Noe Valley Nursery School (NVNS) is seeking a new Director to lead our small cooperative preschool in a part-time play-based program. We are seeking someone with a passion for child-centered, play-based and project-based education. A strong love for nature-based learning and community building is important. The Director will design curriculum to provide a healthy and stimulating environment for
children to develop socially, physically, emotionally and intellectually, as well as be a critical part of the NVNS community. Every day, the Director and 1 paid teacher work with 4-6 parents and up to 28 children to create an adult-to-child ratio of no more than 1:5. With strong leadership and communication skills, the director will be responsible for leading the community of families in upholding the vision and mission of the school. Join our loving, learning community that is supportive of your growth and values your leadership!
ABOUT NVNS:
NVNS is a nonprofit, nonsectarian, democratic organization where each family participates in the planning, fundraising, and operation of the school. Parents participate in the daily program by serving as assistants to the director. NVNS has operated as a parent cooperative and maintained a commitment to play-based learning for over 50 years. NVNS promotes child-centered activities, hands-on exploration of the physical environment and many opportunities to build social relationships with peers and adults.
Children at NVNS (aged 2.5 - 5 years old) learn how to pursue their own interests, discover new passions, respect others and have fun! NVNS is located in the Christopher Playground Clubhouse in Diamond Heights, San Francisco, adjacent to Glen Canyon and a community garden. This location provides our children with a range of indoor and outdoor activities.
JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:
Pedagogy
● Design all the curriculum integrating your own ideas and leveraging past curriculum.
● Manage the daily activities of the school, overseeing both the Morning and Afternoon Program in partnership with the lead Afternoon Teacher.
● Incorporate elements of play-based education into all endeavors.
● Assist children at their own developmental level to enhance social, emotional, and cognitive growth and adjust to the program and to their peers.
● Respond appropriately to conflict with clear, consistent, and age-appropriate strategies.
● Review and revise the program structure and curriculum using ideas from educational theory and input from other teachers and members.
● Supervise and collaborate with a paid Morning Program Teacher (with Assistant Teacher permit) and lead 4-6 parent-teachers daily to guide instruction.
Community Support and Communication
● Support the growth and healthy development of the diverse NVNS parent community.
● Support, supervise, and mentor parent teachers during daily activities.
● Develop an ongoing educational program to be implemented daily with parents and reinforced at the monthly parent education meetings.
● Hold one-on-one parent-director conferences for families, as needed, with sensitivity towardsconfidentiality.
● Work closely with the NVNS President to support the community and resolve any issues.
● Engage in daily communication with the community via Slack, and respond to both email and Slack in a timely manner.
New Family Recruitment
● Lead Parent Information meetings to recruit new members (1-3 nights yearly).
● Conduct parent interviews and provide feedback to the membership chairperson regarding the selection of new participating families each year.
● Provide ongoing assessment of new families at the beginning of the year.
Administrative and Licensing:
● Coordinate closely with the Board of Directors on all matters relevant to the operation of the school. Attend monthly evening Board Meetings to participate in the administration of the
Co-op.
● Implement and assure compliance with all licensing requirements.
● Represent NVNS to the San Francisco Co-Op Council and other external engagements, as needed, with support from the Board of Directors and parent volunteers.
Professional Development & Support:
● Stay informed about current early childhood education research.
● Attend relevant professional development events (attendance funded by NVNS).
● Engage in open communication with the Board of Directors seeking additional support as needed.
Time Commitment:
● Total Average Weekly Time commitment: 30 hours.
● School Year runs from August 1st – June 3rd. This includes planning, orientation, transition week, in-service days, and all regular school days. Option for a 10 month or 12 month payment schedule.
● On site time commitment: Monday – Friday: 8:30am – 2:00pm
● Email correspondence and planning off site as needed.
● In-person meetings (with assistant teacher and PM teachers, board members, current or prospective parents) & remote work (corresponding with the community & planning as needed) of up to 7.5 hrs per week.
● Group Meetings: Attendance is required at information nights, as well as monthly board, business, and parent education meetings. Director is required to lead at least 1 of the parent education meetings at the beginning of the school year, and provide a short report at the board and business meetings.
● Summer: Be available via email over the summer as needed.
● Special Events: Attend NVNS community events whenever possible.
● Time Off: Up to 10 days paid sick leave and 5 days vacation throughout the salaried school year.
● Holidays: NVNS follows the SFUSD calendar with the same school holidays, including Winter Break and Spring Break.
● Optional: Availability to help with afternoon program (with additional compensation), summer program in June/July (with additional compensation).
QUALIFICATIONS:
Required
● Early Childhood Certification (Site Supervisor permit or equivalent)
● A minimum of 4 years prior experience working in early childhood education
● Experience supervising a team and mentoring others
● Strong knowledge of child development and a passion to grow in the field
● Strong connection with child-centered, play-based philosophy, with an emphasis on inquiry-based learning
● Ability to lead, relate to and empathize with children, parents, and co-workers
Preferred
● 10+ years experience working in early childhood education
● Enjoys nature-based education
● Experience building community, or working in a cooperative setting
● Excellent written and verbal communication skills
● Strong organizational skills and time management skills
● Experience teaching English Language Learners and/or multiple language skills
● Proficiency in a musical or artistic field
COMPENSATION:
● $75,000-$90,000 commensurate with experience.
HOW TO APPLY:
● To apply, submit your cover letter along with your resume.
● To learn more about Noe Valley Nursery School visit our website.
● Contact info: hiring@noevalleynurseryschool.com.