Program Lead - Extended Learning

Catalyst Kids; California, Rocklin (MO, CA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player in child development is seeking a Program Lead for their Extended Learning program. This role is pivotal in managing staff and ensuring quality interactions for children in a safe environment. The Program Lead will oversee planning, implementation, and assessment of educational programs while fostering a culturally responsive atmosphere. This position offers a unique opportunity to make a significant impact on children's development and community engagement. If you are passionate about education and leadership, this role is perfect for you.

Benefits

Career Development and Training

Discounted Childcare

Paid Vacation/Holiday/Sick Time

401K

Life Insurance

Company Discounts

Qualifications

• Minimum 1-2 years in Early Childhood Education with leadership experience.
• Knowledgeable about developmentally appropriate practices and curriculum standards.

Responsibilities

• Manage and mentor a team of staff to ensure high-quality program delivery.
• Collaborate with community and families to enhance program effectiveness.

Skills

Child Development Knowledge

Mentoring and Coaching

Cultural Sensitivity

Interpersonal Skills

Program Management

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Completion of 48 College Units

Job description

Job Location: 10133 30133 Cobblestone - Rocklin, CA

Salary Range: $24.96 - $37.44 Hourly

Job Shift: M - F 9:30am - 6pm

Description

The Program Lead, Extended Learning manages all programmatic and staffing aspects of the extended learning program, in accordance with the agency's program and people management goals. This position ensures program quality is maintained in a single Catalyst Family Inc. Expanded Learning program. The Program Lead position provides oversight of the planning, implementation, assessment, reflection, and program requirements for school age children. Program Leads are a classroom/program leader that must be able to coach, mentor and provide ongoing observation and feedback to teaching staff that results in implementation of quality programming. Program Lead ensures that all children receive quality staff-child interactions and are supervised, at all times, in a safe and healthy environment.

The Program Lead works collaboratively with the Center Manager/Site Supervisor to support the business of the program including enrollment and attendance, purchasing and community relationship building. The Program Lead position acknowledges and celebrates diversity among staff, children, and families, and provides an environment that reflects the diversity within a community. They create classroom environments that reflect the backgrounds and experiences of children, families, and staff. Program Leads are in ratio approximately 33% of the time.

Essential Job Functions:

Program Quality

• Liaison for communicating Catalyst Family Inc. vision, mission, philosophy, and curriculum approaches to staff, parents, school personnel, the community, and State and local government agencies, as needed.
• Ensures streamlined processes for documenting learning, developing lesson plans, assessments, and internal and external reviews are consistent with Catalyst Family Inc.'s mission, values, philosophy, and position statements.
• Shares program information and assessment results with the program, site leadership and school district.
• Supports, mentors and role models for teachers in the creation, implementation, and evaluation/completion of program action plans through diverse strategies or approaches.
• Collaborates with program staff to provide an enriched, dynamic indoor/outdoor environments that meet the diverse and cultural needs and interests of children, utilizing staff, family, and community expertise. Environments are safe, clean, well maintained and meet agency and industry standards.
• Assess program quality and curriculum implementation, health/safety standards; take steps to continuously improve in alignment with our agency's quality standards as well as meet/exceed other external quality tools.
• Maintains knowledge of Developmentally Appropriate Practices and applicable curriculum influences such as Reggio Emilia, California's Learning Framework and Foundations, Quality Standards for Expanded Learning, Search Institute, as applicable to the age group(s).
• Using staff observations and program assessment tools, work with staff to develop and implement child growth plans.
• In partnership with site leadership and all staff, follows Catalyst's Positive Behavior Approach and protocol with family members and provides tools and resources to support implementation of agreed upon strategies.
• Scheduled to be in ratio 33% of work week, depending on program needs.

Managing, Coaching & Supporting Staff

• Manage a team with a size ranging from 2-5 staff depending on program size and enrollment.
• Manage staff performance proactively; coach, support and provide feedback to staff regularly so that they can deliver their best.
• Conduct Annual Performance review on time and provide regular feedback.
• Facilitate highly effective, participatory team meetings that foster ownership for expected outcomes.
• Observe staff interactions with children, effectiveness of planned activities, maintenance and development of the learning environment and give staff immediate and useful feedback to achieve high program quality.
• Provide on-site mentoring and modeling in the classroom. Train and mentor teaching staff as needed, including frequently observing weekly lesson plans to include a range of age-appropriate activities that support social emotional, physical, and cognitive development, observe impact of curriculum implementation, and provide relevant and constructive feedback.
• Orient and integrate new staff into the team to achieve high staff retention. Set and communicate clear job expectations. Communicate Mission, philosophy to all staff; ensure behavior and outcomes of program are staff consistent with agency values.
• In partnership, develop professional growth plans with staff and provide opportunities for continuous growth and development.
• Ensure that individual and team goals are aligned with agency goals and hold people accountable to high performance expectations. Co-develop and implement immediate corrective action plans as necessary to address underperformance.

