Volunteers of America is a federally and stated funded comprehensive early childhood education program with a focus on child development that includes a child’s cognitive, physical and social emotional growth and development. The program fosters Family Engagement in all areas of a child’s development and provides comprehensive resources to low income families in the areas of health, nutrition and community resources.
SUMMARY OF DUTIES:
First-line manager of the Child Development Center Teaching staff within the Education Services component of Early Head Start/State Preschool program. (Based in the delegate agency’s administrative office, the incumbent is a field supervisor of one or more child development centers). Program planning and coordination, personnel supervision, training and evaluation, interpretation of Federal and State regulations and policies to center staffs, facility management and other directly related activities including teaching on an emergency basis. Provide children with a learning environment and the varied experience, which will help them develop socially, intellectually, physically, and emotionally in a manner appropriate to their age and stage of development toward the overall goal of social competence. Integrate all learning domains of the Head Start components Early Learning Frameworks, and State Preschool Learning Foundations in the daily program activities. Involve parents in educational activities of the program to enhance their role as the primary educator of the child’s education and development. Assist parent to increase knowledge, understanding, skills, and experience in child growth and development. Identify and reinforce experiences, which occur in the home that parents can utilize as education activities for their children.
Essential Job Functions:
The duties below are intended to provide an overview of the duties required of the Child Development Coordinator.
Develops, plans, and oversees implementation of agency written plans, policies, and procedures regarding education, disabilities, and mental health services to ensure they are consistent with the identified needs of the children served.
Maintains knowledge of relevant federal, state and local laws and regulations, communicates updates to administration, and staff for planning, training, and monitoring purposes, and proposes adaptation to agency procedures, as appropriate.
Facilitates the development, implementation and/or coordination of activities designed to meet compliance with regulations.
Provides leadership and supervision to assigned staff, and communicates effectively expectations and desired outcomes.
Maintains effective internal (and external) relationships to ensure a coordinated approach to service delivery and to address service, staffing, and compliance issues until resolved.
Works with staff, administrative team members, Policy Committee, and Board in the development and review of program proposals, budgets, and plans.
Provides active leadership in fulfilling the mission of FECE, including strategic planning and establishment of strategic goals and program objectives to support the intended outcomes of the varied programs operated by FECE.
Assures effective delivery of services through consistent ongoing monitoring, reporting, and action to correct any identified problems.
Provides ongoing written monitoring and activity reports to the Executive Director and prepares external reports as required.
Reviews and analyzes programs, reports, and records, and adopts changes accordingly, with the appropriate prior approvals.
Participates in updating annual education services component plan in cooperation with staff and parents.
In cooperation with staff and parents, participates, in the conduct and analysis of the annual community needs assessment.
Participates in developing staff plans for each center.
Approves equipment material requests and purchase orders for each child development center.
Assures that educational and support needs are identified for each child.
Assesses teaching personnel and may participate in team assignments in decisions regarding to centers and classrooms.
Establishes effective line of communication in and between centers and CDS in order to facilitate coordination and the efficient flow of information.
Assigns responsibilities to teacher and assistant teacher and delegates the authority required for them to execute such responsibilities.
Confers regularly with center teaching staff regarding child’s behavioral or learning difficulties, and recommends teaching strategies to encourage leaning experiences.
Conducts classroom visits for the purpose of observing classroom activities and provides on-site consultation to teaching staff, as appropriate.
Reviews both formal, CLASS, ECERS, and informal classroom observations, IDP, and IEP as appropriate for each child.
Facilitates regular meetings with each teaching team, serves as a catalyst and coordinator of team efforts.
Resolves conflicts and coaching objective.
Recommends purchase of program material and equipment, such as books, toys, and games designed to stimulate learning as authorized in the delegate agency’s approved budget.
Coordinates the activities of other component personnel assigned to work with a child development center (social workers, parent involvement workers, health assistants, and psychologists).
