Director, Early Childhood Education

Reports To:

Chief Learning Officer
Classification:
Exempt

Supervisory Responsibilities:

Early Childhood Education Staff and Food Service Associate

The Director of Early Childhood Education provides strategic, operational, instructional, and compliance leadership for Grace Place’s Early Childhood Education Program.

The Director is responsible for ensuring high-quality, developmentally appropriate programming; strong staff performance; meaningful family engagement; achievement of program outcomes; and full compliance with Department of Children and Families (DCF), Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK), National Accreditation Commission (NAC), and other applicable requirements.

The Director works collaboratively with program, operations, finance, development, human resources, and enrollment teams to strengthen systems, maintain audit-ready documentation, and ensure early childhood programming remains aligned with the Grace Place Family Literacy Model and mission.

As Grace Place expands to multiple sites, the Director holds responsibility for DCF licensing compliance and NAC accreditation at every location. The Director is also responsible for ensuring classrooms consistently achieve a CLASS® Classroom Assessment Scoring System rating of 5.5 or higher through a strong staff training, observation, and coaching infrastructure.

• Set the strategic direction, annual goals, performance measures, and implementation plans for the Bright Beginnings Early Childhood Education Program in alignment with Grace Place priorities and the Family Literacy Model.
• Provide overall leadership and direction for Grace Place early childhood education programs, ensuring consistent quality, safety, and alignment across all locations.
• Oversee a developmental playgroup for children demonstrating developmental, behavioral, or social‑emotional concerns, including targeted interventions, parent support, referrals, and follow‑up.
• Collaborate with the Chief Learning Officer, Director of Adult Education, and other program leaders to ensure early childhood programming is aligned with the educational and two‑generation elements of the Family Literacy Model.

• Oversee developmentally appropriate curriculum, lesson planning, classroom environments, differentiated instruction, home‑learning supports, and VPK programming.
• Oversee assessment, data review, instructional improvement, and compliance with Florida VPK requirements to advance each child’s academic, developmental, behavioral, and social‑emotional growth.
• Oversee the planning, implementation, staffing, enrollment, and evaluation of the annual Rising VPK Summer Camp for students transitioning into VPK.
• Provide instructional leadership and support staff in curriculum implementation, classroom management, child guidance, assessment, family communication, and professional growth.
• Conduct or coordinate classroom observations, data reviews, coaching, and professional learning to strengthen instructional quality and consistency.
• Ensure instructional materials, classroom environments, schedules, and routines are inclusive, culturally responsive, safe, and appropriate for the ages and needs of enrolled children.

• Supervise, coach, evaluate, and develop Early Childhood Education staff.
• Establish clear performance expectations and address performance or conduct concerns in collaboration with Human Resources.
• Oversee staffing plans, classroom assignments, schedules, coverage, and daily operations to maintain required ratios, continuity of care, and safe program operations.
• Maintain high visibility and a hands‑on presence with staff, children, volunteers, and families throughout all aspects of the program.
• Lead regular team meetings, professional learning sessions, data reviews, and operational check‑ins to strengthen quality, communication, and accountability.
• Design and deliver a structured onboarding and orientation program for new early learning staff across all locations.
• Build and maintain an annual training calendar that includes required in‑service hours,…