Director of Preschool
Reports to: Head of School
Supervises: All Preschool personnel, directly or indirectly
Primary Function: Serves as the chief administrator of the Preschool in developing and implementing policies, programs, curriculum activities, and budgets in a manner that promotes the educational development of each student and the professional development of each staff member. This is an exempt, full-time administrative position at FCDS with a twelve-month work year in which weekly work hours, including other duties as outlined in the employment agreement, may exceed 40 hours.
Primary Responsibilities:
General
- Assists the Head of School with delivering the mission and vision of the school
- Serves as a member of the Administrative Team.
- Collaborates with a team of Division Directors and the Senior Administrative Team.
- Supervises the daily activities and operations of the Preschool.
- Confers with administrators, parents, teachers, and other professionals as appropriate.
- Drafts recommended policies, objectives, and plans for the education of students and the administration of the Preschool.
- Attends regular administrative and division director meetings; plans/conducts Preschool faculty meetings.
- Effectively delegates responsibilities for completing tasks and follows up to ensure that delegated responsibilities are adequately performed.
- Cultivates a culture of feedback, including soliciting feedback from others about one's own performance and vision.
- Engages in the broader FCDS community beyond the division.
Instructional Program
- Develops, implements, supervises, and evaluates the delivery of comprehensive instructional, co-curricular (Community Time, Advisory), and extracurricular programs (After School) of the Preschool.
- Uses appropriate procedures and data to ensure the attainment of instructional goals and school mission.
- Engages the Head of School, administration, team leaders, parents, students, and other resource personnel in curriculum planning and program development.
- Ensures that each faculty member develops and effectively delivers a curriculum with clearly identified instructional objectives focused on student learning.
- Provides regular and timely feedback to all teachers, the Assistant Director of the Preschool, and administrative assistant.
- Ensures that all curricula across the school are aligned with all divisions.
- Supports a developmentally appropriate childhood, student-centered approach to learning and assessment.
- Establishes, implements, and evaluates clearly defined community expectations that have been communicated to and are understood by parents, students, staff, and the community.
- Maintains a safe, respectful, and inclusive student-centered learning environment.
- Promotes school and classroom practices that validate and value similarities and differences among students.
- Identifies annual goals and objectives that specify what he/she intends to accomplish in the Preschool for the coming year.
Resource Management
- Oversees and manages the Preschool budget.
- Appropriately acquires, distributes, and utilizes all available resources to enrich the school program
- Develops, implements, and evaluates appropriate work schedules, class schedules, building-use schedules, and other necessary schedules.
- Recruits, manages and evaluates the Preschool faculty to promote growth and attain goals.
- Encourages and provides opportunities for faculty professional growth and development.
- Partners with the Admission Office to recruit, select, and retain students.
- Cultivates an enrollment mindset among faculty and staff.
Communications
- Develops, implements, supervises, and evaluates a plan for fostering communications among various constituent groups, including administrators, faculty, staff, parents, and students.
- Interprets the school program, objectives, and policies and communicates them to the school community.
- Communicates academic and behavioral expectations and policies for students to appropriate groups.
- Completes and communicates records, reports, inventories, requisitions, and budgets to appropriate parties.
- Regularly reviews and requests updates to communications regarding the division such as webpages, informational flyers, etc.
- Uses conflict management and resolution skills to facilitate school operations and build a positive divisional culture.
- Works with other Division Directors to provide a sense of community and shared purpose for the entire school and to facilitate the transition between the divisions.
Qualifications
- Minimum Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education, Master's Degree Preferred
- Demonstrated commitment to ongoing professional growth, including self-awareness, reflection, and ongoing learning.
- Minimum of three years of experience in an administrative role, including the supervision of teachers
- Proficient with Google Work Suite - Gmail, Calendar, Google Docs, Google Sheets
- Has excellent organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills
- Must be able to maintain a high level of confidentiality
Essential Functions
- Regularly required to sit or stand for extended periods, walk, talk, hear, operate a computer, reach with hands and arms, and occasionally lift and/or move up to 15 pounds
- Must be able to access and navigate all areas of the school and other facilities as needed
- Must be able to utilize oral and written communication skills effectively