Director Of Program Development Jobs in Lafayette, LA

NATURE AND SCOPE OF POSITION

The Director of Education combines the dynamic roles of early childhood education content-expertise, strategic planning and innovation, as well as operational planning and follow-through. The Director of Education is essential to ensuring high-quality instruction in Head Start classrooms throughout the program by building the educational leadership capacity to support the growth and professional development of the teaching staff. The Director of Education also plans and collaborates with local and national partners to ensure effective and efficient education-related operations within the program. This is a fantastic opportunity for an educational leader to be part of an innovative program and play a key role in leading a growing organization that seeks to establish a new standard and levels of impact on Head Start children.

JOB FUNCTIONS

ESSENTIAL-

• Provides individual and group support for education leads in implementing educational initiatives and coaching
• Communicates and collaborates effectively with Grantee Leadership, staff, and community partners to ensure high-quality instruction and consistency of practices
• Mentors and coaches the educational team
• Plans and implements comprehensive, differentiated and sequential professional development for education staff
• Plans and supports the onboarding of Curriculum Coaches and other education leadership staff
• Know and understand all Head Start Performance Standards, Licensing Standards, policies and related state requirements for childcare licensing and state pre-k guidelines in order to interpret rules, educate staff and families and implement appropriate facets of programs
• Oversee, review and evaluate activities to ensure compliance with Head Start Federal agencies, local and Tribal regulations and include any other pertinent policies that directly, or indirectly, affect the program
• Collaborates and coordinates with other service area leadership and initiatives to ensure the following: timely and appropriate support for children with atypical needs; parent education and outreach activities are consistent with education goals and activities
• Consistently contributes to program and professional excellence through productive leadership and participation in: program planning and leadership (1:1 with HSD-, policy council relations, leadership team meetings); participates in other collaboration meetings; tracks, monitors, and ensures all Education and Disabilities/Mental Health SISS milestones are achieved and Transition Rubric benchmarks are met
• Supports the program with compliance of state/local licensing and QRIS
• Communicates with leadership on programmatic status, updates, and any concerns regarding the classroom staff or facilities
• Provides training to Executive Leadership and Board on education model and practices
• Participates in assigned meetings, events, and training as required
• Ensures full implementation of all aspects of PRIME TIME Inc.s Early Learning methodology and system of recordkeeping, reporting, and ongoing monitoring
• Supports Center Directors/Principals in coaching and mentoring of teaching staff using CLASS and other teaching performance tools
• Participates in activities designed to recruit children with disabilities
• Works with Center Directors/Principals and Teachers to apply and analyze performance-based assessment data with the goal of planning and individualizing instruction
• Tracks and analyzes child outcomes and program quality assessment data; uses the data to make program development recommendations
• Ensures compliance with the Head Start Performance Standards; State of Louisiana licensing requirements, and CACFP
• Participates in new hire training

MARGINAL-

• Performs any and all other duties as assigned

PRIMARY QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

• Bachelors degree in Early Childhood Education OR Curriculum Instruction OR related field with at least six (6) courses in early childhood education and experience teaching preschool-aged children OR state awarded preschool teaching certification with experience teaching preschool-aged children
• Masters degree is preferred.
• Doctorate degree is preferred.
• Certification in special education and bilingual education is preferred.

Work Experience:

• 3-5 years' experience supervising and coaching teachers and education leaders; experience with early childhood education and special education strongly preferred
• Reliable in CLASS required
• Prior Head Start/Early Head Start experience preferred
• Background in Special Education/Inclusion preferred
• Experience with Creative Curriculum model and Teaching Strategies, GOLD assessment system preferred

Core 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
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred
• Must be honest, dependable and able to meet deadlines
• Self-motivated and able to work independently
• Must have a passion for achieving positive child and family outcomes through high quality educational services

Additional Requirements:

• Must have a valid drivers license and reliable transportation with state-mandated minimum insurance coverage(s) on your vehicle and the ability to travel out of state on occasion
• Ability to sit most of the time with some bending and reaching
• Ability to stand, walk, and bend occasionally
• Ability to engage in the repetitive movement of wrists, hands, and fingerstyping and/or writing
• Ability to work frequently at close visual range (i.e. preparing and analyzing data and figures, accounting, transcription, computer terminal, extensive reading)
• Ability to receive and respond to oral communication
• Ability to exert up to 10 pounds of force to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects
• Ability to pass physical examination, background check, and fingerprinting screen
• Ability to lift a child weighing 40 pounds, 20 times a day, if needed
• Ability to obtain certification in CPR and First Aid