Under direction, plans, develops, implements and supervises program operations for an assigned Head Start or Early Head Start (EHS) center(s); monitors and ensures center operations are in conformance with MAAC policies and procedures, licensing regulations, Health and Safety Standards and service area plans.  Participates in implementation of age appropriate curriculum and ongoing monitoring of children’s cognitive and physical development. Monitors and ensures recruitment and enrollment activities, family development plans and parent participation and overall parent satisfaction.  Coordinates and participates in activities of parent committees; compiles and submits site reports; and performs related duties as assigned.

DEFINITION – Center Director In Training

This position has been designed to enable individuals, qualified pursuant to Title 22 regulations, the opportunity to obtain hands-on experience to enable them to meet MAAC’s experience requirements for the classification of Center Director. Incumbents in this classification are limited to a maximum of a two (2) year term (appointments may be made for a shorter period of time); at the conclusion of which the incumbent may be considered for a position as a Center Director. The incumbent, under direction, plans, develops, implements and supervises program operations for an assigned Head Start or Early Head Start (EHS) center(s); monitors and ensures center operations are in conformance with MAAC policies and procedures, licensing regulations, Health and Safety Standards and service area plans.  Participates in implementation of age appropriate curriculum and ongoing monitoring of children’s cognitive and physical development. Monitors and ensures recruitment and enrollment activities, family development plans and parent participation and overall parent satisfaction.  Coordinates and participates in activities of parent committees; compiles and submits site reports; and performs related duties as assigned.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

Child Development Program Center Directors are responsible for planning, implementing and providing day-to-day supervision of the educational programs and operations of an assigned Head Start/EHS center, typically with two or more classrooms/program options. Incumbents are accountable for providing children with a safe, nurturing, engaging and secure learning environment that gives them the awareness, skills and confidence to succeed in their present environment and in later school life. Incumbents are also responsible for ensuring delivery of Head Start and community support services to families and for compliance with all applicable policies, procedures, service area plans and state licensing requirements, including those applicable to health, safety and fire regulations. Center Directors are also accountable for the timely completion of all center reporting and the preparation and maintenance of up-to-date children’s files. Duties and responsibilities are carried out with considerable independence within the framework of established policies, procedures and guide­lines.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed.  The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to this class.

• Plans, organizes, supervises and evaluates the programs and activities of an assigned Head Start/EHS center; works with assigned teaching and family service staff and develops, implements and monitors service area and center work plans to achieve assigned goals, objectives and educational outcomes; contributes to development of and monitoring of performance against the available resources; participates in developing, implementing and evaluating work programs, plans, processes, systems and procedures to achieve MAAC and Head Start goals, objectives and performance measures consistent with division quality and service expectations.
• Plans and evaluates the performance of assigned staff; establishes performance requirements and personal development targets; regularly monitors performance and provides coaching for performance improvement and development; recommends compensation and provides other rewards to recognize performance; subject to management concurrence, takes disciplinary action, up to and including termination, to address performance deficiencies, in accordance with MAAC’s human resources policies and procedures, applicable Head Start regulations and labor contract provisions.
• Provides day-to-day leadership and works with staff to ensure a high performance, child- and family-centered environment which supports achieving Head Start educational objectives and family service expectations; provides leadership and participates in programs and activities that promote effective parent involvement and a positive employee relations environment.
• Supervises and oversees the day-to-day operations of assigned centers and program options; ensures centers are properly staffed in conformance with licensing requirements and adjusts staffing as required; responds to telephone calls and parent visits regarding a wide variety of child and family issues; communicates center activities and program master calendar to staff and parents; ensures cooperative working relationships between staff, parents, volunteers, community partners, specialists and consultants; supervises meal service to children; proactively addresses potential parent and/or community concerns and responds to formal parent complaints; resolves food service and transportation issues and special needs with applicable managers.
• Inspects and monitors center operations to ensure compliance with Head Start Performance Standards, state licensing requirements and health, safety and fire regulations; adjusts staffing to ensure conformance to applicable licensing requirements; performs mandated inspections of classroom and playground facilities and takes necessary corrective action to ensure that housekeeping/cleanliness standards and permit/license requirements are met.
• Oversees and participates in implementation of daily lesson plans and activities, ensuring they are age appropriate, individualized and culturally sensitive; observes teachers in the classroom and provides feedback; mentors and coaches staff in planning appropriate curriculum and activities; provides technical and problem solving assistance to teachers and other staff; trains staff on curriculum changes and DRDB+ procedures; monitors to ensure timely completion of child observations and assessments; ensures Individual Education Plans have been developed and are being implemented, including those for special needs children; meets with parents to discuss children’s development and behavioral issues; refers children for health, mental health, child development and other special assessments and/or services; takes appropriate action to deal with child or family emergency situations.
• Promotes parent involvement in center activities; serves as advisor and coordinates and facilities monthly parent committee meetings; plans and conducts parent education/training meetings; oversees the activities of assigned parent trainees; maintains records for Parent Committee funds.
• Ensures the maintenance of up-to-date, accurate center and children’s files; reviews daily and monthly teacher reports; compiles and submits end-of-the-month reporting for each assigned program option, including site status, classroom status, meal count, volunteer time, in-kind donation, transportation, field trip and other reports required by funding agencies.
• Fills in for other center staff as required; substitutes in the classroom; portions and prepares children’s meals; serves as bus aide when required; participates with other staff on field trips.

