The WISD's Mission is to educate, serve, and advocate with students, families, schools and the community. We disrupt racial inequities, build just educational systems, and expand access for all learners. We value human potential while striving to support current and future generations of Washtenaw County to enrich as many lives as we possibly can.

The WISD’s Vision is to be a leader in empowering, facilitating, and delivering high‐quality, boundary spanning, educational system that educates all children through an equitable, inclusive, and holistic approach.

SUMMARY:

The Quality Assurance Specialist leads the internal monitoring system for programs ensuring compliance for Head Start/Early Head Start and Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP) operational procedures, processes and policies related to Head Start Performance Standards (HSSPS) and the GSRP Implementation Manual, rules and applicable regulations to identify opportunities for growth and support ongoing quality improvement efforts. Using data collected via the internal monitoring process, the Quality Assurance Specialist supports staff, program partners and sub-recipients in developing quality improvement plans. The Quality Assurance Specialist conducts on-site and virtual Quality Assurance and Support meetings with partners and programs to provide individualized support addressing their unique needs and strengths. In addition to supporting Head Start and GSRP partners and sub-recipients ensuring HSSPS performance standards GSRP rules and regulations, policies and procedures are followed and individualized quality improvement, the Quality Assurance Specialists engages the grantee, partner and sub-recipients in a self-assessment process annually to identify areas of focus for each upcoming grant period.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Demonstrates a strong commitment to equity, social justice, and inclusion in all practices and position responsibilities.
Demonstrates the ability to examine how his/her/their position (directly or indirectly) impacts educational inequities in student achievement outcomes.
Engages in reflection and ongoing learning and development on critical concepts and terms identified in the Washtenaw ISD Educational Equity Policy including concepts such as cultural proficiency, racial equity, and systemic and structural inequities
Provide orientation and onboarding to new partner and sub-recipient programs for Head Start and the Great Start Readiness Program.
In partnership with the Preschool and Early Education Coordinator, conducts site visits to sub-recipients/partners to monitor the Early Head Start and Head Start centers for program compliance and accreditation standards.
In partnership with the Family Services Coordinator and Home-Based Early Head Start Early Childhood Specialist, ensure compliance with Head Start standards in the implementation of home visits and socializations.
Develops and maintains a system for providing on-site, telephone, or e-mail support for Early Head Start and Head Start staff and administrators regarding procedural and data recording questions.
Assist with the development of program goals and monitoring and assess progress toward meeting goals.
Organizes and facilitates the annual self-assessment.
In partnership with department leadership, assist with the Community-wide Needs Assessment report with input from Head Start staff and community partners.
Support and provide training for professional development based on Quality Improvement Plans and monitoring results.
Plans and presents staff training to ensure compliance with all program standards in collaboration with the Education and Disabilities Manager.
Ensure that program policies and procedures meet current federal and state regulations/requirements and childcare licensing rules.
Implements schedule for annual review of policies and procedures, follows consistent process for updating and developing new policies and procedures and presents policies to WISD Policy Council and the WISD Board of Education.
Participates in the development of quality improvement and corrective actions plans with appropriate follow-up and documentation of improvement in collaboration with the Early Childhood Specialists.
Prepares and maintains sub-recipient/partner Head Start manuals in the areas of compliance and documentation in collaboration with the Head Start Management team.
Maintains and shares a resource library of current state and federal program regulations with other Head Start staff.
Facilitates orientation for new Head Start staff in areas of program requirements and reporting.
Monitors transportation procedures, including bus rides, site procedures, licensing regulations.
Works collaboratively with Content Area Specialists on compliance of management systems.
Attends monthly policy council meetings to present data and answer questions regarding continuous quality improvement.
Assist with the Federal review process including collecting and preparing pre-site/on-site documents. Conduct interviews with delegate and grantee staff in preparation of Federal reviews. Provide guidance and instruction on the OHS monitoring protocols Focus Area 1 and Focus Area 2 in preparation of Federal reviews.
Assists Supervisor in preparing the grant for submission of continuation application.
Supports and enhances collaborative work environment.
Demonstrates excellent customer service.
Supports WISD vision and mission to enhance achievement for all students.
Maintains regular predictable attendance.
OTHER RELATED DUTIES, AS ASSIGNED.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

N/A.

