Director of Education HS

LOUISIANA ENDOWMENT FOR THE HUMANITIES•Lafayette, LA

About The Position

The Director of Education combines early childhood education expertise with strategic planning, innovation, and operational follow-through. The role helps ensure high-quality instruction in Head Start classrooms by building educational leadership capacity and supporting the growth and professional development of teaching staff. The Director also plans and collaborates with local and national partners to support effective education-related operations. The Director provides leadership, coaching, and professional development for education staff; supports implementation of PRIME TIME Inc.’s Early Learning methodology and recordkeeping systems; and monitors child outcomes and program quality. The role also ensures compliance with Head Start Performance Standards, Louisiana licensing requirements, CACFP, and applicable local and Tribal regulations. The position works with program leadership, Center Directors/Principals, staff, families, and community partners to support high-quality instruction and positive child and family outcomes.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education, Curriculum Instruction, or a related field with at least six courses in early childhood education and experience teaching preschool-aged children; or state-awarded preschool teaching certification with experience teaching preschool-aged children.
Three to five years of experience supervising and coaching teachers and education leaders.
Reliable in CLASS is required.
Ability to interact effectively with people from diverse backgrounds.
Effective verbal and written communication skills.
Computer literacy, including MS Office applications, basic data systems, and internet navigation.
Honesty, dependability, and ability to meet deadlines.
Self-motivation and ability to work independently.
Passion for achieving positive child and family outcomes through high-quality educational services.
Valid driver’s license, reliable transportation, and state-mandated minimum vehicle insurance coverage; ability to travel out of state occasionally.
Ability to sit most of the time with some bending and reaching; stand, walk, and bend occasionally; and perform repetitive wrist, hand, and finger movements for typing or writing.
Ability to work frequently at close visual range, including preparing and analyzing data and figures, using a computer terminal, and extensive reading.
Ability to receive and respond to oral communication.
Ability to exert up to 10 pounds of force to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects.
Ability to pass a physical examination, background check, and fingerprinting screen.
Ability to lift a child weighing 40 pounds 20 times a day, if needed.
Ability to obtain CPR and First Aid certification.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree.
Doctorate degree.
Certification in special education and bilingual education.
Strong early childhood education and special education experience.
Prior Head Start/Early Head Start experience.
Background in Special Education/Inclusion.
Experience with the Creative Curriculum model and Teaching Strategies GOLD assessment system.
Bilingual English/Spanish skills.

Responsibilities

Provide individual and group support to education leads implementing educational initiatives and coaching.
Communicate and collaborate with Grantee Leadership, staff, and community partners to promote high-quality instruction and consistent practices.
Mentor and coach the educational team.
Plan and implement comprehensive, differentiated, sequential professional development for education staff.
Plan and support onboarding for Curriculum Coaches and other education leadership staff.
Interpret Head Start Performance Standards, licensing standards, program policies, state childcare licensing requirements, and state pre-K guidelines; educate staff and families and implement applicable program requirements.
Oversee, review, and evaluate activities for compliance with Head Start requirements, local and Tribal regulations, and other applicable policies.
Coordinate with other service-area leaders to support children with atypical needs and align parent education and outreach with education goals.
Participate in program planning and leadership activities, policy council relations, leadership team meetings, and other collaboration meetings.
Track, monitor, and ensure completion of Education and Disabilities/Mental Health SISS milestones and Transition Rubric benchmarks.
Support compliance with state and local licensing requirements and QRIS.
Communicate program status, updates, and concerns about classroom staff or facilities to leadership.
Train Executive Leadership and the Board on the education model and practices.
Participate in assigned meetings, events, and training.
Ensure full implementation of PRIME TIME Inc.’s Early Learning methodology and its recordkeeping, reporting, and ongoing monitoring systems.
Support Center Directors/Principals in coaching and mentoring teaching staff using CLASS and other teaching performance tools.
Participate in activities designed to recruit children with disabilities.
Work with Center Directors/Principals and teachers to apply and analyze performance-based assessment data to plan and individualize instruction.
Track and analyze child outcomes and program quality assessment data and use the data to make program development recommendations.
Ensure compliance with Head Start Performance Standards, Louisiana licensing requirements, and CACFP.
Participate in new-hire training.
Perform other duties as assigned.