Director of Early Childhood Education

Overview

The Director of Early Childhood Education at Grace Place for Children and Families leads the strategic, operational, instructional, and compliance aspects of the Bright Beginnings Early Childhood Education Program. Reporting to the Chief Learning Officer, this exempt position supervises Early Childhood Education staff and a Food Service Associate. The Director ensures the delivery of high-quality, developmentally appropriate programs aligned with the Family Literacy Model, while maintaining compliance with regulatory bodies including the Department of Children and Families (DCF), Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK), and the National Accreditation Commission (NAC). As the organization expands, the Director manages licensing and accreditation across multiple sites and ensures classrooms meet or exceed a CLASS® rating of 5.5 through robust coaching and training.

Key Responsibilities

• Establish and steer the program’s strategic plan, objectives, and performance metrics consistent with organizational priorities.
• Provide leadership across all sites, ensuring safety, quality, and program consistency.
• Oversee developmental playgroups for children with social-emotional or developmental challenges, including support and referrals for families.
• Coordinate with educational leaders to integrate early childhood and adult education efforts.
• Manage curriculum development, instructional quality, assessment, lesson planning, and VPK compliance to foster child growth academically and socially.
• Administer the Rising VPK Summer Camp, from planning to evaluation.
• Lead classroom observations, coaching, professional learning, and data analysis to enhance teaching effectiveness.
• Supervise, mentor, and evaluate education staff, enforce performance standards, and facilitate onboarding and professional development aligned with DCF and CLASS® standards.
• Drive staff credentialing efforts and support workforce development partnerships.
• Maintain enrollment targets through community outreach and family engagement, ensuring timely completion of assessments, screenings, and documentation.
• Ensure family communication systems are effective and guide families through necessary evaluations and support services.
• Serve as the primary contact and coordinator for DCF licensing compliance across sites, including inspections, training, documentation, and corrective actions.
• Maintain accreditation standards and lead preparation for external reviews.
• Analyze program performance data to promote continuous improvement and report outcomes to leadership and stakeholders.
• Foster partnerships with families, caregivers, and community organizations to expand educational and support services.
• Manage volunteer programs within the education department, ensuring effective orientation, placement, and oversight.
• Develop and monitor budgets, oversee resources and expenditures, and collaborate on grants and donor-related reporting.
• Perform additional duties as necessary to support program success.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; concentration in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, Educational Leadership, or related fields preferred.
• Active Florida Child Care Director Credential mandatory; VPK Director Credential or Endorsement preferred, with willingness to obtain if not currently held.
• Minimum five years progressively responsible experience in early childhood education including direct teaching; three years in leadership or supervisory roles strongly preferred.
• Proven expertise in DCF licensing and compliance, NAC accreditation, and VPK oversight.
• Successful experience using CLASS® tools to achieve a classroom rating of 5.5 or higher.
• Experience managing multiple sites or programs highly desirable.