Job Description

The Preschool Director/Teacher, Level 2 oversees the daily operations of a preschool program serving children ages 2.9 to 5 and provides leadership in curriculum implementation, classroom management, staff supervision and development, child assessment, family engagement, and regulatory compliance. The position supports a child-centered, play-based educational philosophy that promotes children’s social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development while fostering strong partnerships with families. The Preschool Director/Teacher, Level 2 supervises, mentors, and supports teaching staff; maintains compliance with EEC, NAEYC, QRIS, and City of Cambridge standards; coordinates program administration and enrollment activities; supports inclusive practices and child development services; and ensures a safe, nurturing, and developmentally appropriate learning environment.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS AND DUTIES:

The essential functions or duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various type of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position.

• Provide on-site leadership and oversight for the effective operation of a preschool program serving children ages 2.9 to 5.
• Support and implement the Childcare and Family Support Division’s child-centered, play-based.
• Curriculum philosophy to promote children’s social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development.
• Establish and communicate program goals and expectations for curriculum implementation, classroom management, behavior support, child assessment, and family engagement.
• Lead, supervise, mentor, and develop teaching staff, substitutes, interns, and assigned support staff.
• Conduct supervision meetings and classroom observations; model effective teaching practices; provide constructive feedback and coaching; and complete written annual performance evaluations with goals for continued professional growth.
• Provide classroom instruction and coverage as needed to maintain compliance with EEC staffing regulations and model effective instructional and child guidance practices.
• Design and maintain classroom environments, including displays of children’s work, in accordance with EEC, NAEYC, QRIS, and City of Cambridge standards.
• Establish and reinforce clear, developmentally appropriate behavioral expectations and ensure staff provide nurturing, inclusive, and socially responsive care and guidance.
• Identify children who may benefit from additional developmental, behavioral, or support services and collaborate with the Preschool Manager to communicate observations and recommendations to families.
• Coordinate referrals and support services, participate in IEP meetings, and ensure implementation of accommodations and goals identified in children’s individualized plans.
• Oversee observation, documentation, and assessment of children’s developmental progress using the COR Advantage system and classroom-based documentation.
• Ensure quality assessments are completed accurately, shared with families in a timely manner, and used to guide curriculum planning and support development across learning domains.
• Develop and implement an annual family engagement plan that includes parent orientation, ongoing communication, conferences, family education workshops, newsletters, and family leadership opportunities.
• Promote collaboration, communication, and cohesion among teaching staff to support consistent, high-quality program delivery.
• Ensure the health and safety of enrolled children by maintaining emergency preparedness plans and safety documentation, conducting drills, and coordinating safe, developmentally appropriate field trips.
• Prepare and maintain documentation required for NAEYC accreditation and EEC licensing reviews.
• Complete annual reports and develop a Continuous Quality Improvement Plan using program assessment and quality data for submission to the Preschool Manager.
• Partner with the Enrollment Coordinator to support enrollment activities, including the DHSP Preschool Lottery process, parent tours, and family inquiries regarding preschool programming and services.
• Coordinate administrative and operational functions of the preschool program in compliance with departmental and state requirements, including program records, attendance, timesheets, food service documentation, meeting records, and required logs.
• Participate in supervision sessions, staff meetings, consultant meetings, and interdisciplinary planning meetings.
• Maintain required professional certifications and ongoing training in accordance with EEC, NAEYC, QRIS, and City of Cambridge standards.
• Maintain collaborative working relationships with building management, tenants, and DHSP program staff to support effective facility use, communication, and maintenance coordination.
• Perform related duties as required.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Education/Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in early childhood education, child development, education, human services, or a related field; master’s degree preferred.
• Three (3) years of experience as a preschool childcare administrator or in a comparable early childhood leadership role.
• EEC Preschool Lead Teacher/Director qualification required.
• Experience working with children with special needs preferred.
• An equivalent combination of education, training, and experience may be considered.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of early childhood development, play-based and child-centered pedagogy, EEC licensing requirements, and NAEYC/QRIS quality and safety standards.
• Knowledge of inclusive early childhood practices, social-emotional learning, positive behavior guidance, and developmentally appropriate classroom routines.
• Ability to design and maintain engaging classroom environments that support inclusion, independence, child development, and positive learning experiences.
• Ability to use observation, documentation, and assessment to track children’s progress, inform instruction, maintain compliance, and communicate with families and staff.
• Skill in supervising, coaching, and evaluating a multidisciplinary teaching team, including modeling best practices and providing constructive, culturally responsive feedback.
• Strong organizational, supervisory, curriculum, communication, documentation, recordkeeping, and basic technology skills.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills to partner with families, resolve concerns collaboratively, and connect caregivers with community resources.
• Ability to work and interact effectively with individuals and groups across diverse identities, cultures, backgrounds, and ideologies.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED:

Works under the general direction of the Preschool Manager, Level 2, exercising independent judgment in planning, prioritizing, coordinating, and carrying out preschool program operations. Work is reviewed through conferences, reports, observations, quality of program operations, compliance with DHSP policies, applicable licensing and accreditation standards, and alignment with program objectives.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED:

Provides direct supervision, leadership, coaching, and performance management to teaching staff. May provide functional oversight of substitutes, interns, volunteers, and other assigned program support staff.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Work is performed primarily in active, child-centered classroom settings, outdoor playgrounds, and community locations during field trips and program activities. The position involves frequent interaction with children, families, teaching staff, substitutes, interns, volunteers, DHSP staff, visitors, and community partners. Noise levels range from moderate to very loud, and work requires frequent interruptions, close attention to child safety, and ongoing responsiveness to classroom, family, staff, and program needs.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

Work is active and classroom-based, requiring frequent movement and physical agility, including transitioning quickly between sitting on the floor, kneeling, crouching, bending, standing, and walking to engage with children at eye level and respond to classroom needs. The position may require running after children during play or emergency situations; frequent reaching, handling, and manipulation of classroom materials and equipment; moving classroom furniture and supplies; sufficient visual and auditory acuity to supervise and respond to children effectively; and occasional lifting, carrying, or assisting children and materials.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS:

Please upload the following documents to complete your application:

• Resume
• Cover Letter

The City of Cambridge's workforce, like the community it serves, is diverse. Applicants must have the ability to work and interact effectively with individuals and groups with a variety of identities, cultures, backgrounds, and ideologies.