Early Learning Center Director, EducationWorks

Posted by on December 19, 2010

The Early Learning Center Director, under the supervision of the Pennsylvania Director, shall manage the Early Learning Center in accordance with State and local regulations and EW policies to ensure that children placed in the Center receive high-quality and appropriate developmental care in a safe environment.

Responsibilities

A. Child Care
1. Directs activities of the Center to provide instruction and care for children by implementing developmentally appropriate curricula.
2. Observes classes on a regular basis and develops quality improvement plans based on observations.
3. Reviews and adjusts lessons plans regularly.
4. Assists staff and teachers with maintaining safe, attractive, and organized classroom environment that promotes developmentally appropriate social, emotional, physical, and cognitive learning experiences.
5. Confers with teaching staff regarding children’s behavioral or learning problems, and recommends methods of modifying inappropriate behavior and encouraging learning experiences.
6. Arranges medical attention for ill or injured children in accordance with organizational and State regulations and parental directives.
7. Implements all requirements of mandated reporting.
8. Performs classroom teaching duties during absence of regular teacher.

B. Administrative
1. Plans work assignments for program personnel and ensures that all tasks are performed efficiently and on time in accordance with established regulations, job descriptions, policies and procedures.
2. Reviews and approves menu plans and food purchases.
3. Ensures full enrollment and compliance with funding source expectations.
4. Maintains confidentiality of all child and family information.
5. Responsible for maintaining attendance, health, financial and other legal records for all children in accordance with state and/or federal regulations.
6. Prepares Center for all inspections and keeps Center in compliance with all licensing regulations
7. Over time moves center toward meeting NAEYC accreditation requirements.

C. Personnel Management
1. Interviews applicants for Center positions and makes hiring decisions after conferring with the Pennsylvania Director and HR Manager.
2. Develops, implements and maintains, in conjunction with other EW staff, an efficient orientation program that introduces new employees to the Early Learning Center, its policies, procedures, and practices, and to their job description and duties.
3. Directly supervises Center staff and assesses competencies of these staff, providing support when needed.
4. Creates and monitors staff schedules, assuring that ratio requirements are always met.
5. Works with EW Training Director to ensure appropriate training of staff, and accomplishment of required training hours and subjects.
6. Completes required performance evaluations after reviewing competencies, attendance, tardiness, attendance at mandatory in-service education/training, and all other relevant information.

D. Parent/Guardian Relations
1. Introduces oneself to newly admitted children and their parents/guardians, and participates in their orientation to the Center.
2. Develops strong, positive working relationships with parents by regularly providing them information concerning their own child and facility activities.
3. Develop regular “Family Nights” that include relevant, informative parent workshops about child development and parenting issues.
4. Refers parents to needed social and educational services.

E. Safety
1. Inspects the Center on a regular basis as part of an ongoing safety and fire protection, prevention, and security program to ensure that safety standards are maintained.
2. Ensures the Center is maintained in a clean and sanitary manner and is in safe operating order.
3. Periodically monitors assigned personnel to ensure that they are following established safety management policies and procedures in the use of equipment and supplies.
4. Participates in all fire safety and disaster preparedness drills in accordance with policies and procedures, and keeps relevant documentation.

Qualifications—the following qualifications are required for licensing in Pennsylvania
One of the following:
(1) A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in early childhood education, child development, special education, elementary education or a human services field and 1 year of experience with children.
(2) A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, including 30 credit hours in early childhood education, child development, special education, elementary education or a human services field and 2 years of experience with children.
(3) An associate’s degree from an accredited college or university in early childhood education, child development, special education, elementary education or a human services field and 3 years of experience with children.
(4) An associate’s degree from an accredited college or university, including 30 credit hours in early childhood education, child development, special education, elementary education or a human services field and 4 years of experience with children.

In addition, EW requires:

1. Supervisory experience
2. Program management experience.
3. Ability and commitment to work beyond traditional working hours and schedule, as needed
4. Ability to effectively work with parents, visitors, government representatives, and the general public.
5. Excellent writing and verbal communication skills
6. Excellent organizational and paperwork management skills

Thank you for your interest in EducationWorks. See our website at http://www.EducationWorks.org. Please send resume, cover letter, and salary requirements to Trish Buchanan, HR Manager @ tbuchanan@educationworks.org. No phone calls please. Due to the anticipated volume of applicants, we will only call those we wish to interview. EducationWorks is an Equal Opportunity Employer.