Bright Beginnings Early Childhood Education Manager

Grace Place for Children and Families • Naples, FL

19h • Onsite

About The Position

Under the leadership and guidance of the Director of Family Literacy, the Manager of Bright Beginnings Early Childhood Education is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the early childhood education programs. The Program Manager will provide direct oversight of the implementation of high-quality developmentally appropriate educational programming, including direct supervision and support to early childhood education program staff and volunteers. The Program Manager will work directly with the Director of Family Literacy to ensure alignment of early childhood educational programming to the educational program elements provided in the family literacy program.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required, concentration in early childhood education, child development, or related field preferred. Equivalent early childhood education credentialing will be considered.
• Department of Children and Families (DCF) Florida Child Care Director Credential, required.
• Minimum of three years teaching experience in an early childhood setting, mandatory.
• Bi-lingual skills preferred
• Basic proficiency in Microsoft Excel and Word required; additional technology and data base skills preferred.
• Current first aid and CPR certificates.
• Willing to submit to Fingerprinting and Background Checks.
• Continue to maintain Directors Credential in an active state.
• Willing to complete DCF coursework to obtain VPK Director Endorsement.
• Meet required DCF training courses, including the completion of necessary continuing education units (CEUs).
• Compliance with Good Moral Character as described by DCF.
• Commitment to supporting the leadership culture of the organization.
• Maintain active visual and auditory supervision of children at all times in accordance with DCF regulations and Grace Place procedures.
• Although this is a leadership and administrative role, the Manager must be able and prepared to step into a classroom at any time to maintain required staffing ratios, ensure child safety, or support classroom operations when needed.
• Frequently lift, carry, or hold children weighing between 10 and 40 pounds.
• Occasionally lift or assist with weight exceeding 40 pounds.
• Sit on the floor or low chairs, stand, walk, bend, squat, kneel, reach (overhead, at, and below shoulder level), twist, and move quickly between areas of the classroom and playground throughout the workday.
• Supervise and interact with children indoors and outdoors for extended periods in varied weather conditions.
• Move at a pace sufficient to ensure child safety across classrooms, common spaces, and outdoor areas, including uneven surfaces.
• Use hands and fingers to grasp, handle small objects, assist children with fine motor activities, and perform daily classroom tasks.
• Clearly see and distinguish children, objects, and written materials at both close and far distances sufficient to maintain supervision and deliver instruction.
• Hear and distinguish voices and sounds sufficient to maintain supervision, communicate with children and staff, and respond to alarms or emergency situations.
• Communicate clearly through spoken word to children, families, and staff.
• The Manager may be required to temporarily assume full classroom supervision responsibilities and perform all physical duties of a classroom teacher when operational needs require.
• Remain physically active and mentally alert for extended periods of time to respond immediately to the needs of children and any unexpected situations or emergencies.
• On rare occasions, assist as a bus attendant for student pickups and drop-offs due to staffing call-offs or other coverage needs, which may require supervising children while boarding, riding, and exiting the bus, including navigating bus steps and assisting children safely on and off the bus.
• Travel between Grace Place locations, attend meetings, trainings, or off-site obligations, and transport materials as needed. When driving is required as part of job duties, the employee must maintain a valid driver’s license, acceptable driving record, and active automobile insurance.
• Level 2 Background check, fingerprinting required.
• Valid driver’s license with an acceptable driving record.
• Proof of valid automobile insurance
• All applicants must successfully complete required State and National background screening as a condition of employment prior to beginning work at Grace Place for Children and Families. Screening is conducted in accordance with applicable Florida law, including Chapter 435, Florida Statutes, and, when applicable, Chapter 408, Florida Statutes.
• Background screening includes fingerprinting for FDLE and FBI criminal history checks and review through the Florida Care Provider Background Screening Clearinghouse. Employment is contingent upon receipt, review, and approval of screening results.

Nice To Haves

• concentration in early childhood education, child development, or related field preferred.
• Equivalent early childhood education credentialing will be considered.
• Florida Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) Director Credential, preferred.
• Minimum of two years of experience in a supervising capacity in an early childhood setting, preferred.
• Experience overseeing a VPK program, including curriculum implementation, assessment, and compliance with Florida VPK requirements, preferred.
• Demonstrated experience working with diverse cultures and populations preferred.
• additional technology and data base skills preferred.

