Director of Early Childhood Education

GENERAL OVERVIEW

The Director of Early Childhood Education (ECC) oversees all aspects of the Valley of the Sun JCC Early Childhood Center and early childhood education programming in accordance with the policies, goals, and objectives of the Board of

Directors, CEO and CYS.

RESPONSIBILITIES
Educational Programming

· Design, coordinate, and supervise ECC curriculum, programming, and enrichment activities for our ECC that aligns with our play-based, inclusive, and experiential mission.

· Facilitates the implementation and coordination of programming that facilitates the connectivity of our families to our community and our program, family events, education classes, etc.

· Work with lay leadership and staff to determine ECC educational objectives.

· Work with the ECC Parent Committee, attend meetings, and assist chairs in setting meeting dates, and prepare agendas and board reports. Execute tasks agreed upon with the committee. Work with other JCC committees and affiliates as appropriate.

· Maintain a working knowledge of significant developments and trends in JCCA, First Things First, Quality First, DHS and overall Jewish learning.

· Be a collaborative partner with community agencies such as Gesher Disabilities, Southwest Autism Resource and Research Center, and others, to ensure that we are continuously offering the highest quality care.

· Supervise and guide the implementation of an engaging and developmentally appropriate Jewish Early Childhood curriculum. This may include overseeing the integration of Jewish holidays, traditions, values (like Tikkun Olam), and Hebrew language into daily classroom activities.

Educational Management
· Provide ongoing, consistent written and oral communication with parents. Make regular presentations to parents on topics related to the school, education, and Jewish parenting. Participate in scheduled parent committee meetings.

· Meet with parents when necessary to discuss concerns regarding their children and make referrals, as necessary.

· Motivate and educate parents about the JCC community, including creating connections and working towards a warm and positive experience for children and families.

· Supervise the enrollment process, including conducting tours for prospective parents.

· Ensure written information, letters, forms, packets, brochures, and pamphlets describing the ECC. program, including social media, is consistent with JCC's policies.

· Develop, maintain and update ECC Handbook and other policy materials.

· Oversee development of class schedule, size, and placements.

· Participate in ongoing JCC activities, celebrations, functions, and programs.

· Supervise and mentor teaching staff, conduct regular classroom observations, and provide constructive feedback to support professional growth.

Human Resources
· Recruit, interview, and determine the selection, promotion, retention, or dismissal of all ECC personnel, in accordance with established protocol.

· Directly supervise all ECC teachers, personnel, and office staff. Conduct performance evaluations in accordance with established policy.

· Work with staff to facilitate professional competence and continued education in the ECC field, including providing in-service training.

· Develop relationships and maintain an active list of auxiliary professionals, such as speech pathologists,

mental health specialists, occupational therapists, and pediatric neurologists to utilize for staff training or professional development and to recommend to parents when necessary.

· Conduct monthly staff meetings.

· Provide substitute teachers or arrange other programming when teachers are absent.

· Maintain a climate that attracts, retains, and motivates diverse high-quality staff.

· Experience working in a Jewish non-profit setting, preferably within an early childhood education context preferred.

Licensing

· Comply with all licensing requirements as set for by the state and any other relevant local regulatory agencies; oversee the maintenance and submittal of records and reports as necessary and in a timely manner.

· Demonstrated knowledge of and experience with Arizona Department of Health standards for childcare licensing preferred.

· Keep CYS regularly apprised of licensing audits, reporting any recommendations or deficiencies.

Financial/Business Management
· Advise and recommend tuition levels to CYS.

· Establish the ECC budget and projections in collaboration with the CYS.

· Prepare periodic reports for CEO, COO & finance committee, on enrollment statistics and overall school performance.

· Supervise total administrative function, which includes task delegation, records, and payroll, in accordance with established administrative and licensing policy.

· Schedule all the facility needs with the Facilities Director.

WORKING RELATIONSHIPS
· Accountable to the CYS in matters pertaining to school licensing, budget, and human resources.

· work closely with other VOS JCC Department Heads, to provide a comprehensive early childhood department within the greater VOS JCC community.

· Represent JCC within the Jewish and general community.

· Serve on committees and tasks forces as deemed appropriate.

EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
· Bachelor's degree required. Master's degree in early childhood education preferred.

· Minimum of five years' experience in the early childhood education field.

· Solid background in employee supervision and program/school management.

· Must have a strong understanding of Jewish culture, along with sound knowledge of Jewish customs and practices.

· Ability to relate sensitively and appropriately to young children and families.

· Ability to integrate the ECC program into the larger JCC community.

· High level of integrity and discretion.

· Excellent communication skills.

· Able to work in a demanding environment and juggle multiple priorities.

· Excellent computer skills.

· Collegial, inclusive, and team-building style.

CORE COMPETENCIES:
· Mission Ownership: Demonstrates understanding and full support of the mission, vision, values, and beliefs of the JCC. Can teach those values to others. Leads his/her leadership team to identify unique educational mission and vision, including identifying innovative programs (strategies, initiatives, etc.), which are in line with the mission and vision of The J.

· Interpersonal skills: Demonstrates the ability to lead others. Demonstrates skills of active listening and openly accepts criticism. Productively engages and resolves interpersonal conflict. When appropriate, holds others accountable in a productive, constructive, and kind manner.

· Team Building Skills: Guides staff in the process of sharing best practices, identifying, and solving common problems. Works with leaders to regularly assess the health of teams and groups. Recognizes dysfunctional team behavior and redirects it into functional behavior. Creates and communicates vision, direction, and goals for the team.

· Early Childhood Education Methodology: Has a core competency of methodologies and best practices of early childhood education including familiarity with age-appropriate practices, classroom management strategies, developmentally appropriate expectations, and curricular approaches.

· Process Management: Good at figuring out the processes necessary to get things done; knows how to organize people and activities; understands how to separate and combine tasks into efficient workflow.

· Caring Community: Promotes JCC's commitment to building and sustaining a warm and welcoming culture. Acts as a model to staff; guides and empowers staff to engage in practices and build

relationships with children, parents and members that support welcoming, excellent service and education, and meaningful, positive interactions.

This is an exempt, full-time position. Nights and weekends will be required. Other duties may be assigned, and duties may change from time to time. Nothing in this job description restricts management's right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.

Salary : $85,000 - $95,000