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CC
Catholic Charities Community Services
Head Start - Center Director
Career Insights for Preschool / Childcare Director
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What they do
A Preschool or Childcare Director manages and directs programs for very young children. Supervises child care workers and pre-school teachers. Proposes policies, program fees and budgets for approval by a program board or administrative agency or implements policies of a national organization. Meets with parents and staff to discuss the development, learning and behavior of children in the program or center. Orders supplies and monitors maintenance and cleaning at a facility. Ensures that the program or center meets state and federal guidelines.
$54,059 / year median in Arizona
+15% projected growth
Job Description
Helping our communitys most vulnerable with solutions that permanently improve lives Catholic Charities Community Services is currently seeking a professional, passionate individual who has an engaging supervisory style to work in our Head Start program providing leadership support to our staff and children and their families.
Oversee and organize the programs, program personnel and activities of an assigned center(s).Works with assigned teaching and family service staff and develops, implements, and monitors service area and center work plans to achieve assigned goals, objectives, and educational outcomes.
Contributes to the development of and monitoring of performance against the available resources.
Participates in developing, implementing, and evaluating work programs, plans, processes, systems, and procedures to achieve Westside Head Starts goals, objectives, and performance measures consistent with division quality and service expectations. Responsible for on-going staff supervision and regular, structured supervision meetings to maximize employee performance.
Monitors staff performance and provides coaching for performance improvement and development.
Provides day-to-day leadership to ensure a high performance, child, and family- centered environment which supports achieving Head Start educational objectives and family service expectations; provides leadership and participates in programs and activities that promote effective parent involvement and positive employee relations environment. Oversees the day-to-day operations of assigned program options; ensures centers are properly staffed in conformance with licensing requirements and adjusts staffing as required; responds to telephone calls and parent visits regarding a wide variety of child and family issues; communicates center activities and program master calendar to staff and parents; ensures cooperative working relationships between staff, parents, volunteers, community partners, specialists and consultants; resolves food service and transportation issues and special needs with applicable managers; assists in coordination of the delivery of meal services, including receiving food, required paperwork, meal production records, food order, inventory, assigning duties to Program Aides.
Oversees and participates in implementation of daily lesson plans and activities, ensuring they are age appropriate, individualized and culturally sensitive; observes teachers in the classroom and provides feedback; mentors and coaches staff in planning appropriate curriculum and activities; provides technical and problem solving assistance to teachers and other staff; trains staff on curriculum changes and procedures; monitors to ensure timely completion of child observations and assessments; ensures Individual Education Plans are being implemented.
Promotes parent involvement in center activities; and assists with; planning and conducting parent education/training meetings.
Ensures the maintenance of up-to-date, accurate center and childrens files; reviews daily and monthly teacher reports; compiles and submits end-of-the-month reporting, classroom status, meal count, volunteer time, in-kind donation, transportation, and other reports required by funding agencies.
Fills in for other center staff as required; substitutes in the classroom; portions and prepares childrens meals. Attends staff and program planning meetings; participates in mandatory training sessions.
Builds community relationships; participates in recruitment and enrollment activities as required.
Monitors the inventory of site materials, supplies, and equipment; makes purchases for the center, staying within the budget. Inspects and monitors center operations to ensure compliance with Head Start Performance Standards, state licensing requirements and health, safety and fire regulations; adjusts staffing to ensure conformance to applicable licensing requirements; performs mandated inspections of classroom and playground facilities and takes necessary corrective action to ensure that housekeeping/cleanliness standards and permit/license requirements are met.
Provides guidance and direction to staff to promote an optimal learning environment for children. Participates in staff development activities including in-service, training sessions, and meetings as required.
Trains new and returning team members as necessary to meet the needs of the employees position.
Participate in staff recruitment process along side with WSHS recruiter. Ensures staff complete developmental screenings and social/emotional screenings within 45 days of enrollment and accurate documentation of health information.
Ensures staff monitor childrens progress by documenting and recording all observations necessary to complete on going assessments according to program requirements for the purpose of identifying strengths as well as possible concerns and/or delays. Complies with all Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) guidelines and confirms completion of end of the month CACFP paperwork.
