Education Administrator, Preschool and Childcare Administration

Working Schedule

• Preschool and Childcare Administrators work full-time, Monday through Friday, with some roles including evening work or occasional weekends. Overtime may be expected during busy periods, such as enrollments or preparation for a new academic year. When school is out for students, administrators are still working and planning ahead but may enjoy some extra downtime. 

Typical Duties

• Lead and supervise faculty and staff to maintain a safe, positive, friendly environment conducive to learning
• Hire new team members and ensure they receive proper training
• Encourage professional development and offer time and incentives to pursue it
• Monitor employee performance and provide feedback
• Create and implement policies and standard operating procedures
• Review training materials and schedules
• Ensure all safety and security measures are feasible and fully understood by workers
• Work closely with staff and parents to ensure students are meeting educational goals
• Build and maintain positive relationships with parents and the community
• Incorporate diversity and inclusion practices 
• Oversee all budgetary and facility issues; ensure funding is appropriately distributed and all laws are being adhered to
• Oversee the lifecycle of all student affairs
• Generate and review reports related to student activity

Additional Responsibilities

• Ensure all workers stay current on training, to include refreshers and updates
• Take part in community outreach efforts and social activities
• Work closely with marketing and public relations members, as applicable 
• Inspire organizational excellence and seek out best practices to incorporate

Soft Skills

• Ability to focus on short-term and long-range goals
• Basic psychology
• Compassion for young learners
• Complex problem-solving 
• Cultural sensitivity and awareness
• Efficient; focused on saving time and resources
• Foreign language proficiency (a bonus)
• Independent 
• Leadership ability
• Multitasking despite frequent disruptions
• Objectivity
• Outstanding communication skills, including email etiquette 
• Patience
• Persuasiveness
• Perseverance
• Public speaking skills
• Sound judgment and decision-making
• Strong interpersonal and organizational skills
• Team-building

Technical Skills

• Adept at business math, numbers, and figures
• Comfortable using software related to education, accounting, and spreadsheets
• Familiarity with enterprise resource planning programs such as HeadMaster, Childcare Sage, and EZ-CARE2 
• Strong computer and office equipment skills
• Knowledge of resource planning software
• CPR and First Aid
• Good with audiovisual presentation equipment 

• Private and public schools
• Childcare centers
• Grantmaking and civil organizations

As leaders, Preschool and Childcare Administrators are expected to be at the forefront of changes in the world of education. From keeping up with current policies and standards to finding creative, effective ways to incorporate technology into classroom settings, administrators are required to stay on top of things and be flexible enough to adapt as needed. When problems arise, workers and parents look to the top for solutions. 

The 2020 coronavirus pandemic tested programs with challenges they’ve never faced before. Going forward, administrators must apply the lessons learned. It’s up to them to be ready with practical, creative distance learning and hybrid options suitable for the learning needs of their young students. Meanwhile, school and childcare safety protocols have been thrust into the limelight, and it is incumbent upon administrators to learn and implement best practices that protect workers and students from unnecessary risk of exposure to hazards. 
 
Other trends include an increased focus on systematic phonics in literacy instruction, the use of natural environments in learning, the analysis of achievement gap metrics to address causes of academic disparity, and of course the increasing use of technology tools for educational purposes. 

Educators are interested in helping others to learn and grow. They may have always had such passion, perhaps from being an older sibling or due to other early childhood experiences. Administrators, in particular, are great at team-building and managing others so that they may have held positions of responsibility in school or at home. 
 
As highly-organized individuals, they probably enjoyed reading nonfiction works that helped them to understand how things work, so they can interact with them more efficiently. As managers, they might have honed their skills through event planning, volunteering, or participating in team projects. It’s likely they enjoyed courses such as public speaking and debate, as well. 
 

"My job is the administer the early learning grants and direct the staff of the early education programs for the Cypress School District. I work in the mornings greeting children and families, making sure the classrooms are ready for staff. I work to ensure the curriculum and district's vision for the program are carried out by the staff. I coach and train the teachers and instructional support staff on the preschool learning foundations and work to strengthen the achievement gap we see in some populations. I assist teachers as needed in the classroom, working with students, helping with behavior challenges and speaking to parents. I take parents on tours of the centers and conduct parent education workshops on various topics. I prepare and submit reports to state and federal agencies and do a lot of recordkeeping." Pamela Glasell, Program Manager, Early Learning, Cypress School District