The Assistant Director supports the daily operation of the school while working closely with children, teachers, families, and the leadership team. This is a hands-on leadership position, with 35% or more of the day typically spent in classrooms supporting children and faculty. The Assistant Director serves as the school’s Director on Duty, responding to classroom, staff, family, and operational needs throughout the day.
Key Responsibilities
- Serve as the school’s Director on Duty and oversee the daily rhythm of the building.
- Provide hands-on classroom support and step into classrooms when additional support is needed.
- Support a safe, inclusive, nurturing, and engaging learning environment.
- Assist with implementation of the Wonder of Learning curriculum and COR Assessments.
- Support classroom activities and individualized, child-centered learning.
- Mentor, support, onboard, and assist with training faculty.
- Build positive relationships with children, families, staff, and community partners.
- Greet families and respond to questions or concerns in a timely and professional manner.
- Respond quickly and appropriately to emergencies, particularly situations involving children.
- Assist with licensing, health and safety, quality assurance, and regulatory compliance.
- Support accurate record-keeping and organized school operations.
- Assist with family events, education workshops, meetings, and community engagement.
- Collaborate with the leadership team on policies, school improvement, and daily operations.
Qualifications & Requirements
The Assistant Director must meet applicable Commonwealth of Pennsylvania requirements and the following:
- Pennsylvania Group Supervisor Qualifications — 55 Pa. Code §3270.35
Because this position spends significant time directly in the classroom, candidates must meet Group Supervisor qualifications through one of the following pathways:
- Bachelor’s degree in early childhood education, child development, special education, elementary education, or human services; or
- Bachelor’s degree in another field plus 30 related credit hours and 1 year of experience working with children; or
- Associate’s degree in a related field plus 2 years of experience working with children; or
- Associate’s degree in another field plus 30 related credit hours and 3 years of experience working with children.
Additional requirements include:
- Required Child Protective Services Law (CPSL) clearances.
- Completion of required Pennsylvania onboarding and annual training.
- If serving as a qualified substitute for the Director during an absence, the candidate must also meet applicable Director qualifications under 55 Pa. Code §3270.34.
- Strong communication, relationship-building, leadership, and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to move comfortably between hands-on classroom support and administrative/leadership responsibilities.
- Ability to handle crisis situations and respond immediately to emergencies.
- Ability to hear conversational speech, with or without a hearing aid.
- Ability to see and read newsprint, with or without corrective lenses.
- Ability to speak and be understood under normal circumstances.
- Ability to lift and carry children and other items weighing up to 50 pounds.
- Ability to use arms, hands, legs, and feet, with or without corrective devices, including the ability to evacuate the building during an emergency.
Reports to: Onsite Owner
We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive
consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex,
national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other
characteristic protected by law.
This Is Your Moment
The joy of childhood comes from those bright sparks of discovery -- moments that delight and surprise us. Your career at The Goddard School can be just as exciting. For more than 35 years, Goddard Schools have put each teacher at the heart of everything we do because teachers put each student at the heart of everything they do. The Goddard School trusts, empowers, and honors its exceptional educators. Develop your teaching skills in a vibrant and nurturing environment and make a difference in children's lives every day.
Each Goddard School location is privately owned and operated by Goddard Franchisor LLC franchisees. The Goddard School franchise owner(s) are the employers at each school, and the franchise owner(s) set their own wage and benefit programs, which vary by location.
