Center Coordinator

Position Description Summary

Ensures that the daily operation of the Head Start Center is in compliance with state licensing regulations and federal Head Start Program Performance Standards, and that it provides a safe and appropriate learning environment for the students. Responsible for overall direction, management, and oversight of the Head Start center. Provides leadership and supervision for the Teachers, Teacher Assistants, Teacher Aides, etc. Responsible for teaching in the absence of staff, classroom observations, and ongoing monitoring. Management and supervision of staff, communication with parents, and ensuring program quality and licensing/regulatory standards are met and establishes and maintains a Step Up to Quality (SUTQ) rating.

Essential Functions & Responsibilities

Responsible for overall direction, management, and oversight of the center to ensure staffing requirements are met to operate each classroom and confirms the staff completes protocols related to active supervision. Provide classroom coverage, including serving as a classroom substitute to ensure proper staffing coverage and operations of all classrooms to meet Head Start Performance Standards and state childcare regulations.

Supervise and coach staff to ensure that the program provides quality and developmentally appropriate services to children and families and establish a work climate that nurtures growth, learning, and positive interaction.

Ensure that center staff planning and implementing learning experiences that advance the intellectual and physical development of children: establishing and maintaining a safe, healthy learning environment; support the social and emotional development of children; and encouraging the involvement of the families of the children in a Head Start program.

Directly supervises the center’s education staff by observing in the classroom on an ongoing basis to ensure daily schedules, lesson plans, and the ongoing assessment system has been developed and implemented. Provides coaching and feedback, performance evaluations and addresses behavior and performance concerns. Participates in the interviewing, hiring, and training of center employees.

Trains, observes, and monitors staff to follow appropriate practices, protocols, and checklists to keep children safe during all activities, including, at a minimum:

Reporting of suspected or known child abuse and neglect to Franklin County Children Services according to agency procedures and the Ohio Revised Code Section 2151.421.

Safe sleep practices, including ensuring that all sleeping arrangements for children under 18 months of age use firm mattresses or cots, as appropriate, and for children under 12 months, soft bedding materials or toys must not be used.

Appropriate indoor and outdoor supervision of children at all times.

Only releasing children to an authorized adult.

Adhere to all standards of conduct described in Head Start Performance Standards §1302.90(c)

Trains, observes, and monitors staff to follow appropriate practices, protocols, and checklists to systematically and routinely implement hygiene practices that ensure:

Appropriate toileting, hand washing, and diapering procedures are followed.

Safe food preparation.

Exposure to blood and body fluids is handled consistent with standards of the Occupational Safety Health Administration.

Documentation of feeding and diaper changes for Early Head Start children.

Trains, observes, and monitors staff to follow appropriate practices, protocols, and checklists to follow, and practice procedures for:

Emergencies

Fire prevention and response.

Protection from contagious disease

The handling, storage, administration, and record of administration of medication

Documenting children’s attendance upon arrival and departure

Maintaining procedures and systems to ensure children are only released to an authorized adult.

Child specific health care needs and food allergies that include accessible plans of action for emergencies.

Utilize all CDC safeguards and procedures to ensure health and safety standards are met at all times.

Confirms all required certifications (including First Aid, Child Abuse, Communicable Disease and CPR) and professional development hours and trainings are completed within the required time frames and education staff have a current and complete medical, along with a current background check that is connected to the center’s license. Maintains and secures all center education files (personnel, licensing, and child).

Provides support to teacher assistants to obtain completion of CDA (Child Development Associate) credential in the required timeframe.

Maintains an inventory of all center equipment, supplies and furnishings based upon checklists and observations. Orders classroom and center supplies, as needed. Completes any required work order requests as required by CDCFC policies. Visual inspections of all learning environments.

Ensures the completion and upload of developmental, speech, vision, hearing, growth, and behavioral screenings for children within mandated timelines. Results of developmental, speech, vision, hearing, and growth are entered in Management Information System (Child Plus). Ensures center teaching staff review the results in writing with parents during the home visits or parent teacher conferences.

Collaborates with the Family Service Worker to plan, organize, attend, and present an educational activity during all parent meetings. Works closely with the Family Service Worker to document and report in-kind hours completed by enrolled families. Acts as the designee for the Family Service Worker, in their absence to ensure daily attendance and attendance notes are entered in the Management Information System (Child Plus) as required by agency policies.

Provide information to the Multi-Disciplinary Team to enable them to conduct IEP/IFSP meetings, Facilitates Child, and Family Review (CFRs) meetings by collaborating with multiple departments and gathering necessary information for each enrolled child.

Effectively communicates with families, staff, children, and the public using a variety of modalities. Responsible for conducting regular staff meetings to ensure relevant information from all departments is cascaded.

Attends workshops and training to assist in the delivery and coordination of agency services as necessary for children and families.

Maintain and respect the confidentiality of families, staff, and program.

Attend and participate in professional development, training, and meetings. Must participate in 20 hours of training per year in understanding children and improving delivery of childcare services.

Uses and follows the policies/procedures of Head Start Performance Standards, and all federal, state, and local regulations. Ensure all federal, local, state, and/or agency documentation is completed accurately.

Perform all other duties assigned by supervisor or manager.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and/or Abilities

Extensive knowledge of early childhood development principles and developmentally appropriate educational practices.

Ability to plan, manage, and implement curriculum.

Ability to handle stress, remain focused, and use sound judgement to make clear decisions.

Ability to develop consistent, stable, and supportive relationships with young children, parents, and staff.

Ability to articulate the referral process to assist families in need of services.

Must possess excellent verbal and written communication skills and must have the ability to read and interpret documents, write reports, present information to staff and parents, and respond to questions in a timely manner.

Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite or related software as required for recordkeeping and documentation

Required

Experience

Must possess at least two years experience in a childcare administrative or supervisory capacity with at least five years’ ECE teaching experience.

Prior knowledge and experience working for a Head Start program or licensed private sector corporate childcare center are preferred.

Must meet all the Teacher qualifications to provide supervision of children.

Required Education, Certifications, Licenses

Must possess:

An associate, bachelor, or advanced degree in child development or ECE; or

An associate, bachelor, or advanced degree in a related field with coursework equivalent to a major relating to ECE and experience teaching preschool children; or

A bachelor or advanced degree and; Is (or was) admitted into Teach for America Program; Passed a rigorous EC content exam, such as the Praxis II; Participated in a Teach for America summer training institute that includes (or included): Teaching preschool children and is receiving (or received) ongoing professional development and support from Teach for America’s professional staff

Must have reliable transportation.

Must submit to a background check, including BCI and FBI Criminal Records, Federal and State Sex Offender registries and the Statewide Automated Child Welfare Information System and be eligible for employment as required by ODJFS.

Work Environment and/or Physical Demands

Individuals will be required to speak, listen, stand, and walk frequently.

May also be required to sit at the children’s level, use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. Physical ability to respond to children quickly in emergencies.

Must have the ability to lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.

Must have flexible schedule to accommodate family needs, which may include some evening or weekend hours.

May be required to travel to other centers to provide coverage based on agency needs