Preschool Manager- Center Based

Saginaw Intermediate School District•Saginaw Charter Township, MI

45d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Preschool Manager is responsible for overseeing the implementation and compliance of the Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP) while providing instructional leadership, program compliance and supervision to Saginaw ISD Head Start staff assigned to community-based or local district sites. This role ensures high-quality early childhood education services that align with state and federal regulations, program standards, and best practices in early childhood development. The Preschool Manager fosters strong collaboration with local education agencies (LEAs), community-based organizations, and families to support positive outcomes for preschool-aged children.

Requirements

Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Development or a closely related field.
Previous teaching and/or supervision experience is mandatory.
Must be willing and able to obtain Basic First Aid and CPR Certification and maintain certification.
Acceptable tuberculosis and drug screening results, a clear criminal records check and an initial health exam are required post job offer and prior to employment.
Must maintain any certification that employee was hired in with.
Know and implement the Head Start Performance Standards and policies of the agency.
Become reliable and maintain reliability in CLASS.
Engage in mutually respectful goal-oriented partnerships with families to promote parent-child relationships and family well-being.
Respect and respond appropriately to the culture, language, values, and family structures of each family served.
The ability to maintain strict confidentiality with respect to Head Start/Early Head Start children, families, and staff in accordance with established policies, procedures, and other legal requirements i.e., FERPA, HIPAA.
Enhance the parent-child relationship and support parents' role as the first and life-long educators of their children.
Act as a member of a comprehensive services team so that family service activities are coordinated and integrated throughout the program.
Monitors and ensures that learning environments are safe from hazards, free from clutter, and allow for visibility of children; by utilizing the Daily Health and Safety Checklist.
Monitors Staff for and is able to use Active Supervision strategies to keep children safe by: Set up the environment to be able to see children around the room at all times, Position yourself to see and hear all children in your care, Count and Use Face to Name while transitioning in and out of the classroom, Listen for potential danger, Anticipate children’s behavior to predict what the child will do next, and Engage and Redirect to assist the children and help solve problems.

Nice To Haves

Six months experience working with preschool children is preferred.
Experience working with community-based organizations and local school districts in a leadership role.
Familiarity with grant funding, budgeting, and reporting requirements related to early childhood programs.
Training in trauma-informed practices, equity in early learning, and family engagement strategies.

Responsibilities

Ensure compliance with GSRP requirements, Head Start Performance Standards, and Michigan Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP) guidelines for early childhood programs.
Monitor and evaluate program quality, ensuring fidelity to the Creative Curriculum, Teaching Strategies Gold, CLASS, and other relevant assessment tools.
Oversee enrollment processes and ensure adherence to eligibility and recruitment requirements for GSRP and Head Start programs.
Ensure that classroom environments support developmentally appropriate practices, social-emotional learning, and school readiness goals.
Coordinate licensing requirements and maintain compliance with Michigan Child Care Licensing Rules for all assigned sites.
Coach and mentor the Head Start and the LEA GSRP teaching staff to ensure appropriate curriculum implementation.
Develops and implements a plan and system of continuous monitoring and evaluation of activities within the program including an age-appropriate plan for each child based on identified needs.
Serve as a liaison between Saginaw ISD, local districts, and community-based providers to ensure alignment and coordination of preschool services.
Work closely with district administrators, early childhood directors, and community partners to support program effectiveness.
Engage families and caregivers in the learning process by supporting parent education, engagement initiatives, and family partnership agreements.
Participate in GSRP advisory councils, community early childhood coalitions, and professional learning communities to stay informed on best practices and policy updates.
Utilize child assessment data, classroom observations, and program evaluation tools to inform decisions and enhance instructional quality.
Support teachers in data-driven instruction and the use of formative assessments such as COR Advantage to track child progress.
Collaborate with SISD leadership to develop and implement continuous quality improvement (CQI) plans for preschool programs.
Prepare reports and documentation for grant compliance, program audits, and stakeholder communications as needed.
Assists in developing and implementing the School Readiness Plan.
Maintains filing, tracking and documentation systems.
Submits verbal and/or written reports to the Preschool Education Administrator.
Understands and monitors in-kind and other allowable costs applied toward the non-federal share requirement.
Provide leadership, supervision, and coaching to SISD Head Start teachers, associate teachers, and other assigned staff at community or district-based sites.
Support professional growth through training, mentoring, and reflective coaching to enhance instructional practices.
Conduct regular site visits to observe classroom environments, provide feedback, and ensure alignment with GSRP and Head Start expectations.
Foster a collaborative and inclusive team culture that promotes continuous improvement and a shared commitment to high-quality early learning experiences.
Performs other duties as assigned to ensure the successful operation of the program.