Preschool Director

Do you believe childhood should be filled with joy, wonder, safety, and meaningful connections? Are you a passionate early childhood leader who thrives on building strong relationships with children, families, and educators? If so, we invite you to join our team as our Preschool Director.

In this leadership role, you will create an environment where children feel loved, valued, and excited to learn every day. You will lead a dedicated team of educators, foster strong family partnerships, champion positive behavior guidance, and ensure that every child experiences a safe, nurturing, and engaging preschool journey.

As the primary point of contact for current and prospective families, you will play a vital role in welcoming new families into our community, supporting student placement, and helping maintain strong enrollment through exceptional admissions and family engagement practices. This position also oversees staffing, curriculum implementation, regulatory compliance, and the overall preschool experience.

Key Responsibilities:

• Recruit, hire, train, and support an amazing team of preschool teachers and assistants.
• Oversee the academic program, ensuring high-quality classroom interactions and program implementation through regular classroom observations and coaching.
• Step in as a classroom teacher when needed to maintain continuity of instruction.
• Manage staff scheduling and ensure smooth day-to-day operations.
• Build strong relationships with families and serve as the primary contact for parent communication.
• Guide prospective families through the admissions process and create a welcoming experience from initial inquiry through enrollment and beyond.
• Ensure proper child placement and a welcoming environment for new families.
• Maintain compliance with Virginia Department of Education licensing standards.
• Create a fun, safe, and nurturing space where children can learn and grow!

What We are Looking For:

• Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Development or a related field (preferred).
• 5+ years of experience in preschool programs, with at least 3 years in a leadership role.
• 3-5 years of hands-on teaching experience (preferred).
• Strong knowledge of child development (newborn through 5 years).
• Familiarity with Virginia Department of Education licensing standards.
• Excellent communication skills
• Physical ability to actively engage with children, including sitting, standing, and playing.
• CPR and First Aid certification (or willingness to obtain)
• Medical Administration Training certification (or willingness to obtain)
• Must pass all required pre-employment screenings and training.

About First Steps Academy

First Steps Academy is a faith based preschool located in McLean Virginia, near the Tysons II mall. We value the importance of character development and academic preparedness and believe they are key contributors to helping prepare young children for future success in life. We serve families with Infants through Kindergartners and teach using our character education curriculum and A Beka's phonics based academic curriculum.

Benefits

Our benefits package for eligible employees includes competitive pay, health, dental and vision insurance, vacation and sick leave, 403(b) retirement plan with employer matching, life insurance, tuition assistance, training and development and many other perks and benefits. First Steps Academy is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.