Master Education Leader (Bilingual Preferred)

Easter Seals Serving DCIMDIVA•Gaithersburg, MD

12d•$60,000 - $65,000•Onsite

About The Position

This position serves as the Master Education Leader for the Head Start program. The Master Education Leader supports the design and implementation of the professional development experiences for teachers to support best practices in early childhood education. The Master Education Leader coaches the HS and/or EHS teachers who are responsible for the successful operation of the classroom. The Master Education Leader will engage in content knowledge development, observations, and work evidence analysis to ensure that outcomes are achieved for children of all abilities. This position is chiefly responsible for the following core functions and performs other tasks as needed: Planning, Program Implementation, Family Partnerships, Communication and Service Coordination, Record Keeping and Reporting, Ongoing Monitoring and Self-assessment, Program Governance and Leadership.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education or related field, with specific educational and professional experience with inclusion classrooms.
Demonstrated skills and abilities in a management capacity relevant to human services program management.
Training and experience in areas that include: The theories and principles of child growth and development, early childhood education and family support.
Obtain/Maintain certification in CPR and First Aid.
Physical exam and background checks are required for this position.
Travel required locally or long-distance up to 10% of the time for work-related meetings and functions.
Must have a valid driver’s license and reliable transportation.
Ability to interact effectively with people from diverse backgrounds.
Ability to communicate effectively, verbally and in writing.
Demonstrated computer literacy skills, using MS Office applications and other basic data systems including internet navigation.
Must be honest, dependable and able to meet deadlines.
Self-motivated and able to work independently.

