Preschool Assistant Director

The Preschool Assistant Director is responsible for assisting the Preschool Director in the daily supervision and management of the Orlando Science Center Preschool (3-5 year) children and Preschool staff. The Preschool Assistant Director will assist the Director to maintain the OSC Preschool program’s goals, objectives and standards set forth by the Orlando Science Center in alliance with Early Childhood developmentally appropriate practices (promoting social/emotional, physical and intellectual growth needed to be successful individuals related to their peer group, environment and community), FL Department of Children and Families (DCF) licensing requirements, Teaching Strategies “Creative Curriculum”, Voluntary PreKindergarten (VPK) and NAEYC standards and guidelines. The Preschool Assistant Director will also assist the Preschool Director in providing guidance and support systems for the Preschool’s children, families and staff. The Preschool Assistant Director is responsible for representing the Preschool in the absence of the Preschool Director.

Essential Functions

• Embraces STEM education and informal teaching methodologies and strategies as essential functions of the Science Center Preschool and curriculum approach.
• Assists in ensuring the program is in full compliance with licensing and safety regulations including but not limited to Federal, State, Local, Orlando Science Center, Department of Children and Families (DCF), Voluntary PreKindergarten (VPK), NAEYC accreditation regulations and is being adhered to on a daily basis.
• Follows and adheres to all administrative policies and rules governing the Preschool and its employees as OSC employees, DCF license and accreditation requirements.
• Supervises Preschool Assistants to include recruitment, training, coaching, monitoring, and evaluating of designated employees to ensure compliance with organizational policies and procedures.
• Assists in maintaining Preschool documents related to enrollment, student files, and other administrative tasks, while also performing basic office duties such as filing, copying, answering phones, managing mail and email, and tracking tuition, fees, and registration.
• Exhibits proficiency in ticketing software including all preschool data input, data retrieval, report printing and billing.
• Assists in lesson plans to comply with VPK standards class requirements and assists with VPK attendance.
• Assists in planning, organizing and running all preschool camps.
• Assists in training of developmentally appropriate practices, curriculum and assessment for children 3 – 5 years old. Coordinates with Preschool Director staff work schedules and tasks.
• Communicates effectively (verbal and written) with children, caregivers and other staff.
• Works collaboratively with Preschool staff, Director and OSC Education staff to provide appropriate programs, activities and projects.
• Works with Preschool Director using effective verbal and written communication forms, anticipate and prevent problems with disruptive children, provide fair but firm discipline, enthusiastic and constantly alert, mature, and understanding.
• Follows and adheres to all administrative policies and rules governing the Preschool and its employees.
• Attends professional meetings, educational conferences, workshops and training in order to maintain and improve professional competence. Required number of in-service hours and/or CEUs will be provided according to licensing and accreditation requirements.
• Demonstrates commitment to OSC’s vision, mission, guiding principles and values.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Must be at least 21 years old and meet the requirements of the licensing agencies.

• Education: Current Director’s Credential and VPK Director’s Credential
• Experience: Five Years Experience leading a classroom with children 2 – 5 years old. Two Years Experience teaching VPK. Experience in ensuring full compliance with licensing and safety regulations including but not limited to Federal, State, Local, Department of Children and Families (DCF), Voluntary PreKindergarten (VPK), NAEYC accreditation regulations and is being adhered to on a daily basis.
• Certifications: CPR and Basic First Aid Certification.
• Strong knowledge: of DCF, VPK and NAEYC guidelines and licensing regulations.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office products
• Clear Level 2 Background screening.

Preferred Qualifications

• Communication skills-presentation, public speaking and written.
• Reliable, organized, self-starter. Ability to work with little supervision.
• Active listening, instructing, speaking, reading comprehension, learning strategies, writing, monitoring, time management, and monitoring skills.
• Two Years leading a classroom with an assistant.

Physical Demands

• Ability to remain in a stationary position.
• Moves throughout the museum.
• Ascends/descends stairs throughout the museum.
• Manipulates and moves components weighing up to 50 pounds, including those that may be low to the ground or above eye level.
• Frequently works in outdoor environments.
• Frequently works in indoor environments.
• Coping with demands and stresses associated with job and work environment.
• Kneeling, crouching, stooping, and crawling - (frequently)
• Weight Levels – Lift, Push, Pull-Up to 50 pounds

Expected Hours of Work & Travel

• The position is required to work any varying schedule of: Monday – Friday, 7:30am – 5:30pm. Occasional weekend hours may be needed. The flexible schedule depends on the needs of the school to not work over 40 hours.
• Travel throughout the Central Florida area will be required to pick up supplies and program materials.

Telecommuting

• This position is required to be onsite 100% of the time.

Other Duties
Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.