Executive Director of Early Childhood
Internal/External

The Executive Director will establish a common vision for excellence in Early Learning and lead and implement a coherent, high-quality, academic-focused strategy for achieving the vision, including curriculum and assessment, licensing, enrollment, program support, and educator professional development. The Executive Director will support the Associate Superintendent with the development, implementation, and evaluation of Early Learning programs & grants, as well as the development of the Early Learning budget and contracts, to ensure the strategy is fully resourced.
 
BROAD FUNCTION                

• Vision: Partner with stakeholders to Lead Early Childhood programming for Wayne RESA focusing on all students proficient in reading by third-grade design, coordinate, and manage programs and ser­vices to ensure Wayne County students are ready to experience success in school and life; contribute to both the regional and statewide vision for Early Childhood.
• Strategy: Develop clear, specific, and ambitious enrollment and achievement targets for Early Childhood with the support of the Associate Superintendent of Educational Services, establish a strategy to achieve targets in each area of responsibility, and adjust the strategy and approach as needed to achieve desired outcomes; prioritize outreach, accessibility, and enrollment strategies in ensuring that Early Childhood both maintains/expands and is high quality.
• Consultation & Support: Lead activities supporting districts, public school academies, and community-based organizations in efforts to operate high-quality Early Childhood (EC) programs serving families with children prenatal to age 8 in classrooms and home visitation options; Provide continuous quality improvement and collaborative consultation to staff, agency personnel, and administrators.
• Team Management: Lead a diverse team to achieve great results, creating an inclusive culture where all team members  thrive; develop equitable processes and policies and build strong relationships across lines of identity and the organizational chart; use performance management and strong managerial competencies to ensure staff throughout the organizational structure champion our culture, contribute meaningful work, motivate others to perform their best work to achieve results, and operate as constant learners;
• Stakeholder Engagement: Proactively engage Early Learning constituents, including families, community members, community groups, alumni, and educators to understand motivations and needs, problem-solve through challenging issues, and arrive at productive solutions.
• Quality: Serve as a catalyst for continuous quality improvement by directing, supporting, and overseeing Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP) team(s) in over 550 classrooms across Wayne County. Currently, 19,380 funded slots serve over 9690 eligible children.
• Licensing: Ensure that interested partners (districts, public school academies, community-based organizations) have the contacts and content necessary in order to pursue high-quality, licensed classrooms in order to serve all the children identified in Wayne County.
• Compliance and Reporting: Ensure district compliance with all state and federal requirements within the area of responsibility.
• Financial Management: Develop budgets, approve expenditures, monitor Final Expenditure Reports, authorize carryover to ensure fiscal integrity with all state and federal funding sources.
• Data-Driven Decision Making: Work with both MDE and RESA’s internal teams to ensure that relevant data sets are collected and available.  Analyze county-wide data to drive decision-making regarding EC programming content, quality of services delivered, child and family success and impact, and future direction.
• Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Demonstrate a commitment to antiracism, center equity, and inclusion, and bring practical solutions to issues of equity and inclusion in schools and on the team.

 

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES: 

• Develop and implement short and long-range goals, objectives, and activities for the following grant programs:
  • Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP)
  • Early Childhood Block Grant; 32p and GSC-Wayne
• Develop and implement work plans, schedules, evaluations, and professional development goals with an emphasis tied to organizational objec­tives and direction.
• Network with various groups to evaluate and ensure efficient and effective operations and service delivery across all programs.
• Supervise the implementation of state projects and pro­grams, and coordinate work of external contractors.
• Keep abreast of new developments, advancements, and trends in early childhood education.
• Provide leadership to Wayne County Early Childhood around evaluation and Michigan Department of Education (MDE) educational guidelines.
• Lead Michigan Student Data System (MSDS) count collection activities to ensure 100% compliance with enrollment and accurate/timely reporting.
• CEPI submission for all grant-related student count collection periods in EC required by MDE.
• Manage the gathering and submission of all required Community Needs Assessment Application data through MEGS +; complete all required reports timely and accurately for submission related to EC work in MEGS+ or NexSys.
• Provide leadership and work collaboratively with Head Start grantees to ensure compliance with joint recruitment and enrollment procedures established by state and federal mandates.
• Lead and serve as a resource to EC countywide advisory councils, GSRP team meetings, PSA, CBO, and LEA coordinators, Educational Services Department, Educational Services Leadership Team, and Wayne RESA staff meetings.
• Provide leadership and direction for countywide EC professional development activities including college tuition courses, CDA credentials, MZ endorsements, teacher certification programs, etc. for administrators, teachers, associate teachers, ancillary staff, and parents.
• Participate and represent Wayne County as a member of the MDE EC focus groups on funding formulas, coalitions, ECIC, Office of Great Start workgroups, and the statewide MAISA Early Childhood Administrators Network (ECAN).
• Utilize the latest research and effective practices in the area of EC education to lead county and statewide work in the field.
• Facilitate program and fiscal audits for all grants assigned. Develop budgets, approve expenditures, monitor FERS, authorize carryover to ensure fiscal integrity with all state and federal funding sources: 
  • GSRP                                                      $73,000,000
  • Early Childhood                                       $2,000,000
    Block Grant                                               
• Plan, use professional judgment and act effectively to carry out the functions of this position within the direction provided by WRESA mission and goals, and Educational Services Department goals and objectives.
• Participate as a team member in organi­zational projects as assigned.
• Work with district-level leadership including but not limited to superintendents, principals, directors etc.
• Serve on the RESA Administration Team.
• Provide support and direction to parents, teachers, facilitators, and community-based leadership.
• Regular and predictable attendance.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

 
QUALIFICATIONS:
 
Education

• Master’s Degree, preferably in educational leadership, early childhood edu­cation, and/or related area required.

Experience

• Five (5) years of experience providing or leading early childhood (Age 0 – Grade 3) education services.
• Minimum three (3) years of experience supervising employees.
• Demonstrated problem-solving and team-building skills.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects and assignments.
• Ability to meet stringent deadlines.

Special Skills and Training

• Demonstrated skill in grant/proposal development, organization, and budget
• Demonstrated listening, verbal, and written com­munication skills.
• Demonstrated skill working with diverse popula­tions.

Compensation: 

 Non-Bargaining salary schedule (Grade 9 - $119,036 - $125,301) and a comprehensive and competitive benefits package including health/dental/vision/life and long-term disability insurance. Generous time off including 19 paid holidays, sick, vacation and personal business days. Membership in the Michigan Public Schools Employee Retirement System www.michigan.gov/ors. 

Application Process and Timeline: Internal and external applicants must complete and submit an online application at http://www.applitrack.com/resa/OnlineApp/default.aspx (Job ID #20563). This posting is open until filled.

Wayne County Regional Educational Service Agency (WRESA) provides leadership and services to the 33 local school districts and 100 charter schools that educate almost 275,000 students. The Human Resources department provides support and leadership to the internal functions of the agency as well as to local school district constituent districts and charter schools.  WRESA is a goals-driven organization that empowers staff to maximize resources to support student achievement.  We are committed to the process of continuous improvement through service, leadership, collaboration, and excellence while embracing and promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion.

WE ARE AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER