Director - Early Childhood Education

Director - Early Childhood Education

Supervises the development, organization, implementation, coordination, and evaluation of the Early Childhood and Preschool Kindergarten and Kindergarten instructional programs to ensure that all students meet or exceed the State Core Curriculum Content Standards. Achieving excellence requires that the Early Childhood Education Director works collaboratively to lead and nurture members of the staff, and communicates effectively with parents, members of the community, and colleagues throughout the Waco community. The Director of Early Childhood will participate and will assist in leading local collaborative groups and partnerships, and play an active role in local early childhood initiatives being developed by the local collective impact organizations. The Early Childhood Education Director should positively impact student achievement by providing assistance to Waco ISD's teachers and paraprofessionals.

Qualifications:

• Master's Degree in Education or Relevant Field
• Excellent teaching skills
• Knowledge of assigned curriculum (pre-k guidelines), State assessment objectives, and best practices for instruction
• Knowledge of Academic and/or Behavior goal setting process and implementation
• Evidence of leadership skills
• Extensive knowledge of developmental and academic milestones for children in early childhood and primary grades
• Strong organizational, communication (written and oral), and interpersonal skills
• Knowledge of best practices for adult learning
• T-TESS/AEL or ILT Certified preferred
• Minimum Experience: Three years experience as a classroom teacher
• Two years experience as an instructional leader and or district /campus level administrator

Major Responsibilities and Duties:

1. Function as a member of the elementary education curriculum and instruction team and work on the development and implementation of curriculum documents and processes.
2. Function as the district prekindergarten / kindergarten liaison by mentoring and coaching prekindergarten and kindergarten teachers and instructional aides.
3. Work with appropriate campus and district personnel to plan and conduct professional development in the assigned area, curriculum, instruction, assessment, recent research, current educational trends and other topics as needed as part of campus and/or the district's professional development program.
4. Demonstrate best practices of early childhood instruction, including the effective use of technology, as appropriate.
5. Facilitate district horizontal and vertical meetings of prekindergarten and kindergarten teachers.
6. Provide feedback to aides, teachers and campus administrators on the implementation of successful strategies in the classroom.
7. Analyze and disseminate assessment data and survey results to appropriate campus personnel, and make recommendations for improvement based on results.
8. Mentor and/or coach prekindergarten and kindergarten teachers and aides as determined by state guidelines, district administration, or district improvement plans.
9. Facilitate the implementation of appropriate instructional and behavioral interventions.
10. Function as the point of contact for appropriate curriculum selections.
11. Develop and maintain professional competence through professional growth activities based on recent research and current trends in education.
12. Maintain a professional working relationship with principals, colleagues, students, supervisors, parents, and members of the community.
13. Facilitate the coordination of early childhood services with other institutes such as Head Start, Inspiracion, Even Start and the district's Parents as Teachers program.
14. Assist in leading local collaborative groups and partnerships, and play an active role in local early childhood initiatives being developed by the local collective impact organizations.
15. Engage and support the District's relationship with statewide policy advocates and foundations.
16. Develop appropriate assessment instruments, report cards and progress reports that align to prekindergarten guidelines and curriculum.
17. Ensure all prekindergarten and kindergarten staff are highly qualified and hold the appropriate teaching certification and training requirements as required by the State.
18. Perform other duties as assigned.

Equipment Used: PC computer Working Conditions: Maintain emotional control under stress. Frequent district wide travel; repetitive hand motions and prolonged use of computer. Frequent standing, stooping, bending, pulling and pushing. Move small stacks of textbooks, media equipment, desks, and other classroom equipment.