Position Overview

The Director of Early Childhood Education is a full-time leadership position responsible for the overall direction, operation, and educational quality of the Early Childhood Center at Temple Beth-El.

This role ensures a safe, nurturing, and developmentally appropriate early childhood environment rooted in Jewish values and aligned with the mission of the Temple. The Director provides leadership in curriculum, staff supervision, family engagement, regulatory compliance, and operational oversight.

The Director reports to the Executive Director and collaborates closely with the Rabbi and Temple leadership team.

Core Responsibilities

Administrative & Operational Leadership

• Lead daily operations of the Early Childhood Center, ensuring a safe, structured, and developmentally appropriate learning environment.
• Ensure compliance with all state licensing, accreditation, and regulatory requirements for early childhood education programs and staff.
• Maintain accurate enrollment, attendance, and child/family records.
• Oversee procurement of classroom supplies, snacks, and educational materials.
• Develop the annual ECC calendar, including school-year and summer programming, in coordination with Temple leadership.
• Create and manage class rosters, staffing assignments, and scheduling.
• Prepare and maintain ECC policies, handbooks, and procedural documentation, updating annually as needed.
• Collaborate with administrative staff on registration, billing coordination, and payroll-related processes.
• Manage ECC budget development and oversight in coordination with the Executive Director and Board leadership.
• Participate in Temple staff meetings, ECC committee meetings, and Board meetings as requested.
• Lead ECC admissions and enrollment processes, including school tours and family onboarding.
• Maintain relationships with local early childhood and Jewish community organizations.

Curriculum & Educational Leadership

• Develop, implement, and oversee a developmentally appropriate curriculum aligned with best practices and Reform Jewish values.
• Integrate Jewish holidays, traditions, and values into daily classroom experiences.
• Partner with clergy to ensure meaningful integration of Jewish learning into ECC programming.
• Support teachers in curriculum planning, implementation, and continuous improvement.
• Promote developmentally appropriate practices (DAP) and educational innovation across classrooms.
• Engage staff in curriculum development, reflection, and instructional growth.

Staff Leadership & Supervision

• Supervise ECC staff, including assistant directors, teachers, and classroom assistants.
• Lead hiring, onboarding, training, supervision, and performance evaluation processes.
• Ensure all staff meet licensing and professional qualification requirements.
• Conduct regular classroom observations and provide ongoing coaching and feedback.
• Foster a collaborative, respectful, and positive staff culture.
• Facilitate regular staff meetings and clear internal communication systems.
• Support professional development opportunities for ECC staff.

Family Engagement

• Serve as the primary leadership contact for ECC families.
• Build and maintain strong, positive relationships with parents and caregivers.
• Address family questions, concerns, and needs in a timely and professional manner.
• Provide resources related to child development and parenting support.
• Coordinate family engagement programs, orientation sessions, and community-building activities.
• Maintain regular communication with families regarding programming, policies, and updates.
• Support ECC family engagement initiatives and committees.

Schedule & Availability

This position requires flexibility to support programs, school events, family engagement activities, and Temple-wide initiatives, including occasional evenings and weekends as needed. Scheduling will be determined based on program requirements, operational needs, and organizational priorities, in coordination with the Executive Director.

 

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in early childhood education, or related field preferred.
• Leadership experience in an early childhood education setting required.
• Strong knowledge of developmentally appropriate practices (DAP) and early childhood education standards.
• Familiarity with licensing requirements and regulatory compliance.
• Strong understanding of Reform Jewish values and ability to integrate Jewish learning into curriculum.
• Experience supervising and developing early childhood education staff.
• Strong organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Experience managing budgets and operational systems preferred.
• Ability to build strong relationships with staff, families, and community partners.

Preferred Characteristics

• Strong leadership presence with ability to inspire and support staff.
• Highly organized with strong operational and administrative skills.
• Collaborative and team-oriented leadership style.
• Commitment to inclusive, child-centered, and values-based education.
• Ability to balance educational vision with operational execution.
• Strong emotional intelligence and communication skills.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to remain physically active throughout the school environment.
• Ability to stand, bend, and move between classrooms and campus spaces as needed.
• Occasional lifting of classroom materials and supplies.

Work Environment

This position is based onsite at the Early Childhood Center of Temple Beth-El. The Director of Early Childhood Education leads a dynamic early childhood learning environment and plays a central role in shaping the educational experience for children and families.

Reporting Structure

Reports to: Executive Director
Collaborates with: Rabbi and Temple leadership team

 

The position will start at 50,000.00