Preschool Director

First Steps Preschool

Program Director Job Description

Program Director: Job Summary

The Program Director shall provide strong leadership for the overall operation of First Steps Preschool. This includes overseeing daily educational experiences, staff management, and strict compliance with the Licensing Rules for Child Care Centers. This role requires dedication to ensuring a safe, nurturing, and developmentally appropriate learning environment and exemplary interpersonal skills to foster strong working relationships with children, families, staff members, and the church and local community.

Program Director: Job Description

The Program Director is responsible for the general management of the center, including the following basic responsibilities:

• Developing, implementing, and evaluating program and center policies
• Administering day-to-day operations, including being available to address family, child, and staff issues
• Budget administration
• Monitoring staff, including annual evaluations
• Ensuring full knowledge and strict compliance of state regulatory standards

Additionally, the Program Director to responsible for:

• Licensing and Compliance
• Ensuring all facility requirements, health protocols, and emergency preparedness plans are up-to-date, shared, and executed appropriately
• Maintaining well-organized, complete, and confidential records for all children, staff members, and volunteers as mandated by the state
• Managing inspection and maintenance of areas approved for preschool use by licensing
• Staff Leadership and Development
• Hiring, training, supervising, and evaluating preschool staff members
• Ensuring staff complete required annual training and maintain current CPR, AED, and First Aid training
• Creating staff schedules; ensuring classroom staff member-to-child ratios and maximum group sizes are met
• Fostering a collaborative team environment and leading regular staff meetings
• Curriculum and Program Management
• Overseeing the implementation of a play-based, developmentally appropriate curriculum that aligns with the program’s philosophy and meets the physical, social, cognitive, emotional, and spiritual needs of young children
• Monitoring classroom activities and lesson plans to ensure educational excellence
• Facilitating observational assessments and monitoring student growth
• Planning and communicating the program calendar
• Teaching the Parent and Tot program and substituting for staff members as needed
• Family, Church, and Community Relations
• Managing student recruitment and enrollment including conducting facility tours, assisting with the registration process, and maintaining accurate class lists and waiting lists
• Communicating effectively with families; addressing concerns as needed and providing regular program updates
• Coordinating family involvement events throughout the school year
• Participating in monthly Preschool Advisory Committee meetings throughout the school year including creating and communicating the agenda, financial statements, minutes (Secretary), and Zoom link
• Attending church staff meetings on a regular basis and volunteering at child-related church events as available
• Serving as an advocate for the preschool within the church and local community
• Financial and Business Administration
• Developing and managing the preschool’s annual operating budget to ensure financial health
• Tracking accurate monthly expenses and revenue; submitting appropriate documentation to the Preschool Advisory Committee and the BFUMC Finance Committee
• Managing accurate billing, collection, deposit, and record of tuition and fees
• Ensuring timely payments to BFUMC and vendors
• Purchasing items needed for the program, classrooms, or special events

Program Director: Work Environment and Physical Demands

The program environment is fast-paced, engaging, and requires a moderate to high energy level.

The Program Director must be able to physically supervise children, which includes bending, kneeling, lifting up to 50 pounds and standing or walking for extended periods of time

The Program Director shall:

• Be present full time when children are present.
• Work onsite; spending at least 30 hours per week on administrative duties.
• Dedicate at least 92 hours during the summer to prepare for the up-coming school year.
• Be available for special events during evening and weekend hours.
• Designate a lead staff member to be in charge when away from the program.
• Appoint a substitute Program Director for a temporary absence that exceeds 30 consecutive workdays or if the program director leaves employment during the school year.
• Be paid a salary; bi-weekly on Fridays.

