Program Assistant Director
Hi! My name is Katie, and I'm the Director for Thrive Reunion, a swiftly growing organization devoted to providing exceptional play-based learning experiences for young children and cultivating a better humanity for all. We're looking for a highly qualified Program Assistant Director to work with our incredible team of educators!
Thrive is a nurturing and supportive community of early childhood professionals that are passionate about the importance of, and interplay between, play and discovery. We currently have five schools where we are creating a thriving community for children, families and educators with exciting advancement opportunities (yes, even for assistant directors!) and a focus on personal and professional growth.
We are looking to hire a full-time program assistant director (Monday-Friday, 8 hours / day) for a salaried position making $50,000 to $55,000 per year, plus extensive benefits.
We have strong beliefs about maintaining harmony between work and life for all our staff, and those beliefs drive the benefits we offer.
We believe that time is our most valuable resource :
- Over 5 weeks of paid holidays and breaks (you can visit our website, thrivepreschool.com, to see a sample school year calendar)
- 80 hours of paid time off each year in addition to the regular school holidays and breaks
We believe in caring for others now and into the distant future :
Full group medical, dental and vision coverageSupplemental insurance offerings (disability, accident, hospital, etc.)401(k) plans with employer contribution matchingWe believe the best environment for learning is one built around the community :
Monthly community give-back programs.Seasonal festivals with pumpkin patches, food trucks, ice cream socials and moreCatered meals in the centersYour imagination is the limitwe're always looking for great new ways to bring the community together, so share your passions with us, and we'll work together to make something specialWe believe every human being has the right to continued personal and professional growth :
Professional development and continuing education opportunities as you grow with the organizationCompatibility means everything to us. If you are dedicated to the future of our children, thrive when managing and supporting others, and believe in the power of play-based learning, you're probably in the right place. But let's get the usual qualifications out of the way first.
Just to make sure we're on the same page, let's start with the basics :
Deep knowledge of hiring, recruiting and retaining staff for childcare programsStrong background in the ECE marketing & enrollment processesA positive attitude, warm personality and passion for working with young children, families, and teachersStrong organizational, leadership, and communication skillsSkilled in the use of electronic systems for the management of enrollment, staffing, student documentation, staff time management, and capable of learning and adapting to new systems as they are introduced to improve the efficiency of our programs.Looking to grow and evolve with a new and forward-thinking organization for many years to comeHigh levels of self-awareness (emotional IQ, emotional awareness, strengths & weaknesses), and passionate about growth.Intentional, mindful and reflective in professional practicesAbility to receive and utilize feedback and constructive criticism, as well as to provide and give the same collaborative feedback to staff you manageAbility to create and maintain professional and positive energies throughout the building and among staffCreative and "go-getter" mindsetAbility to work occasional weekends and evenings (open houses, family-teacher conferences, seasonal holiday celebrations, etc.) We pinky promise to make these as rare as possibleMust meet minimum qualifications for employment as a director of a large childcare center in the state of Colorado, including training, experience, and background check requirements and have an active director's certificateMinimum of two years of experience as a director or assistant director of a large childcare center in the state of Colorado.A Bachelor's degree in early childhood education from a regionally accredited college or university and / or a master's degree with a major emphasis in child development, early childhood education, or early childhood special education is preferred but not required as we are open to alternative pathways to leadership credentials.And here are some of the philosophies and lifestyle choices we share with our educators that make Thrive a special place to learn and grow :
A love of, or appreciation for, nature and spending time outdoorsDedication to play-based learningExperience, training, and / or knowledge surrounding Reggio Emilia educational practices and philosophies and Conscious Discipline.A special talent, skill, or hobby (artistic, multi-lingual, play an instrument, singing, puppetry, storytelling, woodworking, knitting, cooking, gardening etc.) that you would enjoy sharing with the children and staff. We take the "play" part very seriously.As a Program Assistant Director, you'll work closely with your director, our management team, classroom teachers and support staff to guide all aspects of the program.
Your responsibilities to the school will be :
Assist in the evaluation and training of primary and support staffOversee further development and implementation of inquiry-based / mindfulness-based curriculum, documentation, and work projects of children in accordance with our guiding educational philosophyEstablish educational standards and goals, and build and uphold policies, procedures, and programs to carry them outFoster culture that is in alignment with school missions and philosophiesCoordinate activities with teachers and staff, including monthly staff meetings, professional development, staff scheduling, and special events (i.e., open house events, back-to-school nights, parent-teacher conferences, holiday celebrations, etc.)Review and evaluate new and current programs to determine their efficiency, effectiveness, and compliance with state, local, and federal regulations, recommending any necessary modificationsCreate and disseminate informational materials for program marketing, family / community engagement, and parent educationMonitor facility safety, security, and maintenance operations and proceduresMaintain all documentation as mandated by the State of Colorado (i.e., attendance logs, vaccination records, student and employee files)Teach classes or courses or provide direct care to children when neededYour responsibilities to the teachers will be :
Facilitate teachers monitoring student progress and gathering information for assessmentAssist teachers in developing everyday classroom behavioral management solutionsSupport teachers and staff in goal-setting and overall quality program improvementObserve classroom to assess teacher-student interactions and instructional methodsYour responsibilities to the families will be :
Host tours of the school and communicate with families during the onboarding processConfer with parents and staff to develop educational programming and school policies that will support all studentsIf you're interested in providing a brighter future for our children, please don't hesitate another moment in reaching out! When we find the right person to join our community, we always wish we could have had you with us from the very beginning, but we'll have to settle for the joy of having you now and growing with you for many years to come. Any questions? Of course, go ahead and ask. That's what we're here for. That's what we're all here for : to question.
Sincerely,
Katie O'Connell
Director, Thrive Reunion
