Senior Program Manager of Education

JOB TITLE: Senior Program Manager of Education & Inclusion

OFFICE: Orlando

SUPERVISES: Program Manager of Education & Inclusion, Education Coordinator, and Site Managers

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

• The Senior Program Manager of Education & Inclusion provides oversight of Early Childhood Development, Education, and Inclusion for the HS/EHS/CCP programs. Keeps the Agency at the forefront of emergent issues for young children. Assures integration, coordination, and accountability to ensure the children have a safe, nurturing, secure, and quality learning environment as required in the Head Start Program Performance Standards Subpart C, 1302.30-1302.36. Assists with developing and implementing staff development plans, training, and technical assistance. Provides innovative solutions to effective teaching methods preparing children for school.
  
  
  

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Directs and shapes the curricula and teaching processes in the HS/EHS/CCP classrooms. Works with educational committees, multi-disciplinary teams and advisory groups within the community to develop the most appropriate curricula and standards to meet the needs of enrolled children.
• Helps to develop and maintain and/or exceeds School Readiness plans and goals.
• Provides oversight for multiple childcare facilities both directly operated and subcontracting within Orange, Osceola and Seminole Counties. Works with Site Supervisors, Directors, and Owners to ensure program sites comply with licensing and Head Start regulations.
• Support and interacts regularly with Site Supervisors, Directors, Owners, and staff by spending 25% of time at the facilities monitoring all classroom sites. Site visits include, but are not limited to, playground safety checks, reviewing classroom folders/anecdotal notes, and conducting classroom observations to assure that the curriculum is being followed. Communicates observations with the Site Supervisors. Ensures Education Specialists conduct monthly monitoring of each site, review monitoring reports and discussing findings and action plans. May work hand-in-hand with teachers’ role modeling effective practice.
• Takes the lead on researching, designing, and selecting educational materials and supplies and implementing instructional methods. Oversees the purchase and distribution of classroom equipment, materials, and supplies to meet quality standards and maintains an accurate inventory of such supplies, equipment, and materials.
• Works together with program staff across all program areas to implement best practices and develop a consistent understanding of how to achieve and maintain high quality standards, culminating in Cognia accreditation.
• Works in concert with the Program Manager, Quality Assurance Coordinator and the Education Specialists to coordinate the scheduling and content of Pre-Service, In-Service, and Cluster training, and in developing school-year training calendars.
• Recruits, trains, and leads a team of Teachers, Site Supervisors, Education Specialists and support staff; setting clear expectations and accountability for attaining child outcomes.
• Supervises, develops, and motivates Program Manager, Education Coordinator and Site Supervisors. Provides oversight for Site Supervisors and Teachers. Meets individually with team members no less than quarterly, to provide on-going verbal and written feedback consistent with professional development plans.
• Mentors and coaches’ new teachers, assisting in classrooms, developing workshops, seminars and professional development opportunities.
• Obtains and maintains current certification as a CLASS Reliable Observer. Ensuring measures are in place to sustain the CLASS scores above the national median range for the Head Start Program. Work to ensure all children experience effective interactions with their teachers’ certifying interactions that drive positive child development and learning. Analyzes CLASS data to drive professional development opportunities.
• Ensures all classrooms are prepared for OHS CLASS Evaluation to meet or exceed OHS standards
• Provides feedback to Site Supervisors to assist with Annual Performance Appraisals of instructional personnel. Ensures Appraisals are completed timely.
• Provides direct oversight and assists in the training and technical assistance (T&TA) of the Site Supervisors, teaching teams, including child assessment procedures, such as how to use the Desired Results Developmental Profile (DRDP) assessment program. Ensures that mandated assessment reports are submitted on or before due date. Analyzes assessment data to drive professional development opportunities.
• Trains in the use of educational materials and techniques. Advises teaching teams on compliance with local, state and national standards, as well as working closely with other Head Start programs, school districts and Early Learning Coalitions. Ensures compliance with all education related Head Start/Early Head Start standards and maintains a monitoring cycle calendar.
• Ensures lesson plans (HS) and Experience Plans (EHS) are reviewed and feedback is provided as necessary to instructional personnel before plans are utilized in the classrooms.
• Supervises the Program Manager and provides support to the Inclusion Specialists, seeks resources and training for instructional personnel that have children with disabilities or challenging behavior(s). Provides direct support to the Inclusion program staff on recruitment and integrating Individual Education Plans (IEP) and Individual Family Services Plan (IFSP) into the program model. Accountable for meeting 10% disabilities requirement.
• Supports the planning and all responsibilities required for Head Start to continue being a Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten (VPK) provider. Fully understands the VPK Assessment including progress monitoring measures in the areas of Print Knowledge, Phonological Awareness, Mathematics, and Oral Language/Vocabulary that are aligned with the Standards for Four-Year-Old. Ensures a minimum of 60% of the enrolled VPK students (VPK by classroom). Pass the Kindergarten Entry Assessment.
• Leads regular team meetings to inspire and energize employees to achieve program goals.
• Provides training to Policy Council in the fall on curriculums and the assessment system.
• Seeks internship opportunities with local colleges and universities that offer early childhood development coursework so that students can complete their fieldwork in HS and EHS classrooms.
• Works in concert with other key management and the HS/EHS Director to update the 4C HS/EHS Standards and Procedures applicable to early childhood development and education.
• Seeks in-kind (donated time, services, products) or cash (grant opportunities, state or local funding) to assist the program in meeting its 20% non-federal share requirement.
• Participates in the Agency’s Quality Improvement and DEI Programs, Strategic Planning, and updates to the Community Assessment.
• Takes the lead on any Educational related Corrective Action Plans and ensures full compliance to the plan.
• Supports the preparation for FA1 and FA2 monitoring
  
