Effort Christian School & Preschool Director

JustChurchJobs, Inc.; Palmyra (VA); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Effort Baptist Church in Palmyra, VA is seeking a passionate ECSP Director to lead our Christ-centered early childhood program. This full-time leadership role requires strong administration, love for children, and a faith-based approach that weaves spiritual formation with academic development.

The ECSP Director oversees daily operations, curriculum, staff supervision, family engagement, and licensing compliance while maintaining a safe, nurturing environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in early childhood education, child development, or a related field.
• Minimum of two years of experience in early childhood education.
• Experience developing, organizing, and implementing age-appropriate learning programs.
• Experience supervising staff or volunteers.
• Experience in Christian education or church-based children’s ministry preferred.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Strong administrative, organizational, and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to work collaboratively with teachers, parents, church staff, and the wider church community.
• Ethical behavior/moral character consistent with Effort Baptist Church’s statement of faith.
• Ability to obtain and maintain First Aid, CPR, and MAT certifications.
• Clear central registry fingerprinting, health report, and background check.

Responsibilities

• Model and uphold the mission and values of Effort Baptist Church.
• Foster a positive, Christ-centered atmosphere for children, families, and staff.
• Integrate prayer, Scripture/Bible stories, and Christian values into school programming.
• Manage daily routines, school calendars, schedules, and facility usage.
• Maintain security of the building, equipment, and grounds.
• Ensure compliance with Religious Exemption and licensing requirements, including ratios and safety drills.
• Maintain regular communication with families, teachers, pastors, and church leadership.
• Oversee policy and procedure development and human resources.
• Maintain paper and digital student files and information (Procare app).
• Maintain regular office hours Monday–Friday.
• Maintain a Bible-based, developmentally appropriate curriculum.
• Support teachers with lesson planning, instructional strategies, and classroom management.
• Assist teachers in addressing behavioral concerns and developing appropriate strategies.
• Ensure safe, nurturing learning environments aligned with best practices in early childhood education.
• Serve as the primary contact for parent communication, tours, and inquiries.
• Build strong relationships with families and connect them to the broader church community.
• Conduct daily health screenings as needed.
• Provide outreach to families during absences, crises, and celebrations.
• Supervise and support daily activities of all teachers.
• Advertise, interview, and hire teachers as needed.
• Lead staff meetings and ongoing professional development.
• Maintain personnel files and conduct annual reviews and employment agreements.
• Address personnel issues promptly, confidentially, and with proper documentation.
• Purchase and maintain supplies, materials, and resources.
• Maintain accurate tuition accounts; post billings and payments; send late notices; provide tax documentation.
• Work with the Finance Committee to develop tuition rates and annual budget needs.
• Assist with outreach activities that attract children and families to the school.
• Work with communications staff to provide regular updates to church and families.
• Perform additional responsibilities as assigned by the Associate Pastor.
• Responsibilities may expand as ministries grow and staffing evolves.

Skills

Excellent communication

Administrative abilities

Organizational skills

Problem-solving

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in early childhood education or related field

First Aid, CPR, and MAT certifications

Job description

Effort Christian School & Preschool Director

Effort Baptist Church – Palmyra, VA

Full-Time Leadership Role Salaried Exempt Open Until Filled Salary: $55,000–$75,000 (based on education & experience)

Effort Baptist Church seeks a passionate, organized, mission-driven ECSP Director to lead our Christ-centered early childhood program. This role is ideal for a strong administrator who loves children, supports teachers, and thrives in a faith-based environment where spiritual formation and academic development go hand in hand.

Our school provides a joyful, enriching experience for children—nurturing their emotional, social, spiritual, and academic growth through developmentally appropriate, biblically grounded learning. The Director plays a key leadership role in shaping this environment and strengthening the connection between families and the church.

About the Role

The ECSP Director oversees daily operations, curriculum, staff supervision, family engagement, and compliance. You will ensure that every child experiences a safe, loving, Christ-centered environment. This full-time leadership position reports to the Associate Pastor and is hired by the Church Council. This position is open until filled.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Mission Alignment

• Model and uphold the mission and values of Effort Baptist Church
• Foster a positive, Christ-centered atmosphere for children, families, and staff
• Integrate prayer, Scripture/Bible stories, and Christian values into school programming

Administration & Operations

• Manage daily routines, school calendars, schedules, and facility usage
• Maintain security of the building, equipment, and grounds
• Ensure compliance with Religious Exemption and DSS licensing requirements, including ratios, health standards, and safety drills
• Maintain regular communication with families, teachers, pastors, and church leadership
• Oversee policy and procedure development and human resources
• Maintain paper and digital student files and information (Procare app)
• Maintain regular office hours Monday–Friday

Curriculum & Program Oversight

• Maintain a Bible-based, developmentally appropriate curriculum
• Support teachers with lesson planning, instructional strategies, and classroom management
• Assist teachers in addressing behavioral concerns and developing appropriate strategies
• Ensure safe, nurturing learning environments aligned with best practices in early childhood education

Parent & Family Engagement

• Serve as the primary contact for parent communication, tours, and inquiries
• Build strong relationships with families and connect them to the broader church community
• Conduct daily health screenings as needed
• Provide outreach to families during absences, crises, and celebrations

Teacher Supervision & Personnel Management

• Supervise and support daily activities of all teachers
• Advertise, interview, and hire teachers as needed
• Lead staff meetings and ongoing professional development
• Maintain personnel files and conduct annual reviews and employment agreements
• Address personnel issues promptly, confidentially, and with proper documentation

Financial & Resource Management

• Purchase and maintain supplies, materials, and resources
• Maintain accurate tuition accounts; post billings and payments; send late notices; provide tax documentation
• Work with the Finance Committee to develop tuition rates and annual budget needs

Community Outreach

• Assist with outreach activities that attract children and families to the school
• Work with communications staff to provide regular updates to church and families

Other Duties

• Perform additional responsibilities as assigned by the Associate Pastor
• Responsibilities may expand as ministries grow and staffing evolves

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in early childhood education, child development, or a related field
• Minimum of two years of experience in early childhood education
• Experience developing, organizing, and implementing age-appropriate learning programs
• Experience supervising staff or volunteers
• Experience in Christian education or church-based children’s ministry preferred
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Strong administrative, organizational, and problem-solving abilities
• Ability to work collaboratively with teachers, parents, church staff, and the wider church community
• Ethical behavior/moral character consistent with Effort Baptist Church’s statement of faith
• Ability to obtain and maintain First Aid, CPR, and MAT certifications
• Clear central registry fingerprinting, health report, and background check