Preschool Director

Position available: Director, ECE, The Preschool at Mishkon

Location: Mishkon Tephilo, www.mishkon.org

Starting immediately

Job description:

Through direct management of classroom teachers, the ECE Director will be responsible for delivering an exceptional preschool experience to the school’s children and their families. The preschool is currently in good health, with strong inquiry-based curriculum and teachers dedicated to its teaching philosophy. Thus, it will be important for the ECE Director to continue to build on this current success, by supporting, training, and retaining excellent teachers and fostering a positive, high-energy culture that motivates teachers, children, and families. This is a full-time, year-round position, with required onsite presence daily.

Responsibilities:

School Leadership:

• Works with the Board liaison and treasurer to develop and manage the ECE budget, quarterly reforecasts, and revenue.
• In partnership with Board liaison, establish and set goals for all early education programs according to the strategic objectives of the organization
• Plans the school year from start to completion involving deadlines, milestones, and processes, keeping ECE team informed of and accountable to the plans.

• Director must hold and implement an educational philosophy rooted in play-based learning and emergent curriculum, along with experiential components of the Jewish curriculum.

• Works closely with administrative team to strategize and implement a high quality program throughout the preschool.
• Assists in public relations and community building events sponsored by the school. 
• Maintains enrollment and coordinates recruitment of new families, leads program tours, and develops recruitment strategy in partnership with senior leadership.
• Partners with education team to support children and families within the program around developmental needs, early intervention referrals, and in-classroom intervention.
• Communicates program goals to families accurately and in a timely manner. Includes issues specific to individual students, classrooms, or staff, school tours, prospective parent inquiries, and parent orientations. Remains in regular and direct communication with parents regarding individual student needs, broad curriculum/program plans, and classroom updates.

Supervisory:

• Supervises all lead classroom teachers: conducts formal and informal in-classroom observation, reflection, and goal setting with teachers in a collaborative manner to guide their work with children, families, and peers using data-driven, developmentally appropriate practice.
• Manages teaching teams, including disciplinary action, and meets with staff regularly for the purpose of developing high-quality curriculum and excellent student/family experience.
• Supervises developing and implementing high quality inquiry-based curriculum that integrates Jewish values, rituals, and traditions across all classrooms and facilitating school events and celebrations.
• In collaboration with the administrative team, develops and deliver staff training with program and instructional needs in minds.
• Creates and implements mid-year and end-of-year reviews for the ECE Staff.
• Oversees fall and spring parent-teacher conference processes including timely completion of writeups by teachers and supporting staff in articulating child-related concerns to parents.
• Transmits information to teaching team about preschool operations and protocols in a timely manner and in various formats (email, Teams, in person meetings).
• Plans and facilitates regular staff meetings (all staff, classroom/wing specific, co-inquiry).
• Tracks and supports professional growth, creating peer mentorship opportunities, referring staff to professional development offerings based on documented goals.
• Acts as a model for teachers, aides, and assistant teachers and mentoring their training and development.

Administrative:

• Coordinates compliance with California Community Licensing through the program’s licensing analyst.
• Ensures program operations and activities adhere to licesning guidelines and internal policies.
• Represents ECE program (staff, student, family) needs to board through regular supervision meetings and ongoing communication.
• Establishes and maintains positive, professional, and effective communication and supportive ties with children, staff, parents, and third party consultants to meet the individual needs of children and their families which establish a partnership between school and home for the child.
• Reviews and supports communications sent to parents by teachers.
• Writes and distributes regular memos to staff regarding program updates, upcoming activities, and staff meetings.
• Understands and articulates the philosophy of the school.
• Works with Inclusion Specialist, teachers, and administrative team to communicate and document information to support specific students.
• Works to strategize about logistical challenges (including building/space sharing, etc.) which impact students and teaching team.

Human Resources: 

• Responsible for the hiring and placement of all teachers. Reviews applications for open positions, conducts initial interview of qualified candidates.
• Onboards new teachers
• Ensures that clear standards are established for qualifications and ongoing staff development, evaluation, and coaching.
• Develops and articulates performance expectations, monitoring and documenting performance, and providing regular supervision and feedback.
• Ensures that standards and expectations are in place to maintain an exceptional customer experience and licensing compliance.

Qualifications:

• Child Care Director Qualified according to California Community Care Licensing standards
• A BA/BS in ECE, child development, elementary education or related field
• A minimum of 3 years of management experience in an early childhood setting, including staff supervision and fiscal management
• A minimum of 3 years of teaching / classroom experience
• A thorough understanding of child development and developmentally appropriate teaching practice
• Demonstrated ability to develop and adhere to effective processes and exhibit strong problem solving skills
• Proven success in financial, operational, and administrative management, including the ability to work within an established budget
• Collaborative management and leadership skills and the ability to motivate staff to work toward performance objectives with respect and innovation
• Outstanding ability to communicate sensitively and diplomatically with people of all ages
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and the use of technology for operations and engagement
• Knowledge of Jewish practices, values, beliefs, and traditions
• Knowledge of best practices for early learning standards and Kindergarten readiness
• Values of equity, diversity, environmental stewardship, and social justice
• Commitment to the highest professional and ethical standards
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills

Interested and qualified candidates should send cover note and resume to [email protected].

Thank you!