Early Childhood Principal

Job Summary

The Marygrove Early Childhood Education (ECE) Center is a state of the art mixedincome exemplar center for students birth to kindergarten. The innovative center is part of a unique collaboration between Starfish Family Services the Detroit Public Schools Community District the Marygrove Conservancy and the University of Michigan School of Education housed at the historic Marygrove College Campus. The ECE center s role in the cradle to career partnership is to establish along with parent partnership a foundation of lifelong learning with students as they grow and develop and eventually transition to kindergarten. The ECE center is also the epicenter of Detroit s Hope Starts Here initiative. The Hope Starts Here initiative brings together fragmented early childhood segments into a coordinated system from workforce to access. The ECE center will serve as an active center of engagement between the campus and the community and neighborhood residents to foster positive working relationships. The ECE center will support students and families to access highquality early childhood education overall health and wellbeing services and it will host a Teaching School to train and support aspiring and early career educators and social workers. The Early Childhood Principal is a steward of the campus and ECE center vision responsible for ensuring the ECE Center provides exemplary early childhood education and care for students birth to kindergarten and their families as part of the transformative Marygrove P20 cradletocareer campus. The Principal directs and oversees the daily operations of the center works collaboratively with the Marygrove P20 partners to deliver an innovative and high quality educational experience for each student enrolled and ensures an intentional and seamless transition for both student and family into kindergarten and beyond. The Principal elevates best practices and lessons learned to inform the broader early childhood field in Detroit and beyond. Strengthening Families to Create Brighter Futures for Children.

Primary Functions and Responsibilities

Ensure the center provides exemplary early childhood education and care for students birth to kindergarten leveraging researchbased curricula and the academic expertise of our Marygrove partners.

Lead and manage the daily operations of the center including staffing plan implementation of curricula staff learning and development comprehensive support services and family engagement.

Work collaboratively with the P20 partners and internal Starfish teams to provide comprehensive support services for students and families at the center or on the campus.

Manage the operational business of the center including maintaining licensing and accreditation requirements and submission of required regulatory reports.

Maintain a school climate and culture grounded in our organizational values the P20 vision and core operating principles that attract retain and motivate a diverse team of highquality educators.

Foster a shared vision for highquality early childhood education and care that reflects the needs of students the center s commitment to social justice and project and placebased pedagogies.

Support the development of novice educators and social workers to positively impact the evolution of the early childhood education and behavioral health workforce by hosting and mentoring preservice teachers and interns as part of the ECE Teaching School.

Coordinate and align goals with the School at Marygrove leadership to ensure a seamless experience for children and families between the early childhood and elementary programs including coordination around enrollment curriculum professional development and use of facilities.

Implement a continuous quality improvement model in conjunction with the evaluation team that monitors students developmental progress and supports a commitment to learning and innovation.

Cultivate positive and supportive relationships with Marygrove ECE families to support a community of care and innovation.

Requirements

Educational and Experience Requirements

Master s Degree in business management/administration early childhood education elementary education education administration child development social services or related field.

Ten years of proven experience in administrative leadership and/or supervisory positions including management of staff and budgets.

Prior program development management and evaluation experience preferred.

Previous experience leading or participating in social justice and equity work.

Experience managing a full day center with multiple funding streams including tuition and subsidy strongly preferred.

Prior program development management and evaluation experience required. Required Skills/Competencies

Deep understanding of sound business practices strategic planning and program management with ability to manage multiple priorities.

Demonstrated experience effectively managing and developing a diverse team.

Knowledge of trauma and its impacts on children families staff and communities.

Understand the policies and systems that create barriers to equitable access to quality education and social/economic mobility; demonstrate a commitment to changing those policies and systems; consistently bring an equity mindset to the organization s work and workplace.

Knowledge of federal and state performance standards regulations and developmentally appropriate practices for early childhood care and education.

Consistently identify gather and apply relevant information and insight to their work and develops and executes strategies to improve intended impact adjusting course as needed.

Ability to identify challenges; formulate and implement solutions drawing on the expertise and input of others.

Ability to utilize best practice models as well as develop new and innovative practices to improve the early childhood education experience for children and families.

Excellent verbal and written communication skills with colleagues employees and families. Presentation skills required.

Ability to demonstrate and foster cooperation respect concern and openness to grow and change.

Ability to work with diverse staff families community cultures external and internal stakeholders.

Knowledge of computer software including Microsoft Outlook PowerPoint Word and Excel.

Educational and Experience Requirements Master s Degree in business management/administration, early childhood education, elementary education, education administration, child development, social services or related field. Ten years of proven experience in administrative, leadership, and/or supervisory positions, including management of staff and budgets. Prior program development, management, and evaluation experience preferred. Previous experience leading, or participating in, social justice and equity work. Experience managing a full day center with multiple funding streams, including tuition and subsidy strongly preferred. Prior program development, management, and evaluation experience required. Required Skills/Competencies Deep understanding of sound business practices, strategic planning and program management with ability to manage multiple priorities. Demonstrated experience effectively managing and developing a diverse team. Knowledge of trauma and its impacts on children, families, staff, and communities. Understand the policies and systems that create barriers to equitable access to quality education and social/economic mobility; demonstrate a commitment to changing those policies and systems; consistently bring an equity mindset to the organization s work and workplace. Knowledge of federal and state performance standards, regulations, and developmentally appropriate practices for early childhood care and education. Consistently identify, gather, and apply relevant information and insight to their work, and develops and executes strategies to improve intended impact, adjusting course as needed. Ability to identify challenges; formulate and implement solutions drawing on the expertise and input of others. Ability to utilize best practice models, as well as develop new and innovative practices, to improve the early childhood education experience for children and families. Excellent verbal and written communication skills with colleagues, employees, and families. Presentation skills required. Ability to demonstrate and foster cooperation, respect, concern and openness to grow and change. Ability to work with diverse staff, families, community cultures, external and internal stakeholders. Knowledge of computer software, including Microsoft Outlook, PowerPoint, Word, and Excel.