Child Development Lead - North

Tri Valley Opportunity Council, Inc.; Crookston (MN); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Tri Valley Opportunity Council, Inc. seeks a Child Development Lead to support education, disability and mental health services across Head Start sites in Minnesota. You will work with the Education & Disability Services Manager to plan programs, provide training and resources, and supervise classroom staff.

The role involves monitoring compliance with standards and supporting CDA professional development. The position emphasizes collaboration with Curriculum Coordinators, Center Managers, and

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in early childhood education or related field.
• Experience in classroom teaching or leadership in early childhood programs.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills.
• Ability to learn program systems and use technology.

Responsibilities

• Support education, disability, and mental health services across Head Start locations.
• Assist in planning and implementing services with the Education & Disability Services Manager.
• Provide resources, training, and technical assistance to staff.
• Lead classroom staffing and support CDA professional development.
• Monitor compliance with Head Start and licensing standards.

Skills

Curriculum development

Staff leadership

Communication skills

Training facilitation

Education

Bachelor's degree in early childhood education

Job description

SUMMARY OF PRIMARY FUNCTION

The Child Development Lead is responsible for assisting, supporting and monitoring effective education, disability, and mental health services at Head Start service locations. The Child Development Lead assists the Education & Disability Services Manager in planning and implementing services and systems, and providing resources, training, technical assistance and support to Curriculum Coordinators, Center Managers, and classroom staff as needed, leads classroom staffing and supports CDA professional development efforts, and assists service locations in complying with federal, state, and program standards for early childhood education services. This position ensures all education, disability, and mental health services in center-based and home-based services take place across designated regional service areas. Helps recruit potential parents by providing information to them about the various program services and benefits offered to enrolled children and families.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Education Services

1. Works with center leadership, content area managers, and other specialists to ensure that children receive comprehensive and integrated education services in accordance with Head Start standards and Minnesota Rule 3 Licensing Regulations.
2. Assists Education & Disability Services Manager in determining teacher qualification levels for applicants with related degrees and/or degrees earned in a country outside of the United States.
3. Supports Home-Based services as the main contact for curriculum resources, school readiness goals, socialization, and education screenings, as applicable.
4. Supports Curriculum Coordinators and classroom staff with lesson planning and ongoing assessment, and progress towards school readiness goals to ensure the individual needs of children with disabilities are met, and developmental progress is appropriately documented.
5. Maintains up-to-date education services tracking system within the ChildPlus database to ensure completion and timely submission screening, conferences, home visits, and education-related events.

Disability Services

1. Works with other content area specialists and mangers to ensure that children receive comprehensive and integrated disability services, and ensure that all service locations within designated region are meeting Head Start standards with regard to the disability services component of programming and IDEA federal law.
2. Establishes Memorandum of Understandings (MOU) with Local Education Agencies (LEA) within the designated region of center support for disability services; Update and renew MOU’s each calendar year.
3. Maintains up-to-date disability services tracking system within the ChildPlus database to ensure completion and timely submission of documentation for children demonstrating a need for additional educational support and/or are referred for additional support services with Local Education Agencies (LEA), and any related disability services.
4. Supports Curriculum Coordinators in reviewing education screenings in a timely manner, and identifying the need for further evaluation, referral, or intervention.
5. Supports Curriculum Coordinator to effectively observe, monitor, and document children in classrooms, assisting staff in responding to individual needs and education plans.

Mental Health Services

1. Works with other content area specialists and mangers to ensure that children receive comprehensive and integrated mental health services, and ensure that all service locations within designated region are meeting Head Start standards with regard to the mental health services component of programming.
2. Maintains up-to-date mental health services tracking system within the ChildPlus database to ensure completion and timely submission of documentation for children demonstrating a need for additional behavior or social emotional support and/or are referred for additional support services with local community mental health providers, and any related mental health services.
3. Establishes annual contracts with local mental health providers in the area of designated center support, and ensure providers are adhering to the terms of contract, process invoices to ensure contract amount is followed.
4. Tracks mental health consultants’ activity that specifically addresses individual as well as classroom/group needs, and support classroom strategies for managing and supporting social-emotional development.
5. Schedules and facilitates Positive Behavior Support Team meetings for children demonstrating a need for additional behavioral or mental health support, and creates behavior plans in collaboration with Positive Behavior Support Team.

Training and Professional Development

1. Develops and implements trainings, relative materials and manuals detailing education services and systems, in collaboration with the Education & Disability Services Manager and regional Training and Technical Assistance Early Childhood Specialists.
2. Supports the Education & Disability Services Manager in providing training for Education staff in, pre-service, in-service, and post-service training and presentation as necessary related to the area of education.
3. Provides information, resources and materials to staff as needed.
4. Identifies and utilizes appropriate resources to enhance the quality of program services for families.

Safety

1. Have or obtain within 90 days of hire a First Aid and CPR Certification as well as maintain the certification during employment.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

1. Bachelor’s degree in early childhood education, special education with early childhood emphasis or closely related field, such as psychology, social work, or counseling, with an early childhood focus.
2. Experience working in a classroom teaching capacity or leadership role in an early childhood program serving children birth to five years.
3. Comfortable working with computers, willing and able to learn program specific systems as needed for position.
4. Excellent communication skills, verbal and written.
5. Proof of valid driver’s license and current vehicle insurance coverage.