Pre-K Site Director (Lake County)- Apply Now!

About LEARN
Founded in 2001, LEARN is a network of high-performing college preparatory, tuition-free public elementary and middle schools with the mission of providing children with the academic foundation and ambition to earn a college degree. There are 11 LEARN Schools serving 4,100 students in grades PK-8 across Chicago, Waukegan, North Chicago, and Washington, D.C.
It is our goal to create an environment, on every campus, in which our staff members feel supported, respected, and appreciated. Our staff work together at each school and across the network to share ideas, problem solve, and innovate to move our schools and students beyond the expected.
LEARN and our amazing educators, have received numerous recognitions for making an impact in public education, including the 2018 Chicago Magazine's Top Elementary Charter Schools and the 2018 Illinois Network of Charter Schools Principal of the Year Award. 
LEARN's mission remains crystal clear: to provide children with the academic foundation and ambition to earn a college degree. LEARN is currently looking for hard-working and passionate professionals that are dedicated to transforming public education.
PURPOSE:
The Site Director of LEARN Early Childhood Center, LLC - Lake County is responsible for overseeing day-to-day program operations, providing a safe, caring, and educational environment for young children. The Site Director is responsible for the planning and supervision of all program activities, in compliance with state and DCFS standards, as well as the supervision of all teaching and support staff.            KEY RESPONSIBILITIES/OUTCOMES % TIME SPENT Program Management

• Manages and oversees all aspects of the early learning center, to include health and safety, enrollment, financial wellness, staffing, training and retention, employee management, and delivery of high-quality education and care to all children.
• Ensures that state licensing requirements are met at all times per DCFS and IDHS, including but not limited to:
  • Manages employee schedules and daily labor within the center, ensure appropriate ratios are always met.
  • Monitors safety and cleanliness of program facility/areas and outdoor play areas.
  • Maintains staff files in compliance with the licensing standards
  • Maintains children's files in compliance with the licensing standards
• Develops and maintains strong relationships with families, employees and vendors; proactively communicates LEARN policies and procedures with the staff, children, and families
• Is responsible for recruiting and enrolling children in programs per eligibility requirements
• Delivers consistent business results, measured through family retention and conversion; creates enrollment and growth plans based on past performance and projected occupancy.
• Ensures high-quality programming by providing a safe, interactive and engaging environment that assures the well-being and development of children.
• Able to perform all essential functions for each position in the daycare including, but not limited to, light janitorial when or if necessary, food handling/serving, and acting in a teacher's capacity.

50% Supervision

• Partners with LEARN leadership in the recruitment, hiring, onboarding and firing of staff.
• Ensures all staff meet the credentials and training, as required by state licensing standards.
• Supports implementation of the Creative Curriculum as the essential curriculum; designs meetings and related professional development experiences for staff to support children's learning and development process.
• Conducts monthly classroom observations (at a minimum)
• Conducts annual evaluations with employees and encourages annual goal development and growth of all staff
• Ensures that staff is establishing a safe, nurturing, supportive, and positive classroom climate and environment.
• Confers with teaching staff regarding children's learning and development; encourages and supports teaching staff to utilize children's evaluation data when planning learning experiences.

30% Financial Management

• Provides input, as requested to the development of the annual program budget.
• Tracks revenue and expenditures, to manage the budget.
• Manages inventory of program, office and other operational supplies. Requests purchases and collaborates with staff for instructional materials and teaching aids such as books, toys and materials designed to stimulate learning.
• Identifies opportunities and takes action to maximize savings and efficiencies in business operations.

20%  
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

1. Associate's Degree or higher in Early Childhood Education or Child Development OR 64 semester hours in any discipline with a minimum of 21 semester hours related to early childhood education or child development.
2. Level 1 Illinois Director Credential OR 3 semester hours of college credit in administration, leadership or management.
3. Preferred candidates will have CLASS Certification and direct experience with other Early Childhood curriculums and assessments, including Creative Curriculum, Teaching Strategies GOLD, ECERS, etc.
4. Minimum of 3 - 5 years in a licensed early learning setting, with 2 years direct supervisory experience.
5. Experience leading, motivating, and supporting a diverse, high-performing team including identifying, selecting, onboarding, developing, and evaluating team members and facilitating change
6. Experience required in the operation of a child development center, daycare center, nursery school, or kindergarten program.
7. Demonstrated interpersonal skills with the ability to effectively build and maintain relationships with families, staff, and other stakeholders and constituents and act as a role model to others
8. Experience developing and maintaining budgets.

  PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS 

1. Bachelor's Degree or higher preferred.
2. Bilingual in Spanish and English.
    

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Personal Characteristics

1. Preferred experience with PFA, COPA, IAFC, DFSS, DCFS and similar systems or agencies.
2. Proficiency with Microsoft Office and Google Office applications, databases, intranet and internet usage.
3. Comfortable making decisions for areas of responsibility and applies critical thinking
4. Exhibits a professional demeanor.
5. Ability to express self effectively and concisely, both verbally and in writing.
6. Experience in development and implementation of procedures.
7. Ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects, adhering to strict timelines.
8. Detail oriented and highly organized.
9. High degree of initiative and independent judgment.
10. Ability to tactfully and effectively interact with staff, students and general public.  
11. Maintains a high level of energy and a consistent positive attitude.
     

WORKING CONDITIONS AND PHYSICAL DEMANDS
The Site Director will be working in a busy and active environment. There may be a number of activities and situations happening at once. He/She may be asked to participate and attend organization sponsored events and meetings, such as field trips and network professional development.
 
Site Directors may be lifting and carrying children and equipment, and may spend time sitting on the floor or child sized furniture. Nature of work requires an ability to operate standard business office equipment. Required the ability to communicate and exchange information, collect, compile and prepare work documents, set-up and maintain work files. Will frequently physically move moderate distances indoors and outdoors throughout the community or building with children including climbing stairs. Physical demands require to stand, bend, reach high and low, stoop, walk and kneel. Must be able to lift, push and pull 15 to 40 pounds for short periods of time.