Preschool Director​/Teacher, Level 2

Preschool Director/Teacher, Level 2

The Preschool Director/Teacher, Level 2 oversees the daily operations of a preschool program serving children ages 2.9 to 5 and provides leadership in curriculum implementation, classroom management, staff supervision and development, child assessment, family engagement, and regulatory compliance. The position supports a child-centered, play-based educational philosophy that promotes children's social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development while fostering strong partnerships with families.

The Preschool Director/Teacher, Level 2 supervises, mentors, and supports teaching staff; maintains compliance with EEC, NAEYC, QRIS, and City of Cambridge standards; coordinates program administration and enrollment activities; supports inclusive practices and child development services; and ensures a safe, nurturing, and developmentally appropriate learning environment.

Essential Job Functions and Duties:

• Provide on-site leadership and oversight for the effective operation of a preschool program serving children ages 2.9 to 5.
• Support and implement the Childcare and Family Support Division's child-centered, play-based curriculum philosophy to promote children's social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development.
• Establish and communicate program goals and expectations for curriculum implementation, classroom management, behavior support, child assessment, and family engagement.
• Lead, supervise, mentor, and develop teaching staff, substitutes, interns, and assigned support staff.
• Conduct supervision meetings and classroom observations; model effective teaching practices; provide constructive feedback and coaching; and complete written annual performance evaluations with goals for continued professional growth.
• Provide classroom instruction and coverage as needed to maintain compliance with EEC staffing regulations and model effective instructional and child guidance practices.
• Design and maintain classroom environments, including displays of children's work, in accordance with EEC, NAEYC, QRIS, and City of Cambridge standards.
• Establish and reinforce clear, developmentally appropriate behavioral expectations and ensure staff provide nurturing, inclusive, and socially responsive care and guidance.
• Identify children who may benefit from additional developmental, behavioral, or support services and collaborate with the Preschool Manager to communicate observations and recommendations to families.
• Coordinate referrals and support services, participate in IEP meetings, and ensure implementation of accommodations and goals identified in children's individualized plans.
• Oversee observation, documentation, and assessment of children's developmental progress using the COR Advantage system and classroom-based documentation.
• Ensure quality assessments are completed accurately, shared with families in a timely manner, and used to guide curriculum planning and support development across learning domains.
• Develop and implement an annual family engagement plan that includes parent orientation, ongoing communication, conferences, family education workshops, newsletters, and family leadership opportunities.
• Promote collaboration, communication, and cohesion among teaching staff to support consistent, high-quality program delivery.
• Ensure the health and safety of enrolled children by maintaining emergency preparedness plans and safety documentation, conducting drills, and coordinating safe, developmentally appropriate field trips.
• Prepare and maintain documentation required for NAEYC accreditation and EEC licensing reviews.
• Complete annual reports and develop a Continuous Quality Improvement Plan using program assessment and quality data for submission to the Preschool Manager.
• Partner with the Enrollment Coordinator to support enrollment activities, including the DHSP Preschool Lottery process, parent tours, and family inquiries regarding preschool programming and services.
• Coordinate administrative and operational functions of the preschool program in compliance with departmental and state requirements, including program records, attendance, timesheets, food service documentation, meeting records, and required logs.
• Participate in supervision sessions, staff meetings, consultant meetings, and interdisciplinary planning meetings.
• Maintain required professional certifications and ongoing training in accordance with EEC, NAEYC, QRIS, and City of Cambridge standards.
• Maintain collaborative working relationships with building management, tenants, and DHSP program staff to support effective facility use, communication, and maintenance coordination.
• Perform related duties as required.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in early childhood education, child development, education, human services, or a related field; master's degree preferred.
• Three (3) years of experience as a preschool…