  
  

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS, KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Knowledge of business and management principles involved in leadership techniques, customer service and the coordination of people and resources. Specific knowledge in Early Childhood Education, behavioral objectives, and writing/ creating curriculum.
• Ability to operate a personal computer. Knowledge of a variety of computer software applications in word processing, spreadsheet, presentation and database software (including but not limited to MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint). Ability to navigate the Internet. Ability to gain knowledge of the Child Plus software application.
• Ability to demonstrate a high level of interpersonal skills to communicate Agency information effectively to other staff and outside representatives and to represent Agency positively in the community.
• Must be capable of working under pressure while remaining professional, exhibiting an upbeat attitude, and organizing and planning efficiently.
• Ability to analyze information and evaluate results to select the best solution and solve problems.
• Ability to supervise and manage the performance of others.
• Ability to identify, develop, retrain and engage a high performing team.
• Ability to manage multiple childcare sites maintaining consistent high standards of operations in all locations.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Ability to understand, process, and facilitate the implementation of the requirements outlined in the HS/EHS Performance Standards and all other applicable laws and regulations, to include the Active Supervision of children.
• Ability to know and understand the State of Florida Childcare Rules and Regulations.
• Ability to know and understand the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).
• Ability to gain knowledge of the CLASS assessment tool and how to use it to improve program services.
• Ability to work effectively with children, parents and staff.
• Ability to demonstrate skills in organization, time management, and balance multiple concurrent objectives and projects.
• Ability to work and communicate with people from various multi-cultural backgrounds and socio-economic levels.
• Sensitivity to the needs, abilities, beliefs, and attitudes of individuals within and outside the Agency, including but not limited to customers and co-workers.
  
  
  

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• Graduation from an accredited university or college with a Master’s degree in Early Childhood Development or Education, Special Education or closely related field.
• Five (5) years’ experiences working in the field of Early Childhood Education at the pre- kindergarten level.
• Five (5) years supervisory/management experience including two (2) years of multi-site experience preferred.
• Three (3) years Head Start experience preferred.
• Bilingual (English & Spanish) preferred.
  
  
  

LICENSES, CERTIFICATIONS OR REGISTRATIONS:

• Possession of a valid Florida Driver's License and daily access to reliable transportation to and from work and for travel to off-site locations.
• Must meet criteria for background screening as required for child care personnel in child care licensing regulations.
• Possession of a current Department of Children and Families (DCF) Director’s Credential or obtained within 6 months of hire.
• Possession of Reliable CLASS Observer certification or obtained within 12 months of hire.
  
  
  

ESSENTIAL PHYSICAL SKILLS:

• Ability to operate a motor vehicle for travel to off-site locations.
• Ability to speak in front of large groups.
• Ability to set up meetings/trainings including moving tables, chair, etc. and cleanup.
• Position requires bending, stooping, and kneeling.
• Must be able to appropriately restrain children, if child is in danger of hurting him/herself or others.
• Ability to use auditory and visual senses to observe and communicate with children.
• Required to stand and/or be in continuous motion for extended periods of time while performing job functions.
• May be required to perform moderate lifting, approximately 30-50 pounds, for example in lifting children.
  
  
  

ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS:

• Office and office site work environment. Travels 25% of time and conducts business in classroom settings.
• Possible exposure to communicable diseases, including blood borne pathogens.
• May be required to work overtime, nights, weekends and certain holidays.
• Ability to travel locally and out-of-state.
  
  
  

OTHER QUALIFICATIONS:

• The ability to safely and successfully perform essential job functions consistent with the ADA, FMLA, and other federal, state and local standards, including meeting qualitative and/or qualitative productivity standards.
• The ability to maintain reasonably, regular, punctual attendance consistent with the ADA, FMLA, and other federal, state and local standards.
  
  
  

Compliance with all personnel policies of the Agency.

SALARY: $65,000 TO $75,000 per year

PAY GRADE: 15