Preschool Director

Job Description

Job Description

About This Role

Grace Children’s Learning Center in Manassas VA, a vibrant 25-year ministry of Grace United Methodist Church, is seeking applicants for the position of preschool Director to begin on or before September 1, 2025. GCLC is a licensed preschool with before and after care serving 120-150 children from infants to Jr. Kindergarten. Qualified applicants should have leadership/administrative experience in education, classroom experience as an educator, and enthusiasm for continuing the legacy and mission of GCLC of providing excellent early childhood education to Manassas area children along with excellent extended care to meet the needs of community families, all in a way that reflects the grace of God. 

The Director leads and directs all aspects of GCLC’s ministry in consultation with the School Board so that the school can fulfill its mission of providing excellent, developmentally appropriate education to community children and excellent extended care to support the needs of Manassas area families. The Director fosters a loving, Christian environment, where children and their families are welcomed, and where they learn and grow intellectually, socially, physically, and spiritually. This includes but is not limited to: managing parent relations, marketing, staff recruitment (hiring, training, supporting, and supervision), student curriculum, school finance (revenue, expenses, budgets etc.), and documentation and upkeep of statutory records as per State and Federal regulations. The Director promotes a positive image of the School within the community of parents, staff, and children. The ideal Director has strong leadership, management, and communication skills, and incorporates Christian values in their life and personal interactions.

Applicants should submit a cover letter and resume by July 27, 2025. Qualified applicants will be interviewed as soon as their application is received.

Education Responsibilities

• Oversee teaching and curriculum.
• Continually review, analyze, and develop new program components and curriculum updates.
• Communicate with parents routinely and effectively.
• Recognize and refer families to appropriate counseling services and specialists when appropriate.

• Ensure compliance with Virginia State Licensing Minimum Standards and Subsidy Standards.
• Maintain statutory requirements of the preschool.
• Follow and lead compliance with the preschool guidelines and policies.

• Ensure the maintenance of school and student records.
• Ensure the coordination of facility and equipment needs.
• Ensure the administration of payroll and tuition systems.

• Recruit and retain qualified staff, and provide ongoing training, certification, and professional development as necessary.
• Supervise teachers to ensure student’s safety, education, and well-being.
• Prepare, observe, review and ensure staff and faculty have appropriate job descriptions and staff files are maintained and up-to-date.
• Empower school staff, and delegate responsibilities appropriately.
• Assign staff based on students’ needs in each class.
• Meet regularly with classroom teachers to evaluate each student’s progress and review student IEP’s.
• Provide written and in-person mid year and year end performance review with each member of school staff. o Supervise the work of the Assistant Director in managing the teaching schedule.
• Approve staff leave.

• Develop strong relationships with staff, parents and students that promote trust and engagement, be reasonably available to and communicate routinely and effectively with GCLC staff, students, and families.
• Be a presence in the school office.
• Collaborate with the administrative staff and GCLC School Board to communicate, celebrate, and advertise the school.

• Serve on the GCLC School Board and collaborate with Grace’s pastors, staff, and Grace UMC Leadership Board to keep the school aligned with the church’s overall mission and vision.
• With the support of the GCLC School Board chair and Senior Pastor, set monthly agendas for School Board meetings to include items from the Board’s Preventative Maintenance Calendar.
• With the help of the GCLC School Board and GCLC financial manager, prepare and manage the budget for school operations.
• With the GCLC School Board, offer bi-annual reports to the Grace UMC Leadership Board regarding the financial well-being, and programmatic status of GCLC.
• Other duties as assigned to support staff, families, students and church.

• Minimum experience of 3-5 years as Director or Administrator of Licensed Childcare/Preschool facility.
• Minimum education requirements are set by the State (guidelines below).
• Strong knowledge of Virginia State Licensing Minimum Standards and Virginia Subsidy Regulations including new Virginia Department of Education standards for pre-school (e.g. VA Promise Partnership).
• Classroom teacher experience is preferred.
• Clear criminal and sex offender reports as well as positive character reference checks.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Programs, Publishing Programs, and the Playground Childcare Management app.
• Ability to interact positively with others, and ability to lead parents, staff, and children, and resolve conflict when necessary.
• Understanding of school fiscal responsibilities and accounting principles.
• Trained in CPR, AED, standard First Aid, and MAT (Medical Administration Training).
• Familiar with early childhood curricula, especially the STREAMin³ curriculum model.
• Familiar with assessment models, especially the CLASS Assessment system.

