St. John’s Episcopal Preschool
3240 O Street, NW
Washington, DC 20007
Start Date: September 1, 2018
The Head of St John’s Episcopal Preschool is appointed by the Board of Directors and is responsible for all aspects of the school, including the educational program, admissions-in and admissions-out, operations and financial health, fundraising, and community relations. St. John’s seeks an administrator with warmth, integrity and vision who will embrace the opportunity to lead this dedicated community of children, staff and parents. The Head of School will encourage and nurture a love for learning in all members of the preschool community, and will commit to the continuous study of the Reggio Emilia Philosophy. The Head of School will teach children to respect themselves, their peers, and the environment. S/he will set high standards for the preschool staff, and will be committed to maintaining a safe, inclusive, and welcoming community.
The Head of School will be a collaborative yet decisive leader and will seek input, encourage discussion, and make decisions in the best interest of the school. The Head of School will be a team builder who has experience recruiting and retaining highly qualified teachers, managing staff and co-teaching relationships, and empowering teachers to reach their fullest potential in harmony with the school’s core values.
The Head of School serves as the public face of the school and will engage and promote trust within the preschool community, with early childhood educators in the DC area, and beyond. S/he will communicate with the preschool community consistently and articulately about the values and mission of the school. The Head of School will create an inclusive culture that embraces diversity of perspective and experience.
RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE:
• Work in partnership with the board of directors, children, staff, and parents to carry out the preschool’s mission and strategic future, including financial and risk management, strategic planning, and fundraising efforts of the school.
• Serve as a liaison to the board of directors; represent the board to the teachers, staff, children, parents, and other constituents; carry out and review established preschool policies with the board.
• Provide leadership and work collaboratively with the pedagogista in shaping the preschool’s Reggio Emilia based educational program, planning professional development and weekly staff and classroom teacher meetings, and other projects.
• Directly supervise and support teachers and staff to ensure compliance with preschool policies; attend all staff and classroom teacher meetings; ensure compliance with all governmental regulations applicable to the preschool and its operations.
• Recruit, hire, and retain highly qualified teachers and staff; professionally develop and evaluate personnel; maintain personnel records.
• Oversee all aspects of the admissions-in process, such as recruitment, family visits, selection processes, and waitlist movement.
• Oversee all aspects of the admissions-out process: cultivate relationships with the admissions teams at local independent schools; advise families on various schools and testing requirements and support their applications as needed; advocate for children throughout the admissions process.
• Understand educational trends and the local and regional educational landscape, and well-versed in child development.
• Communicate effectively with all constituents, including children, teachers and staff, parents, and alumni.
• Manage the Early Childhood Educator Series: plan and organize the yearly ECES program with teachers and staff; organize and lead the monthly Visiting Days; host individuals who visit the school on other days; monitor developing trends throughout the year; organize and host professional conferences at the preschool.
• Participate in monthly Parent Teacher Council meetings and all PTC sponsored events, and support parent leaders in planning and executing PTC events.
• Organize the 6-week summer program, including the hiring of qualified teachers, and oversee the summer program director and staff.
• Participate in all evening and weekend events, such as classroom parent meetings and all-school events.
• Organize and maintain preschool calendar.
• Bachelor’s Degree required; Master’s or Doctorate degree preferred
• Must meet all educational requirements as set forth by the DC Office of the State Superintendent
• Proven success in an administrative role, to include strong management and conflict resolution skills
• Relevant teaching experience and demonstrated school leadership qualities
• Flexible schedule for night and weekend work
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Competitive salary commensurate with education and experience
• Full health, dental, and vision benefits
• Paid vacation time
• Outstanding professional development opportunities
Please send cover letter and resume to: resumes@stjohnsdc.org
St. John’s Episcopal Preschool is a private, independent nonprofit Reggio inspired school for young children, located in Washington, DC. The mission of St. John’s Episcopal Preschool is to celebrate children’s depth of wonder and joy in the world, and to engage with them and their families in their exploration. In a rich environment, children collaborate with teachers to extend their thinking and to develop their unique abilities. St. John’s Episcopal Preschool enthusiastically welcomes all people regardless of any particular religious convictions. The diversity represented in St. John’s Episcopal Preschool enhances the learning experience by valuing all faith perspectives in age-appropriate discourse in the classroom.
Serving a community of 45 children and their families, the school has 3 classrooms and several atelier spaces in addition to a very lovely outdoor classroom space. The faculty includes 6 classroom co-teachers, 2 support co-teachers, one pedagogista, and one educational program assistant. The school year begins in mid-September and ends in early-June; however, the Head of School job is a 12-month position, including flexible summer hours.
St. John’s Episcopal Preschool is an equal opportunity organization. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age, disability, or genetic information.
St. John’s Episcopal Preschool
3240 O St, NW
Washington, DC 20007
(202) 338-2574
resumes@stjohnsdc.org
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