PROGRAM: Head Start

EMPLOYMENT STATUS: Exempt

DEPARTMENT: Education

JOB CLASSIFICATION: Regular, Full-time

REPORTS TO: Curriculum and Instruction Coordinator

WORKING DAYS: Monday - Friday

SUPERVISES: Teachers, Assistant Teachers & Volunteers

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

This position requires coordinating moderate to difficult tasks that are child center related and performing these assigned tasks with some independent judgment under close supervision of the Program Director and/or Site Base Management and Facilities Coordinator.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

Safety and Security

Provide a safe and secure environment for children, parents, and all center staff.

Maintain upkeep of center.

Conduct monthly safety meetings and training.

Conduct monthly fire drills and quarterly severe weather drills.

Staff Supervision

Design, plan, and conduct staff development/training sessions.

Assist Head Start center classroom staff in addressing children’s behavior, disturbances, and classroom crises.

Oversee the implementation of the Head Start Curriculum.

Create and supervise center staff work schedules.

Conduct classroom observations.

Mentor, direct, counsel, support, and model expected behavior for teachers, assistant teachers, and volunteers.

Evaluate all center staff performance acknowledging positive performance and implementing progressive discipline per Agency Policy as necessary for negative performance.

Review, secure signatures, and post lesson plans.

Supervise for implementation of lesson plans and then follow–up implementation discrepancies.

Verify compliance and completion of children’s individual folders.

Administration

Be on call for center needs 24 hours a day seven days per week.

Participate in ARD meetings; oversee and implement the resulting objectives.

Collect, review, verify, correct, sign, copy, and submit Center Staff Timesheets.

Collect, review, verify, correct, sign, copy, and submit Head Start Center Children’s Attendance Monthly Reports.

Distribute Agency information to center staff and other interested persons. (i.e. information regarding graduation, field trips, Halloween, etc.).

Provide classroom materials and forms for staff as needed.

Maintain, monitor, and submit annually to Head Start Program Director the Head Start Center Staff Attendance Tracking Form.

Request Head Start center supplies and prepare Purchase Orders.

Collect Head Start classroom inventories annually.

Plan and participate in center staff or children “staffings”.

Organize Agency-wide and center level functions, i.e. graduation, carnivals, etc.

Conduct monthly cluster staff meetings.

Participate in the development, research, and creation of the Head Start classroom curriculum.

Interview applicants for center staff positions, and recommend appropriate applicants for employment.

Initiate Head Start center Accident / Incident Parent Notification Form regarding accidents, incidents, health, environmental issues, etc.

Initiate Head Start center Advisory Forms.

Compliance

Maintain center compliance of Head Start Performance Standards.

Maintain center compliance of TDPRS Minimum Standards.

Substitute in the classroom as needed to maintain staff / child ratio.

Oversee, monitor, and maintain the Average Daily Attendance (ADA) and intervene in excessive absence situations.

Conduct children’s hearing and vision screening.

Family Service Coordination

Oversee the planning and implementation of center parent meetings and then monitor meetings.

Oversee the Head Start center (Cafe’ Mananero) parent morning coffee session;

Conduct parent / staff conferences.

Recruit, train, and supervise Head Start center parent volunteers.

Professional Growth, Certification, and Professionalism

Maintain personal (Area Manager) professional certifications, i.e. First Aid, CPR, Food Handler, CDA, hearing / vision, etc.

Maintain Head Start center staff’s professional folder.

Attend professional growth training sessions.

Other duties

Performs monthly safety survey which exposes center safety hazards.

Attends various social events and serves on committees throughout the year.

Oversees parent orientation when Education Coordinator is unavailable.

Perform other duties as assigned by the Head Start Program Director.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS OF ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

Normal physical activity includes frequent sitting, standing, and walking in a usual workday.

Requires occasional twisting at desk when answering phone or typing at computer.

Requires retrieving files by pulling & pushing filing cabinet drawers with occasional bending, stooping, squatting, kneeling, and reaching above shoulder level.

Requires employee to lift and carry heavy objects such as boxes of supplies and children.

Requires use of the five senses (hearing, seeing, touching, smelling, and tasting) to perform various job duties and in dealing with staff, clients, and outside.

Requires employee to use hands, arms, feet, legs, neck and head while performing Agency tasks.

Requires employee to occasionally crawl and twist in performing duties.

Requires frequent speaking/hearing abilities with staff, co-workers, parents, and supervisor.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

Accepts responsibility for the direction, control, planning and implementation of program activities, events, and tasks.

Able to gather relevant data, conduct an analysis, and arrive at conclusions in order to develop recommendations for management action on various cost related issues.

Demonstrates effective leadership, management, and training skills.

Deals with people beyond giving and receiving instructions--is courteous, cooperative, conscientious, and tactful in dealing with employees and the public.

Performs job duties in a precise, thorough, and meticulous manner.

Able to handle various projects at the same time in an effective manner.

Knowledgeable of office practices and administrative procedures and possesses the ability to interpret and properly apply policies, rules, and regulations.

Demonstrates effective verbal and written communication skills towards all Agency staff and the general public.

Performs under stress when confronted with emergency, critical, unusual, or dangerous situations.

Requires ability to plan, direct, and review the work of subordinate personnel.

Able to effectively use a computer, spreadsheet, and word processing software.

Dresses in appropriate business attire and is professional in appearance and mannerisms.

Ability to maintain regular and punctual attendance.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

GED or High School diploma with a :

Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential or

Certified Child Care Professional credential, with six college hours in management, or

An associate of applied science degree in child development, or closely related field is preferred ("closely related field" - any educational instruction pertaining to the growth, development, physical or mental care, or education of children ages birth through 13 years)

Two years of experience in early childhood is required as a minimum qualification for this position.

Must successfully pass a pre-employment drug test.

Must successfully pass and submit a pre-employment TB test and must successfully pass and submit a TB test annually thereafter.

Requires 30 clock hours of training each year to meet TDPRS requirements.

Must successfully pass a post offer initial physical examination within two weeks from date of hire and must successfully pass and submit a physical examination report every five (5) years of employment.

Must successfully complete and maintain the following examinations, permits, and certifications:

Within two (2) weeks of employment

Food Handler's permit -Renewed every two years by expiration date

First Aid certification - Renewed every two (2) years

CPR Infant/Child certification - Renewed every two year by expiration date

Requires certification by the Texas Dept. of Health in vision & hearing screenings.

Must have transportation and current liability coverage on vehicle to be used in the performance of job duties. Moderate travel on a daily basis may be required.

Must possess a valid Texas Driver's license (Operators-Class C), and driving record must be approved by insurance company on an annual basis.

Able to effectively use a computer, spreadsheet, and word processing software.

Dresses in appropriate business attire and is professional in appearance and mannerisms.

Proof of work eligibility must be provided.