Thinks, communicates and behaves as a cause-driven leader and role model for other staff and members when it comes to desired staff behaviors; promotes youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility in all job-related functions.
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.
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Oversee training of new hires (in conjunction with education & HR leads); develop, conduct or arrange other training as needed for staff, parents or volunteers.
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Work with teachers to implement program curriculum that incorporates all elements and meets all standards established by YMCA Head Start (in compliance with Head Start standards and best practices).
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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 Mental Health/Disabilities Coordinator).
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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.
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Ensure that classrooms, gym and outdoor areas are supplied with developmentally appropriate materials.
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Participate in team meetings, home visits, and community events as needed.
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Support teachers in understanding child outcomes data and using it to improve practice.
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Provide teachers with coaching and support for quality improvement and professional growth through regular observation and formal and informal feedback.
Family Partnerships: Coordinates with Family Engagement Specialists to ensure full implementation of family services and parent engagement).
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Model strong, positive relationships with families.
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Support Family Engagement Specialists to implement all aspects of family services program, including planning monthly Parent Committee meetings.
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Ensure parents are integrally involved in developing the program’s curriculum and approach to child development and education through regular meeting with Policy Council members and others.
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Assist teaching staff in developing a system offering parents opportunities for enhancing and increasing their child observation skills.
- Coordinate training for parents and community members wanting to volunteer in the classroom.
Human Resources & Supervision: Directly supervise center staff, ensure completion of all human resources activities, and ensure compliance with relevant policies and procedures.
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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.
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Submit annual performance evaluations in a timely manner.
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Work with teachers to develop and support their individual development plan, including training plans for each teacher to obtain a bachelor’s degree or higher in Early Childhood Education or a related field. Individual development plans filed in personnel folder and a training log.
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Understand the personnel policies and procedures, and ensure that the people you supervise are aware of these and any changes to them that occur.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Make appropriate personnel decisions not requiring higher approval as-needed and submit others as a recommendation to supervisor.
Communication & Service Coordination:
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Lead regular team meetings to ensure effective communication and service coordination.
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Ensure families receive monthly newsletter.
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Attend local, state and regional initiatives to represent the center and to develop professionally.
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Ensure children’s individual health, nutrition, disabilities or mental health needs are met, through implementation of HS 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.
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Actively participate in Head Start community, including staff meetings, mandated trainings, committee meetings, and other program-wide functions as needed.
Record Keeping & Reporting:
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Ensure complete and accurate implementation of all YMCA HS required systems for recordkeeping and reporting, including:
- Individual child/family files
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Master binders
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Education portfolios or other documentation of early childhood education services
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In-kind contributions from parents or community members
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Purchasing and tracking of supplies and equipment
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Employee timekeeping
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Employee paid time off
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Attendance and payments (as appropriate) for Full/Extended Day
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Child, family & program information in ChildPlus
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Child observations, assessment & planning information in TSG/CreativeCurriculum
Ongoing Monitoring & Self Assessment:
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Review quarterly and annual child outcomes data and oversee teacher planning to help all children make developmental gains.
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Participate in annual program self-assessment
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Implement all monitoring systems required by ODJFS, Head Start, CACFP or other agencies, including
- Daily visual check of indoor & outdoor safety.
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Monthly or quarterly completion of health & safety monitoring tool
Program Governance and Leadership:
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Participate in annual and quarterly planning to set, plan for, and monitor program goals.
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Contribute to annual review and revision of program’s integrated service plan.
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Lead for the good of the entire organization, understand the big picture and use it as framework to make decisions
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Make decisions that support program quality and maintain program accountability.
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Establish focus for education service area and act to align 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 education service area and overall organization by initiating, sponsoring and implementing organizational change and by helping others to successfully manage organizational change.
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Promote consistent exchange of information and a cooperative environment within the leadership of the center.
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Attend parent committees, Policy Council and board of director meetings as needed or requested.
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Ensure teachers and volunteers understand regulations associated with prevention of occupational disease and injury, including the exercise of universal precautions.
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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.
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Uphold the shared mission and values of YMCA Head Start
Operations and Facilities: Serve as operational lead for the center, ensuring compliance with all program policies/procedures and Head Start, licensing or other regulations
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Ensures that facilities, materials, and equipment are safe, appropriate, and conducive to learning and reflective of the different ages and stage of development of each child, including children with disabilities.
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Ensures Center-based environments are free of toxins, such as smoke, lead, pesticides, and herbicides.
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Ensures arrangements and space, as well as types and use of materials and equipment, match grantees identified curriculum.
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Ensures the facilities are accessible to persons with disabilities as required by the Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.
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Conduct and/or supervise monthly safety checks of all facilities.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: Directly supervises center staff. Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the association's policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; developing, coaching, rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand, walk, sit, talk and hear; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and reach with hands and arms, The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 40 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, and distance vision. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
QUALIFICATIONS:
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Bachelor’s degree in early childhood education, or related field with at least one year of managerial exp OR master’s degree in any field related to children or business and experience managing a preschool program
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Knowledge of Head Start and State Child Care Licensing regulations and requirements.
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Experience with collaborations and community partnerships
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Experience in Fiscal management/budget preparations (if applicable)
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Obtain certification in CPR and First Aid.
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YMCA Team Leader certification; if not certified, must obtain certification within 12 months
Team leader certification requires: Principles and Practices; Introduction to Volunteerism; Introduction to Leading Others; Introduction to Fiscal Management; Leadership competency assessment; Team Leader Certification Test.
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Passionate belief in the Y’s cause of nurturing the potential of all youth, supporting healthy living for all people and finding ways to help and support our neighbors.
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Understanding of the nature and purpose of the YMCA and the respective roles of volunteers and staff.
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Ability to relate effectively to diverse groups of people from all social and economic segments of the community.
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Proven track record of developing authentic relationships with others.
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Ability to foster a collaborative team approach to solving challenging situations.
This position serves as a Center Director for a Head Start program. The Center Director supervises lead teachers who manage other classroom teachers and are responsible for the successful operation of the center. The Center Director plans and collaborates with the other leadership staff in the Head Start program to ensure that outcomes are achieved for children of all abilities.
