School Director

About This Role

Friends Center for Children is a year‑round early care and education program serving children ages 3 months to 5 years and their families. FCfC uses an emergent curriculum, is a parent cooperative program, offers a sliding‑scale tuition system, and is rooted in Quaker values of simplicity, peace, integrity, community, equity and stewardship. Our mission is to educate children, empower families, inspire teachers, engage community, and embrace diversity.

A Friends Center School Director leads the community in partnership with the Executive Director, Program Director, and the Emotional Well‑Being coordinator.

• Assumes responsibility for all aspects of running the school site
• Acts as lead in the absence of a head teacher and assumes responsibility for a classroom on an as‑needed basis
• Works in partnership with the Emotional Well‑Being Team
• Collaborates closely with other School Directors and managers to ensure continuity across program sites
• Plans, directs, and supports the activities of staff involved in providing for the physical, emotional, social, and educational needs of children aged three months to five years
• Oversees curriculum development and implementation
• Provides reflective coaching for educators
• Formulates program goals and objectives, staffing plans, and procedures
• Supervises program to ensure compliance with all accreditation and licensing requirements
• Maintains coverage through scheduling staff work shifts and absences; arranges for substitute coverage as needed
• Supports staff in providing developmentally appropriate care for all children, including those with special needs, in collaboration with the Emotional Well‑Being Team and external providers
• Plans and facilitates staff in‑services and training on all topics for NAEYC and licensing requirements, in collaboration with the Management Team
• Facilitates staff‑parent interactions and participation, supporting staff‑family cohesion
• Manages program‑related concerns (families, staff, community)
• Provides program‑wide communications with the community when necessary, in conjunction with the Executive Director and/or Program Director
• Plans, organizes, and facilitates FCfC open houses and events
• Orients children, staff members, interns, volunteers, and parents to the Center
• Represents Friends Center for Children in the community
• Other duties as requested

• Communicate with all administrative and teaching staff daily
• Share conversations and interactions with families with the administrative staff and teachers in a confidential and sensitive manner
• Seek guidance and refer families to the Program Director, School Director, Business Manager, and Admissions Director as appropriate

• Serve as the face of the school, providing excellent front‑facing customer service in person, via phone, and email
• Arrive on time and ready to receive staff, children, and families
• Assist a wide variety of customers, including parents, children, teachers, staff, interns, and volunteers, with a range of needs
• With support from Human Resources, screens, interviews, assesses, and selects staff
• Recruits and trains staff, including teachers, interns, and substitutes
• Oversees and follows up on staff performance according to FCfC policies and procedures
• Maintains the OEC Professional Registry on a monthly basis for all staff members
• Works collaboratively with Human Resources to manage staff performance and accountability

• Acts as program liaison for, and compiles all child attendance reports for Early Start CT and Early Head Start funding programs, and assists the Admissions department with Care4kids follow‑up

• Attend all staff meetings and program events as scheduled
• Maintain required continuing education hours and provide documentation of such
• Maintain knowledge of current theory and best practices
• Participate in all required early childhood meetings, conferences, and/or events

• Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Development and/or Education or higher
• At least 4 years of supervisory experience preferred
• CPR certified or ability to complete training
• Excellent organizational skills
• Comp…