Center Director In Training (Temporary - Leave Cover)

Center Director

Under direction, plans, develops, implements and supervises program operations for an assigned Head Start or Early Head Start (EHS) center(s); monitors and ensures center operations are in conformance with MAAC policies and procedures, licensing regulations, Health and Safety Standards and service area plans. Participates in implementation of age appropriate curriculum and ongoing monitoring of children's cognitive and physical development. Monitors and ensures recruitment and enrollment activities, family development plans and parent participation and overall parent satisfaction. Coordinates and participates in activities of parent committees; compiles and submits site reports; and performs related duties as assigned.

This position has been designed to enable individuals, qualified pursuant to Title 22 regulations, the opportunity to obtain hands-on experience to enable them to meet MAAC's experience requirements for the classification of Center Director. Incumbents in this classification are limited to a maximum of a two (2) year term (appointments may be made for a shorter period of time); at the conclusion of which the incumbent may be considered for a position as a Center Director.

Child Development Program Center Directors are responsible for planning, implementing and providing day-to-day supervision of the educational programs and operations of an assigned Head Start/EHS center, typically with two or more classrooms/program options. Incumbents are accountable for providing children with a safe, nurturing, engaging and secure learning environment that gives them the awareness, skills and confidence to succeed in their present environment and in later school life. Incumbents are also responsible for ensuring delivery of Head Start and community support services to families and for compliance with all applicable policies, procedures, service area plans and state licensing requirements, including those applicable to health, safety and fire regulations. Center Directors are also accountable for the timely completion of all center reporting and the preparation and maintenance of up-to-date children's files. Duties and responsibilities are carried out with considerable independence within the framework of established policies, procedures and guidelines.

The duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to this class.

• Plans, organizes, supervises and evaluates the programs and activities of an assigned Head Start/EHS center; works with assigned teaching and family service staff and develops, implements and monitors service area and center work plans to achieve assigned goals, objectives and educational outcomes; contributes to development of and monitoring of performance against the available resources; participates in developing, implementing and evaluating work programs, plans, processes, systems and procedures to achieve MAAC and Head Start goals, objectives and performance measures consistent with division quality and service expectations.
• Plans and evaluates the performance of assigned staff; establishes performance requirements and personal development targets; regularly monitors performance and provides coaching for performance improvement and development; recommends compensation and provides other rewards to recognize performance; subject to management concurrence, takes disciplinary action, up to and including termination, to address performance deficiencies, in accordance with MAAC's human resources policies and procedures, applicable Head Start regulations and labor contract provisions.
• Provides day-to-day leadership and works with staff to ensure a high performance, child- and family-centered environment which supports achieving Head Start educational objectives and family service expectations; provides leadership and participates in programs and activities that promote effective parent involvement and a positive employee relations environment.
• Supervises and oversees the day-to-day operations of assigned centers and program options; ensures centers are properly staffed in conformance with licensing requirements and adjusts staffing as required; responds to telephone calls and parent visits regarding a wide variety of child and family issues; communicates center activities and program master calendar to staff and parents; ensures cooperative working relationships between staff, parents, volunteers, community partners, specialists and consultants; supervises meal service to children; proactively addresses potential parent and/or community concerns and responds to formal parent complaints; resolves food service and transportation issues and special needs with applicable managers.
• Inspects and monitors center operations to ensure compliance with Head Start Performance Standards, state licensing requirements and health, safety and fire regulations; adjusts staffing to ensure conformance to applicable licensing requirements; performs mandated inspections of classroom and playground facilities and takes necessary corrective action to ensure that housekeeping/cleanliness standards and permit/license requirements are met.
• Oversees and participates in implementation of daily lesson plans and activities, ensuring they are age appropriate, individualized and culturally sensitive; observes teachers in the classroom and provides feedback; mentors and coaches staff in planning appropriate curriculum and activities; provides technical and problem solving assistance to teachers and other staff; trains staff on curriculum changes and DRDB+ procedures; monitors to ensure timely completion of child observations and assessments; ensures Individual Education Plans have been developed and are being implemented, including those for special needs children; meets with parents to discuss children's development and behavioral issues; refers children for health, mental health, child development and other special assessments and/or services; takes appropriate action to deal with child or family emergency situations.
• Promotes parent involvement in center activities; serves as advisor and coordinates and facilities monthly parent committee meetings; plans and conducts parent education/training meetings; oversees the activities of assigned parent trainees; maintains records for Parent Committee funds.
• Ensures the maintenance of up-to-date, accurate center and children's files; reviews daily and monthly teacher reports; compiles and submits end-of-the-month reporting for each assigned program option, including site status, classroom status, meal count, volunteer time, in-kind donation, transportation, field trip and other reports required by funding agencies.
• Fills in for other center staff as required; substitutes in the classroom; portions and prepares children's meals; serves as bus aide when required; participates with other staff on field trips.

Other duties include attending management, staff and program planning meetings; participating in mandatory training sessions; building community relationships; participating in recruitment and enrollment activities as required; maintaining an inventory and ordering materials and supplies for center operations; conducting home visits as required to address special children and/or family situations and needs; performing a variety of summer recess activities, including participating in the redesign of center forms, updating policies and procedures and service area plans and development of staff training plans and activities.

Knowledge of principles and methods of instruction, care and supervision of infants, toddlers and pre-school children; concepts of child development and child behavior patterns of infants, toddlers and pre-school children; MAAC policies and procedures, Head Start Performance Standards and relevant federal, state and local regulations applicable to the operations of a Head Start/EHS center; health and safety regulations and requirements for maintaining Head Start/EHS centers and grounds in a safe, clean and orderly condition; federal, state and local laws, regulations and court decisions applicable to assigned areas of responsibility; MAAC administrative procedures and forms applicable to the operations of a Head Start/EHS center; principles and practices of sound business communication; correct English usage, including spelling, grammar and punctuation; computer hardware and standard business software; principles and practices of effective supervision; MAAC human resources policies and procedures, applicable Head Start regulations and labor contract provisions.

Ability to ensure Head Start/EHS center to meet Performance Standards and compliance with all applicable regulations; develop and implement developmentally appropriate curriculum, lesson plans and instructional strategies to meet the needs of infants, toddlers and preschool-aged children; create and maintain a safe learning environment; observe and document child development, behavior and health; operate a computer using standard business software; prepare clear, concise and comprehensive documentation, reports and other written materials; organize, set priorities and exercise sound independent judgment within areas of responsibility; communicate clearly and effectively, orally and in writing; maintain sensitive and confidential information; exercise tact and diplomacy in dealing with sensitive and complex issues and situations; establish and maintain effective working relationships with center staff, parents, children, other division managers, the community and others encountered in the course of work.

A typical way of demonstrating the knowledge, skills and abilities outlined above is graduation from a four-year college or university with a BA/BS with a major in early childhood education, child development or a closely related field which includes 15 semester units in child development [12 CORE units]; 3 units in administration or staff relations and six (6) units of Infant/Toddler and at least four (4) years of progressively responsible teaching experience in a Head Start or child development program, at least one (1) of which was in a supervisory capacity; or an equivalent combination of training and experience. A child care Center Director shall complete 15 hours of health and safety training if necessary pursuant to Health and Safety Code Section 1596.866 of Title 22 which provides: (a) In addition to any other required training, at least one director or teacher at each day care center shall have at least 15 hours of training on preventive health practices and 1 hour of training in nutrition.

• BA/BS in Child Development or a related field including six (6) units of Infant/Toddler
• A valid State of California Child Development Permit at the Site Supervisor or Program Director permit is required.