QUALIFICATIONS:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Alternative requirements that may be appropriate and acceptable to the Board of Education may be considered. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:

Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood, Child Development or related field.
Three (3) years or more of relevant experience in quality assurance, educational management or a related field required.
Minimum of three (3) years’ experience in Head Start setting
Great Start Readiness Program experience preferred.
Bilingual preferred.
Such alternatives to the above qualifications as the Board may find appropriate and acceptable.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS:

Current valid driver’s license required.

LANGUAGE SKILLS:

Ability to communicate ideas and instructions orally and in writing.
Ability to write reports and business correspondence.
Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general social services related journals and technical procedures.
Ability to present to groups of individuals.

TECHNICAL SKILLS:

Ability to accurately use district-wide electronic reporting systems. (Child Plus, MICR, Power-school)
Ability to use a personal computer (PC) in a networked environment to utilize the Internet and other electronic communications mechanisms, such as email conferencing or messaging boards.
Ability to use computer technology for research, data management, communications and other instruction.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS:

Ability to work within the program budget.
Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as percentages.
Ability to produce and interpret graphs, charts, spreadsheets and other mathematical reports.

REASONING ABILITY:

Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
Ability to interpret an extensive variety of instructions.
Ability to summarize conclusions and instructions, then make recommendations and develop implementation strategies.
Ability to use positive behavior support intervention techniques autonomously.

INTERPERSONAL SKILLS:

Ability to work independently with management guidance.
Possess excellent customer service and communication skills with a client-centered focus.
Ability to build rapport with others and to serve diverse publics.
Ability to initiative, work well with others as a collaborative team member and exhibit good communication skills.
Ability to work effectively and collaboratively with other departments, agencies and individuals.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Travel by car, bus, airplane or train may also be required associated with attendance at conferences, meetings and other duties carried out at distant locations in and out of state and in some cases where some overnight travel may be required. Persons in this position may be required to lift up to 45 pounds. The employee may have some exposure to communicable diseases. Work is generally performed in a classroom setting or in an office environment, involving face-to-face communication. Some evenings and weekend work required for events such as home visits, parent-teacher conferences, Parent Committee meetings, Family Nights, socializations and other Head Start/Early Head Start activities including social and community activities.

ENVIRONMENTAL ADAPTABILITY:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The noise level in work environment may be moderate to loud depending upon the activity in the particular part of the day. The employee may be required to be outdoors for periods of time, and therefore subject to varying weather conditions, for purposes of accomplishing the essential functions of this job.

FUNCTIONS OF POSITION DESCRIPTION:

This position description has been prepared to define the general duties of the position, provide examples of work and to detail the required knowledge, skills and ability as well as the acceptable experience and training for the position. The description is not intended to limit or modify the right of any supervisor to assign, direct and control the duties of employees under supervision. The WISD retains and reserves any and all rights to change, modify, amend, add to or delete from any portion of this description in its sole judgment.

This position description is not a contract for employment.

The WISD is an equal opportunity employer, in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The District will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.

TERMS:

Contract, salary and other employment conditions to be established by the Board of Education as reflected in the current Non-Affiliated and Early Childhood Manual. . Starting salary range (dependent upon experience) from $55,195 - $67,848.

Washtenaw Intermediate School District is a drug-free workplace.

It is the policy and commitment of the Washtenaw Intermediate School District not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability, age, height, weight, familial status, marital status, genetic information, sexual orientation or any legally protected characteristic, in its educational programs, activities, admissions, or employment policies in accordance with Title IX of the 1972 Educational Amendments, executive order 11246 as amended, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and all other pertinent state and federal regulations.

Head Start & Pre-K for All Quality Assurance Specialist