Director of Early Learning

JOB TITLE: Director of Early Learning

• Forbes names Mesa Public Schools in their list of 2024 Best Employers in Arizona.
• East Valley Tribune names Mesa Public Schools as Best Place to Work in East Valley for several consecutive years.

Department: Early Learning

Reports to: Assistant Superintendent of Special Education

Supervises: Personnel who lead and support Early Learning

Employment type: Full-time

Base Salary: $87,281 or dependent on experience

Calendar: 12-month, 261 workdays

Benefits: Vacation, sick leave, holidays, matched retirement, health, and life
insurance

Performance Pay: Available annually

Job Summary:

The Early Childhood Director is responsible for leading, developing, and overseeing high-quality, inclusive preschool programs that ensure kindergarten readiness for all students. This role focuses on equitable access to early childhood education, provides high-impact professional learning for educators, oversees Child Find efforts to identify children with developmental needs, and fosters collaborative partnerships with the City of Mesa to expand opportunities for families and young learners.

Key Responsibilities:

• Leadership & Program Development

• Oversee and implement a high-quality, inclusive preschool program that supports diverse learners, including children with disabilities and multilingual learners.
• Align preschool curriculum with state early learning standards to promote kindergarten readiness.
• Monitor and evaluate program effectiveness through data-driven decision-making and continuous improvement efforts.
• Advocate early childhood education policies and funding at the district, local, and state levels.

Kindergarten Readiness & Inclusive Practices

• Ensure preschool students receive a developmentally appropriate, engaging curriculum that fosters cognitive, social-emotional, and language development.
• Support early intervention efforts by embedding universal design for learning (UDL) and inclusive instructional strategies in all classrooms.
• Provide resources and guidance for smooth transitions from preschool to kindergarten

Professional Learning and Educator Support

• Design and facilitate high-quality professional development for early childhood educators, instructional coaches, and support staff.
• Implement instructional coaching models to improve teacher effectiveness and student outcomes.
• Lead professional learning communities (PLCs) focused on best practices in early childhood education

Oversight of Child Find and Early Intervention

• Direct the district's Child Find efforts to identify, evaluate, and support children (birth to age five) with developmental delays and disabilities
• Collaborate with early intervention specialists, special education teams, and community partners to provide appropriate services and referrals
• Ensure compliance with IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) and state policies regarding early childhood identification and intervention

Community Engagement and Partnerships

• Establish and maintain strong partnerships with the City of Mesa, community organizations, and early learning providers to expand services for families and children
• Collaborate with local agencies to increase access to quality preschool options and family support programs
• Develop family engagement initiatives to empower parent as active partners in their child's education

Required Qualifications:

To be eligible for this position, an applicant must meet the following required qualifications. Verification of these required qualifications is necessary.

Education:

• Master's degree in Early Childhood Education, Special Education, Educational Leadership, or related field
• State of Arizona administrative certification. Applicants must have on file in the Human Resources Department a copy of the appropriate valid certificate or evidence of eligibility to be appropriately certificated by the Arizona Department of Education.

Experience:

• A minimum of five years of instructional leadership experience in early education, special education, or related fields
• Strong knowledge of inclusive education practices, child development, and early intervention strategies
• Proven experience in curriculum development, program evaluation, and instructional coaching
• Ability to develop and sustain community partnerships and interagency collaborations
• Expertise in early childhood special education, Child Find, and IDEA compliance
• Experience working with Title I schools preferred

Skills & Competencies:

This section outlines the critical skills and competencies required to excel in this role, enabling effective performance, adaptability, and consistent achievement of job responsibilities.

• Exceptional leadership, interpersonal, and organizational skills.
• Expertise in strategic planning, operational management, and change leadership.
• Knowledge of Arizona academic standards and ability to interpret test data to improve instruction and achievement.
• Educational leadership in the profession through membership and participation in the community and in the professional organizations as well as activities with students, teachers, community and individual projects.
• Familiarity with state and federal early childhood education policies
• Background in trauma-informed practices and social-emotional learning preferred
• Ability to interpret and apply policy to inform decision-making.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.

Work Environment & Physical Requirements:

This section outlines the work environment and physical conditions associated with this role. It includes information on whether the job involves working in an office, classroom, or other settings, and if there are physical activities like standing, walking, or lifting.

• The role requires standing, walking, sitting, and using hands for various tasks.
• Occasional reaching, stooping, or lifting up to 25 pounds may be necessary.
• Specific vision abilities include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.
• Duties are typically performed in an office environment.
• Role may require working beyond typical work hours, including evenings and weekends, with little or no advanced notice.
• Driver's license is required, as travel to sites throughout the school district is expected

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement:

Mesa Public Schools is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws regarding equal employment opportunity and anti-discrimination. The District strictly prohibits and does not tolerate discrimination against employees, applicants, or any other covered persons because of race, color, religion, creed, national origin or ancestry, ethnicity, sex (including gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity), age, physical or mental disability, citizenship, past, current, or prospective service in the uniformed services, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law.