Assistant Director​/Head Teacher

Children’s Center Head Teacher/ Assistant Director

Ulster Community College Association

Full-time; 35 hours per week

Final date to receive applications:
Open Until Filled

Priority Screening:
December 30, 2025

Ulster Community College Association is currently accepting applications for a Head Teacher/Assistant Director to work in the Children’s Center.

The Head Teacher / Assistant Director supports the Director in the overall administration, leadership, and daily operations of the Children’s Center while simultaneously serving as the lead teacher of an assigned classroom. This dual role ensures the delivery of high-quality early childhood education, a safe and developmentally appropriate environment for children, and strong communication across families, staff, and the campus community.

The Head Teacher / Assistant Director ensures compliance with New York State OCFS regulations, Quality Stars NY/NAEYC standards, and all Center policies, while contributing to program planning, supervision, and continuous improvement.

• Plan and implement developmentally appropriate curriculum that supports children’s emotional, social, intellectual, and physical growth.
• Maintain daily, weekly, and monthly lesson plans based on standards and child interests.
• Create a safe, nurturing, and stimulating classroom environment with organized learning centers.
• Conduct daily health checks and assist children with personal care needs including toileting, diapering, feeding, and comforting.
• Maintain records of each child’s progress and development.
• Maintain classroom cleanliness, materials, and supply lists.

• Assist the Director in daily oversight of center-wide schedules, classroom operations, and transitions.
• Maintain attendance, health, safety, and compliance records.
• Support enrollment, billing, and waitlist processes.
• Participate in program evaluation, grant writing, Quality Stars or NAEYC processes, and continuous quality improvement.
• Supervise the Center in the Director’s absence.

• Provide guidance, mentoring, and support to assistant teachers, aides, student workers, fieldwork students, and volunteers.
• Assist with recruitment, onboarding, training, and scheduling of staff.
• Model professional conduct and maintain positive working relationships.
• Collaborate with staff across classrooms and assist other rooms when necessary.

• Keep families informed about classroom activities, projects, events through verbal interactions, newsletters and calendars, parent information board, and daily sheets
• Communicate with parents about each child’s growth and development
• Develop supportive partnerships with families.
• Provide opportunities for family involvement
• Conference at least twice per year with parents
• Address concerns with parents when they arise and refer children for special services when appropriate and after speaking with Director

• Maintain professionalism, confidentiality, and a positive work environment.
• Attend all staff meetings and recommended training programs and conferences.
• Maintain an understanding of regulations put forth by the Office of Children and Family Services
• Maintain personal ASPIRE registration, First aid/CPR certifications and ongoing training hours
• Be supportive of the Center and Administration

• Must be able to perform physical activities, such as, but not limited to, lifting children or heavy items (50 pounds), bending, standing for long periods of time, climbing, or walking
• Must be able to lift 50 pounds from the floor to waist high table multiple times a day
• Ability to reach a child more than 20 feet away in less than a minute
• Must be able to crouch to a child’s height and maintain eye contact with child
• Must be able to sit on the floor for extended periods of time and get up and down quickly
• High degree of concentration, patience, and ability to deal with pressure and distraction

• Full-time, 12 months per year.
• Schedule may require occasional evenings for family events or professional development.
• Position includes classroom support as…