Assistant Director Preschool; ECE

Location and

Job Title:

Assistant Director Preschool (ECE)

Jewish Community Center of the East Bay

1414 Walnut St

Berkeley, CA 94709

POSITION SUMMARY

The Assistant Director of Preschool will report directly to the Director of Early Childhood Education and play a critical role in overseeing and growing the JCC of the East Bay's expanding preschool program. The Assistant Director is responsible for promoting and building a culture of high‑quality care and education practices, infusing Jewish life and culture into the preschool program, and creating connections to Reggio‑Emilia, play‑based learning for both teachers and students.

The AD will work closely with the JCC of the East Bay's teaching team, mentoring staff, developing workshops for team meetings, and supporting classroom implementation of key JCC philosophy and practice.

The Assistant Director will also be responsible for overseeing day‑to‑day operations of the preschool center, ensuring classrooms have coverage and all teacher needs are met and accounted for. In the Director of ECE's absence, the AD will assume all responsibility for the center, including but not limited to licensing requirements and the flow of the day.

The schedule for this position varies, though mostly exists within the timeframe of 8:30‑5:30. Please note that some Sundays may be required.

• Work with lead and assisting teachers to create and maintain their classrooms following an emergent, Reggio‑Emilia inspired, Jewish minded approach.
• Oversee and manage the Jewish Resource Coordinator and Mentor Teacher positions, providing professional development opportunities, supporting them in their approaches, and providing valuable feedback where necessary.
• Collaborate with teachers to create a materials library emphasizing open‑ended and natural objects.
• Observe and monitor staff performance, and recommend adjustments as necessary where it relates to classroom/co‑worker cohesion, curriculum design, and documentation.
• Organize and coordinate staff schedules including all absences and planned time‑off with proper substitute coverage
• Work with the Chief of Jewish Education Officer and the Jewish Resource Coordinator to support the implementation of Jewish curriculum from infants‑TK.
• Enroll teachers in early childhood education units to assist with licensing requirements.
• Enroll teachers in upcoming professional development opportunities to support their overall professional growth.

• Support teachers in making children's learning experience visible through monthly documentation classroom projects and observations.
• Organize and implement monthly educator observations with written notes and post‑observation follow‑up to create professional development opportunities.
• Facilitate conversations with teachers about their curriculum ideas and classroom observations to support subsequent curriculum development for classrooms.
• Document all professional development plans and potential learning opportunities for educators.
• Monitor and ensure that education plans and other required documentation for children and classrooms are complete (panel documentation, portfolios, conference forms, etc.).

• Support with monthly staff meetings and other professional development opportunities for teachers as appointed by the Director of ECE
• Provide ongoing support to teachers to improve their capacity for observing and listening to children and for documenting projects.
• Lead professional development sessions regarding documentation and inquiry‑based curriculum development in collaboration with the Director of ECE.
• Mentor early childhood educators as assigned by the Director of ECE to support them in individualized professional development plans and practices.

• Help plan, oversee, and execute celebrations and all‑school gatherings.
• Oversee the operational functions of the preschool (licensing, food ordering, supply ordering, etc.) through the supervision of the ECE Operations Manager

• Participate in team meetings for planning curriculum, other staff meetings and training, and other JCC staff meetings.
• Participate…