Director of Early Learning and Extended Care

Director of Early Learning and Extended Care

Position: Director of Early Learning and Extended Care

The Director of Early Learning and Extended Care will:

• Provide sound educational early learning programs for children under the age of five. To plan, coordinate, supervise, and evaluate early learning programs including the Early Childhood Block Grant, Early Childhood Special Education, Birth to Three Prevention Initiative, and Tuition Based Preschool Programs. This includes all programmatic responsibilities.
• Provide a high quality Before and After Care program for students kindergarten through 5th grade in all Elementary buildings. To plan, coordinate, Supervise, and evaluate the program.
• Provide a high quality summer enrichment program for both preschool and elementary age students. To plan, coordinate, and supervise staff and students as well as all correspondence and financial responsibilities.

• A Master's Degree with academic training in Early Childhood Education.
• Valid certification as a school administrator. Hold a Type 75 certificate
• At least 5 years' experience in public education, part of which must have been in teaching and working with Early Childhood Aged students.
• Demonstrate leadership qualities, interpersonal skills, and personal characteristics necessary for working effectively with students, staff, and parents.

Reports to
:
Special Education Coordinator and Assistant Superintendent

Supervises
:
Early Childhood Special Education, Preschool For All, Tuition Preschool, Non-certified Preschool age staff, Before and After Care Elementary providers, Band irth to Three Prevention Initiative staff.

• Child Find Identification:
  • Coordinate and implement child find services for the district for children ages prenatal through age 5.
  • Coordinate community based screenings
  • Conduct screenings in order to identify the neediest children either through a group screening process or by individual appointment
  • Connect children and families to services within the community through a seamless and unduplicated system.
  • Complete all referral documentation for children potentially needing services from within and outside the district buildings.
  • Report child find information to state agencies as required by Illinois reporting requirements
• Coordinate all early learning programs in the district.
  • Based on child find and screening procedures, refer families to appropriate programs. Register all students.
  • Establish record keeping and coordinate placement of eligible students in various early learning programs from admission to dismissal. Transition to kindergarten services are included.
  • Assist with the development and implementation of school policies involving early education and before and after care programming.
  • Recommend and implement preschool curriculum and program planning
  • Pre-service and in-service training for the teachers and non-certified staff of the program.
  • Keep informed of all legal requirements governing early learning programs. Includes the EC Block Grant, EC Special Education, and DCFS Preschool licensing requirements. Communicate requirements to building principals.
  • Organize and coordinate research relating to problems in the education of students under the age of five.
  • Assist in the planning for physical facilities in an established building and make recommendations of design, furnishings, and equipment in future facilities.
• Preschool ELL Coordination and Implementation of Services
  • Screen all students identified on the home language survey as speaking a language other than English. ISBE required assessment is used by the Director and available for ISBE review
  • ELL program implementation and oversight within Preschool For All classrooms. Develop and oversee instruction according to WIDA guidelines and assessment through preschool ELL objectives
  • Coordinate with Elementary ELL coordinator on transitioning students into kindergarten.
  • Complete all state reporting requirements for preschool age students
• Before and After Care / Summer Programs
  • Establish record keeping and coordinate placement of students across 5 Elementary buildings
  • Assist with the development and implementation of school policies involving before and after-care programming.
  • Oversee after-school and summer programs and activities.
  • Participate in job fairs and hiring events to identify quality candidates.
  • Provide Pre-service and in-service training for the staff of the program.
  • Coordinate with Illinois Department of Children and Family Services and Illinois Department of Human Services for license exempt status for early learning and before and after care programs. Ensure all requirements, policies, and documents are completed yearly and submitted to the State of Illinois. Conduct yearly monitoring visits in conjunction with the state agency and document license exempt status.
• State Reporting Requirements
  • Collaborate with the Coordinator of Grants for the purpose of gathering information in order to complete all state…