Ensures all procedures and protocols are in compliance with the Child Care Center Rules Instrument pursuant to A.R.S. 36-891-(F) Form CCL-114. (i.e., changes affecting license, posting of notices, enrollment of children, suspected or alleged child abuse or neglect; staff-to-children ratios, accident and emergency procedures, etc.).Coordinates equipment and/or facility repairs via established program procedures; ensures timely completion of repairs to minimize any risk of injury to others and meet state licensing requirements.
Ensures appropriate teacher-child ratios and minimum state teacher qualifications are met.
Provides families with information about community organizations and events and encourages their participation and further involvement in community groups and activities to promote building parents as advocates and leaders.
Includes and involves parents in planning Parent Center Committee meetings and facilitates committee meetings with the Family Support Specialist (FSS)Maintains appropriate communication with and seeks out information and assistance from supervisors, managers, other Head Start staff, and parents as needed to provide services and fulfill job responsibilities.
Understands the requirements of the Arizona Mandatory Reporting Law; communicates and demonstrates the importance of informing a supervisor/manager of any concerns about children and suspicions of child abuse and/or neglect.
Participate in and support Continuous Improvement initiatives to include attending appropriate program leadership meetings and attending all relevant Continuous Improvement meetings to ensure organization-wide involvement in Continuous Improvement and the development of program performance measurements. Supervisors must also develop and provide appropriate staff training and support the recognition of accomplishments relative to Continuous Improvement. Promotes ongoing commitment to excellence and continual quality improvement to ensure the highest quality of services to children, families, and staff.
Other duties as assigned
Prepares, and attends all meetings, trainings, and conferences as assigned. Maintains self and functional work environment.
Performs other tasks as may be required for the efficient comprehensive, integrated program.
JOB SUMMARY
The Center Director plans, develops, implements, and supervises program operations for an assigned Head Start and/or Early Head Start center(s); monitors and ensures center operations are in conformance with Catholic Charities Westside Head Start policies and procedures, licensing regulations, Health and Safety Standard and service area plans. Participates in implementation of engaging and secure learning environments in which children can expand their knowledge and skills through a variety of experiences and interactions that form a foundation for school readiness. Under the direction of an Area Manager, the Center Director has the responsibility for the daily oversight of center operations and all assigned staff. Adheres to and ensures compliance with all federal guidelines (Head Start Performance Standards, Policies and Procedures), all Arizona Child Care Licensing requirements and procedures, and all Catholic Charities policies in providing children and families with Head Start quality services.ESSENTIAL DUTIES
Creates a welcoming, safe, and developmentally appropriate environment for the purpose of encouraging the cognitive, physical, social/emotional, and language development of the child and family.Oversee and organize the programs, program personnel and activities of an assigned center(s).Works with assigned teaching and family service staff and develops, implements, and monitors service area and center work plans to achieve assigned goals, objectives, and educational outcomes.
Contributes to the development of and monitoring of performance against the available resources.
Participates in developing, implementing, and evaluating work programs, plans, processes, systems, and procedures to achieve Westside Head Starts goals, objectives, and performance measures consistent with division quality and service expectations. Responsible for on-going staff supervision and regular, structured supervision meetings to maximize employee performance.
Monitors staff performance and provides coaching for performance improvement and development.
Provides day-to-day leadership to ensure a high performance, child, and family- centered environment which supports achieving Head Start educational objectives and family service expectations; provides leadership and participates in programs and activities that promote effective parent involvement and positive employee relations environment. Oversees the day-to-day operations of assigned program options; ensures centers are properly staffed in conformance with licensing requirements and adjusts staffing as required; responds to telephone calls and parent visits regarding a wide variety of child and family issues; communicates center activities and program master calendar to staff and parents; ensures cooperative working relationships between staff, parents, volunteers, community partners, specialists and consultants; resolves food service and transportation issues and special needs with applicable managers; assists in coordination of the delivery of meal services, including receiving food, required paperwork, meal production records, food order, inventory, assigning duties to Program Aides.
