School Director

Benefits:

• Competitive salary
• Health insurance

The School Director plays a critical leadership role in delivering exceptional educational programs and enriching experiences for the children of Shady Lane School. This position oversees all SLS staff and educators, fostering a collaborative and relationship-centered environment. Strong, respectful relationships among staff, children, families, and the broader school community are at the heart of the Shady Lane experience.

In addition to guiding day-to-day operations, the School Director ensures full compliance with all health, safety, and regulatory standards. This role is instrumental in advancing the mission and upholding the vision of Shady Lane School. The School Director reports directly to the Executive Director.

The salary range for this position is $55,000 - $65,000 based on experience and credentials.

Key Responsibilities and Duties

High Quality Early Education

• Works with the Executive Director to provide a vision for continuous program improvement by remaining current on issues and trends in early childhood education.
• Collaborates with teachers to plan instructional activities and lessons.
• Supports classroom teaching and monitors student progress in collaboration as needed.
• Evaluation of goals in accordance with the PA Early Learning Standards and NAEYC.

Staff Accountability

• Supervises and formally evaluates all SLS staff.
• Conducts frequent classroom observations and provides coaching to teachers as needed.
• Creates a work environment that encourages team building and staff collaboration.
• Works with the Executive Director to plan and provide staff development opportunities and training (minimum of 12 PQAS hours annually for all educators).
• Ensures that professional conduct of self and all staff exemplifies the mission and philosophy of SLS, including adherence to all personnel policies.
• Assists Teachers in conducting parent conferences and writing reports as needed.
• Conducts 60-day reviews following the end of each probationary period and holding quarterly reflective development meetings with all staff; assists SLS staff in setting annual professional goals.
• Ensuring each classroom and educator is operating under all best practices of NAEYC, STARS, and DHS.

Regulatory Oversight

• Ensure compliance with all regulatory bodies (NAEYC, Keystone Stars, and DHS)
• Actively engage with regulatory bodies to ensure most updated information.

Administration

• Oversees daily operations at SLS.
• Ensures that the school and staff are in full compliance with NAEYC accreditation and early childhood governmental laws, regulations and requirements.
• Facilitates preparation for and implementation of parent teacher communications and conferences.
• Assists the Executive Director in the development of school policies.
• Serve as the primary contact for daily school operations, ensuring collaboration with the Executive Director and Admin Team.
• Assumes accountability for the SLS budget as it relates to the whole school.
• Work with the Administrative Team to oversee program enrollment meeting goals as set forth annually.
• Represents SLS at community events and on site Information Sessions/Open Houses and events.

Qualifications

The School Director shall have the following education and experience:

• Bachelors (or Masters) Degree required. Early Childhood Education or related field preferred.
• Familiarity with NAEYC Accreditation, Keystone Stars, DHS, and PA Early Learning Standards.
• Experience as an early childhood coordinator or administrator
• Minimum 3 years teaching experience in early childhood education.
• Ability to work with children, parents and colleagues.
• Cultivate strong school culture and community engagement.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required

• Strong oral and written communications skills; basic computer skills.
• A strong understanding of child development.
• Willingness to be held accountable and receive feedback
• Comfortability with technology including MS Office Suite and/or willingness to learn
• Strong finance and budgeting skills.
• Excellent leadership, organizational, and interpersonal skills.
• Commitment to the mission and values of SLS and demonstrated high degree of integrity as all SLS staff are considered to be role models for children
• Ability to work with a team as well as skills in mediation and negotiation
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with changing priorities
• Ability to proactively identify problems and implement solutions

Employment is contingent upon passing a:

• Federal Bureau of Investigation Criminal History Background Check.
• PA Child Abuse History Clearance.
• PA State Police Background Check.
• NSOR - National Sex Offender Registry Clearance.
• Out of state clearances if lived out-of-state in the past 5 years.
• Physical health assessment.
• Tuberculosis (TB) testing.

Shady Lane School provides equal opportunity to qualified persons regardless of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, veterans status, or other categories protected by law.