Private Nursery School Director

Garden City Nursery School

Date Posted: 12/05/2024

Location: Garden City, New York

Salary/Wage: $70,000 - $80,000 a year

Job Type: Full-time

Work Arrangement: Onsite

Description:

Garden City Nursery School is seeking an experienced and passionate Nursery School Director to lead and oversee the operational, educational, and administrative functions of our beloved community school. The Director will manage staff, develop and implement curriculum, maintain the physical environment, and build strong, supportive relationships with key stakeholders. This role ensures compliance with regulatory standards while fostering a nurturing, child-centered atmosphere for both students and staff.

The ideal candidate will not only meet the qualifications listed below but will also embrace our time-honored values, believe in the whole-child approach to education, and bring a hands-on attitude to every aspect of this leadership role. This role requires a combination of operational oversight, curriculum leadership, and strong interpersonal skills to ensure a nurturing and effective learning environment for students and staff.

Responsibilities:

1. Operations and Staffing: oversee all staff recruitment & training, maintain compliance with Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) standards.

2. Curriculum and Classroom Management: oversee and collaborate with staff on curriculum design, special projects, classroom management, CPSE processes as needed

3. Parent & Family Engagement: maintain open line of communication with families, participate in school events, oversee school tours, open hours and meetings as needed.

4. Building and Maintenance: oversee facilities management including various in school drills, manage upkeep of the facilities, maintain licenses, oversee inspections, and regulatory compliance (OCFS, NYS DOE, etc.).

5. Compliance and Regulatory Management: maintain up to date safety and licensing requirements with OCFS, NYS DOE, and other regulatory bodies, maintain staff files, etc.

6. Community Leadership: participate in local and national early childhood education networks and collaborate with other local nursery school directors.

7. Administrative Duties: oversee office tasks and collaborate with business manager

8. Collaboration with Board & Committees: attend board meetings and support board members as needed.

9. Professional Support and Development: attend and lead professional development meetings for staff

Qualifications:

Required education and experience as per OCFS guidelines - please see below
Required education and experience as per New York State Department of Education guidelines - please see below
Master’s degree in related field strongly preferred
Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, or a related field.
Knowledge of OCFS and NYS DOE regulations.
Extensive experience in early childhood education and school administration.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to engage with various stakeholders.
Strong leadership skills
Proven ability to manage and lead diverse teams, build relationships with families, and foster a positive, inclusive school culture.
Familiarity with curriculum planning, instructional techniques, and data-driven decision-making in an early childhood setting.
CPR and First Aid certified (or willingness to obtain)

Minimum Education Level: NYS Teacher Certification

Preferred Education Level: Master's Degree

Application Instructions:

Send cover letter and resume to Emily Kasel, board member and director of hiring committee at ejkasel@gmail.com for consideration

Additional Information:

Benefits:

25% discount for children of teachers
Paid time off
Professional development
Access to a 403b

OCFS Required Education and Experience for Educational Director Position:

Education	Experience
Bachelor's degree including, or in addition to, 12 credits in Early Childhood, Child Development or related field	One year of full-time teaching experience in a child day care center, family or group family day care home or other early childhood program AND one year of experience supervising staff in a childcare program or a related field of work
OR
New York State Children's Program Administrator Credential	One year of full-time teaching experience in a child day care center, family or group family day care home or other early childhood program AND one year of experience supervising staff in a childcare program or related field of work
OR
Associate's degree in Early Childhood or related field with a plan of study leading to: a bachelor's degree; or a New York State Children’s Program Administrator Credential	Two years of full-time teaching experience in a child day care center, family or group family day care home, or other early childhood program AND Two years of experience supervising staff in a childcare program or related field of work
OR
Child Development Associate Credential or other Office recognized credential with a plan of study leading to: a bachelor's degree; or a New York State Children's Program Administrator Credential	Two years of full-time teaching experience in a child day care center, family or group family day care home, or other early childhood program AND Two years of experience supervising staff in a childcare program or related field of work

New York State Department of Education Requirements for Educational Director Position:

The educational director shall hold a New York State certificate or its equivalent in one of the following:

Early Childhood Education (Nursery, Kindergarten and Primary Grades)
Nursery through Kindergarten
Elementary Education: Newborn through Grade 6
Kindergarten through Grade 6 with specialized preparation for teaching in early childhood grades

OR shall present evidence of substantially equivalent instruction and experience,