Head Start Program Director

ReNEW Schools; Merrillville (IN); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

ReNEW Schools in Merrillville, IN is seeking a Supervisor for Head Start positions to oversee Master Coach, Program Assistant, Lead Teachers, Classroom Aides, and Family Advocates. This role ensures high-quality early education and compliance with state and federal standards.

You will lead staff development, budget oversight, family engagement, and alignment with Paths to Quality and NAEYC accreditation, collaborating with district and community partners to drive sustainable outcomes.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree required.
• Master’s Degree preferred.
• Five years of experience preferred.
• Three years of supervisory experience preferred.
• Experience in administration, finance or other management preferred.
• Highly organized.
• Effective communication with individuals and groups.
• Positive and professional image.

Responsibilities

• Provide teaching staff support in delivering high-quality education services.
• Ensure compliance with State Licensing and Federal Performance Standards for Pre-Kindergarten.
• Provide ongoing instruction and staff development.
• Oversee translation and interpretation services for English.
• Coordinate site support and screening materials for Lake and Porter Counties.
• Coach/mentor staff and conduct trainings on curriculum, screenings, and assessments.
• Manage educational resource room and supply curriculum materials.
• Ensure services to families and children meet needs and compliance standards.
• Participate in committees and respond to inquiries from stakeholders and regulators.
• Staff training, development, supervision, and evaluations.
• Maintain licensure, safety standards, and Paths to Quality/NAEYC accreditation.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Organizational skills

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education or related field

Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education or related field

Job description

SUPERVISOR OF THE FOLLOWING HEAD START POSITIONS:

Master Coach, Program Assistant, Lead Teachers, Classroom Aides, Family Advocates

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide teaching staff working with children ages zero to five, support in the delivery of high-quality education services.
• Comply with State Licensing and Federal Performance Standards for Pre-Kindergarten.
• Provide ongoing instruction and support to staff in the development of skills.
• Coordinate the translation services and interpretation for English.
• Provide site support using identified screening materials for both Lake and Porter Counties.
• Responsible for providing coaching/mentoring opportunities to support all learners in the classroom environment, which may include working one on one with students.
• Conduct trainings on curriculum, screenings, and assessments.
• Oversee management of the educational resource room and provide classrooms with materials to support curriculum studies.
• Will be assigned to all classrooms and children.
• Responsible for ensuring all families and children receive appropriate services, and that systems are in place to evaluate and monitor those services as well as maintaining compliance with meeting those needs.
• Will actively and effectively participate on committees and work teams as requested.
• Respond to routine inquiries or complaints from stakeholders, regulatory agencies, or members of the business community.
• Staff training and development, coaching, and mentoring.
• Supervise and monitor all direct reports.
• Assure all sites have current contacts, state licensure, maintain safety standards, work towards the highest level of Paths to Quality and NAEYC accreditation.
• Work with the Head Start Administrator to oversee management of expenses within the approved budget within each of the reporting units.
• Communicate program information and statistical reports to staff on a regularly defined basis.
• Work with staff to interpret and utilize report information including outcomes data, in tandem with grantee content area supervisors to facilitate decision making and support necessary changes in operation leading to sustainable outcomes.
• Develop and implement measurable goals and objectives based on programmatic data
• Analyze programmatic data and data systems to monitor progress toward identified goals and objectives
• Monitor the provision of educational services to confirm the cognitive, physical, social and emotional development of children is promoted through classroom activities that are: self-directed; meaningful; appropriate, active and engaging; reflective and respectful of needs, interests and differences.
• Oversee monitoring of classroom environments
• Develop and participate in process utilized to support identification of students with special needs
• Establish positive and productive working relationships with parents
• Monitor the provision of family support services with Head Start Family Advocates to confirm that the needs of families are addressed on an individualized basis
• Meet with parents and parent groups
• Facilitate shared decision-making process through Policy Committee and Board of School Trustees
• Identify recruitment plan of eligible children with Head Start Family Advocates
• Monitor program adherence to Federal, State and/or district requirements
• Develop and update programmatic procedural guides
• Monitor onboarding activities for new staff
• Supervise all Merrillville Head Start staff and work in collaboration with Head Start Administrator to complete staff evaluations
• Follow district-established progressive discipline procedures to address personnel issues
• Prepare grants, budgets and associated documents for submission to Policy Committee, Board of School Trustees and the GranteeParticipate in monitoring of computer data systems
• Identify contracted service providers (e.g. Educational Coach, Behavioral Health Specialist)
• Monitor activities of contracted service providers
• Participate in the evaluation of programmatic services through the Self-Assessment Process
• Participate on District committees (e.g. Leadership, Curriculum)
• Serve as liaison between the program and the Grantee and the program and the District
• Work collaboratively with other SCH Head Start, Geminus Head Start and Merrillville School Corporation departments and staff members
• Work collaboratively with community agencies, businesses, and higher education
• Maintain working knowledge of Head Start Performance Standards, State regulations, and District requirements
• Serve as role model for life-long learning
• Remain current on what is happening in the field of early childhood education
• Participate in professional development opportunities
• Other duties may be assigned

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education or related field required.
• Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education or related field preferred.
• Five years of experience preferred.
• Three years of supervisory experience preferred.
• Experience in administration, finance or other management preferred.
• Highly organized.
• Effective communication with individuals and groups.
• Positive and professional image.