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Director

Description:

The Director is responsible for administering the Starkville Creative Learning Center (SCLC) programs and providing positive leadership for SCLC staff, families, and community.  This position requires knowledge and skills in Early Childhood Education, leadership and business management. The SCLC director should have a sincere desire to serve Christ and is responsible for implementing the faith-based vision of the SCLC program with the program families, church and community.

The Director is hired by the Starkville Creative Learning Center Board and serves under the leadership of the Board.

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Preferred Qualifications:

  • A bachelor’s degree or higher, in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, Elementary Education, Child Care, Special Education, Psychology (with emphasis on Child Psychology), or Family and Consumer Sciences (with emphasis on Child Development), or equivalent Degree from another child-related field or course of study.

OR

  • A two-year associate degree from an accredited community or junior college in Child Development Technology which must include a minimum of 480 hours of practical training, supervised by college instructors, in a college operated child care learning laboratory.

OR

  • Two years paid experience as a caregiver in a licensed child care facility, and either (1) a current Child Development Associated (CDA) credential from the Council for Early Childhood Professional Recognition (CECPR), or (2) a Mississippi Department of Human Services (MDHS) Division of Early Childhood Care and Development (DECCD) Child Care Director’s Credential or MDHS OCY Child Care Director’s Credential, or (3) 24 semester hours credit with a grade of “C” or better from an accredited college or university in courses specific to early childhood.

  • Relevant teaching experience

  • Skills in business administration

  • Qualifications as required by the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) Child Care Licensing Guidelines

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As Starkville Creative Learning Center Director:

  • Should have a sincere desire to serve Christ

  • Attend board and other committee meetings as requested

  • Share the faith-based vision of the SCLC Program with the Church family and community

  • Work 40 + hours a week.

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Required trainings and background checks:

  • Complete background checks as required by the MSDH and SCLC

  • Complete trainings as required by the MSDH Child Care Licensing Guidelines which currently include:

    • Director’s training

    • CPR, First Aid, and Child Abuse

    • Tummy Safe or SERV Safe training

    • Annual staff development

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Responsibilities:

  • Leadership

    • Through strong leadership skills, facilitate a positive program environment of care, trust, and respect

    • Develop a positive working relationship with staff, program participants and church families

    • Plan and provide events for families and staff that builds community and encourage a sense of program ownership

    • Maintain program goals and objectives with a philosophy which supports a quality early childhood program in a Christian environment

    • Visit classrooms frequently, providing acknowledgement for efforts, successes and guidance for classroom support

    • Develop an effective communication plan for administration, staff and program families

    • Work with the SCLC Board to support program quality and improvements

  • Program Management

    • Manage the day-to-day operation of the SCLC programs

    • Maintain program and parent handbooks, update as need with SCLC Board approval

    • Select three or more appropriate director designees and provide required and appropriate training

  • Licensing

    • Maintain MSDH licensing requirements and records

    • Work with MSDH licensing specialist to make needed improvements

    • Initiate policies and procedures to ensure program licensing compliance

    • As church and SCLC programs share space, work with needed church staff to meet and maintain licensing requires

  • Financial Responsibilities

    • Manage an annual budget for SCLC based on balancing quality programing with available funds

    • Submit SCLC board approved budget to First Baptist Church Finance Committee

    • Evaluate tuition support and budget annually, recommending tuition increases as needed

    • Maintain a staff pay scale; advocate for appropriate staff salaries

    • Collect and monitor tuition monthly, report unpaid tuition to SCLC Board

    • Pay bills and supervise payroll

    • Order equipment, supplies and services as budget allows

    • Work with Board to organize needed fund-raisers

  • Staffing/Supervise and Develop SCLC staff

    • Recruit, hire, and orient qualified SCLC staff

    • Schedule to ensure adequate staff on hand to meet SCLC needs and state licensing requirements

    • Monitor and evaluate performance of all staff members and provides ongoing feedback and written reviews for goals for job development and improvement

    • Provide Employee orientation using MSDH Child Care Licensing Guidelines

    • Provide ongoing guidance to insure professional conduct between staff, with children and families

    • Provide a positive leadership model that encourages staff members to work as a team

    • Work with staff turnover to replace needed staff in a timely fashion

    • Provide quality substitutes to support staff absences and leave request

    • Provide team building opportunities and training

  • Enrollment

    • Organize and supervise annual enrollment

      • Update enrollment packets as needed

      • Maintain waiting list

    • Using enrollment information, determine class and staff needs and assign child placement

    • Provide back to school orientation for families and children

    • Host tours for potential families and assist with any questions they may have about the program.

  • Food, Health and Safety

    • Hire, train, and supervise kitchen staff in order that necessary MSDH Nutrition Guidelines are maintained and a quality food program is provided for children and staff

    • Prepare program menu’s and submit to MSDH for approval

  • Staff and Program Evaluation

    • Evaluate staff annually

    • Using evaluation results, prepare staff development training

    • Solicit staff input to determine staff development needs

    • Provide needed staff development to support and maintain a quality curriculum

    • Provide an annual program evaluation and report results to staff, program families, and advisory board

    • Use program evaluation results to plan for needed program changes and improvements

  • Working with Families, Volunteers, and Community

    • Work with families to ensure opportunity for input, involvement, and interest in program curriculum

    • Plan and implement family programing that is responsive to family needs and interest

    • Provide information for families about relevant church events

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