Early Learning Lead

Job Type

Full-time

Description

Job Overview

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 AVANCE's early learning system, policies/procedures, and tools, with the goal of supporting all children to achieve School Readiness Goals.

Job Responsibilities

Child Growth and Development

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 Children's 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:

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.

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.

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. Communication and Service Coordination:

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 AVANCE's Parent-Child and Education Program.

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 AVANCE's 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.

Participate in team meetings, home visits, and community events as needed.

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.

Represents the team and/or department at meetings, events, and training as required. Record Keeping and Reporting:

Ensure complete and accurate implementation of all AVANCE's required systems for recordkeeping and reporting, including:

Individual child/family files

Master binders

Documentation of coaching for staff and strategies provided to teachers/providers/families

In-kind contributions from parents or community members

Purchasing and tracking of supplies and equipment

Child, family & program information in Shine Insight/Child Plus

Child observations, assessment & planning information in Cognitive Toybox

Submit annual performance evaluations in a timely manner. Ongoing Monitoring/Self-assessment:

Use the Education Leader Success Rubric (CDEL-SR) to self assess and set goals for continual growth as an Education Leader.

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

Serve on the leadership team of AVANCE's 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. Planning and Implementation:

Supervising all teaching staff (teachers, assistant teachers, floaters, substitutes and extended day.)

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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. Other Duties:

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.

Performs other duties as assigned. AVANCE Core Competencies

Accountability

The AVANCE Way

Demonstrates Ability to Learn

Fosters Innovation

Takes Initiative

Recovers from Setbacks Requirements

Education

Required:

Bachelor's degree OR Master's degree in Early Childhood Education or in any related field Work Experience

Required

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 driver's license and reliable transportation Additional Skills

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.

Ability to collaborate with multiple stakeholders to successfully implement program plans

Strong analytical skills in order to quickly assess situations, identify trends, develop solutions and apply critical assessments to the larger context

Must be honest, dependable and able to meet deadlines.

Self-motivated and able to work independently. Travel

Ability to travel to various sites: Dependable transportation is required daily with a valid driver's license, a clean driving record (subject to annual MVR (Motor Vehicle Report) check and policy), current auto liability insurance and be bondable by AVANCE, Inc.

Travel required up to 10% of the time for work-related site visits, meetings, and functions. Equipment

Standard office equipment generally used includes:

Telephone

Personal Computer (monitor, keyboard, and mouse) or Tablet

Printer/Photocopy Machine

Calculator

Fax Machine Working Conditions

Work is generally performed in an office environment.

Noise level in the work environment is moderate to occasionally loud (examples: business office with computers and printers, light to moderate traffic, human voices).

May be required to operate a motor vehicle during the course of duties.

Mental and Physical Demands

Maintain emotional control under stress; work with interruptions and deadlines; walking, standing, stooping, bending, pulling and pushing, use hands to finger, handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; occasional: lifting/carrying, pulling/pushing 10-30 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

Environmental Factors

Occasional exposure to: biological hazards (communicable diseases, bacteria, insects, mold, fungi, etc.). Occasional expose to weather related conditions when working in outside environment /neighborhoods and events.

ADA/ADAAA Statement

AVANCE is committed to equal opportunity in employment for persons with disabilities and complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), as amended, and any other applicable state and federal laws. Accordingly, AVANCE does not discriminate against qualified individuals with disabilities in regard to application, hiring, advancement, discharge, compensation, training or other terms, conditions and privileges of employment. Moreover, it is AVANCE's policy to provide reasonable accommodations in employment to qualified individuals with disabilities so that they can perform the essential functions of the job, unless the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on the operation of AVANCE's business or would change the essential functions of the position. Retaliation against an individual with a disability for utilizing this policy or seeking a reasonable accommodation is prohibited. Individuals with any questions or requests for accommodation should contact the Human Resources Department.

Salary Description

$70,992.00/Salary