The YM&YWHA of Washington Heights and Inwood seeks a visionary educator to become the Director of Early Childhood Education to build upon our high quality and success. The Director will possess creativity, passion, and strong management skills to actively promote a comfortable and nurturing environment where every child, teacher, and family is treated with dignity and respect. The Director is responsible for programs including the nursery school and New York City-funded pre-K, adhering to the city s curriculum requirements and guidelines.
Our Early Childhood Programs provide developmentally appropriate opportunities for children to socialize and learn together. Our primary objective is to foster each child's social, emotional, physical, and cognitive growth. Our child-centered curriculum is based on observing and understanding each child s skills and interests. We encourage curiosity and enthusiasm through exploration and discovery. Our nurturing atmosphere allows for developing self-confidence, self-respect, and concern for others. Through play, children learn the values of friendship, honesty, sharing responsibility, and cooperation. We strive to prepare children with the knowledge and skills necessary to enter their next stage of development and education with confidence and enthusiasm for learning.
As part of our commitment to Jewish life, we infuse our program with Jewish heritage. We embrace diverse traditions, stories, and celebrations, fostering a deep connection to identity and culture. Through experiential learning, we aim to kindle a love for Jewish values, history, and rituals.
JOB RESPONSIBILITIES- PROGRAM AND CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT:
- Lead and direct the design and implementation of a developmentally appropriate curriculum and learning environment, incorporating best practices, current research, and Jewish values for birth through second grade.
- Partner with staff and faculty to create classroom environments, expectations, and developmentally appropriate learning goals, guidelines, and assessments.
- Promote a nurturing and engaging program that reflects respect and compassion for all children, families, staff, and faculty.
- Engage parents, volunteer leaders, and other groups to promote program success and effectiveness.
- Coordinate staff, teachers, parents, and diagnostic professionals to respond to specific and individual student needs.
- Oversee summer camp.
- Plan, implement, and oversee new early childhood programs for the community.
JOB RESPONSIBILITIES- STAFF SUPERVISION AND DEVELOPMENT:
- Manage all aspects of personnel management, including recruitment, hiring, supervising, work planning, evaluating, and discipline.
- Plan and implement staff and faculty orientation and regular meetings.
- Serve as a mentor to staff and teachers, facilitating professional development in line with New York State and City standards.
- Ensure staff and faculty are informed, involved, and integrated in developing and implementing program outcomes and objectives.
- Develop an effective team, fostering camaraderie, collegiality, and teamwork.
JOB RESPONSIBILITIES- RELATIONSHIPS WITH PARENTS AND FAMILIES:
- Form warm and caring relationships with children and their parents and caregivers.
- Effectively communicate our programs and the Y's mission, vision, and goals to parents and families.
- Act as a resource for consultation and guidance on parenting, child development, and education.
- Communicate with parents regarding their child's progress, developmental or behavioral concerns, or class placements.
- Assist and guide children and families with holiday celebrations and Jewish values education.
- Provide tours to new families, representing the vision, goals, and uniqueness of the school and the Y.
- Exhibit respectful, fair, honest, supportive, and positive behaviors in all interactions with parents and families.
- Plan the expansion of early childhood programs to additional locations, requiring site licensing and organizational planning.
ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Partner with marketing staff for effective outreach to attract new families and encourage enrollment.
- Oversee the physical environment of all programs, including classroom configurations and materials.
- Lead, manage, implement, and monitor long and short-term strategic plans.
- Design and manage administrative support systems to align the curriculum and programs with the center's vision.
- Develop and monitor annual program budgets, including grants and fundraising efforts.
- Develop program fee structures consistent with the program's value and market competition.
- Ensure program compliance with New York City Department of Health licensing and seek annual certification from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).
- Collaborate with internal departments and community organizations for continuity of Jewish life and retention of connection to the Y.
- Supervise and review the implementation of the New York City Department of Education and thematic-based curriculum.
- Act as a liaison between the appointed New York City Department of Education Instructional Coordinator and the faculty.
- Assist teachers in implementing family communication and classroom assessment systems.
POSITION TYPE / EXPECTED HOURS OF WORK:
- Full-time, FSLA Exempt position
- Monday Friday, with flexibility.
- Occasional late evenings or weekends for school fairs, community events, and special events.
SALARY:
- $115,00-$130,000 per year.
BENEFITS:
- Paid vacation and sick days
- Individual health coverage
- Retirement plan
- Life insurance
- TSA/403b Plan
- Commuter Benefit Plan
- Free Y Fitness Center membership
- 50% discount on Y nursery school and after-school enrichment programs
QUALIFICATIONS:
- M.A. in Early Childhood Education and State Department of Education teacher certification in Early Childhood Education (B-2) or (N, K, Grades 1-6).
- Minimum of two years of teaching experience and five years of supervisory experience in a comparable setting.
- Complies with all Agency, State, City, and Federal regulations for working in an Early Childhood setting.
- Proficient with Google Suite and New York City Department of Education computer systems.
- RTE certification preferred.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
- Able to travel between classrooms and sites.
- Able to sit for periods and walk, take stairs, or use an elevator for classroom observations.
WORK AUTHORIZATION & CLEARANCE:
- Documentation of U.S. citizenship or eligibility to work in the U.S.
- Must pass background check, medical form, and fingerprinting through the Departments of Health and Education.
This job description is not exhaustive and may change or be assigned additional duties.
YM&YWHA of Washington Heights & Inwood provides equal employment opportunity to all individuals regardless of race, color, creed, religion, gender, age, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.