Early Head Start - Education Manager (Statewide, MT) in Billings, Montana at Aware Inc.

If you are passionate about providing high-quality care to individuals in your community, we invite you to join our team at AWARE.

AWARE is looking for the right person to join the team as an early head start education manager.

The support we provide helps the adults, children, and families we serve become active and vital members of their community while focusing on personal growth. We are a compassionate and fully engaged team that is dedicated to providing the best possible care to our clients. Our strength lies in our culture of care, and we are looking for individuals who share our commitment to providing unconditional care to those in need.

We are committed to providing a supportive and inclusive work environment where all team members feel valued and respected. We offer competitive compensation and benefits packages, as well as opportunities for professional growth and development. If you are looking for a rewarding career, we encourage you to apply to join our team at AWARE.

Responsibilities:

• Ensures all compliance with rules, regulations and guidelines from childcare licensing, Head Start Performance Standards and other state or federal agencies.
• Performs the functions of this position with a strong understanding of the Head Start Performance Standards, Head Start child development outcomes, and thorough knowledge and application of Developmentally Appropriate Practices.
• Provides leadership, direction, and oversight in the areas of planning, development, and implementation of procedures for education.
• Provides supervision and leadership to education and child care partnership staff.
• Monitors and ensures compliance with teacher education and professional development requirements.
• Identifies, develops and assists with facilitating training and professional development pertinent to the needs of education and CCP staff.
• Ensures education staff are trained in all aspects of classroom curriculum and the delivery of the curriculum.
• Monitors the implementation of selected curricula, and all related child development services in Early Head Start programming, in compliance with Head Start Performance Standards, Child Care Licensing regulations and STARS Standards.
• Develops and oversees a process for ongoing evaluations of early childhood education curriculum to help determine the effectiveness of program being offered.
• Provides oversight and monitoring or all educational requirements.
• Responsible for the timely implementation of developmental, behavioral, and sensory screenings within the schedule mandated by regulations, program requirements and performance standards.
• Monitors classrooms on a periodic basis to make observations and provide help and direction in areas that might include curriculum, classroom environment, and daily routines, to assure an understanding and adherence to program regulations.
• Ensures disabilities services and compliance with Part C regulations within EHS classrooms.
• Provides oversite of dual language education services.
• Collaborates with the Family and Community Partnership Manager to ensure transition services, including external and internal transitions, occur within required timelines.
• Manages the maintenance of records on each child’s progress and development to ensure compliance with Early Head Start.
• Develops, administers, and monitors policies, procedures, and tracking systems in partnership with the Early Head Start Health and Disabilities Manager for all aspects related to inclusion services.
• Develops, administers, and monitors education coaching services for teaching staff, in compliance with HSPS.
• Reviews and analyzes reports, records and directives related to child outcomes and the operation and delivery of high-quality services.
• Maintains an accurate and up-to-date record keeping system as deemed necessary for meeting program objectives.
• Assists the Operations Manager with ensuring all required documentation for State Licensing Regulations submitted for yearly EHS center licensure.
• Supervises the hiring of education personnel including, but not limited to notification of vacant positions; screening applicants; arranging and participating in preliminary and preparation of paperwork for hiring, as indicated.
• Directly supervises and evaluates Education Coordinators and CCP staff, including the clear establishment of annual performance goals, performance corrective action, if indicated, regular staff meetings, and development of job descriptions.
• Provides input into teacher evaluations.
• Assists Education Coordinators with supervisory concerns and problem solving.
• Ensures individual team member’s work schedules and leave requests will allow for proper coverage and are in accordance with the AWARE procedures.
• Assume responsibilities in the absence or vacancy of education position, as indicated.
• Update and implements service plans and procedures relating to education yearly.
• Relate all new or revised policies, procedures and /or processes to team members to ensure they have the most up-to-date and current information.
• Facilitate team operations through the sharing of information and knowledge, identification of teamwork issues, and development of problem-solving recommendations.
• Monitors purchasing of equipment and materials for classrooms/sites.
• Participates in program planning/coordination with other Service Areas.
• Develops and facilitates program wide School Readiness Committee.
• Participate in leadership role with program self-assessment and continuous quality improvement.
• Ensure complete and accurate annual Program Information Report (PIR).
• Maintains confidentiality of records and information on Early Head Start staff, children, and families.
• Participates in mandatory AWARE training, in-services, staff meetings, and program committees as assigned.
• Performs other duties as assigned and reasonably within the scope of the duties listed above

BENEFITS: Health Insurance, FSA, HSA, 401k, Employee Assistance Program, Tuition Advancement, Professional Development.

Talents, skills, and abilities:

• Ability to, under AWARE’s Unconditional Care Philosophy, implement individual support plans with the knowledge of behavioral techniques, interventions, skill building techniques, and understanding of the emotional and behavioral needs of individuals diagnosed with a disability.
• Understanding of infant and toddler development, early childhood education, a broad working knowledge relative to the needs of low-income children, including experiences with exceptional needs and quality teaching practices.
• A knowledge of Montana childcare licensing requirements, Head Start Performance Standards, and federal and state safety standards, preferred.
• SKILLS are required to perform multiple tasks to meet changing job conditions and program needs. Specific skills required to satisfactorily perform functions of the job include the ability to ability to use abstract reasoning, problem solving, form professional relationships with a diverse group of people, ability to communicate clearly and concisely and strong writing skills.
• ABILITY to plan, organize, direct, evaluate, and refine comprehensive services to children and their families.
• Position also requires the ability to establish long range vision of program education goals and accomplishments and the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with agency staff, children and parents, and outside agencies. Ability to collect and analyze data specific to the responsibilities of this position using active listening skills.
• Requires computer literacy skills, including the ability to navigate, record, and overall basic computer skills needed for performance-based software as well as an electronic medical records system.
• Requires a BS/BA Degree in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, or a related field, in addition to direct employment related experience. Requires at least three (3) years of employment in a leadership position with a demonstrated knowledge of program planning and implementation practices and cultivating community relationships, including supervisory experience. Head Start/Early Head Start experience preferred.
• *Current and former Head Start parents are given preference for hire into positions for which they are qualified
• Must have or be willing to obtain a valid Montana driver license , with an acceptable driving record.
• Must pass a criminal and protective services background check.

We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer.