Educational Leader

Position Function:

This position will serve as the educational lead for one center in the Head Start program.

Salary Grade:  13

Please see Staff Compensation Structure or Skilled Crafts and Service Maintenance Compensation Schedule for salary ranges.  For salary grade UC, these positions are "Unclassified" and salary ranges are determined by the hiring department.

Department Profile:

Throughout its history, Mississippi State University-Extension has demonstrated a deep and abiding commitment to programs that directly impact young children and their families. In the past decade, MSU-Extension has distinguished itself as Mississippi’s premier infrastructural support of high-quality early childhood education.

Anticipated Appointment Date:

October 2025. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Responsibilities for this position will include the following:

• Ensure full implementation of all aspects of MSU-Extension early learning system,
policies/procedures and tools, with the goal of supporting all children to achieve School
Readiness Goals.
• Onboard, supervise, and support all teaching staff (lead teachers, assistant teachers, and
floaters).
• Provide ongoing coaching to teaching staff to support teaching staff in successfully
fulfilling all aspects of their role, including but not limited to effective practices in CLASS,
Teaching Strategies Gold, curriculum, and child assessment.
• Working with families and support services
• Positive ambassador for the MSU-Extension Early/Head Start program
• Maintains program confidentiality at all times
• Serve as education lead for the center, overseeing implementation of all aspects of education services and providing teachers with supervision, training, coaching and monitoring.
• Support the effective implementation of the education content area, implementing all
relevant policies and procedures.
• Work with teachers to implement program curriculum that incorporates all elements and meets all standards established by MSU-Extension (in compliance with Head Start
standards and best practices).
• Assist the Assistant Director of Education with the oversight and approval of weekly lesson plans, including individualization and all other required elements.
• Ensure that teachers integrate goals from Individual Education Plans (IEPs) for children
with disabilities (in consultation with Assistant Director of Education, Local Education
Agency/School District, and other support services).
• Work in conjunction with the Center Operations Coordinator to ensure the completion of all required child screenings and assessments, including 45 and 90-day requirements for new children and quarterly progress assessments for all children.
• Participate in team meetings, home visits, and community events as needed.
• Provide teachers with coaching and support for quality improvement and professional
growth through regular observation and formal and informal feedback.
• Support Family Advocates to implement all aspects of family services program, including
support and monitoring of Shine On, Families curriculum.
• Ensure parents are integrally involved in developing the program’s curriculum and
approach to child development and education through regular meeting with Policy Council members and others.
• Model strong, positive relationships with families.
• In collaboration with Center Operations Coordinator, assist with staff supervision, ensure completion of all human resources activities, and ensure compliance with relevant policies and procedure, including completion of annual performance evaluations of staff.
• Lead regular team meetings to ensure effective communication and service coordination.
• Ensure families receive monthly newsletter.
• Actively participate in Head Start/Early Head Start community, including staff meetings,
mandated trainings, committee meetings, and other program-wide functions as needed,
including some evening activities.
• In collaboration with the Center Operations Coordinator, ensure complete and accurate
implementation of all MSU-Extension required systems for recordkeeping and reporting,
including child and family files, employee timekeeping, and purchase of supplies.
• Review weekly MBI (managing by information) and monthly MBI + reports and ensur