SITE DIRECTOR ASSISTANT
JOB DESCRIPTION:
The site director assistant assists in the responsibility, in collaboration with the site director and child services manager, for all aspects of child services including: leading, managing, implementing, monitoring, developing, training and supervising all center staff and program volunteers. The site director assistant is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the Head Start center with the site director. This position assists in the direct supervision to all center staff, children, and volunteers. The site director assistant assists in the delivery of the full range of services consistent with the Head Start Performance Standards/DCFS Licensing Standards. Employment begins August 2026.
RESPONSIBILITIES: Area of Staff
- Assists with the interviewing of the new staff for the center, if needed.
- Maintains adequate ratio of staff to children (1 to 10).
- The site director assistant will sub as a teacher or teacher assistant, when needed.
- Ensures staff time sheets, mileage, and tuition reimbursements are complete, accurate, and returned on time.
- Provides direction and promotes awareness of the Head Start program and philosophy to center staff.
- Facilitates working together with staff toward implementation and delivery of a high-quality program.
- May perform with evaluations of all staff in collaboration with the appropriate management staff.
- Addresses staff performance in a timely manner. Documents incidents in regards to job duties and follows the procedures for any disciplinary action.
- Maintains complete, up-to-date, and confidential staff files in accordance with DCFS and Head Start licensing standards.
- Keeps staff informed on the latest developments in policies and procedures of CAA, Head Start Performance Standards and DCFS licensing standards.
- Assists with conducting and documenting monthly staff meetings.
- Includes staff in decision-making process as appropriate.
- Assists with orientation training of new staff in conjunction with appropriate managers.
- Assists the site director and child services manager in the development, mentoring and monitoring of staff professional development.
- Implements current curriculum being used by Head Start to fidelity.
- Ensures compliance of center with DCFS Licensing Standards and Head Start Program Performance Standards.
- Trains, collects and promotes volunteer hours/in-kind hours and donations.
RESPONSIBILITIES: Area of the Center
- Ensures completion and documentation of fire, tornado, and bus evacuation drills.
- Monitors kitchen procedures in preparation and serving of meals and snacks when needed.
- Conducts a daily inspection of the outdoor area and center site to ensure the safety of the facility for the children, staff, parents, volunteers, and visitors. Ensures that corrections are made and reported to the appropriate resource in a timely basis.
- Guides staff and participates in maintaining a clean and orderly center.
- Maintains an equipment inventory and reports to the appropriate manager of equipment that needs to be repaired/replaced.
- Ensures timely transport of supplies and inter-office mail, to and from the administrative office.
- Recommends purchases of appropriate materials and supplies on a monthly basis, or as needed.
- Maintains supplies as needed for the center (art, cleaning, instructional materials, office, first aid, food, etc.)
- Plans and assists with field trips as necessary (encouraging two field trips to the library per year).
- Collaborates with center staff, managers, coordinators, and family service workers in planning and executing Parent Orientation and Parent Training Days.
- Submits monthly news article to the office. Ensures the distribution of the newsletter to the parents and staff.
- Attends monthly parent meetings or sends a designated staff member to report on activities at the center and to provide childcare.
- Welcomes and encourages volunteers in the center/program. Maintains the volunteer files in accordance with the DCFS licensing standards.
- Assists the site director and child services manager in coordinating the volunteer’s schedule, collecting in-kind time sheets, and assists in conducting volunteer orientation.
- Plans and executes Parent/Child Literacy by utilizing the Lending Library.
- Assists the double-session classrooms with child documentation, home visits and parent teacher conferences.
RESPONSIBILITIES: Area of the classroom
- Ensures daily attendance of the children is documented, filed and turned in to the office on time, including reasons and resolutions of problems and drops and adds. Maintains files on class attendance sheets in center.
- Monitors lesson plans on a weekly basis providing direction or help, when necessary. Ensures that lesson plans are individualized for special needs children and dual language learners.
- Observes the classrooms daily and completes written formal classroom observations, as needed.
- Provides direction to all staff of developmentally appropriate practices.
- Performs general duties and responsibilities of the classroom teacher as listed in the teacher job description when subbing for an extended time.
- Ensures the completion and documentation of all family contacts (Home Visits, Parent/Teacher Conferences, Contact Summary Reports and Service Referral forms).
- Ensures that the children’s files are complete, kept confidential and in accordance with the DCFS licensing standards.
- Monitors the documentation and completion of the current assessment tool, collects data, and turns in to the administrative office when requested.
- Ensures strong communication with the parents and encourages parent involvement in the program.
RESPONSIBILITIES: Area of Miscellaneous Duties
- Participates in recruitment of eligible children.
- Collaborates with developmental screenings, testing, record keeping, IEP process reporting, and tracking process.
- Keeps professional certifications current.
- Complies with requirements as mandated child abuse/neglect reporter.
- Communicates on a regular basis with the site director.
- Acts as a liaison between the center and all Head Start service area managers and coordinators.
- Participates in staff training sessions, in-services and administrative meetings.
- Prepares reports as required, including Policy Council and Board reports.
- Participates in annual Self -Assessment, Community Needs Assessment process.
- Carries out all duties in a professional manner.
- Participates and trains on the updates of the emergency preparedness plans and procedures.
- Participates in community events to promote Head Start.
- Complies with mandated child abuse and neglect reporting requirements.
- Performs other duties as directed by the executive director and child services manager.
MINIMUM PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS:
The site director assistant will follow the Head Start Program Performance Standard center-based teacher qualifications.
Head Start Program Performance Standard
1302.91 (e)(2)(ii) center-based teacher qualifications.
- Any teacher hired after November 7, 2016 must have:
As prescribed in section 648A(a)(3)(B) of the Act, a program must ensure all center-based teachers have at least an associate's or bachelor's degree in child development or early childhood education, equivalent coursework 21 ECE credits, or otherwise meet the requirements of section 648A(a)(3)(B) of the Act.
- Teachers hired with an associate degree must enroll in a bachelor program within one year of hire and meet the higher degree requirements within six years of hire.
- The site director assistant should have the skills and competence necessary to contribute to each child's social-emotional, physical, and cognitive development. Factors contributing to the attainment of this standard include:
- Emotional maturity when working with children.
- Willingness to cooperate with the landlord administrative staff.
- Respect for children and adults.
- Flexibility and patience.
- Ability to run and lift up to a 100 lb. child to safety.
- Physical and mental health, which does not interfere with childcare responsibilities.
- The site director assistant shall be at least 21 years of age.
- The site director assistant must meet the DCFS requirements of Section 407.10 and 407.13 for site director/teacher eligibility.
- The site director assistant must obtain First Aid/CPR and Food Service Sanitation certifications by the end of their 90-day introductory period.
- The site director assistant must be able to perform the job descriptions of teacher and teacher assistant.
- The site director assistant shall become a reliable rater of CLASS and renew certification annually.
- The site director assistant must have computer skills including, but not limited to, Microsoft Word and iPad.
- Pass DCFS and FBI background checks.
- Pass a physical exam and a Tuberculosis test.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $24.88 - $26.38 per hour
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
Education:
Work Location: In person
