Director of Child Development and Education

Laredo College•Laredo, TX

5d•Onsite

About The Position

This position provides leadership and coordination for educational programs and disciplines, including curriculum planning, instructional operations, personnel management, student support initiatives, and departmental administration. The role fosters continuous improvement through assessment and data-informed decision-making, promotes instructional quality, program effectiveness, workforce and transfer alignment, and student success. It ensures students meet learning objectives and comply with accreditation requirements, while maintaining adherence to institutional, state, federal, and accrediting standards. The position supports successful transfer to four-year institutions and strengthens faculty and staff development. It also promotes collaboration with internal and external stakeholders to advance academic excellence, workforce and transfer relevance, student outcomes, community engagement, and alignment with the institution's mission and strategic priorities.

Requirements

Master’s degree in Education, Child Development, Curriculum and Instruction, or Educational Leadership, or Master’s degree with a minimum of 18 graduate semester hours in Education, Child Development, Curriculum and Instruction, or Educational Leadership. Graduate coursework hours must be aligned with the course learning outcomes that the instructor will be teaching.
Department Chairperson/Director credentials must meet the Commission on Colleges and Universities (CCU) required criteria for teaching within the department's discipline(s) under their supervision.
A minimum of five years of teaching experience, including at least three years of demonstrated experience in curriculum development and program implementation, and three years of experience in the administration of an instructional unit, school, or program, all within an EC–12 setting.
A valid Texas Educator Certification (EC–6, EC–12, or related) or previously held certification with relevant teaching or administrative experience.
Strong leadership, organizational, and time-management skills.
Knowledge of academic programs, instructional operations, and higher education practices.
Ability to lead faculty and staff; manage personnel processes; oversee curriculum, scheduling, and departmental operations; support student success initiatives; and apply data-informed decision-making to assess program effectiveness and drive continuous improvement.
Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
Ability to build productive relationships, resolve conflicts, facilitate discussions, and foster a positive learning environment.
Knowledge of accreditation standards, institutional effectiveness processes, assessment practices, and applicable institutional, state, and federal regulations.
Sound judgment, professionalism, ethical conduct, confidentiality, and proficiency in technology and data management systems.

Nice To Haves

An earned doctorate (Ed.D. or Ph.D.) in Education, Child Development, Curriculum and Instruction, or Educational Leadership.
A minimum of ten years of teaching experience, including at least five years of demonstrated experience in curriculum development and program implementation, and five years of experience in the administration of an instructional unit, school, or program, all within an EC–12 setting.
Texas Principal Certification

Responsibilities

Lead curriculum development and continuous improvement through annual review, assessment of instructional effectiveness, and revision of course outcomes and competencies using input from faculty, advisory committees, research data, and community needs; implement changes to courses or degree programs per established guidelines.
Monitor and analyze student performance data, including enrollment, retention, completion, and transfer outcomes, to assess progress toward performance-based outcomes, ensure accountability for meeting performance metrics, and address areas for improvement.
Oversee personnel processes and concerns in accordance with institutional policies and procedures, including recruitment, interviewing, hiring, orientation, supervision, mentoring, and evaluation of full-time, adjunct, and dual enrollment faculty and staff.
Monitor and manage faculty-related matters, including release time assignments, workload distribution, and instructional staffing needs; make recommendations for tenure and post-tenure review.
Promote personal and professional growth and effectiveness across teaching and non-teaching responsibilities by supporting faculty and staff in developing, implementing, and achieving academic, professional, and personal goals while reinforcing and upholding ethical standards.
Support and promote student success initiatives, including recruitment, retention, and completion, and coordinate advising services within the department to ensure availability and accuracy of information; promote clear pathways to university transfer, experiential learning, and employment opportunities.
Coordinate academic operations, including catalog updates, class scheduling, and course sequencing; ensure offerings are delivered in the appropriate time frame and meet student and program needs; and oversee approval of adjunct agreements and course and student overloads, ensuring alignment with supporting documentation.
Manage departmental operations and communication, including conducting regularly scheduled meetings; serving as a mediator for faculty, students, or staff when conflicts or disagreements occur; reviewing the department webpage to ensure information is current and accurate; and ensuring a safe learning environment and the security of assigned equipment, materials, and classrooms.
Ensure the effective and efficient use of instructional resources by managing departmental budgets, including selecting Open Educational Resources (OER) and ordering textbooks, as applicable, to support alignment with course objectives and program needs.
Participate in accreditation activities associated with the Commission on Colleges and Universities (CCU) and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) and implement Institutional Effectiveness (IE) plans for assigned areas of supervision.
Obtain, prepare, and submit reports to meet educational, funding, Institutional Effectiveness (IE), and accrediting agencies’ requirements, including site visits, self-studies, performance measures, federal and state reporting, grants, articulation or affiliation agreements, memorandum of understanding, licensing, and accreditation compliance, while adhering to prescribed deadlines.
Establish, collaborate, and maintain relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including college departments, dual enrollment programs, secondary and postsecondary institutions, business and industry, community organizations, and other agencies, to support recruitment, assessment, and program development.
Stay informed about industry and labor market trends and employment opportunities to ensure program relevance; promote community engagement; and support college programs and initiatives.
Serve as a liaison between the Office of Recruitment and Dual Enrollment and dual enrollment adjunct faculty and programs, ensuring application materials are complete and compliant, verifying submission of all required documentation, and coordinating the completion of any missing or pending items to ensure timely processing while maintaining clear and consistent communication with all parties.
Maintain an instructional teaching load, as applicable, and fulfill all faculty-related responsibilities, including those associated with instruction, student engagement, and institutional service, in alignment with college policies and procedures.
Ensure adherence to the established academic calendar and full compliance with Board of Trustees-approved institutional policies and procedures, as well as institutional, state, federal, and accreditation requirements, including communicating policies to division personnel and supporting the implementation of instructional guidelines consistent with institutional standards.
Participate in administrative meetings and serve on, or chair, committees in support of institutional goals, initiatives, and operations.
Perform other duties as assigned by the Dean, Associate Provost (when applicable), and the Provost/Vice-President of Academic Affairs.
Lead the development and oversight of EC–12 teacher preparation and transfer pathways, aligning with the Texas Core Curriculum, Texas Education Agency (TEA) educator standards, and relevant Educator Preparation Program (EPP) frameworks, and maintaining and strengthening articulation agreements with university partners offering approved EPPs.
Ensure program alignment with Texas early childhood workforce needs, childcare licensing and regulatory requirements, and regional efforts to strengthen the early childhood and EC–12 educator pipeline, while supporting curriculum relevance for childcare providers, center directors, and early childhood educators, and maintaining compliance with Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) licensing and early childhood workforce standards.
Support advising, academic planning, and student progression for Child Development and EC–12 education students, and serve as a liaison with universities, school districts, early childhood providers, and workforce partners to support educator pipeline development and student success.