Education Program Supervisor

The Children's Home of Pittsburgh is seeking a Full Time Education Program Supervisor for Child's Way's, our daycare center for medically fragile children. Child's Way operations from 6:30 am - 6:00 pm and is closed on weekends and holidays.

Under the general supervision of the Director of Child's Way, according to established Child's way policies and procedures, the Education Program Supervisor is responsible for the supervision of all educational activities led by the Teachers and is a resource for teachers as well as parents/families. The Education Program Supervisor is also responsible for ensuring that developmentally appropriate programming is provided for children, optimizing their growth and development.

This position is eligible for the following benefits:

Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance

Life Insurance

Long Term Disability

Supplemental Insurance

Employer Benefit Contribution

Annual Merit Increases

401(k) & Employer Match

Free Financial Planning

Paid Time Off (PTO)

FREE On-site parking

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

1. Teachers: Supervising the Teachers, ensuring the staff adheres to policies and providing them with feedback, and having conversations if policies are not followed. Teach, guide, direct, and evaluate performance of the teachers, volunteers and students in collaboration with the Director of Child's Way. Along with the Director of Child's Way, recruits, screens and recommends staff for employment. Supervise the Teachers in planning appropriate activities for their children. Review lesson plans and individual child goals and provide necessary feedback to the teachers. During planned activities, observe, participate and oversee the Teacher's interaction with the children and assess activities. Model appropriate childcare behaviors that represent best practices when interacting with the children. Help Teachers and other staff to problem solve about specific child-centered issues. Hold weekly or bi-weekly meeting with Teachers to foster communication and dissemination of appropriate information throughout the staff.

2. Children's Growth & Development: Develop and maintain curriculum, resources, and trainings to meet the needs of the Teachers and children. Meet Keystone STARS guidelines for observing children. Help all staff to improve their skills of observation and assist them in observing the children in their classrooms. Cooperatively communicate infant/child's needs and developmental issues with appropriate staff via one-on-one sessions, childcare meetings, therapy meetings, etc.

3. Child's Way Curriculum: Supervise and assist Teachers with the development of a program schedule and activities for specific developmental levels. Conduct and provide initial and ongoing training to help all Teachers understand the developmental levels of the children that they work with. Coordinate and oversee orientation schedule for newly hired teachers. Work with Teachers to develop lesson plans that meet the Early Learning Standards, in accordance with Keystone STARS performance levels.

4. DHS, DOH, and Keystone STARS: Adherence to all of the childcare regulations and be responsible for developing appropriate policies and ensuring Teachers are aware of newly developed policies. Maintain and oversee the center's participation in the Keystone Stars program, a state initiative for quality childcare. Ensure that all staff, nurses and Teachers, understand what Keystone STARS is and why we participate in it. File all appropriate paperwork in a timely manner. Seek appropriate help and consultation from outside sources to ensure that we continue to maintain our Keystone STARS status.

5. Pittsburgh Public Schools/Early Head Start and Head Start: Support collaboration with Pittsburgh Public Schools. Maintain and oversee Child's Way's participation with the Early Head Start programs and Head Start Supplemental Assistance program. Identify children who would be eligible for each program and discuss with families the benefits of their child's participation. Complete and gather all necessary paperwork, for enrolling all new eligible children in the Early Head Start and Head Start programs. Meet with and maintain appropriate relationships Pittsburgh Public Schools' staff. In collaboration with the Director of Child's Way, the Education Program Supervisor is responsible for budget development and expense reporting for both programs.

6. Family Support: Advocate a multidisciplinary and family centered approach to care for each infant/child and family. Establish rapport with each family. Support the infant/child's relationships with parents, siblings, extended family, center's staff and therapists. Assist family with transition issues. Work with all families to assist them with any educational needs/concerns that they may have. Assure that there is at least one interdisciplinary team meeting offered to the parents once every six months to discuss the child's progress. Offer monthly parent meetings. Schedule and hold parent training programs when appropriate.

7. Intake Duties: Attend intake meetings with the Director of Child's Way. Collect, assess and record information regarding infant/child and family to identify developmental level and psychosocial needs. Provide Teachers with information about children that are coming to Child's Way. Provide staff with suggestions on how to care for new children.

8. Early Intervention/the Alliance: Refer all patients to EI program for evaluation if not already in the system when appropriate. Educate new families of the benefits of EI. Coordinate and oversee delivery of services with new therapists or children. Work as a team with the therapists in the building and help Teachers to carry out therapy suggestions. Attend IFSP meetings when asked to or when necessary. Obtain IFSP reports and review with Teachers.

9. School Age Children: For school age children provide consultation to staff to establish and maintain appropriate classroom environment, to establish and reinforce appropriate behavior, social interaction, communication, and/or learning strategies for students. Attend IEP meetings when asked to or when necessary. Obtain IEP reports and review with Teachers.

10. Outside Students: Supervise student assistants, work study students, or practicum students at Child's Way. Responsible for making sure all required clearances and paperwork is complete before the students start. Make sure that those students have a quality experience at Child's Way. Fill out all necessary paperwork to help them complete their experience and evaluations.

11. Self and Professional Development: Pursue a program of self-development. Remain abreast of current concepts in education and child development. Attend appropriate meetings, conferences, and in-services which will support this endeavor (i.e., NAEYC). Maintain CPR certification, and current knowledge of infection control, fire safety etc. Engage in professional, scholarly activities. Submit to and present papers at professional conferences when appropriate.

MINIMUM SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:

1. Minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree in Early Education, Child Life Studies, Child Development, Child and Family Studies or a related field. Master’s Degree preferred.

2. Two or more years of supervisory experience with children and families. Competence in areas of growth and development, play and family dynamics, interpersonal communication skills, observation and assessment skills in reactions of children and families to illness, disability and hospitalization, and a basic understanding of children’s illnesses.

3. Knowledge of normal infant/child development and application to pediatric illness.

4. Supervisory skills to appropriately direct Teachers, volunteers and students in their interactions and behaviors with medically and developmentally challenged infants and children.

5. Analytical ability to participate in interpretation of developmental behavior of infants/children.

6. Communication skills to adequately document and discuss developmental needs. Is capable of presenting information to other staff members and parents/families regarding the child’s developmental level with respect to the child’s medical condition/diagnosis.

7. Ability to work collaboratively and independently with strong communication skills. Ability to interact and communicate in a professional and courteous manner with other staff and guests.

8. Ability to read and comprehend complex technical language. Ability to write correspondence and memos. Ability to effectively present information in one-on-one and small group situations to customers, clients, and other employees at the organization.

FUNCTIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

1. Must be able to successfully obtain Act 33 and 34, FBI Background Check, NSOR, First Aid and CPR Certification.

2. Must be able to push, pull, lift, and carry up to 20-70 pounds.

3. Physical ability to get down on the floor with the children and get back up again.

4. Physical ability required for holding and lifting children for prolonged periods of standing and walking.