Nice To Haves

Bilingual Preferred

Responsibilities

Implement policies and procedures for the education portion of the program with parents and staff supporting the effective implementation of the education content area.
Work with Deputy Director to develop, conduct or arrange training that develops knowledge of Early Childhood Education and infant and toddler development, health and safety issues in Head Start Classrooms and infant and toddler care (e.g., reducing the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, Early Language Development), and methods for communicating effectively with preschool student, infants and toddlers, their parents, and other staff members.
Work with Deputy Director to develop, conduct or arrange training as needed, including pre-service training, Ongoing training, and additional training for parents, volunteers, and others.
Work with teachers to ensure the written curriculum includes goals for children’s development and learning; the experiences through which children will achieve these goals; what staff and parents can do to help children achieve these goals; the materials needed to support the implementation of the curriculum towards achieving the stated goals.
Oversee the preparation of daily lesson plans, including individual plans for each child including goal setting based on identified needs.
Review Center-based lesson plans, and provide specific individualized feedback to each teacher.
Provide developmentally and linguistically appropriate experiences appropriate to age, language and culture of children served.
Provide experiential learning activities advancing the intellectual and emotional competence of children.
Provide an environment in which children develop literacy, numeracy and social skills using increasingly complex language and problem solving abilities.
Provide positive guidance and discipline supporting children as they acquire readiness skills for preschool and beyond.
Provide children with a consistent classroom routine.
Integrate Individual Education Plans (IEPs) for children with disabilities and assist teachers with referral process for children with developmental or behavioral concerns.
Assess children on an ongoing basis and assist with assessment when needed.
Gather and organize anecdotal notes into the required domains and enter into the assessment system.
Assist teaching staff in understanding and interpreting child observation data and establishing appropriate individual child goals based on knowledge of child development.
Ensure the completion of developmental screening on each child within 45 days of enrollment.
Ensure that classrooms, gym and outdoor areas are supplied with developmentally appropriate materials.
Participate in team meetings, home visits, and community events as needed.
Oversees classroom observations to ensure target areas are met.
Work in collaboration with Health Coordinator to put a system in place for proactively tracking and maintaining compliance and timely follow up on physical exams, developmental screenings, etc.
Work with Family Services Coordinator and Director to establish, maintain and manage HS and/or EHS waiting list.
Provide consistent ongoing consultation to teaching staff to support differentiated instruction for children with IEPs or with challenging behaviors.
In coordination with the Part C agency and/or LEA, ensure timely identification, referral, identified services and transition support for children with disabilities.
Contribute to ongoing and regularly scheduled recruitment of children with disabilities.
Ensure parents are integrally involved in developing the program’s curriculum and approach to child development and education through regular meetings with Policy Committee members and others.
Assist teaching staff in developing a system offering parents opportunities for enhancing and increasing their child observation skills.
Share assessment results with staff that help plan home learning activities, family nights, and educational activities and provide opportunities for families to volunteer and attend trainings.
Coordinate training for parents and community members wanting to volunteer in the classroom.
Participate in regular team meetings and participate in case conferences, as necessary, to ensure service coordination across the Head Start and/or Early Head Start program.
Attend local, state and regional initiatives to represent Easterseals and to develop professionally.
Direct children’s developmental concerns to appropriate specialist.
Work closely with Deputy Director, Center Director, staff, parents and consultants to support arrangements for identification, referral, and evaluation of children with suspected disabilities. Upon classification, share responsibility with disabilities specialist to ensure that goals of the IEP are embedded in the classroom lesson plan.
Communicate effectively in written or verbal format to groups of all sizes and individuals.
Develop a working knowledge of local community resources related to education and transition.
Actively participate in Head Start community, including staff meetings, mandated trainings, committee meetings, and other program-wide functions as needed, including some evening activities.
Maintain filing, tracking and documentation systems for the education and disabilities service area and ensure confidentiality of child and family records.
Ensure that child and classroom data are maintained for individual and program planning.
Maintain a tracking system for program materials and supplies that is updated annually.
Ensure teachers understand, generate and document in-kind contributions from parents and others and other allowable costs applied toward the non-federal share requirement.
Provide input into updates of HS and EHS Integrated Service Plan.
Track child outcomes and program quality assessment results on a center-wide basis, analyze data and make program development recommendations to Deputy Director.
Conduct case audits of all HS and/or EHS paper, and work with teachers, EHS Family Advocates, Family Services Coordinator, Health Coordinator, MH/Disabilities Coordinator to assure that all program components are in compliance, and needed follow up completed for children and families.
Assist in completing annual service plan for area of responsibility, administer and implement a system of continuous monitoring and evaluation of activities.
Ensure compliance with Head Start and/or Early Head Start Performance Standards relating to the education service area.
Complete monthly reports on area activities and progress toward goals with recommended modifications to plans, submit to Deputy Director The first week of each month.
Collaborate on strategies for ongoing monitoring and annual self-assessment for the health, safety, education and security of children and families and to oversee ongoing implementation of the Performance Standards and other federal regulations.
Assist with identifying and putting in place actions to address any other areas of identified non-compliance from your work with the program staff – such as in health and safety protocols, governance, parent involvement, in-kind, etc.
Work to ensure annual approval of Early Head Start Service Area plan by Policy Council, ensuring appropriate Policy Council involvement in curriculum and assessment decisions.
Lead for the good of the entire organization, understand the big picture and use it as framework to make decisions.
Make decisions that support program quality and maintain program accountability.
Establish focus for education service area and act to align area’s goals with the strategic direction and needs of the center; ensure that employees in the area understand how their work relates to the center as a whole and the relevant regulations and Performance Standards.
Improve quality and effectiveness of education service area and overall organization by initiating, sponsoring and implementing organizational change and by helping others to successfully manage organizational change.
Promote consistent exchange of information and a cooperative environment within the leadership of the center.
Attend parent committees, Policy Council and board of director meetings as needed or requested.
Ensure teachers and volunteers understand regulations associated with prevention of occupational disease and injury, including the exercise of universal precautions.
Recognize that your job description is service area specific and that a successful employee upholds the overall employment standards outlined in the Personnel Policies and Procedures Manual and specifically, but not limited to: confidentiality, child abuse reporting, attendance and dependability, appropriate dress, customer service and support to all families, prudent use of program resources, and promoting and maintaining safe work environment.
Performs any and all other duties as assigned.