Routinely inspects center facilities for health, safety, fire, and occupancy violations and takes necessary corrective action to assure that clearances, permits, and licenses remain in force.
Interprets agency policy in line with accepted directives, procedures, and personnel practices promulgated by the Project Director or delegate agency Board of Directors.
Prepares and submits reports on center activities promptly and accurately.
Attend all meetings required by agency management.
Develops and maintains a calendar of all center activities and coordinates it with the delegate agency master calendar.
Confers with Head Start Center committees, parent committees and individual parents, as appropriate, regarding facility and program activities, policies, education services, enrollment procedures, etc.
Establishes procedures to facilitate maximum communication between teaching staff and parents.
Edits, compiles attendance reports
Conducts periodic personnel evaluations as required by delegate agency personnel policies and procedures.
Reviews and evaluates education services component and center activities to ensure conformance to Head Start performance standards and other Federal, State, and local regulations.
Encourages and suggest in-service training, formal education and other training opportunities related to increasing job productivity and career advancement.
Participates in the training needs assessment for teaching staff.
Assists in the design, development and delivery of in-service training programs and orientations for teaching staff, substitutes, and community members.
Attends in-service training for Child Development Supervisors, as required by delegate agency or Grantee management.
Coordinate and provide training and guidance to staff, parents, and community on a variety of pertinent topics in the area of child education and development.
Assist in on-going monitoring, tracking, follow-up and analysis of child development services and child outcomes.
Assist in the maintenance of record keeping and reporting systems, schedules, timelines policies and procedures for child development services.
Communicates with staff, parents, program managers, consultant, and community to enhance services to children and families.
Attend trainings and meetings, as scheduled and/or assigned.
Perform special projects and/or other related duties as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE & SKILLS:
Education:
Bachelor’s or advanced degree in early childhood education or a related field from an institution of higher learning accredited by a regional accreditation association recognized by the Council for Higher Education.
Experience:
Minimum three years of experience in teaching infant/toddlers to school age children, as well as expertise in the theories and principles of child growth and development, early childhood education and family support.
Knowledge and Skills:
The capacity to offer assistance to teachers in the implantation of curricula to meet the group and individual needs of children in Head Start/Early Head Start and State Preschool classrooms.
Exercises considerable professional judgment and autonomy in decision-making with respect to the allocation of resources to pursue educational services objectives, within the child development centers.
Must have knowledge of Head Start goals and objectives for young children and their families.
Ability to work effectively with a variety of adults.
Understanding of an ability to provide training in principles of child growth and development.
Understanding of various cultural backgrounds of Head Start families.
Demonstrates leadership and supervisory ability.
Ability to meet physical requirements of the position per attached Physical Demand Analysis, with or without reasonable accommodation.
Licenses/Permits/Certifications:
California Child Development Site Supervisor Permit or higher.
CLASS Reliable Observer
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
Eligibility to Work: All potential employees will be asked to present supporting documents establishing proof of identity and employment eligibility upon completing the I-9 form.
Medical Examination: Must submit a medical examination demonstrating capability to perform type of work required; must submit a tuberculin skin test or chest x-ray, and proof of the following immunizations; Influenza, Pertussis TDAP (Whooping Cough), and Measles (MMR).
Fingerprint Clearances: All potential employees will be subject to obtain fingerprint clearances from the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Child Abuse Index prior to starting work. *
Other Special Requirement: Must have the use of an automobile with adequate insurance coverage and a valid California driver’s license, or have available transportation.
*Failure to meet medical standards and/or criminal record clearance may result in withdrawal of job appointment.
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:
• Ability to lift 30 pounds if required.
• Ability to squat, bend, stoop, sit on floor, stand, and walk for required periods of time.
• Use close vision, color vision, peripheral vision and depth perception along with the ability to focus vision.
• Reach with hands, arms, use hands, and fingers to handle objects and operate tools, computers, and/or controls.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.