Education

POSITION DESCRIPTION

JOB TITLE: SALARY RANGE: 11

Education, Transition Manager

REPORTS DIRECTLY TO: WORK STATION:

Head Start/Early Head Start Director Negotiable

SUPERVISES:

Education Mentors

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

The Education/Special Needs Manager is responsible for the overall direction, administration, and coordination of the Education Team activities, including providing information and support to the Policy Council related to Head Start Program Performance Standards (HSPPS) 1302 Subpart C, F, G.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Responsible for achieving or exceeding the overall goals of the areas in accordance with HSPPS.
2. Responsible for planning, implementing, and monitoring a curriculum designed to provide for the physical, emotional, social and intellectual needs of the HS/EHS Start children.
3. In coordination with other component areas, responsible for planning, implementing, and monitoring the School Readiness Goals process. Will report data in aggregated format as needed to plan for individualization, program resources and staff development needs. Will report data to appropriate stakeholders (Regional Office of Head Start, Board of Directors, Policy Council) and staff.
4. Responsible for leading the process for staff to understand and implement strategies that are aligned with the CLASS (Classroom Assessment Scoring System) tool, so that the Program is prepared to succeed for Federal CLASS review process.
5. Becomes and maintains CLASS reliable (certified) in order to perform CLASS observations to meet fidelity to tool.
6. Assist in the development of budgets for assigned component areas, by communicating resource needs to the Program Director.
7. Responsible for establishing and maintaining effective working relationships among Education Team Staff and other component staff in order to integrate and coordinate classroom and program activities.
8. Assist in the interview of and make hiring recommendations for education staff.
9. Contribute to the evaluation of staff performance through sharing monitoring and other evaluative tools and observation reports with staff supervisors.
10. Work collaboratively with Professional Development Manager to ensure that pre- and in-service training is provided to all classroom personnel for assigned component areas.
11. Participate in pre- and in-service training by providing early childhood development, curriculum, School Readiness and CLASS training to all education staff.
12. Responsible for implementing agency policies and HSPPS within the assigned Component areas.
13. Establish and maintain effective working relationships among Education team staff and local, state and federal education and child development professionals in order to meet the educational, developmental, disability, and transition needs of the children.
14. Ensure that required records are maintained and that required reports (Head Start and Agency) are submitted on a timely basis.
15. In partnership with Site Supervisors and other Component Managers, responsible for ensuring the maintenance of a physical environment conducive to the education and development of the children.
16. Encourage parent involvement in the development, implementation and evaluation of the Program's child development curriculum.
17. Responsible for assisting with the design, implementation and participation in a Career Development program that provides for the development of individual plans of action for the upward mobility of classroom staff and an overall training plan for all employees, including pre- and in-services training.
18. Provide consistent, reflective supervision to the HS/EHS staff in the program.
19. Partner with the Professional Development Manager and Site Supervisors to arrange for staff and all Head Start Parents to receive orientation to child abuse/neglect.
20. Provides on-going training and guidance for HS/EHS staff and families on disability and transition-related issues, including fostering parental advocacy, identifying the rights and responsibilities of parents and children within the public-school system, and identifying disability and transition-related resources within the community.
21. Serves as a liaison between public school teachers and administrators and Head Start teachers and staff.
22. Ensure that staff coordinates with public schools on kindergarten screenings for all Head Start children and that staff participate in community fairs and local events to promote collaboration that includes families and promotes the program's emphasis on family development.
23. Ensure that preventive screening and testing is administered to all enrolled children.
24. Establish and maintain effective working relationships with local, state and federal professionals and public and private agencies, in order to assure the availability of resources to meet the related needs of special needs children.
25. In partnership with parents, service providers and classroom staff, responsible for the development and periodic evaluation of individual plans for special needs children.
26. Will work with the local education agencies to develop a mutually agreed upon transition agreement.
27. Ensure that children and families have been provided all of the requirements from HSPPS before, during and after transitions into, between and from the program.
28. Train staff and ensure they are providing learning opportunities to prepare them for a transition to the next step in their educational journey.
29. Work with the ERSEA manager to ensure transitions policies and procedures align between the two components.
30. Responsible for maintaining a high degree of professionalism.
31. Work cooperatively with administrative staff and other agency personnel.
32. Leads and implements onboarding process for new hires within component area.
33. Contribute to staff evaluations through sharing monitoring tools and compliance reports with Site Supervisors.
34. Participate in the public sharing of communication supporting HS/EHS by relating the purpose and goals of the program to parents, staff and the general community and undertaking other public information activities as assigned.
35. Understands responsibility of being a mandated reporter for Child Abuse and Neglect. Will follow the approved program policy and procedure to immediately report suspected abuse or neglect of any child.
36. Maintains confidentiality as required by program Performance Standards and agency policy.
37. Perform additional duties as assigned by supervisor.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

1. Possess a BA or advanced degree in early childhood education or a related degree with experience teaching infant, toddler and/or pre-school age children.
2. Knowledge of adult learning theory, early childhood development theory and educational method and practices usually obtained through a four-year accredited college program.
3. Ability to apply early childhood development methods and practices in classroom activities as demonstrated through at least one year's classroom teaching experience.
4. Ability to develop and implement early childhood development curriculum as required in the Head Start Program performance standards.
5. Knowledge of teaching supervisory methods and practices and ability to establish and implement a teacher career development program.
6. Ability to work effectively with other education professionals and institutions in the community.
7. Ability to conduct oneself in a manner projecting a positive image to staff, program, agency and community.
8. Obtain an initial medical exam and TB assessment within 30 days of employment. Complete a medical exam and TB assessment every five years following initial employment.
9. Pass background screen, child abuse/neglect screen, drug screen and be subject to random drug testing.

I accept the duties and responsibilities as outlined in this position description. This position is exempt from the overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act.

Signature of Employee Date

Signature of Supervisor Date