Assistant Director, Early Childhood Center
Westchester Reform Temple
Job Description
BACKGROUND STATEMENT
We are an inclusive Reform Jewish preschool that celebrates Jewish values, holidays, texts, traditions, and symbols, and embraces innovation and positive change. Our Learn Through Play philosophy emphasizes STEAM concepts, we welcome different types of learners in our community of over 180 children, and we seek out ways to honor and support a variety of learning differences.
We promote a love of learning among our students, and work to create joyful Jewish memories for our children and their families. We facilitate enduring connections between ECC families and the temple as a whole, in the hopes that families will affiliate with WRT for decades to come. We engage parents in temple life beyond their child’s classroom, and we actively encourage continued education for students in our Jewish Learning Lab K-12 program, as they age out of the ECC.
We foster and maintain a positive working relationship with parents, staff, teachers and Temple leadership. Through our partnership with parents, we develop volunteer co-chairs for the ECC, some of whom go on in temple leadership, including as Trustees on WRT’s Board of Trustees.
POSITION DESCRIPTION
This full-time position is designed to assist the ECC Director in administering the WRT preschool. As assigned by the ECC Director, the Assistant Director will partner with the ECC Director in interactions with teaching staff, parents and children; enhance the curriculum and environment of the program; promote the ECC internally and to the larger community in coordination with WRT Communications Director; and contribute meaningfully within the ECC administrative team.
Qualifications for this position include:
- Degree in Education required, Masters degree preferred
- Specific training in Early Childhood Education preferred, Special Education training a plus
- Knowledge or familiarity with Jewish culture and traditions relevant to a preschool classroom
- Minimum of 3 years of experience as preschool head teacher or supervisor
- Experience with administrative responsibilities preferred
- Communication & Digital Technology skills required
- Strong computer skills required
- Experience with emergency preparation and drills
- Innovative; Creative
- Collaborative - works well as part of a team
- Detail oriented, highly organized
- Warm and approachable - presents as friendly, professional, caring and capable
Direct Responsibilities as assigned by and in partnership with the ECC Director, include but are not limited to:
- Promote and brainstorm for innovation and creativity in our classrooms and programs.
- Update and support teachers on current educational trends and policies.
- Cultivate positive, professional and ongoing relationships with parents.
- Act as liaison for Parents Association to support and help in planning all parent events.
- Act as liaison between ECC and other Temple programs, including the Jewish Learning Lab (K-12 religious school).
- Coordinate online communications within the school community and assist with promoting the ECC to the broader community
- Ensure that parent preferences about children photo permissions are closely followed
- Coordinate online registrations and extended day
- Ensure that online communications for the school is up to par with parent requests and current technology (i.e., with password protected sites limiting access to parents only).
- Assist in the design and implementation of professional development opportunities for staff.
- Monitor teachers’ professional development as required for licensing.
- Participate in staff meetings and professional development seminars.
- Take the lead in securing substitute teachers.
- Fill in as classroom teacher when needed.
- Serve as the primary director of the summer camp programs.
- Assist with oversight of school extended day programs, special events and Shabbat programs, some of which will take place outside of preschool hours.
- Supervise dismissal of daily extended day programs
- Understand and assist with the budget process.
- Function as purchasing agent for school supplies and food items, as needed.
- Review and become knowledgeable about all state and local OCFS regulations.
- Ensure all state and local health department regulations are being followed and maintained.
- Partner with updating, filing and renewing licensing with OCFS.
- Coordinate all immunization updates, submitting them to OCFS in a timely manner.
- Maintain confidentiality of all information related to children, families and staff.
- Ensure emergency preparedness at all times.
- Keep program areas safe, clean and presentable, with special attention to security protocols.
- Act as ECC Director when required, in the absence of the ECC Director.
- Accept and coordinate with other assignments and tasks as assigned by ECC Director or Executive Director, from time to time.
Compensation for this position will depend on what kind of education and experience you already have, and may range from $50,000 - $60,000 per year.
WRT believes strongly that all applicants should be considered fairly for employment opportunities at the temple. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and we recognize that our best candidate may be one who comes from a less traditional background, or one who does not meet every single one of the qualifications listed in this job description. We would encourage you to apply, if you feel you are poised to excel at leading this important work with WRT.
To apply, email your cover letter and resume to: [email protected]. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and the search will remain open until a candidate is hired. No phone inquiries, please.