Assistant Director of Early Childhood

Northshore School District 417•Bothell, WA

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

This position assists in directing and managing district early childhood education programs, including all preschool students and families, engagement with B-3 centers, pre-kindergarten, and Head Start services. The role involves developing and monitoring budgets, maintaining positive staff relationships, and ensuring compliance with state and federal early learning regulations, Head Start Performance Standards, and reporting practices. The Assistant Director manages staffing and programming decisions, provides direct support to building administrators, teachers, families, and community partners, and supports the implementation of inclusive, developmentally appropriate instructional practices. This role collaborates with district and community agencies to ensure high-quality services for young learners.

Requirements

Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education, Special Education, Educational Leadership, Child Development, or a related field
A valid Washington State teaching certificate
A valid Washington State Administrator Certificate
Teaching experience
Experience coordinating or supervising early childhood, Head Start, and/or special education programs
Knowledge of child development, early learning standards, inclusive practices, Head Start Performance Standards, federal grant compliance requirements, curriculum materials, assessment systems, and instructional and behavioral strategies for young children.
Knowledge of special education regulations, IEP processes, and WAC compliance requirements.
Skill in program development and evaluation, staff supervision, fiscal management, grant oversight, and professional development.
Demonstrated ability to support high-quality early childhood instructional services.
Ability to work effectively with a diverse population.
Strong oral and written communication and problem-solving skills.
Ability to build collaborative relationships with families, staff, and community agencies.
Ability to support inclusive learning environments and implement curriculum in a variety of educational settings.
Ability to assist in accomplishing the district’s strategic plan goals and objectives.

Responsibilities

Interprets and implements district policies, state laws, federal regulations, WAC requirements, and Head Start Performance Standards related to early childhood and special education programs; communicates program requirements and expectations to staff, families, and community partners.
Provides instructional leadership for early childhood programs by supporting high-quality teaching and learning, promoting developmentally appropriate practices, analyzing student and program data, and guiding continuous improvement to improve student outcomes.
Designs, implements, supervises, and evaluates district early childhood, inclusive education, and Head Start programs aligned with district and state standards.
Participates as a member of multidisciplinary and evaluation teams regarding student eligibility, placement, intervention services, and program recommendations; monitors Early Childhood IEP processes and serves as district representative in IEP meetings, as assigned.
Ensures compliance with state and federal requirements, including WAC, Head Start Performance Standards, assessment timelines, and reporting requirements; maintains accurate documentation and program records.
Provides guidance and technical assistance regarding early learning standards, special education requirements, Head Start regulations, and program compliance expectations.
Supervises program operations, including classroom environments, student placements, contractual agreements, and partnerships with developmental centers, Educational Service Districts (ESD), Head Start, and community agencies.
Serves as liaison to families, community agencies, interagency coordinating councils, and regional early learning partners to support coordinated services and family engagement.
Hires, supervises, and evaluates early childhood staff using the Danielson Framework and district evaluation systems, providing coaching, feedback, and professional development to support instructional effectiveness.
Monitors program budgets, enrollment, fiscal reporting, and grant accountability requirements to ensure fiscal responsibility and effective use of resources, including Head Start funding.
Provides on-site administrative and instructional support to classrooms and staff and performs related duties as assigned.
Engages in district-level leadership and collaboration to support MTSS frameworks, inclusive education practices, and equitable access to high-quality early childhood learning opportunities, while aligning work to the District Strategic Action Plan and its goals for student achievement and system improvement.
Supports kindergarten transition and kindergarten readiness initiatives by coordinating early childhood-to-Kindergarten transition practices, strengthening alignment with K–12 systems, and ensuring continuity of services for students with disabilities; maintains a strong understanding of IDEA requirements to support compliant and effective special education services.