Preschool Director

About Temple Emanuel Preschool

Temple Emanuel Preschool is a vibrant early childhood community serving approximately 60 children across 6 classrooms. Our program offers a warm and loving atmosphere with a strong play-based secular curriculum and an enriched Jewish curriculum. The days are filled with excitement and wonder as we strive to create a lifelong love of learning and Judaism.

Preschool Director
This role presents an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic, experienced early childhood leader to guide and grow the vibrant Jewish Preschool at Temple Emanuel. The Preschool Director will provide strategic, pedagogical, and operational leadership for the preschool program, serving children ages 15 months through Pre-K.

This leader will help shape the program’s continued growth, cultivating an environment where young children develop curiosity, confidence, and a strong foundation of Jewish identity. As a member of the synagogue’s leadership team, the Director partners closely with the education and engagement departments, faculty, families, clergy, and community stakeholders to foster a culture of excellence, warmth, and belonging.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership

• Provide overall leadership and vision for the preschool program, shaping the pedagogical and curricular approach to teaching and learning.
• Lead faculty development, including the recruitment, hiring, onboarding, mentorship, supervision, and evaluation of early childhood educators, while fostering a positive, collaborative, and supportive workplace culture that promotes staff engagement, retention, and professional excellence.
• Builds strong partnerships with families, partners closely with the PTO to maximize family involvement and fundraising efforts, supports teachers, and builds a welcoming culture.
• Build strong partnerships with families through transparent communication, community-building, and meaningful engagement opportunities.
• Serve as a visible ambassador for the preschool within the broader Jewish and local community and cultivate collaborative partnerships with peer organizations.
• Partner with synagogue leadership and clergy to integrate preschool families into the larger Temple Emanuel community.
• Contribute to strategic planning efforts that strengthen the preschool as a cornerstone of family engagement and Jewish life.

Operations

• Oversee day-to-day operations of the preschool, including scheduling, staffing coverage, and classroom support to maintain instructional quality and a nurturing environment.
• Manage the preschool budget to support program quality, enrollment growth, and long-term sustainability.
• Ensure full compliance with Massachusetts Early Education and Care (EEC) licensing requirements, including health, safety, staffing ratios, and regulatory standards.
• Oversee recruitment, website, marketing, communications, and enrollment.
• Collaborate with Temple leadership, security personnel, and staff to maintain a safe and secure environment for children, families, and staff, including implementing and managing emergency preparedness plans, safety protocols, and response procedures.

Pedagogy

• Guide the development of classroom environments and learning experiences grounded in emergent and constructivist early childhood education with integrated Jewish values, traditions, and holidays.
• Guide the development of engaging classroom environments and support teachers in implementing developmentally appropriate curricula, while monitoring children's progress toward developmental milestones and early learning standards.
• Establish and support professional learning structures that promote reflective practice and continuous improvement among staff.
• Champion Hebrew language learning and Jewish identity development throughout the preschool community.

Qualifications & Experience

• EEC Director I or II certification required.
• Master’s degree in Education or a related field preferred.
• Minimum of 8 years of experience in early childhood education.
• Prior classroom teaching experience in an early childhood education setting is required and will inform the Director’s ability to effectively support, mentor, and evaluate teaching staff.
• At least 3 years of leadership experience as an Early Childhood Director or similar role.
• Demonstrated success building and sustaining a culture of pedagogical excellence.
• Knowledge of Jewish play-based and inquiry-based early childhood curriculum models.
• Experience with NAEYC accreditation or comparable quality improvement frameworks preferred.
• Passion for Jewish life and learning, with a commitment to fostering a vibrant Jewish environment for children and families; prior experience in Jewish education is preferred.
• Ability to actively participate in all aspects of the preschool environment, including sitting on the floor, bending, lifting up to 40 pounds, supervising children indoors and outdoors, and responding quickly to ensure child safety.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and ability to adapt to new IT systems.

Key Competencies & Attributes

• Organizational and operational management skills.
• Cultural competence and commitment to inclusive community engagement.
• Strategic leadership and vision for early childhood education.
• Stay informed on shifting policies and current academic research to continuously improve and elevate the program’s standards.
• Strong faculty coaching, mentorship, and team development skills.
• Engage with early intervention specialists and support teachers with neurodivergent behavioral challenges. Specific experience in inclusive classrooms preferred.
• Exceptional communication and relationship-building abilities.
• Collaborative leadership style and comfort working with clergy, synagogue leadership, teachers, and families.
• Ability to balance educational philosophy with practical program management.

Work Environment & Benefits

Temple Emanuel Preschool offers a collaborative, relationship-centered, and mission-driven environment grounded in Jewish values, lifelong learning, and community connection. Faculty and staff work together to create a supportive culture where individuals, families, and ideas are valued.

The preschool offers a competitive compensation and benefits package, including:

• Health insurance and related benefits
• Retirement plan options
• Paid vacation, sick, and personal time
• Professional development opportunities
• Jewish holiday observance and schedule accommodations
• Tuition reduction opportunities, where applicable

This is a full-time, 12-month position. While the primary schedule is during regular business hours, the role requires flexibility to attend occasional evening and weekend commitments, including parent education programs, family engagement events, holiday celebrations, admissions activities, and meetings with prospective families.

About Temple Emanuel:

Temple Emanuel, a Conservative, fully egalitarian congregation affiliated with the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, is home to the largest Jewish congregation in New England. With a rich array of religious, cultural, social, and educational programs, Temple Emanuel is an integral part of the Newton community and beyond. More information is available at www.templeemanuel.com.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $80,000.00 - $100,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Professional development assistance
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person