Preschool Director

First Steps Academy; McLean (VA); Sur place; USD 65 000 - 90 000; Plein temps

Avantages offerts par ce poste

Competitive pay

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Vacation & sick leave

Retirement plan 403(b)

Life insurance

Tuition assistance

Training & development

Résumé du poste

First Steps Academy in McLean, VA, seeks a Preschool Director who will lead a caring team of educators, grow enrollment, and build strong partnerships with families. The role emphasizes a safe, nurturing environment, compliance with licensing standards, and delivering a high-quality preschool experience.

You will coach staff, manage operations, and maintain family communication while ensuring excellent classroom programming and student placement.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Development or related field.
• 5+ years in preschool programs with at least 3 years in a leadership role.
• 3-5 years of hands-on teaching experience.
• Strong knowledge of child development (birth through 5 years).
• Familiarity with Virginia Department of Education licensing standards.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Physical ability to actively engage with children.
• CPR and First Aid certification (or willingness to obtain).
• Medical Administration Training certification (or willingness to obtain).

Responsabilités

• Lead student recruitment, enrollment, and retention toward enrollment goals.
• Guide prospective families from inquiry through tours, application, and enrollment with warm communication and timely follow-up.
• Monitor classroom availability, coordinate student placement, and support smooth transitions for children and families.
• Recruit, hire, train, and support preschool teachers and assistants.
• Oversee the academic program with regular classroom observations and coaching.
• Step in as a classroom teacher when needed to maintain continuity of instruction.
• Manage staff scheduling and day-to-day operations.
• Build strong relationships with families and serve as the primary contact for parent communication.
• Maintain compliance with Virginia Department of Education licensing standards.
• Create a fun, safe, and nurturing space where children can learn and grow!

Connaissances

Leadership

Communication

Child development

Family engagement

Enrollment growth

Staff coaching

Regulatory compliance

Formation

Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Development or related field

Outils

CPR & First Aid

Description du poste

Description

Do you believe childhood should be filled with joy, wonder, safety, and meaningful connections? Are you a passionate early childhood leader who thrives on building strong relationships with children, families, and educators? If so, we invite you to join our team as our Preschool Director.

In this leadership role, you will create an environment where children feel loved, valued, and excited to learn every day. You will lead a dedicated team of educators, foster strong family partnerships, champion positive behavior guidance, and ensure that every child experiences a safe, nurturing, and engaging preschool journey.

Growing student enrollment and building a skilled, motivated teaching team are central to this role. As the primary point of contact for current and prospective families, you will lead enrollment efforts through engaging tours, timely follow-up, thoughtful student placement, and strong family relationships that encourage continued enrollment and referrals. You will monitor enrollment trends and classroom availability, identify opportunities for growth, and work toward enrollment goals while maintaining a high-quality preschool experience.

You will also make staff training, professional development, and morale a priority. Through clear expectations, ongoing coaching, meaningful recognition, and open communication, you will help educators feel prepared, appreciated, and supported. This position oversees staffing, curriculum implementation, regulatory compliance, and overall preschool operations.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead student recruitment, enrollment, and retention efforts, monitoring progress toward enrollment goals and identifying opportunities to grow the school community.
• Guide prospective families from initial inquiry through tours, application, and enrollment with warm communication and timely follow-up.
• Monitor classroom availability, coordinate student placement, and support smooth transitions for children and families.
• Recruit, hire, train, and support an amazing team of preschool teachers and assistants.
• Oversee the academic program, ensuring high-quality classroom interactions and program implementation through regular classroom observations and coaching.
• Step in as a classroom teacher when needed to maintain continuity of instruction.
• Manage staff scheduling and ensure smooth day-to-day operations.
• Build strong relationships with families and serve as the primary contact for parent communication.
• Maintain compliance with Virginia Department of Education licensing standards.
• Create a fun, safe, and nurturing space where children can learn and grow!

Requirements

What We are Looking For

• Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Development or a related field (preferred).
• 5+ years of experience in preschool programs, with at least 3 years in a leadership role.
• 3-5 years of hands-on teaching experience (preferred).
• Strong knowledge of child development (newborn through 5 years).
• Familiarity with Virginia Department of Education licensing standards.
• Excellent communication skills
• Physical ability to actively engage with children, including sitting, standing, and playing.
• CPR and First Aid certification (or willingness to obtain)
• Medical Administration Training certification (or willingness to obtain)
• Must pass all required pre-employment screenings and training.

About First Steps Academy

First Steps Academy is a faith based preschool located in McLean Virginia, near the Tysons II mall. We value the importance of character development and academic preparedness and believe they are key contributors to helping prepare young children for future success in life. We serve families with Infants through Kindergartners and teach using our character education curriculum and A Beka's phonics based academic curriculum.

Benefits

• competitive pay
• health, dental and vision insurance
• vacation and sick leave
• 403(b) retirement plan with employer matching
• life insurance
• tuition assistance
• training and development
• many other perks and benefits

First Steps Academy is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.