The Education Manager provides early childhood technical assistance, management, oversight, and support to the Head Start program to ensure effective coordination, implementation and monitoring of the education services. The Education Manager is responsible for overseeing Education & Mental Health/Disability services; overseeing the implementation of mental health and disability services consistent with the Head Start Program Performance Standards, as well as other state and federal requirements as they relate to the Americans with Disabilities Act. This includes the effective implementation of a research-based curriculum, while incorporating recognized “best practices” in the fields of Early Childhood and Special Education; as well as providing educational resources for staff and parents. Under the supervision of the Program Director, and working as the supervisor of education staff, the Education Manager oversees the implementation of the education services at all sites, and works with all local educational institutions and other STC Head Start partners.
The HS Education Manager will provide training and technical assistance to the Head Start staff to ensure high-quality programming. The Education Manager also monitors child and teacher progress and performance to ensure they are achieving program objectives; consults with the Program Director and other Managers, as needed, to resolve complex issues and to ensure compliance with Head Start Program Performance standards.
As a front line representative of Save the Children, the Education Manager is required to ensure the safety and security of children and families that he/she comes in contact with adhering to the agency’s values of Accountability, Ambition, Collaboration, Creativity, and Integrity.
- Program Planning and Implementation
- Training and Technical Assistance
- Operations and Management
- Supervision and training
Responsibilities and Impact
- Coordinates the Education and Early Childhood Development content area of the Head Start program.
- Works closely with the program director and other admin/management staff to ensure adequate supplies and equipment are available in classrooms and centers and that schedules and activities are age- and developmentally-appropriate.
- Attends home visits, parent conferences, and IEP meetings when requested or as needed.
- Visit each site and all classrooms routinely to conduct observations, provide training and technical assistance, coaching and mentoring.
Provide training and technical assistance to build capacity by working directly with HS/EHS staff, parents and community partners to ensure high quality programs.
- Provides strategies to support children who are English language learners and their families.
- Oversees site tracking of early childhood screenings and assessments, early childhood data collection, and participates in local evaluation activities.
- Assists in developing and tracking budget information as it relates to Head Start Education services.
- Supervises the HS Education Specialist (if applicable) and designated Center Directors, and approves work hours for those employees.
- Provides ongoing training in policies, procedures and program requirements; as well as communication and problem-solving skills, to staff of assigned team.
- Responsible for developing and monitoring the professional development plans for all education staff.
- Works with individual teachers, as needed, to develop training plans for obtaining a CDA credential or an AA degree or higher in Early Childhood Education.
- Completes other tasks as assigned or needed.
- Minimum 5 years of experience working with infants and toddlers or pre-school age children.
- Experience in supervision and training; and experience with developing consistent, stable and supportive relationships with very young children.
- Extensive knowledge of early childhood education and child safeguarding and methods for communicating effectively with infants and toddlers or preschoolers, as well as parents and other staff.
- Must have extensive knowledge of Heat Start Program Performance Standards, developmentally appropriate early childhood education practices in preschool programs.
- Experience with program planning and supervisory techniques and practices.
- Ability to exercise sound professional judgment and evaluations.
- Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with agency staff, children and parents, and outside agencies.
- Effective communication skills, strong problem solving and time management skills.