• Attends management, staff and program planning meetings; participates in mandatory training sessions.
• Builds community relationships; participates in recruitment and enrollment activities as required.
• Maintains an inventory and orders materials and supplies for center operations.
• Conducts home visits as required to address special children and/or family situations and needs.
• Performs a variety of summer recess activities, including participating in the redesign of center forms, updating policies and procedures and service area plans and development of staff training plans and activities.

Knowledge of:

• Principles and methods of instruction, care and supervision of infants, toddlers and pre-school children.
• Concepts of child development and child behavior patterns of infants, toddlers and pre-school children.
• MAAC policies and procedures, Head Start Performance Standards and relevant federal, state and local regulations applicable to the operations of a Head Start/EHS center.
• Health and safety regulations and requirements for maintaining Head Start/EHS centers and grounds in a safe, clean and orderly condition.
• Federal, state and local laws, regulations and court decisions applicable to assigned areas of responsibility.
• MAAC administrative procedures and forms applicable to the operations of a Head Start/EHS center.
• Principles and practices of sound business communication; correct English usage, including spelling, grammar and punctuation.
• Computer hardware and standard business software.
• Principles and practices of effective supervision.
• MAAC human resources policies and procedures, applicable Head Start regulations and labor contract provisions.

Ability to:

• Head Start/EHS center to ensure Performance Standards are met and compliance with all applicable regulations is maintained at all times.
• Develop and implement developmentally appropriate curriculum, lesson plans and instructional strategies to meet the needs of infants, toddlers and preschool-aged children.
• Create and maintain a safe learning environment.
• Observe and document child development, behavior and health.
• Operate a computer using standard business software.
• Prepare clear, concise and comprehensive documentation, reports and other written materials.
• Organize, set priorities and exercise sound independent judgment within areas of responsibility.
• Communicate clearly and effectively, orally and in writing.
• Maintain sensitive and confidential information.
• Exercise tact and diplomacy in dealing with sensitive and complex issues and situations.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with center staff, parents, children, other division managers, the community and others encountered in the course of work.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE/CERTIFICATION

Center Director

A typical way of demonstrating the knowledge, skills and abilities outlined above is graduation from a four-year college or university with a BA/BS with a major in early childhood education, child development or a closely related field which includes 15 semester units in child development [12 CORE units]; and at least four (4) years of progressively responsible teaching experience in a Head Start or child development program, at least one (1) of which was in a supervisory capacity; or an equivalent combination of training and experience.

