Assistant Child Development Center Director

Easterseals Serving Chicagoland and Greater Rockford•Chicago, IL

1d•$68,870 - $86,087•Onsite

About The Position

At Easterseals of Chicagoland and Greater Rockford, we are committed to early learning and disability services, transforming lives through expert educational, family, and community support. The Assistant Child Development Center Director supports the Center Director in leadership, staff recruitment and development, family engagement, and daily operations. This role implements research-based curriculum, analyzes educational data, and supports the inclusion of children with disabilities. The Assistant Director supervises teachers and provides support across the center, including classrooms, the kitchen, and the administrative desk. This position is located at the Easterseals Gilchrist Marchman Child Development Center.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education (ECE)
Meet all requirements in the Licensing Standards for the Department of Children and Family Services
Have (or be able to obtain) Illinois Director’s Credential Level II within 3 months of hire
Certified CLASS Pre-K and Toddler Observer within 1 year
Illinois Substitute License and Gateways ECE level 5 credential within 3 months of hire, PEL preferred
3 years teaching in an early childhood classroom, including working with children with disabilities
Head Start/Early Head Start preferred
1-3 years of supervisory experience and experience coaching teachers strongly preferred
Bilingual language skills (English & Spanish) a plus
Experience working with Teaching Strategies Gold, ChildPlus, and Chicago Cares systems a plus
Knowledge of Head Start/ Early Head Start program operations and performance standards, CLASS, ITERS and ECERS, Teaching Strategies, Creative Curriculum, Pyramid Model, ExceleRate, and NAEYC a plus
Valid driver’s license and auto insurance, safe/ reliable vehicle
Able to work well with all levels of the organization, regulators, funders, and other agencies
Able to manage multiple projects and priorities
Well-organized and highly detail-oriented
Active Listening skills
Coordination skills
Monitoring skills
Social Perceptiveness skills
Speaking skills
Critical Thinking skills
Time Management skills
Negotiation skills
Active Learning skills
Judgment and Decision Making skills
Management of Personnel Resources skills
Persuasion skills
Service Orientation skills
Writing skills
Instructing skills
Learning Strategies skills
Technologically adept – comfort, familiarity, and ability to learn and use variety of computer applications
Intermediate-level knowledge of Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Teams, Outlook, and Excel
Ability to use internet browsers, video conferencing
Excellent interpersonal skills that allow for effective relationships in a diverse environment with ability to collaborate and build a consensus
Ability to perform physical tasks necessary to treat clients, i.e., bending, floor-sitting, etc.
Ability to lift up to 50 pounds frequently

Nice To Haves

Head Start/Early Head Start experience
Bilingual language skills (English & Spanish)
Experience working with Teaching Strategies Gold, ChildPlus, and Chicago Cares systems
Knowledge of Head Start/ Early Head Start program operations and performance standards, CLASS, ITERS and ECERS, Teaching Strategies, Creative Curriculum, Pyramid Model, ExceleRate, and NAEYC

Responsibilities

Implement research-based curriculum, monitoring classroom fidelity and using assessment data to drive coaching strategies.
Ensure Lead teachers facilitate lesson-planning meetings and participate in regular meetings to assess progress in education and disabilities content areas.
Assist teaching staff in completing child assessments, parent/teacher conferences, and other requirements within designated time frames.
Assure all enrolled children receive developmental screening, that education and disabilities data is complete in ChildPlus and Teaching Strategies Gold, and that child portfolios, observations, and education folders are maintained.
Review and analyze child outcome data, home visits, parent/teacher conferences, and screenings to inform individual child and program planning.
Support children with suspected disabilities and social-emotional concerns, ensuring full inclusion and assisting teachers in modifying curriculum and individualizing lesson plans based on IEP goals.
Ensure screening results are shared with parents and that re-screenings, referrals, and follow-ups are conducted as needed, including timely referrals to LEA and Early Intervention.
Maintain compliance with daycare standards set by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) and support ExeleRate and NAEYC Accreditation.
Implement active supervision systems to ensure the safety of children.
Follow up with families to ensure timely payment for services.
Monitor compliance for all service areas, including classroom observations and developing action plans in response to monitoring reports.
Monitor Child Plus and Teaching Strategies GOLD data for accuracy and completeness.
Ensure all health and food handling regulations are carried out as required by the Department of Public Health.
Monitor the facility to ensure it meets all funding, administrative, and regulatory standards, and that the center is a clean and safe learning environment.
Participate in enrollment/recruitment campaigns and annual self-assessment and PIR.
Offer leadership development for Lead Teachers and provide ongoing supervision, training, and support, including performance evaluations and professional development plans.
Recruit, retain, and motivate a team of collaborative and engaged classroom staff, providing timely praise and corrective feedback.
Provide coaching and modeling to teachers on effective parent/teacher conferences and parent-child activities.
Implement reflective and relationship-based practices.
Onboard new staff, clarify roles and expectations, and implement strategies to retain qualified employees.
Communicate regularly with staff to ensure they are informed of and engaged in the center’s goals, encourage staff initiative, and address concerns early.
Develop and maintain positive relationships with parents and implement strategies to engage them in children’s development and learning, developing a yearly Family Engagement plan.
Promptly address parental questions, concerns, and complaints and proactively report them to the Director.
Establish a collaborative and transparent center culture emphasizing direct conflict resolution.
Maintain systems for regular, ongoing communication with staff and families.
Facilitate and/or participate in region, team, leadership, and other meetings.
Participate in agency-sponsored events, committees, and meetings.
Provide effective oversight of all services at the center in the Director’s absence.
Enforce all agency policies, practices, and standards.
Support in opening and closing of the center as assigned, starting as early as 7 am or closing until 5 pm.
Perform other duties as assigned.