First Steps Preschool

Program Director: Qualifications

A program director shall meet at least of the following qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in a child-related field.
• Plus of the following:
• Be at least 21 years of age.
• Have at least 2 semester hours in childcare administration from an accredited college or university, or a minimum of 3.0 CEUs in childcare administration within 6 months of hire.
• Associate’s degree or higher in any field.
• Plus of the following:
• Be at least 21 years of age.
• Have a minimum of 2 semester hours in childcare administration from an accredited college or university, or a minimum of 3.0 CEUs in childcare administration within 6 months of hire.
• Have a minimum of 6 months of experience.
• 3 hours of MiRegistry approved training in of the following:
• Program Management
• Observation, Documentation and Assessment
• Teaching and Learning
• 6 hours of MiRegistry approved training in of the following areas:
• Interactions and Guidance
• Challenging Behaviors
• Trama Informed Practices
• The center must participate in Great Start to Quality.
• One of the following:
• Valid child development associate credential (CDA)
• Montessori credential
• Michigan Youth Development Associate Certificate or credential
• Infant Family Associate credential
• Associate degree or higher in a child-related field
• Plus of the following:
• Be at least 21 years of age.
• Have a minimum of 2 semester hours in childcare administration from an accredited college or university, or a minimum of 3.0 CEUs in childcare administration within 6 months of hire.
• Have a minimum of 3 months of experience.
• The center must participate in Great Start to Quality.

Before hiring a new program administrator:

• A licensee shall submit the credentials of the proposed program director to the department for review and approval in the manner prescribed by the department.
• The candidate shall complete a comprehensive background check (including signing the consent and disclosure documents and being fingerprinted).

Licensing approval and verification of the education, credentials, and experience of the program director shall be kept on file.

Upon hire, the program administrator shall:

• Sign and date a written statement that indicates all of the following:
• The individual is aware that abuse and neglect of children is against the law.
• The individual is informed of the center’s policies on child abuse and neglect.
• The individual knows that they are mandated reporters of child abuse and child neglect and are required by law to immediately report suspected abuse and neglect to the department of health and human services, child’s protective services as described in subdivision (c) of R 400.8213 of the Licensing Rules for Child Care Centers.

Within 30 calendar days after employment and before contact with children, the Program Director shall:

• Have an individual MiRegistry account and a non-expired MiRegistry membership status which includes materials submitted, received, awaiting print, or current
• Have a verified program organization employment entry in MiRegistry
• Have training in all of the following:
• The prevention of head trauma
• The prevention of child maltreatment
• The recognition and reporting of child abuse and neglect
• Who to contact for questions
• Discipline policy
• Emergency procedures to include, but not limited to, location of the first aid equipment, fire prevention, fire exits, and responsibilities during an emergency
• Information to provide to parents
• Appropriate care and supervision, including child care staff member to child ratios
• Daily schedules, such as planned daily activities and routines
• Health policies and procedures
• The prevention and control of infectious diseases, including immunizations
• Illness procedures for children and staff

Within 90 days after being present at the center and before caring for children, the Program Director shall:

• Be trained on emergency preparedness and response planning as described in R 400.8269 of the Licensing Rules for Child Care Centers
• Complete the following trainings, which are allowed to be counted towards annual professional development hours and are available at MiRegistry:
• Administration of medication
• Prevention of and response to emergencies due to food and allergic reactions as provided in R 400.8269a
• Building and physical premise safety, including identification of and protection from hazards, bodies of water, and vehicular traffic
• Handling and storage of hazardous materials and appropriate disposal of biocontaminants
• Child development including the major domains of cognitive, social, emotional, physical development, and approaches to learning provided in R 400.8271 of the Licensing Rules for Child Care Centers
• Pediatric first aid and pediatric, infant, child, and adult cardiopulmonary resuscitation training
• Be trained on the outdoor benefit-risk assessment and the risk management plan as indicated in R 400.8269b of the Licensing Rules for Child Care Centers
• Maintain verification of all required training on file at the center until May 7, 2027, after which qualifications must be reflected as verified in MiRegistry

Each calendar year, the Program Director shall:

• Complete 16 clocks hours of professional development on topics relevant to job responsibilities that include, but are not limited to, any of the following subjects:
• Child development and learning
• Health, safety, and nutrition
• Family and community collaboration
• Program management
• Teaching and learning
• Observation, documentation, and assessment
• Interactions and guidance
• Updates to topics covered in R 400.8216 of the Licensing Rules for Child Care Centers
• Child care center rules R 400.8101 to R 400.8840 of the Licensing Rules for Child Care Centers, as applicable to the center

Pay: $45,000.00 - $46,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Paid time off
• Retirement plan

Work Location: In person