Director of Teaching, Learning, & Center Leadership (StarrZapata) at AVANCE Inc – Rio Grande City, Texas

Job Overview

The Director of Teaching, Learning, and Center Leadership is chiefly responsible for the strategic oversight, implementation, and continuous improvement of the Education and Early Learning service component across all AVANCE Head Start and Early Head Start centers. The Director serves as the program’s content expert in early childhood instructional quality, ensuring systemic alignment between curriculum, assessment, coaching, professional development, and child outcomes.

The Director ensures full compliance with Head Start Performance Standards, Texas Child Care Licensing Minimum Standards, and AVANCE policies and procedures. The Director will ensure the completion of required program-specific documents including budgets, contracts, and other relevant or required documentation and information.

Through direct supervision, coaching, cross-departmental collaboration, data-informed decision making, ongoing monitoring, audit preparation, and governance reporting and other tasks, as needed, the Director of Teaching, Learning and Center Leadership provides expertise to ensure that all learning environments are fully equipped, developmentally appropriate, safe and that promote and support school readiness and child well-being.

This position directly supervises the Instructional Coach and Early Learning Leads and is responsible for ensuring the implementation of a high-quality, research-based coaching model (PBC) aligned with Head Start and AVANCE requirements. The Director ensures coaching systems are systematic, data-driven, and focused on improving instructional practice, CLASS performance, curriculum fidelity, and individualized teaching strategies.

The Director also supports and coaches Early Learning Leads in strengthening instructional leadership and center-level operations aligned with Head Start standards and AVANCE policies.

The Director will have a central office location, and travel will be required for each of the centers and partnering ISDs.

Job Responsibilities

Education Component Oversight:

• Ensure full implementation of research-based curricula aligned with the Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework (ELOF).
• Oversee development and implementation of developmentally appropriate, language rich, responsive instructional practices.
• Ensure fidelity of curriculum implementation across all centers and classrooms.
• Monitor ongoing child assessment systems and ensure data is used to individualize instruction and support school readiness goals.
• Ensure lesson planning reflects intentional teaching, integrated, dual language support, and individualized support for children of different abilities.
• Oversee CLASS-informed coaching systems and continuous quality improvement efforts.
• Ensure compliance with requirements related to school readiness goals, child assessment, and ongoing monitoring.
• Cross-departmental collaboration to ensure coordinated, integrated service delivery.
• Ensure smooth transitions for children entering and exiting the program, including kindergarten transitions,
• Support implementation of developmentally appropriate screening, referral, and follow-up systems in collaboration with the Director of Health, Wellness, and Developmental Support and the team.

Communication and Service Coordination:

• Serve as the primary liaison between the Education component and Leadership team to ensure alignment of instructional priorities with program, organizational, and Head Start standards.
• Provide regular reports to the Deputy Director, Policy Council, and Governing Body (as applicable) in school readiness progress, CLASS trends and coaching outcomes, curriculum fidelity, and teacher qualifications and professional development compliance.
• Cross-departmental collaboration to ensure integrated, coordinated service delivery that supports child outcomes.
• Partner with Human Resources to monitor teacher credential compliance, onboarding, performance evaluations, and recruitment of qualified instructional staff.
• Maintain structured communication systems with Early Learning Leads and Leadership to ensure clarity of expectations, compliance updates, and quality improvement initiatives.
• Coordinate with partnering ISDs to align school readiness expectations and transition planning.
• Facilitate Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) for instructional leaders to promote collaboration, shared problem-solving, and best practice alignment.
• Develop and distribute standardized education guidance communication and implementation tools to ensure clarity of expectations across all centers and classrooms.
• Establish and facilitate cross-departmental leadership meetings to review child outcome data, attendance, behavior supports, and risk indicators impacting instructional quality.
• Represent the Education component during federal reviews, licensing inspections, and community partnership meetings as assigned.
• Develop and manage auditing and compliance systems for Education areas.
• Develop Memorandums of Understanding with key community-based organizations for Education services.
• Initiates contact with businesses and groups that may provide services or support to the program.

