Director of Preschool

Holy Angels Academy- Catholic Preschool Program

Our Mission
Holy Angels Academy preschool empowers each student with the knowledge that he or she is a child of God. It fosters a love of learning, while nurturing the growth and development of the whole child — academically, spiritually, physically, socially, emotionally and creatively – in a safe and nurturing, child-centered and faith-based environment.
Holy Angels Academy preschool program is designed around the concept of educating the whole child. This includes fostering a child’s social, emotional, intellectual, physical, spiritual and moral development. Our program is designed to be safe and nurturing and promotes optimal cognitive development and faith formation. Teachers engage in various types of instructional methods, including large and small groups, individual instruction and opportunities for student collaboration.

Director
The Preschool Director is a pivotal role within the Holy Trinity parish initiative to open the first Holy Angels Academy. This is a new 4K program in the Orangeburg community scheduled to open in January 2025. This position serves as the face of the Academy, which aims to provide high-quality Catholic preschool education to all children, particularly those who are economically underserved, disadvantaged or dual-language learners. The goal is to deliver an education that fosters the development of the whole person.
With the support of the Diocese of Charleston Catholic Schools Office (CSO), the Preschool Director will work in tandem with the local parish/school to lay the groundwork for the development of the Holy Angels Academy. In addition, the coordinator will serve as the lead classroom teacher.

Requirements
To work in a childcare center, every adult must pass background checks, including federal and state fingerprint checks through the State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
Any person performing the duties of center Director on a regular basis shall possess the following qualifications:
The Director of a child day care center shall be at least twenty-one years old;
The Director shall meet at least one of the following requirements:
A bachelor’s degree in child development or early childhood education from an accredited college or institution;
A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or institution and at least six months verifiable experience as a caregiver in a licensed/approved child day care facility;
An associate degree or diploma in a child development/early childhood education from an accredited college with two years verifiable experience as a caregiver in a licensed/approved child day care facility;
A Child Development Associate Credential;
A high school diploma or General Education Development Certification (GED), in addition to three years experience as a caregiver in a licensed/approved child day care facility. One of the three years experience shall be supervision of other child day care staff.

Qualifications
Educational Requirements
Bachelor’s degree in education or a related field, meeting the qualifications set by DSS and South Carolina K4 First Steps.

Skills and Competencies
Early childhood curriculum and instruction expertise.
Leadership and imaginative thinking.
Problem-solving and marketing skills.
Strong negotiation, interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.
Effective management abilities.
Bilingual (English and Spanish) preferred
Must be a practicing Catholic in good standing with the Church.

Desired Attributes
Commitment to the mission of providing high-quality Catholic education.
Passion for working with young children and families, especially those from underserved communities.
Ability to create a nurturing, inclusive, and academically stimulating environment.

Key Responsibilities
Faith-based education.
Represent and promote the diocese, parish, and school’s mission and values.
Serve as a model of the faith at all times.
Implement prayer and faith in all aspects of the school day.
Plan and teach a religious curriculum in line with the teachings of the Catholic Church.
Integrate all God’s children in a positive and respectful manner.
Work with the parish to ensure a religious presence in the preschool.

Foundation Setting
Collaborate with the CSO and parish to establish the Holy Angels Academy K4 program at Holy Trinity Catholic Church.
Foster strong relationships with the Holy Trinity pastor and church staff.

Personnel Management
Identify, hire, and supervise all preschool personnel.
Ensure all staff meet Continuing Education Unit (CEU) credit expectations annually.

Administrative Duties
Complete all necessary paperwork for First Steps and DSS requirements.
Develop and implement enrollment, business, and marketing plans to recruit and retain students.
Oversee DSS and K4 First Steps requirements to ensure continuous compliance.

Curriculum Coordination
Coordinate the preschool curriculum to align with educational standards.
Stay current in the education field through participation in educational conferences, workshops, in-services and professional reading.
Family and Community Engagement: Develop and implement a system for effective communication with families.