Early Childhood Director

Purpose of the Job:

Under the direction of the Executive Board, the Early Childhood Director [ECD] is responsible for ensure that dReam Kids Academy is a high-performing academy where students love to learn, educators inspire, families engage, and the community trusts the system. In this role, the primary focus will be to partner with and support the Executive Pastor by ensuring all academy activities are operating efficiently and effectively.

The Early Childhood Director [ECD] is committed to Christian principles, oversees, and approves programs designed to address the spiritual and practical needs of dReam Kids Academy students, to ensure overall sustainable health of dReam Kids Academy.

The ECD will directly supervise the following key staff members: teachers, teacher aids, food vendors, and any other support staff:

Early Childhood Director

dReamer 0-1 (6Wk-12months)

Explorers 1-2 (12-24 months)

Artist 3-4 (24-36 months)

Scientist 3-4 (36-48 months)

Engineer 4-5 (and After School)

Experience and Knowledge Required:

· Business management:

• Ability to effectively direct, plan, implement, and evaluate programs in a school-based environment.
• Knowledge of current applicable laws, codes, regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Experience with budget preparation and control.
• Ability to prepare comprehensive narrative and statistical reports.
• Excellent time management skills and ability to prioritize work.
• Ability to be flexible and adapt as needed between in-person work environments.

· Leadership skills:

• Ability to communicate effectively with students, staff, and the public from diverse cultural, social, economic, and educational backgrounds.
• Ability to work collaboratively with colleagues and contribute to a diverse workplace through ideas and experience.

· Work experience:

• Early Learning experience working in a large, urban PreK-12 environment preferred but not required.
• Knowledge and experience working with the Georgia State Frameworks, standards, and curriculum trends.
• Experience with school district organization, operations, policies, and procedures; the ability to read, interpret, apply, and explain rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Experience with urban school districts and diverse student populations.
• Computer proficiency in Microsoft Suite including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint as well as software applications relevant to area.

· Education: (Required)

• The Director must have a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education [ECE] or Education Administration. (Preferred) Master’s in ECE.

· Certifications Preferred:

• Georgia PSC leadership certification preferred.
• CPR certified.

Job Description:

Program Administration

· Obtain and maintain ACSI accreditation and Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning Licensing 3-star Quality Rating [ assembling and submitting evidence of the biblical integration of curriculum, our program’s commitment to child safety, health, and physical activity, family engagement initiatives, instruction and curriculum practices, and classroom ratios and group size].

· Prepare, review, and/or distribute weekly teaching and learning objectives (to parents and executive director) and submit lesson plans classes as needed.

· Coordinate developmentally appropriate learning activities and serves as administrative lead for faculty, staff, and volunteers.

· Makes recommendations for curriculum and equipment needs to the Board of Director.

· Coordinates and attends functions for families.

· Regularly communicates with the Executive Pastor concerning praises/needs/concerns related to the ECE.

· Facilitates the completion of forms for obtaining and maintaining Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning licensing and accreditation compliance, including:

o Employee screenings

o Employee training

o Employee/school compliance to background screening and health department regulations.

o Provides information to administration for decision making in operational aspects of maintaining regulation compliance.

o Facility maintenance.

o Legal and legislative aspects of the program

o Billing and submission of grant and scholarship applications for CACFP, GACAPS, GSNS, etc.

o Submits annually the DECAL inspection reports and data to the state (or as requested).

o Plan and participate in in-service professional development, meetings, all-school meetings, and/or parent conferences as scheduled by administration.

o Coordinate and attend select evening school activities (i.e., Parent/Teacher Conferences).

o In coordination with the Board of Trustees, establish and reach ECE enrollment goals for admissions; establish and reach activity goals (contacts, visits, etc.).

o Develop, implement, and manage a family/student recruitment and retention plan.

o Increase awareness of the Early Childhood Program through feeder schools, feeder churches, local businesses, pediatricians, and other community groups.

o In coordination with the Board of Directors develop, implement, and manage the retention strategy and process by becoming the champion for retention between Early Childhood and the phase II elementary.

o Keep parents informed of program expectations, program activities and their child’s progress.

o Collaborate with the assistant director, afterschool and camp coordinator, and teachers as needed.

o Lead in the development, implementation, and oversight of a Christ-centered, Bible based, and developmentally appropriate homeschool support program for K-6th grade students.

· Directs and oversees the implementation of a broad spectrum of early learning initiatives.

Community and Parent Engagement

· Discuss children’s development and student progress with parents verbally and in writing by using assessments, report, and grading tools.

· Communicates the vision of the Early Learning Program to all stakeholders.

· Establishes a coherent, collaborative system for the programs and services that benefit children and families.

· Develops and implements long and short-term strategic plans consistent with the district’s vision and mission.

· Works collaboratively with community partners to achieve the goal of increasing the opportunity for children to access high quality early learning opportunities.

· Builds support for sustainability of initiatives that will improve early learning opportunities.

· Coordinates, plans, implements, and assesses the capacity building of assigned personnel via professional learning based on current research.

· Identifies and provides support for parents to enhance and extend the school learning experiences of children at home; coordinates parent support sessions, including strategies, care and nurturing, and proper nutrition.

· Builds coordination of services and articulation between the early learning and elementary levels of the instructional program.

· Supports the transition of students entering Kindergarten from community-based early learning programs.

· Creates and implements an early learning program that encompasses the whole child cognitively (academic programs), socially, and emotionally.

· Collects and analyzes data regarding the performance and experiences of all students and other pertinent information affecting the design and implementation of services and programs, using the information to recommend new programs and modifications in existing programs.

· Creates and sustains a positive and collaborative environment for central and school-based personnel.

· Develops and maintains strong relationships with key stakeholders, including families, community providers, partners, teachers, leaders, and others.

· Provides leadership for the development of the department’s budget, ensuring that budget decisions provide optimal support to address the needs of our students

· Supervises assigned personnel, provides assistance, conducts performance appraisals, and makes recommendations for appropriate employment actions.

· Directs the preparation of statistical and narrative reports to ensure reporting requirements are met for state and federal agencies.

· Keeps abreast of current research, theory, and trends, and provides leadership in areas as appropriate to the district’s needs.

· Models and requires the use of leadership practices that promote high-performance, ethical behavior, collegiality, collaboration, and fairness.

· Required to have prompt, regular attendance in-person and be available to work on-site, in-person during regular business hours.

· Performs other duties as assigned by an appropriate administrator or their representative.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $50,000.00 - $60,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Employee discount
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Tuition reimbursement

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Weekends as needed

Ability to commute/relocate:

• Decatur, GA 30034: Reliably commute or planning to relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $50,000 - $60,000