Record Keeping and Reporting:

• Ensure all children, staff, volunteer files meet all Head Start, Child Care Licensing, AVANCE requirements.
• Monitor the quality and reliability of program data.
• Conduct audits and review data trends to ensure program compliance with standards and policies.
• Maintain confidentiality and secure records in accordance with FERPA/HIPPA and AVANCE policies.

Fiscal Oversight & Regulatory Compliance:

• Oversee assigned content area budgets, monitor expenditures to ensure fiscal responsibility and compliance with federal cost principles.
• Review and approve content area approved purchases in alignment with approved budgets, procurement procedures, and internal controls.
• Ensure accurate inventory management of equipment and materials.
• Support licensing compliance by ensuring program spaces meet Child Care Licensing standards, including capacity, safety, health, and environmental requirements.
• Assist with licensing process for new classroom spaces and support licensing corrective action responses as needed.
• Ensure instructional materials meet quality and compliance standards.
• Monitor classroom material inventories and curriculum resources.

Ongoing Monitoring/Self-assessment:

• Identify promising strategies to strengthen work and engage in quality improvement processes to achieve high-quality service delivery across program operations.
• Monitor and assess program strategies' execution through audits and data reviews to ensure compliance with Head Start Performance Standards.
• Develop and implement a comprehensive ongoing program monitoring system to support data review, planning, and decision making.
• Develop, monitor, and maintain centralized compliance dashboards and corrective action tracking systems.
• Monitor teacher qualifications, professional development plans, and credential requirements (CDA, degrees).
• Ensure teacher-child ratios and group size compliance with Head Start and Licensing.
• Analyze monitoring data to identify trends, risks, and improvement areas.
• Participate in Self-Assessment and Community Assessment processes.

Planning, Implementation & Staff Development:

• Implement tools, policies, and procedures to support program implementation and ensure high-quality service delivery.
• Support the quality of educational service and program operations efforts through professional development, supervision, and coaching.
• Develop and implement standard operating procedures aligned to AVANCE policies and procedures.
• Provide staff development and training on curriculum fidelity, child development, classroom management, integrated and dual language strategies.
• Develop and implement new hire onboarding plans, professional development plans, and educational support plans.
• Plan, implement and coordinate all staff professional development and trainings during pre-service, Inservice, and ongoing.
• Provide coaching and technical assistance to the Early Learning Leads regarding compliance.
• Promote reflective practice and strength-based supervision.
• Support succession planning and leadership development for Early Learning Leads and the Instructional Lead Coach.

Coaching Systems & Instructional Leadership Oversight:

• Directly supervise and coach Early Learning Leads and the Instructional Lead Coach ensuring clarity of expectations, professionalism, accountability, and alignment with Head Start and AVANCE standards.
• Provide regular coaching, reflective supervision, and performance feedback to Early Learning Leads and Instructional Lead Coach in strengthening instructional leadership.
• Support Early Learning Leads and Instructional Lead Coach in managing center-level education compliance and classroom quality.
• Design, implement, and oversee a comprehensive, research-based coaching model aligned with Head Start requirements, including; established coaching cycle timelines, goal setting aligned to CLASS domains and child outcome data, observation-reflection-action planning cycles, documented follow-up and progress monitoring.
• Ensure coaching practices reflect reflective supervision, strength-based feedback, and adult learning principles.
• Monitor fidelity of the coaching model through, review of coaching plans and documentation, coaching cycle tracking dashboards, data review of CLASS, curriculum fidelity, and child assessment outcomes, and periodic shadowing of coaching sessions.
• Establish clear coaching goals aligned with school readiness goals, CLASS improvement strategies, curriculum fidelity benchmarks, teacher professional development plans and ideal principle learning strategies.
• Guide the Instructional Lead Coach in prioritizing classroom based on data indicators including CLASS scores, child assessment trends, teacher experience level, and licensing or compliance concerns.
• Support Early Learning Leads in strengthening instructional leadership capacity, including, conducting classroom walkthroughs, providing instructional feedback, supporting improvement plans monitoring lesson plan quality and intentional teaching practices.
• Conduct routine site visits to monitor instructional quality, classroom management, and Head Start and licensing requirements.
• Support Early Learning Leads in aligning center operations with education performance standards.
• Guide Early Learning Leads in developing corrective action plans and quality improvement strategies when needed.
• Lead professional learning communities for instructional leaders.
• Support staffing plans to ensure teacher-child ratios and group size requirements meet Head Start and licensing standards.
• Ensure education support staff are trained in curriculum and classroom expectations.

