| About This Position
The Preschool Director commits the majority of their time to the administration, direction, supervision, and teaching educational experiences for nature preschool students in accordance with Mass Audubon’s Action Agenda strategic goals, Mass Audubon’s education frameworks, guidelines, and policies for Early Education and Nature Preschools, and Massachusetts Early Education and Care (EEC) and overall best practices in nature-based early childhood education. Specifically, they are responsible for the coordination and oversight of all curriculum and program development, licensing and risk management, marketing and registration, staff hiring and supervision, program evaluation and budget management for the nature preschool that they direct. The Preschool Director supervises full-time, benefited staff as well as part-time regularly schedules and per diem educators, depending on each school’s staffing plan and teaches in the classroom and outdoors as needed. They develop and manage program specific budgets with support from the Statewide Director of Nature Preschool and the Senior Director of Education and Engagement.
Application Instructions
Please submit a resume and cover letter with your ADP application. Responsibilities - Oversee and manage operations of nature preschool, meeting Mass Audubon’s early education goals and objectives for nature preschools as well as attending to the needs of children, staff and families in the school community
- Develop and steward a sense of community, belonging, and connection to nature within the preschool community
- Create and maintain with preschool faculty a healthy, safe, and positive environment for children using best practices in early childhood nature-based education
- Provide a physically and emotionally safe environment for young children both within an indoor and outdoor environment
- Develop and manage annual preschool operating budget
- Responsible and accountable to all Mass Audubon/MA EEC health and safety policies and guidelines
- Responsible for compliance and implementation of all Massachusetts Early Education and Care licensed childcare regulations and guidelines, including preparation for re-licensing paperwork and visits, maintaining all relevant documents
- Observe, document and assess the ongoing development of students and write progress reports twice per year (when applicable) and review all written progress reports
- Work collaboratively with other wildlife sanctuary and nature center staff to ensure the operations of the preschool are in alignment with the ongoing operations of the wildlife sanctuary
- Maintain the built and natural environment so that it is safe, welcoming and an enriching environment for childhood development and learning
- Must be?comfortable exploring the natural world?in a?variety of weather throughout the year?for 2 or more hours a day
- Leads in preparation and presentation of a nature-based, multi-sensory, integrated, play-based, anti-bias and emergent curriculum for multi-age groups (3-5 years) of children in collaboration with teaching faculty that enhances the physical, social/emotional and cognitive growth of young children (this includes a regular teaching schedule)
- Understands early childhood development and manages reasonable outcomes and expectations for young children
- Communicate and work cooperatively with the Nature Preschool education staff to accomplish program goals
Management/Supervision - Hire, train, manage, supervise and provide ongoing professional development for all preschool program staff and any volunteers
- Maintain clear communication with the teaching staff and ensure that curriculum and instruction is of the highest quality, meets early education standards and outcomes, and is inclusive and culturally responsive
- Communicate and work cooperatively with nature preschool education staff to accomplish program goals
- Conduct monthly or bi-monthly teacher observations
- Conduct monthly staff meetings
- Plan and offer Professional Development seminars to nature preschool staff in the school and in collaboration with other Mass Audubon Preschool Directors and Mass Audubon Statewide Nature Preschool Director
- Determine the work schedule of regular educators and arrange substitute educators when necessary
Family Engagement - Communicate with families about their child’s development and daily learning and play experiences including working with teaching staff to plan and conduct parent/teacher conferences
- Responsible for engaging parents/caregivers in conversations about children’s challenging behaviors and collaborating with Lead Teachers to plan meetings with families to explore appropriate strategies, interventions and possible collaboration with outside consultants
- Professionally communicate with families about classroom activities, lessons, and school community (i.e. written class messages and newsletters)
- Engage with teaching faculty and parents/caregivers in conversations about children’s challenging behaviors; lead in the preparation and planning of meetings with parents/caregivers to explore appropriate strategies, interventions and possible collaboration with outside consultants
- Develop and facilitate family events and engagement programs
Marketing, Public/Community Relations - Responsible for outreach and communication between families, community partners, and state agencies and will be the lead voice for the school in the community where the preschool is located
- Work collaboratively with Mass Audubon’s marketing department and Statewide nature Preschool Director to develop school marketing materials and any other publications or press that represent early education at Mass Audubon
Other - Work with Mass Audubon early childhood education colleagues and attend education and preschool meetings as required
- Attend regular Preschool Director professional learning community meetings
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