Assistant Director - Creative Steps Program

$70,000 - $70,000/Yr

University Settlement - New York, NY

Full-time - Mid Level

New York, NY

Social Assistance

About the position

The Assistant Director of the Creative Steps Program at University Settlement plays a crucial role in overseeing and enhancing the quality of early childhood education services provided to children and families in New York City. This position is integral to maintaining a high-quality child-development program that aligns with the institution's mission of empowering low-income and immigrant communities through comprehensive services. The Assistant Director will supervise teaching staff, ensuring that classroom strategies effectively respond to the social and emotional needs of children. This includes overseeing classroom staffing, curriculum compliance, and adherence to licensing regulations set forth by the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) and the Department of Education (DOE). In addition to supervising classrooms, the Assistant Director will provide strengths-based coaching and mentorship to teaching staff, facilitating their professional development through observations and feedback. The role also involves coordinating yearly in-service trainings and conducting staff evaluations to ensure that all educators are equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to foster a nurturing learning environment. The Assistant Director will also manage afterschool and early drop-off programming, ensuring that all classrooms are adequately staffed and meet required ratios. The position requires collaboration with families and community members, supporting the admission and enrollment processes for new and continuing students. The Assistant Director will develop promotional materials, conduct tours, and establish supportive relationships with families to assess their needs. Additionally, the role involves working closely with mental health clinicians and staff to implement developmental screenings and assessments for children, as well as coordinating parent engagement and fundraising activities throughout the year. This multifaceted position is essential for maintaining the high standards of the Creative Steps Program and ensuring that all children receive the best possible start in their educational journey.

Responsibilities

• Supervise the work of teaching staff in developing and maintaining a high-quality child-development program including classroom strategies and responding to the social and emotional needs of children
• Oversee classroom staffing, paperwork and curriculum to ensure proper coverage and compliance per licensing regulations
• Supervise all classrooms to ensure compliance with Creative Steps practices, DOHMH and DOE standards and regulations
• Provide strengths-based coaching and mentorship to teaching staff to meet professional development goals, including professional development, observations and feedback
• Responsible for coordinating yearly in-service trainings and staff evaluations
• Supervise the afterschool and early drop off programming, ensuring that all classrooms are adequately staffed and meet ratio requirements
• Assist with the preparation of final documents including editing and final review of classroom newsletters, emails, and students' end of year portfolios
• Oversee and maintain the implementation of high-quality programming with evidence-based curricular and child outcomes
• Oversee trackers and documentation kept by Program Coordinator ensuring all student medicals are up to date by entering data into the health & immunization tracking database
• Coordinate teacher schedules, and staffing coverage, including maintaining attendance logs and active supervision checks in classrooms and on playground
• Review lesson plans and curriculum development for school day and afterschool programs
• Assist with the review of program practices and update program licenses, plans, policies, and procedures
• Help manage the facility including securing maintenance and IT technical support, maintain a professional appearance, and helping to ensure and maintain a safe and healthy environment for the children, parents, and staff
• Complete other relevant duties as requested by Director
• Responsible for overseeing all program duties in absence of the Program Director
• Support the admission/enrollment of new and continuing students
• Collaborate in the preparation of materials for parent communication and tours and admission operations including the development of promotional and communication materials, and meeting and greeting families and conducting tours
• Develop consistent, stable and supportive relationships with families and children including assessing their scheduling needs and opportunities for adjustments
• Work with Director, mental health clinician and staff members to implement and review developmental screenings for all children, and formal assessment tools
• Actively participate in and assist with the coordination and delivery of parent engagement, outreach and community-building
• Develop and execute parent engagement and fundraising activities throughout the year

Requirements

• BA/BS in Education (Early Childhood), Infant/Toddler Development, Developmental Psychology or related field
• Permanent/Professional NYS Teaching Certificate Preferred
• 5 years experience as a teacher and/or early childhood administrator/supervisor
• Strong writing and verbal communication skills
• Experience assisting families and children with transition to public and private kindergarten program preferred
• Proficient computer skills with knowledge of MS Office