Preschool and Childcare Center Directors
Additional Information
Duties
Directors of preschools and childcare facilities usually perform the following:
- Preschool instructors and childcare employees are under your supervision.
- Recruit, hire, and train new employees.
- Ensure that employees have the opportunity to grow as professionals.
- Establish guidelines and make them known to employees and their children.
- Create curriculums and standards for schools.
- Maintaining high standards of education.
- Communicate with parents and children on behalf of the staff.
- Discuss pupils' development with parents and teachers.
- Organize financial resources and prepare budgets.
- Maintain and clean facilities in accordance with state regulations.
The ownership of certain preschools and childcare facilities is privately owned and run. The owner's directions and requirements must be followed by directors in these facilities. Directors can be proprietors; in which case they get to make business decisions about how they're run.
Other preschools and childcare facilities are part of a nationwide franchise or network. The director of a chain or franchise must verify that the facility fulfills the rules and regulations of the parent corporation.
There are other programs like Head Start that get both state and federal funds. Health and Human Services (HHS) mandates that programs, personnel, and physical locations must meet certain standards.
Education
Directors of daycare and pre-school centers must often hold a bachelor's degree; however, this varies by state. Those with a degree in early childhood education, or at least some post-secondary education, may be preferred by employers. Teaching methods for young children, as well as how to keep track of and document their growth, are all covered in these courses.
Working Knowledge of a Related Field
A bachelor's degree in early childhood education is often required for the majority of preschool and childcare facility director roles. Depending on the work, different levels of expertise are necessary.
Registration, Licenses, and Certifications
Licensed childcare centers, including those in private homes, may be required by some states. Applicants seeking licensing must pass a criminal background check and demonstrate that they have completed a minimal training requirement. CPR and first aid certificates are mandated in certain states, while others have less requirements.
The Council for Professional Recognition (CPR) offers the CDA certificate, which certain businesses demand. Pay a fee, complete classes in the area, and be monitored while dealing with children are some of the requirements for becoming a therapist. Every three years, you'll have to reapply for this certification.
Qualities that may matter
The ability to do business. Preschool and childcare center directors must be able to run a business efficiently in order to run a childcare facility.
Skills in verbal and non-verbal communication. Children's progress is communicated to their parents and teachers by the directors. Communication of this knowledge calls for fluency in both written and spoken forms of expression.
The ability to interact with others. The director of a preschool or daycare facility must be able to build connections with parents, children, and staff members.
The ability to lead. Directors of preschools and childcare facilities must have strong leadership abilities in order to motivate their employees and keep them focused. They are also responsible for enforcing the laws and regulations that they have established.
The ability to manage one's time effectively. Directors must keep accurate records of the children and personnel in their care. They must also be able to multitask while dealing with several persons or circumstances at once.
Pay
The median annual wage for preschool and childcare center directors was $56,270 in May 2024. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $37,060, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $96,400.
Job Projections
Employment of preschool and childcare center directors is projected to decline 2 percent from 2023 to 2033.