Establish and maintain a safe, healthy, and positive learning environment:

• Ensure learning environments support school readiness and child well-being.
• Promote a culture of safety, accountability, school readiness, inclusion, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Support integrated, accessible environments for children of all abilities.
• Promote positive behavior support systems aligned with Head Start, licensing and AVANCE guidance.
• Ensure learning environments reflect cultural responsiveness and accessibility.

Other Duties:

• Participate in assigned meetings, events, and training as required.
• Maintain confidentiality regarding staff and family information.
• Fulfill the role as mandated reporter under the Child Abuse and Neglect Policy.
• Perform any other work-related duties as requested by your supervisor.
• Be present at work to provide consistency of services.
• Be a contributory team member in a positive/productive manner
• Demonstrate commitment to mission, values, and policies in daily duties.
• Supervise assigned department personnel, including hiring, training, scheduling, and evaluating.
• Educate direct reports on policies and procedures.
• Meet with assigned staff regularly to resolve problems and track goals.

AVANCE Core Competencies

• Execution & Accountability
• Problem Solving & Decision-Making
• Communication & Influence
• Collaboration & Teamwork
• Stakeholder Focus
• Adaptability & Continuous Learning

Education

Required:

• Bachelor's degree in early childhood education, Child Development, Educational Leadership, or related field.

Preferred:

• Master's degree in early childhood education, Educational Leadership, or related field.

Work Experience

Required:

• 3+ years’ experience in early childhood education leadership.
• Experience with curriculum implementation and child assessment systems.
• Experience supervising staff and implementing quality improvement systems.
• Physical exam and background checks are required for this position

Preferred:

• Experience in Head Start and Early Head Start programs.
• Experience with federal reviews and audits.
• Experience with CLASS and data-driven quality improvement systems.

Additional Skills

• 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.
• Ability to collaborate with multiple stakeholders to successfully implement program plans
• Strong analytical skills in order to quickly assess situations, identify trends, develop solutions and apply critical assessments to the larger context
• Must be honest, dependable and able to meet deadlines.
• Self-motivated and able to work independently.

Travel

• Ability to travel to various sites: Dependable transportation is required daily with a valid driver’s license, a clean driving record (subject to annual MVR (Motor Vehicle Report) check and policy), current auto liability insurance and be bondable by AVANCE, Inc.
• Travel required up to 10% of the time for work-related site visits, meetings, and functions.

Equipment

• Standard office equipment generally used includes:
• Telephone
• Personal Computer (monitor, keyboard, and mouse) or Tablet
• Printer/Photocopy Machine
• Calculator
• Fax Machine

Working Conditions

• Work is generally performed in an office environment.
• Noise level in the work environment is moderate to occasionally loud (examples: business office with computers and printers, light to moderate traffic, human voices).
• May be required to operate a motor vehicle during the course of duties.

Mental and Physical Demands

Maintain emotional control under stress; work with interruptions and deadlines; walking, standing, stooping, bending, pulling and pushing, use hands to finger, handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; occasional: lifting/carrying, pulling/pushing 10-30 pounds.?Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

Environmental Factors

Occasional exposure to: biological hazards (communicable diseases, bacteria, insects, mold, fungi, etc.). Occasional expose to weather related conditions when working in outside environment /neighborhoods and events.

ADA/ADAAA Statement

AVANCE is committed to equal opportunity in employment for persons with disabilities and complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), as amended, and any other applicable state and federal laws. Accordingly, AVANCE does not discriminate against qualified individuals with disabilities in regard to application, hiring, advancement, discharge, compensation, training or other terms, conditions and privileges of employment. Moreover, it is AVANCE’s policy to provide reasonable accommodations in employment to qualified individuals with disabilities so that they can perform the essential functions of the job, unless the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on the operation of AVANCE’s business or would change the essential functions of the position. Retaliation against an individual with a disability for utilizing this policy or seeking a reasonable accommodation is prohibited. Individuals with any questions or requests for accommodation should contact the Human Resources Department.