, and ensure compliance with relevant policies and procedures.

• • Meet at least once per month with the people you supervise to monitor, provide ongoing verbal and written feedback consistent with their individual development plans for performance improvement, ensure adherence to Head Start performance standards, and to plan and direct work.
  • Plan and adjust work operations to meet changing or emergent program requirements within available resources.
  • Submit annual performance evaluations in a timely manner.
  • Work with teachers to develop and support their individual development plan, including training plans for each teacher to obtain a bachelors degree or higher in Early Childhood Education or a related field. Individual development plans filed in personnel folders and a training log.
  • Understand the personnel policies and procedures, and ensure that the people you supervise are aware of these and any changes to them that occur.
  • Assign and review work of the people you supervise. Instruct, train and work effectively with the people you supervise from a variety of backgrounds and with differing levels/areas of training. Model best practices within the service area.
  • Devise work methods and procedures that support improvements in existing work practices; supporting the people you supervise in developing and setting goals, priorities and timelines.
  • For open positions, comply with the program employee recruitment and selection procedures to ensure consistency and compliance with Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO), legal hiring practices and internal policies and procedures.
  • Take required disciplinary action, in an objective and fair manner, following Program Policies and Procedures and EEO requirements. This includes requirements involving the Head Start Policy Council in employee hiring and termination as outlined in Performance Standards 45 CFR 1304, Appendix A.
  • Make appropriate personnel decisions not requiring higher approval as-needed and submit others as a recommendation to the supervisor.

Communication & Service Coordination: Lead regular team meetings to ensure effective communication and service coordination.

• • Ensure families receive monthly newsletter.
  • Attend local, state and regional initiatives to represent the center and to develop professionally.
  • Ensure children's individual health, nutrition, disabilities or mental health needs are met, through implementation of AVANCEs referral system, coordination with appropriate coordinators/specialists, and participation in case conferences as necessary.
  • Develop a working knowledge of local community resources related to education and transition.
  • Actively participate in Head Start/Early Head Start community, including staff meetings, mandated training, committee meetings, and other program-wide functions as needed, including some evening activities.

Record Keeping & Reporting: Ensure complete and accurate implementation of all AVANCEs required systems for recordkeeping and reporting, including:

• • Individual child/family files
  • Master binders
  • Education portfolios or other documentation of early childhood education services
  • In-kind contributions from parents or community members
  • Purchasing and tracking of supplies and equipment
  • Employee timekeeping
  • Employee paid time off
  • Attendance and payments (as appropriate) for Full/Extended Day
  • Child, family & program information in Shine Insight
  • Child observations, assessment & planning information in CreativeCurriculum.net

Ongoing Monitoring & Self Assessment:

• • Review weekly MBI (managing by information) and monthly MBI reports and ensure all concerns are addressed in a timely fashion.
  • Review quarterly MBO (managing by outcomes) reports and ensure all concerns are addressed in a timely fashion.
  • Review quarterly and annual child outcomes data and oversee teacher planning to help all children make developmental gains.
  • Participate in annual program self-assessment
  • Implement all monitoring systems required by AVANCE, Head Start, child care licensing CACFP or other agencies, including
    • Daily visual check of indoor & outdoor safety.
    • Monthly or quarterly completion of health & safety monitoring tool

Program Governance and Leadership:

• • Serve on the leadership team of AVANCEs affiliate program, attending regular meetings and occasional retreats.
  • Participate in annual and quarterly planning to set, plan for, and monitor program goals.
  • Contribute to annual review and revision of the program's integrated service plan.
  • Lead for the good of the entire organization, understand the big picture and use it as framework to make decisions
  • Make decisions that support program quality and maintain program accountability.
  • Establish focus for the education service area and act to align the area's goals with the strategic direction and needs of the center; ensure that employees in the area understand how their work relates to the center as a whole and the relevant regulations and performance standards.
  • Improve quality and effectiveness of the education service area and overall organization by initiating, sponsoring and implementing organizational change and by helping others to successfully manage organizational change.
  • Promote consistent exchange of information and a cooperative environment within the leadership of the center.
  • Attend parent committees, Policy Council and board of director meetings as needed or requested.
  • Ensure teachers and volunteers understand regulations associated with prevention of occupational disease and injury, including the exercise of universal precautions.
  • Recognize that your job description is service area specific but not limited to: confidentiality, child abuse reporting, attendance and dependability, appropriate dress, customer service and support to all families, prudent use of program resources, and promoting and maintaining safe work environment.
  • Uphold the shared mission and values of AVANCE.

Operations and Facilities: Serve as operational lead for the center, ensuring compliance with all program policies/procedures and Head Start/Early Head Start, licensing or other regulations

• • Ensures that facilities, materials, and equipment are safe, appropriate, and conducive to learning and reflective of the different ages and stages of development of each child, including children with disabilities.
  • Ensures Center-based environments are free of toxins, such as smoke, lead, pesticides, and herbicides.
  • Ensures arrangements and space, as well as types and use of materials and equipment, match grantees identified curriculum.
  • Ensures the facilities are accessible to persons with disabilities as required by the Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.
  • Conduct and/or supervise regular safety checks of all facilities.

Supervision

• Supervises assigned department personnel. Includes the following responsibilities, but are not limited to: hiring, training, scheduling, evaluating, and ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and the completion of all work performed by direct reports.
• Educates direct reports on all department and agency policies and procedures.
• Meets with assigned staff at least monthly to identify and resolve problems, manage projects, track goals, and review work processes and procedures.
• Represents the team and/or department at meetings, events, and training as required.

Non-Essential Duties:

• Performs any and all other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Job Specifications:

Requirements:

• Bachelors degree OR Masters degree in Early Childhood Education or in any related field.
• 3 years of experience with supervision, management or coaching.
• Previous experience in teaching and/or managing in an early childhood setting
• Infant/Toddler education/training preferred.
• Bilingual in Spanish and English
• Knowledge of infant/toddler health and safety licensing requirements (if applicable)
• Experience with collaborations and community partnerships (if applicable)
• Experience in Fiscal management/budget preparations (if applicable)
• Physical exam and background checks are required for this position.
• Travel required locally or long-distance up to 10% of the time for work-related meetings and functions.
• Must have a valid drivers license and reliable transportation.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:

• Ability to interact effectively with people from diverse backgrounds.
• Ability to communicate effectively, verbally and in writing.
• Demonstrated computer literacy skills, using MS Office applications and other basic data systems including internet navigation.
• Must be honest, dependable and able to meet deadlines.
• Self-motivated and able to work independently.

• Ability to engage in repetitive movement of wrists, hands, and fingers typing and/or writing.