Job Title: Reports To: FLSA Status: Customary Work Days: Customary Work Hours: Executive Director Exempt Monday through Friday Saturday & Sunday may be added as work level dictates. 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM Hours are extended when work load is increased. Position Summary The provides training and technical assistance to Teaching Staff, Site Directors and others to support the agency s early childhood development programs. The contributes to the program goals and is responsible for the facilitation of the education component at all sites. It is the responsibility of the to work directly with children, parents and staff and to maintain open communication with them in order to ensure a quality education program. Duties & Responsibilities Communication with Parents: Plan the End of the Year Celebration in conjunction with the parents. Discuss agency curriculum with parents, and resolve issues or concerns. Facilitate special projects for the parents such as the Chicago Parent Program and the RIF Program. Provide education support services to families. Monitoring Classroom: Conduct classroom observations on a regular basis to ensure compliance with all City and State regulations, Head Start Standards and NAEYC accreditation standards. Ensure the classrooms are in compliance with Creative Curriculum standards. Monitor education folders, ensuring all documentation and recordkeeping is completed in a timely manner. Monitor classroom portfolios and observations. Review lesson plans. Documentation: Monitor education budget. Process check requests and accountable for petty cash receipts and documentation. Monitor education folders, document observations and all meetings attended, especially individual and teaching team meetings and staff evaluations. Update educational forms, and order classroom and resource room 1
supplies. Prepares and submits monthly reports adhering to contract obligation. Educational Policy and Procedure: Develops educational policies and procedures. Completes NAEYC annual reports for reaccreditation. Participates in a yearly self assessment such as the Monitoring Protocol. Develops and implements timelines for future NAEYC accreditation. Staff Supervision and Area Communication: Model best practices for teachers in classroom. Provides support and professional development to teaching staff through ongoing teaching team meetings. Support and advocate for staff by discussing issues and concerns, conducting regular teaching team meetings, providing professional development opportunities and ongoing feedback. Through classroom observations and regular monitoring ensure classrooms education folders, screenings, portfolio collections and other paperwork generated by staff are in compliance with program contracts. Contribute to staff evaluations and ongoing professional development. Administration: Work closely with Head Start Manager and other content area specialists. Work with the Disabilities Coordinator. Actively participate in meetings which may include management, teaching team, center, committee, parent, parent policy, family reviews, city/state, agency, education committee and board meetings. Monitor the implementation of special projects such as the Chicago Parent Program, JumpStart, the RIF Program and DePaul JumpStart Literacy Program. Engage in continuing education and professional development activities such as trainings, workshops, and classes to meet required qualifications. Identify and make recommendations for qualified contractors to improve the center s environment. Work in collaboration with the management team to aide on planning committees for End of the Year Celebration, annual inservices, and ongoing agency activities. Recruit, interview, and hire qualified staff and volunteers. Oversee and supervise volunteer program. 2
Community Relations and Partnerships: Conduct center tours to outside visitors such as potential parents, licensing officials, Aldermen, auditors, grant funders and board members. Advise and supply information to resource development consultants and potential grant funders, and conduct follow up on grants received when applicable. Research and investigate software options, and new program equipment and supplies for the classrooms. Research and plan professional development opportunities for staff. Research and plan field trips with Site Directors. Work collaboratively with agency consultants and contractors to enrich educational program, Other Duties As Assigned Job Requirements Education and/or Experience: Masters Degree in Early Childhood Education from an accredited college or university, or Masters in a related field with teaching experience. OR Bachelor s Degree in Early Childhood Education from an accredited college or university or Bachelor s in a related field with teaching experience. OR Associates Degree in Early Childhood Education from an accredited college/university or Associates in a related field with teaching experience. Qualifications: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Ability to maintain confidentiality. Excellent oral and written communication and presentational skills. Demonstrated capability to interface and maintain effective relationships with administration, staff, consultants, regulators and funders in a team-oriented environment. Capacity to assume responsibility for own professional development. Detail oriented, logical, and methodological approach to problem solving. 3
Ability to plan and schedule the work of others. Flexible, with the ability to work in a highly demanding, stressful environment. Proficiency using word-processing system. Ability to cooperate successfully as a member of a team. Ability to communicate effectively with others, including giving and receiving feedback on the quality of services. Meet any specific content area requirements. Language Skills Ability to read and speak English proficiently. Bilingual-Spanish preferred. 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 regularly required to talk, hear, and see. The employee frequently is required to stand, walk, sit; use hands to handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 30 pounds. Specific vision requirements include the ability to see at close range. At times, may require more than 40 hours per week to perform the essential duties of the position. Fine hand manipulation (keyboarding). Transportation time spent purchasing items for the center, commuting between sites, attending trainings, meetings, and inservices. The employee may be required to work at multiple agency locations if necessary. Work Environment The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Internal office space and classroom. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to high. Employee s Signature Date 4
Supervisor s Signature Job Description Date 5