A child care Center Director shall complete 15 hours of health and safety training if necessary pursuant to Health and Safety Code Section 1596.866 of Title 22 which provides: (a) In addition to any other required training, at least one director or teacher at each day care center…shall have at least 15 hours of training on preventive health practices and 1 hour of training in nutrition.  

• Additionally, three (3) units in administration or staff relations and six (6) units of Infant/Toddler
• A valid State of California Child Development Permit at the Site Supervisor or Program Director permit is required.

Center Director In Training

A typical way of demonstrating the knowledge, skills and abilities outlined above is graduation from a four-year college or university with a BA/BS with a major in early childhood education, child development or a closely related field which includes 15 semester units in child development [12 CORE units]; and at least two (2) years of progressively responsible teaching experience in a Head Start or child development program, at least one (1) year of which was in a coaching, lead or supervisory capacity; or an equivalent combination of training and experience. A valid State of California Child Development Permit at the Site Supervisor level is required.

A Center Director in Training shall complete 15 hours of health and safety training if necessary pursuant to Health and Safety Code Section 1596.866 of Title 22 which provides: (a) In addition to any other required training, at least one director or teacher at each day care center…shall have at least 15 hours of training on preventive health practices, and 1 hour of training in nutrition.  

• Additionally, three (3) units in administration or staff relations and six (6) units of Infant/Toddler; three (3) units in Infant/Toddler are allowable providing the remaining three (3) units are taken within six (6) months of hire.
• A valid State of California Child Development Permit at the Site Supervisor or Program Director permit is required.

VALUE-BASED BEHAVIORS

Listens attentively to others. Asks clarifying questions to gain a better understanding of the other person’s views and underlying assumptions
Works effectively in a team environment and actively participates in joint problem solving; willingly cooperates with co-workers
Identifies and takes advantage of opportunities for personal and professional development
Attends work consistently and punctually. Arrives to meetings prepared and on time; honors work commitments; follows through on what was agreed upon; meets deadlines
Honors the private and confidential matters of co-workers. Protects the proprietary information of MAAC systems
Follows rules, regulations, and policies; positively contributes to implementing changes
Deals with issues directly, in a respectful and timely manner. Focuses on resolving the issue while not criticizing the person. Follows rules, regulations, and policies; positively contributes to implementing changes

HEALTH STATUS

Must have a physical examination, TB clearance and a drug screen by a doctor/clinic designated by MAAC as well as immunization records for influenza*, pertussis and measles as required by state and federal regulations prior to the first day of employment.

PHYSICAL AND MENTAL DEMANDS

The physical and mental demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this class. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this class, an employee is regularly required to stand, walk and sit, talk or hear both in person and by telephone, uses hands to finger, handle or feel objects or controls, reach with hands and arms. An employee also is regularly required to stoop, kneel, bend, crouch or crawl, climb or balance and lift up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, depth perception, color vision and the ability to adjust focus.

Mental Demands

While performing the duties of this class, the employee is regularly required to use written and oral communication skills; read and interpret information; analyze and solve problems; observe and interpret people and situations; use basic math; learn and apply new information or skills; work under intensive deadlines and interact with MAAC management, administrators, staff, teachers, parents, family members, children and others encountered in the course of work.

BACKGROUND CLEARANCE

All positions are subject to a background/education check, DMV check, NSOR, exclusion and debarment checks prior to hire and periodically throughout employment as required by various funding sources.

Note: California Start law requires background criminal checks on anyone who works in a licensed childcare facility who is not a client. Must have or obtain a current criminal background check clearance, signed criminal record statement, and signed Acknowledgement to Report Child Abuse form prior to the first day of employment.

TRANSPORTATION

Must have and maintain a valid California Driver’s License, daily use of a personal, insured vehicle, and have and maintain a motor vehicle driving record acceptable to MAAC’s insurance carrier. Incumbents will be enrolled in the California DMV Pull Program.