1. A graduate degree in a child-related field such as, but not limited to, elementary education, nursing, or recreation from a college or university and six months of programmatic experience;
2. An endorsement or bachelor's degree in a child-related field such as, but not limited to, elementary education, nursing, or recreation from a college or university and one year of programmatic experience; STATE BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES STANDARDS FOR LICENSED Page 18 of 71 CHILD DAY CENTERS 22VAC40-185 10/19 22VAC40-185-190. Program director qualifications
3. Forty-eight semester hours or 72 quarter hours of college credit from a college or university of which 12 semester hours or 18 quarter hours are in child-related subjects and one year of programmatic experience;
4. Two years of programmatic experience with one year in a staff supervisory capacity and at least one of the following education backgrounds:

• A one-year early childhood certificate from a college or university that consists of at least 30 semester hours;
• A child development credential that requires: (1) High school program completion or the equivalent; (2) 480 hours working with children in a group which could include a supervised practicum; and (3) Determination of competency in promoting children's development, providing a safe and healthy environment, managing the classroom environment and/or childhood program, and promoting positive and productive relationships with parents/guardians; and (4) At least 120 clock hours of child-related training taught by an individual or by an organization with expertise in early childhood teacher preparation provided that the training facilitator: (a) Documents the student's mastery and competence; (b) Observes the student's application of competence in a classroom setting; (c) Has a combination of at least six years of education (leading to a degree or credential in a child-related field) or programmatic experience; and (d) Has at least 12 semester hours or 180 clock hours in a child-related field, a child development credential or equivalent, and two years of programmatic experience with one year in a staff supervisory capacity; or c. A certification of qualification from an internationally or nationally recognized Montessori organization; or

1. Three years of programmatic experience including one year in a staff supervisory capacity and fulfilled a high school program completion or the equivalent.

• Such programmatic experience shall be obtained in a child day center that offers a staff training program that includes: written goals and objectives; assessment of the employee's participation in the training; and the subject areas of first aid, human growth and development, health and safety issues and behavioral management of children.
• Such employees shall complete 120 hours of training during this three year period and provide documentation of completing the training.
• Effective June 1, 2008, program directors shall meet a qualification as stated in subdivisions 1 through 4 of this subsection.

1. Exception (a): Program directors hired before June 1, 2005, who do not meet the qualifications may continue to be program directors as long as the program director:

• obtains each year three semester hours or six quarter hours of college credit related to children until meeting a qualification option or (ii) is enrolled in and regularly works toward a child development credential as specified in subdivision 4 b of this subsection, which credential must be awarded by June 1, 2009. Exception
• Program directors hired or promoted on or after June 1, 2005, until June 1, 2006, who do not meet the qualifications may continue to be program directors as long as the program director: (i) obtains each year six semester hours or nine quarter hours of college credit related to children until meeting a qualification option or (ii) is enrolled in and regularly works toward a child development credential as specified in subdivision 4 b of this subsection, which credential must be awarded no later than June 1, 2007.
• Program directors without management experience shall have one college course in a business-related field, 10 clock hours of management training, or one child care management course that satisfactorily covers the management functions of: 1. Planning; 2. Budgeting; 3. Staffing; and 4. Monitoring. *Note: Management experience is defined as at least six months of on-the-job training in an administrative position that requires supervising, orienting, training, and scheduling staff.
• For program directors of therapeutic child day programs and special needs child day programs, education and programmatic experience shall be in the group care of children with special needs.
• Notwithstanding subsection A of this section, a person between 19 and 21 years of age may serve as a program director at a short-term program serving only school age children if the program director has daily supervisory contact by a person at least 21 years of age who meets one of the program director qualification options.



•