Leadership

• Commit to continuous improvement in knowledge of child/youth development, curricular, and implementation of program and leadership skills.
• Attend internal and/or external trainings, professional development or research-based practice exchanges that supports the needs of the program and implements these practices in the classrooms as appropriate; teaching back to all stakeholders.
• Act as a change agent to advocate, communicate and implement organizational changes in practices, systems, and processes.
• Nurture team spirit and maintain high staff morale.
• Mentor and develop internal candidates for new positions.
• Encourage all staff to act as recruiters, promote the employee referral program, and help recruit new staff through strong relationships with families, schools, and communities.

Family & Community Partnerships

• Provide excellent customer service by establishing and maintaining authentic connections and reciprocal, culturally responsive relationships with children, youth, families, schools, communities, and program/classroom team.
• In partnership with CM/SS and other staff, organizes and supports a parent advisory committee where families can give useful feedback and have a voice in program operations and program quality.
• Make authentic connections to the local and school communities as a Catalyst representative.
• Participate in activities at the school (PBIS meetings, IEP meetings, PTO events, etc.) acting as a representative of the agency.
• Continually assess community needs, involve the community in planning and adjust program and services to meet community needs.
• Work with families as partners with an open-door policy. Engages in ongoing, two-way interactions with families to discuss daily activities, observations and child progress. Encourage shared decision making, problem solving and address questions and concerns.
• Provide ongoing information to parents/families including parent education, and other requests parents have for community resources.
• Participate in local, regional, and statewide advocacy efforts on behalf of children and families.

Compliance

• Ensure and maintain full compliance with all agency policies/procedures and protect agency assets and resources.
• Ensures all program operations meet or exceed state licensing regulations, Funding Terms and conditions ELO program compliance, health/safety & nutrition requirements and other Catalyst policies, procedures, and quality tools.
• Ensure that staff schedules meet required adult to child ratios.

Business Management

• Forecast staffing needs in consideration of business requirements and changing environment.
• Partner with Recruiting to support interview process and hire best candidates to match the needs of the program.
• In partnership with the CM/SS, create and maintain staffing schedules and purchasing for the classrooms and Program, as appropriate.
• Obtain and maintain full enrollment and attendance at the program; earn all ADE, as determined by program leadership team.
• Identify ways to improve the performance of the program, take proactive actions to support program enrollment and marketing, and follow program budget/purchasing guidelines.

Qualifications

Education

The MINIMUM formal relevant education required by the position. NOTE: Minimum education requirements may change as needed based on state and program requirements.

• Minimum:
  • HS Degree or GED AND
  • Completion of 48 college units OR
  • District Instructional Aid test.
• Continuing education to meet professional growth standards required.

Experience

The MINIMUM relevant experience necessary to qualify for the position.

• Min in ECE (1-2 years) of experience including at least 1 year of experience mentoring and leading other adults or teaching staff.

Other Qualifications:

• Knowledgeable and values the impact of culture on the development of children.
• Ability to provide strategic approaches as well as assist in implementation.
• Understands and values diversity and the importance of cultural sensitivity and inclusivity.
• Strong interpersonal skills: ability to listen, receive feedback and provide constructive feedback to peers and staff.
• Possesses a high level of initiative, motivation, and direction.
• Ability to interact with children in a manner consistent with Catalyst Family Inc. philosophy.
• Knowledgeable about agency philosophy and curriculum standards, DAP and able to implement and role model consistent program practices and standards.
• Ability to take initiative to appropriately partner within the community as well as with internal departments.
• Stays abreast of new research and theories in the ECE/Youth fields.
• Working knowledge of staffing, marketing communication, highly desirable.
• Proficiency in second languages also desirable.
• Demonstrated ability to manage staff, coach and mentor.
• Provides effective customer service.
• Effective Leadership skills; committed to continual improvement of these skills.
• Strategic thinking and planning.
• Interpersonal and team communications.
• Highly effective in program quality, program implementation and people management.
• Ability to track and follow a budget.
• Demonstrates a team player mentality.

We Offer:

• Career Development and Training.
• Discounted Childcare.
• Paid Vacation/Holiday/Sick Time.
• 401K.
• Life Insurance.
• Company Discounts.

We are proud to be an EEO/AA employer M/F/D/V. We maintain a drug-free workplace.

About the company

Our licensed programs nurture children’s development and curiosity.