Responsibilities

• Building on established curriculum, develop schemes of work and oversee the creation of weekly lesson plans and instructional activities that facilitate the development of early learning skills both at Grace Place and at home.
• Manage the creation of a developmentally appropriate classroom environment and facilitate the identification and selection of differentiated instructional resources and methods to meet ECE student’s individual needs.
• Establish and oversee the implementation of curriculum for all children’s classes.
• Work in collaboration with outside agencies to provide additional support to the curriculum for all children’s classes.
• Oversee the NAC accreditation completion and ongoing compliance.
• Serve as a Grace Place ambassador and works collaboratively with the local school district, business, and community-based agencies to increase access of resources and services to families.
• Manages program budgets and provides reports of program outcome measures.
• Oversee the planning, implementation, staffing, enrollment, and evaluation of the annual Rising VPK Summer Camp, serving up to 12 students transitioning into VPK.
• Oversee a developmental playgroup designed to support children enrolled in Grace Place programs who are demonstrating developmental, behavioral, or social-emotional concerns, providing targeted interventions, parent support, and referrals as appropriate.
• Collaborate with the Director of Family Literacy and enrollment team to support year-round student recruitment, retention, and enrollment efforts, including community outreach events, family information sessions, tours, and follow-up with prospective families.
• Supervise and support the Bright Beginnings ECE teachers and the ECE support teachers to ensure that they are effectively fulfilling their responsibilities.
• Provide effective ongoing coaching to supervised-staff in appropriate strategies and model these strategies in the classrooms.
• Communicate regularly with parents to build a high level of trust with our families.
• Create a system for communicating with parents the results of student screenings and assessments to ensure that parents can support their child at home.
• Meet with parents of children that have developmental concerns and guide them through evaluation process following up with them to ensure their child gets the support they need.
• Support the Bright Beginnings Parent Time Assistant Manager in facilitating the Bright Beginnings Parent Leadership Council by providing guidance to ensure that the student leadership team remains attuned to their purpose and effectively carries out their directives.
• Collaborate with the Bright Beginnings Parent Time Assistant Manager to create and facilitate the distribution of a monthly Bright Beginnings student and volunteer newsletter.
• Maintain high visibility and a hands-on presence with staff, students, volunteers, and parents in all aspects of the program.
• Welcome and effectively manage volunteer involvement in all aspects of the early childhood education program. This includes but is not limited to the provision of an initial orientation, ongoing training, classroom placement, daily scheduling, and retention.
• Provide effective on-going coaching in appropriate strategies and model these strategies in the classrooms.
• Collaborate with the Volunteer and Community Engagement Coordinator to ensure adequate volunteers are recruited and appropriately placed.
• Maintain annual enrollment targets through effective recruitment, retention, and community outreach efforts.
• Ensure at least 90% of children demonstrate measurable progress in developmental, social-emotional, and school readiness outcomes as measured by program assessments and screenings.
• Ensure 100% completion of required child assessments, developmental screenings, referrals, home visits, and program documentation within established timelines.
• Develop and maintain tracking systems for child outcomes, developmental referrals, enrollment, attendance, and program compliance to support data-driven decision making and reporting.
• Lead, coach, and develop ECE staff to maintain high-quality programming, compliance with DCF and NAC standards, and achievement of program goals.
• Foster strong family engagement, achieving annual participation targets for conferences, home visits, parent education activities, and family events.
• Successfully oversee summer programming, including the Rising VPK Summer Camp and developmental playgroup, while tracking participation, developmental progress, referrals, and family engagement outcomes.
• Utilize program data, assessment results, and family feedback to identify trends, implement improvements, and support organizational reporting requirements.
• Performs any other duties or responsibilities as requested.

Benefits

• Medical Insurance: Grace Place covers approximately 90% of employee health premiums.
• Medical Eligibility: Begins on the first of the month following 30 days of employment
• Dental & Vision Insurance: Available to eligible employees
• Employer-Paid Benefits: Long-term disability (LTD), short-term disability (STD), and group life insurance
• Retirement (401(k)): Eligible after 90 days of employment, with employer matching contributions (Up to 4% Company Match)
• Professional Development: Opportunities to support continued learning and career growth
• Paid Time Off: 15 days of PTO in the first year
• Holidays & Closures: 15 days of paid holidays and campus closure days.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager