Director of Early Childhood Services

Midland Public Schools•Midland, MI

3d•Onsite

About The Position

Midland Public Schools is seeking an innovative, transformative, progressive, and collaborative leader to serve as the Director of Carpenter Pre-Primary Center. This position reports to the Superintendent Team and is responsible for all aspects of educational programming, professional development, building safety, staffing, evaluation, budgeting, and management of the building. The Carpenter Pre-Primary Center serves as the vibrant gateway to the Midland Public Schools experience, specifically designed to nurture our youngest learners as they embark on their educational journey. Housed in a beautifully maintained, historic facility, the center creates a warm and secure "home base" for preschool and early elementary students during their most formative years. As a specialized hub for early childhood excellence, the building features classrooms tailored for play-based exploration and social-emotional development. By fostering a collaborative environment between dedicated educators and families, Carpenter Pre-Primary Center ensures that every child develops the curiosity and resilience needed to thrive throughout their K-12 career and beyond.

Requirements

Possession of a Master’s degree in Education, Early Childhood or Administration from an accredited university
Valid Michigan teacher certification
At least five years of successful teaching experience in a pre-school and/or K-12 school setting
Experience in both preschool and early elementary classrooms.
Knowledge of current education research and best practices
Demonstrated skills in leadership, communications, and team building
Communication: knows and demonstrates vibrant two-way communication with school leaders and staff members. Must write accurately, using technical language and serve as a solid verbal communicator. Capable of presentations that make technical, complex issues accessible and comprehensible for all.
Teamwork : creates and motivates a diverse team. Assists team members in seeing their role as part of an overall effort and something greater than themselves.
Leadership: demonstrates extraordinary leadership ability to include strategic planning and visioning, project management, goal setting, and program planning and implementation.
Motivation : works to motivate staff members to excel.
Knowledge : demonstrated supervisory ability to include selection, development, evaluation, and management of administrators and professional staff members.
Emotional Intelligence : capable of strong human connection; the ability to manage both their own emotions and understand the emotions of people around you; exhibits self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skills.
Focus: proven ability to set goals and measures of achievement for said goals, and provide multiple strategies to achieve these goals
Multitasking : has excellent time management and problem-solving skills. Flexible team player willing to do what it takes to get the job done; adaptable and enjoys a challenge.
Sound Judgement: someone who exhibits sound judgment with the ability to prioritize and make decisions.
Self-starter : a detail-oriented self-starter with prior experience in facilitating success, energetic and eager to tackle new projects and ideas.

Nice To Haves

ZA endorsement on Michigan teacher certification
At least two (2) semester hours or 3.0 CEU’s in childcare administration
Successful experience in management of budgets and personnel
Leadership experience in an early childhood program of elementary setting
Knowledge of and experience with organizational change models, implementation science, and program evaluation
Knowledge of and experience dealing with student disciplinary issues, school safety, and various student services-related matters

Responsibilities

Oversee teaching instructionally using play based inquiry and approaches.
Develop a daily, weekly, and yearly calendar.
Provide instructional resources and materials to support teaching staff in accomplishing instructional goals.
Foster collegiality and team building among staff members; encourage their active involvement in decision-making process.
Provide for two-way communication with the superintendent, staff, students, parents, and community.
Communicate and promote expectations for high-level performance to staff and students; recognize excellence and achievement.
Ensure the effective and quick resolution of conflicts.
Build a common vision for Carpenter Pre-Primary Center improvement with staff; direct planning activities and put programs in place with staff to ensure attainment of Carpenter Pre-Primary Center’s mission.
Identify, analyze, and apply research findings to promote school improvement.
Develop and set annual performance objectives using the MICIP process.
Develop, maintain, and use information systems and records necessary to show progress on performance objectives.
Collaborate with Human Resources to interview, select, and orient new staff.
Define expectations for staff performance regarding instructional strategies, classroom management, and communication with the public.
Observe employee performance, conduct observations, and facilitate evaluation conferences utilizing District evaluation systems.
Assign campus personnel.
Make recommendations to the superintendent on termination, suspension, or non-renewal of employees assigned to campus.
Confer with staff regarding their professional growth; work with them to develop and accomplish improvement goals.
Develop campus budgets based on documented program needs, estimated enrollment, personnel, and other fiscal needs; keep programs within budget limits; maintain fiscal control; accurately report fiscal information.
Compile, maintain, and file all physical and computerized reports, records, and other documents required including accurate and timely reports of maximum attendance to requisition textbooks.
Collaborate with Operations to manage use of school facilities and supervise the maintenance of facilities to ensure a clean, orderly, and safe campus.
Maintain all safety and licensing requirements.
Coordinate emergency drills.
Manage enrollment, tuition and student recruitment.
Work with faculty and students to facilitate a student discipline management system that results in positive student behavior and enhances the building climate.
Ensure that building rules are uniformly observed, and that student discipline is appropriate and equitable in accordance with the Student Code of Conduct and student handbook.
Conduct conferences about student and building issues with parents, students, and teachers.
Develop professional skills appropriate to job assignment.
Demonstrate professional, ethical, and responsible behavior; serve as a role model for all campus staff.
Articulate the Pre-Primary Center’s mission to the community and solicit its support in realizing the mission.
Demonstrate awareness of Pre-Primary Center and community needs and initiate activities to meet those needs.
Use appropriate and effective techniques to encourage community and parent involvement.
Collaborate with the Midland County Educational Service Agency.
Attend regional preschool partnership meetings.
Involvement in community partnerships with the Great Start Collaboration
Comply with District policies, as well as state and federal laws and regulations.
Adhere to the District’s safety policies and procedures.
Maintain confidentiality in the conduct of District business.
Must be able to perform the essential functions of walking and interacting with students and/or district employees in the specific work site assigned (classroom or office setting).
Demonstrate regular and prompt attendance.
Other duties as assigned.
Supervise and evaluate the performance of staff assigned to campus including teacher(s), paraprofessional(s), administrative assistant(s), etc.