DIRECTOR OF EARLY EDUCATION

Brief Description

Responsible for planning, implementing, organizing, and evaluating policies, practices, and services offered by the Early Education Department. Responsible for meeting the regulations and obligations of the Early Education Department to operate with regard to the various government oversight agencies. Responsible for the provision of quality education and related services to children, guiding & directing all education staff. Works collaboratively with programs offered by St. Mary’s Hospital to facilitate the integration of early education services, including education, related services, and evaluation as appropriate, throughout all aspects of the healthcare system.

About the role

Serves as the liaison between the Early Education Department and outside agencies and/or personnel, including families, community, school districts, Committee on Preschool Special Education, NY State Education Department and others as needed.

Responsibilities

• Oversees the Early Education Department programs including the Multi-Disciplinary Evaluations, Special Education Itinerant Services, and center-based Preschool.
• Supervises Early Education staff to ensure compliance with New York State Education Department per section 4410 of the Education Law and Parts 200 and 201 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education; Article 47 of the New York City Department of Mental Health and Hygiene Division of Child Care regulatory guidelines; and New York State Consolidated Budget and Fiscal Reporting (CFR) Manual.
• Provides supervision and guidance to the staff in all matters relating to the delivery of Education services, to assure that quality standards are maintained and in compliance with contracts with the New York City Department of Education.
• Develops and implements policies and procedures that reflect the safe and appropriate operation of the Early Education programs.
• Participates in all activities relevant to professional services rendered, including the development of qualification, monitoring compliance with licensure and certification, and assignment of personnel.
• Ensures the provision of all educational and related services as prescribed in each student’s Individualized Education Plan, and in accordance with facility policies and procedures.
• Maintains and completes all regulatory and fiscal paperwork in a timely and appropriate fashion, to ensure compliance with external regulatory agencies, as well as the facility’s policies and procedures.
• Ensures that staff development programs and implemented based on an on-going assessment of staff’s needs.
• Conducts and documents regular staff meetings.
• Directs implementation of a developmentally appropriate curriculum with instruction support including professional development and instructional support.
• Ensures the availability of adequate numbers and level of staff to meet the quality of appropriate delivery of educational services.
• Counsels and trains new employees.
• Interviews and oversees the hiring of qualified staff according to written job description.
• Makes recommendations for the hiring of staff.
• Monitors supervision and evaluation of all facility and contracts staff job performance.
• Develops reviews and revises job description as needed.
• Completes and/or monitors all education staff performance appraisals with appropriate staff annually and as indicated.
• Initiates, interprets, documents and reviews disciplinary actions in accordance with policies and procedures.
• Establishes the management structure of the Early Ed Department and recommends work systems to ensure optimum utilization and coordination of personnel and resources.
• Identifies trends and needs in education and design of programmatic responses including preparation of program descriptions and strategies for implementation.
• Develops and implements family engagement events and opportunities to engage and support parents in regular school events as well as seasons of transition including but not limited to transition from Early Intervention to CPSE and from CPSE to CSE.
• Formulates budget and capital expenses for Early Education Department and tracking to ensure that the program operates within financial parameters set forth in board-approved budget as requested and annually.
• Maintains and monitors accounts payable and receivable to ensure appropriate with approved officiant, and effective management of financial resources in accordance with approved budget.
• Implements corrective actions for cost control problems in a timely manner.
• Develops, implements, evaluates and monitors the Early Education department statistics, billing policies & procedures, and records.
• Ensures that all records are accurate, current and accessible and that all statistical records are accurate and current billing procedures are adhered to in a timely, accurate and consistent manner.
• Participates in community-based/4410 membership organizations to develop networking relationships with other education entities serving students with special needs.
• Collaborates with system leadership to align department operations with organizational goals.

Requirements

• Formal education required: Master’s Degree in Special Education
• New York State Certification as a School Building Leader (SBL) or School Administration and Supervision (SAS) required
• New York State Certification as a Special Education teacher required with extension or certification in Birth to Grade 2 or All Ages
• Previous Experience Required: Five to eight years of experience in special education service provision including teaching; early childhood special education including classroom, SEIT, and/or evaluation experience preferred
• Experience in the 4410 early childhood special education community preferred

Qualifications

• Excellent individual/family benefits
• Generous paid time off
• Tuition reimbursement
• Life insurance
• Flexible spending accounts
• 403(b) retirement plan

Benefits

• Excellent individual/family benefits
• Generous paid time off
• Tuition reimbursement
• Life insurance
• Flexible spending accounts
• 403(b) retirement plan

Pay

Competitive salary

Schedule

Negotiable