Director Early Childhood Programs and Nature Preschool Director

Chicago Botanic Garden•Glencoe, IL

About The Position

Serve as director of the Chicago Botanic Garden’s Nature Preschool. Maintain status of the Chicago Botanic Garden as a national leader in the early childhood environmental education field, offering developmentally appropriate programs and activities for children, teachers, caregivers, and families that are fun, enriching, and support an understanding and appreciation for the natural world. Occasional evening and weekend hours are required year-round.

Requirements

M.A. or M.S. degree in early childhood or elementary education or equivalent experience required. DCFS director qualification required. Minimum five years of experience working with preschool-age children required. Three years’ administrative experience is preferred.
Experience in curriculum development, implementation, and evaluation of programs.
Experience working with children with special needs and ability to identify additional resources and supports for those children.
In-depth knowledge of licensing standards and requirements.
Experience hiring, training, supervising, and leading staff.
Confidence and comfort in marketing early childhood programs and recruiting new families and students.
A love of nature and teaching outdoors. Experience in and knowledge of informal education, science or horticulture, and outdoor and environmental education.

Responsibilities

Operate the successful Nature Preschool at the Chicago Botanic Garden that exemplifies best practices and propels us to serve as a national leader in the nature and museum preschool field. Serve as director and manage all aspects of the Nature Preschool.
Curriculum & Classroom Management: Develop developmentally appropriate, nature-based preschool lesson plans and curriculum, schedule, and pricing structure for 100 three- to five-year-old preschoolers enrolled in seven classrooms. Identify and source program and classroom materials. Implement nature-based lesson plans. Maintain organization of classroom and student records.
Assessment & Evaluation: Regularly document, evaluate, and assess development of students and quality of program.
Family Communication: Communicate regularly with parents/caregivers. Collaborate with parents/caregivers and teachers, ensuring that children in the program needing additional supports receive them and that communication about such supports is documented.
Marketing & Recruitment: Create a marketing plan in collaboration with communications department to welcome and engage prospective families with the preschool. Actively work to maintain enrollment and retention rates.
Supervision: Recruit, train, supervise, and evaluate a cohesive team of early childhood professionals, including program coordinator/assistant preschool director, seven lead teaching positions, seven assistant teaching positions, eight high school interns, and 18 volunteers. Ensure that staff maintain their continuing education through professional development.
Partnerships: Maintain partnerships with TrueNorth Educational Cooperative, Rush University, Midwestern University, and Cristo Rey St. Martin College Prep. Ensure collaborative planning and training between Nature Preschool and partners.
Licensing: Research, implement, and comply with DCFS licensing regulations, including relicensing every three years.
Serve as department expert and advisor on early childhood and support other early childhood programs beyond Nature Preschool including Camp CBG, Family Drop-in Programs, and Teacher Professional Development. Serve in a leadership capacity in the continued development of the early childhood strategic and business plan, focusing particularly on the growth of Nature Preschool programming on- and off-site.
Oversee administrative responsibilities related to this position. Manage student records using CampDocs system. Prepare annual budgets, operating plans, and donor reports. Maintain and track financial records.
Participate in local, regional, and national early childhood, environmental, and hands-on educator’s groups. Travel, as needed, to regional and national conferences for professional development and presentations.
Assist with other projects and duties as assigned, particularly with other Youth Programs.