Oversees and participates in implementation of daily lesson plans and activities, ensuring they are age appropriate, individualized and culturally sensitive; observes teachers in the classroom and provides feedback; mentors and coaches staff in planning appropriate curriculum and activities; provides technical and problem solving assistance to teachers and other staff; trains staff on curriculum changes and procedures; monitors to ensure timely completion of child observations and assessments; ensures Individual Education Plans are being implemented.
Promotes parent involvement in center activities; and assists with; planning and conducting parent education/training meetings.
Ensures the maintenance of up-to-date, accurate center and childrens files; reviews daily and monthly teacher reports; compiles and submits end-of-the-month reporting, classroom status, meal count, volunteer time, in-kind donation, transportation, and other reports required by funding agencies.
Fills in for other center staff as required; substitutes in the classroom; portions and prepares childrens meals. Attends staff and program planning meetings; participates in mandatory training sessions.
Builds community relationships; participates in recruitment and enrollment activities as required.
Monitors the inventory of site materials, supplies, and equipment; makes purchases for the center, staying within the budget. Inspects and monitors center operations to ensure compliance with Head Start Performance Standards, state licensing requirements and health, safety and fire regulations; adjusts staffing to ensure conformance to applicable licensing requirements; performs mandated inspections of classroom and playground facilities and takes necessary corrective action to ensure that housekeeping/cleanliness standards and permit/license requirements are met.
Provides guidance and direction to staff to promote an optimal learning environment for children. Participates in staff development activities including in-service, training sessions, and meetings as required.
Trains new and returning team members as necessary to meet the needs of the employees position.
Participate in staff recruitment process along side with WSHS recruiter. Ensures staff complete developmental screenings and social/emotional screenings within 45 days of enrollment and accurate documentation of health information.
Ensures staff monitor childrens progress by documenting and recording all observations necessary to complete on going assessments according to program requirements for the purpose of identifying strengths as well as possible concerns and/or delays. Complies with all Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) guidelines and confirms completion of end of the month CACFP paperwork.
Ensures all procedures and protocols are in compliance with the Child Care Center Rules Instrument pursuant to A.R.S. 36-891-(F) Form CCL-114. (i.e., changes affecting license, posting of notices, enrollment of children, suspected or alleged child abuse or neglect; staff-to-children ratios, accident and emergency procedures, etc.).Coordinates equipment and/or facility repairs via established program procedures; ensures timely completion of repairs to minimize any risk of injury to others and meet state licensing requirements.
Ensures appropriate teacher-child ratios and minimum state teacher qualifications are met.
Provides families with information about community organizations and events and encourages their participation and further involvement in community groups and activities to promote building parents as advocates and leaders.
Includes and involves parents in planning Parent Center Committee meetings and facilitates committee meetings with the Family Support Specialist (FSS)Maintains appropriate communication with and seeks out information and assistance from supervisors, managers, other Head Start staff, and parents as needed to provide services and fulfill job responsibilities.
Understands the requirements of the Arizona Mandatory Reporting Law; communicates and demonstrates the importance of informing a supervisor/manager of any concerns about children and suspicions of child abuse and/or neglect.
Participate in and support Continuous Improvement initiatives to include attending appropriate program leadership meetings and attending all relevant Continuous Improvement meetings to ensure organization-wide involvement in Continuous Improvement and the development of program performance measurements. Supervisors must also develop and provide appropriate staff training and support the recognition of accomplishments relative to Continuous Improvement. Promotes ongoing commitment to excellence and continual quality improvement to ensure the highest quality of services to children, families, and staff.
Other duties as assigned
OTHER RELATED DUTIES
This position may require flexibility in scheduling to attend and actively participate in evening and weekend events, including but not limited to parent meetings, family engagement activities, community outreach events, trainings, recruitment efforts, program celebrations, and other agency-sponsored functions as assigned.Prepares, and attends all meetings, trainings, and conferences as assigned. Maintains self and functional work environment.
Performs other tasks as may be required for the efficient comprehensive, integrated program.