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Assistant Director

Launchpad Preschool

Position Summary

The Assistant Director supports the Director in the daily administration, supervision, and operation of Launchpad Preschool. The Assistant Director helps ensure that the center maintains a safe, organized, professional, and high quality environment while complying with applicable Florida Department of Children and Families requirements, Florida law, licensing standards, and Launchpad Preschool policies.

The Assistant Director serves as a member of the center leadership team and may assume responsibility for center operations when delegated by the Director and when legally qualified to perform those responsibilities.

Essential Responsibilities

Center Operations and Leadership

• Support the Director with the daily operation of the preschool

• Assist with staff scheduling, classroom coverage, breaks, opening procedures, and closing procedures

• Monitor staffing throughout the day to ensure required staff to child ratios are maintained

• Provide direction and support to teachers and other employees

• Assist with onboarding and training new employees

• Help ensure employees follow Launchpad policies, licensing requirements, health and safety procedures, and professional expectations

• Communicate significant staffing, safety, family, or compliance concerns to the Director

• Assume delegated administrative responsibilities when the Director is unavailable, provided the Assistant Director meets any credentials or qualifications required for those responsibilities

Licensing and Regulatory Compliance

• Assist the Director in maintaining compliance with applicable Florida child care licensing laws, Florida Administrative Code requirements, and Florida Department of Children and Families standards

• Maintain all required Florida DCF child care training applicable to the employee's position

• Maintain required background screening eligibility and comply with all applicable rescreening requirements

• Complete required child care training and competency examinations within the timeframes established by Florida law and DCF

• Maintain required continuing education and in service training

• Maintain current First Aid and CPR certification when required by the employee's responsibilities or center staffing requirements

• Follow mandatory reporting requirements regarding suspected child abuse, abandonment, or neglect

• Follow all requirements regarding supervision, discipline, transportation, child release, medication, incidents, emergencies, health, sanitation, and child safety

• Assist with maintaining accurate child, employee, training, attendance, and licensing records

• Assist with preparing for DCF inspections, accreditation visits, VPK monitoring, quality assessments, and other regulatory reviews

• Immediately report suspected licensing violations, unsafe conditions, serious incidents, or other compliance concerns to the Director

Classroom Oversight

• Conduct regular classroom walkthroughs

• Monitor teacher supervision and staff to child ratios

• Ensure classrooms maintain safe and developmentally appropriate environments

• Monitor lesson implementation, classroom materials, learning centers, routines, and classroom organization

• Provide teachers with coaching and support regarding classroom management and developmentally appropriate practices

• Provide classroom coverage when necessary and legally permitted

• Ensure children are actively supervised at all times

Family Relations

• Maintain professional and respectful communication with families

• Assist families with routine questions and concerns

• Communicate center policies and procedures accurately

• Assist with tours and prospective family inquiries

• Support enrollment and retention efforts

• Refer significant complaints, incidents, account disputes, or other sensitive matters to the Director when appropriate

Administrative Responsibilities

• Assist with attendance and enrollment documentation

• Assist with tuition and account follow up as assigned

• Maintain organized and confidential records

• Assist with supply ordering and inventory

• Assist with school events and programs

• Support staff communication and scheduling

• Complete assigned administrative responsibilities accurately and within required deadlines

Health and Safety

• Maintain active supervision of children whenever providing classroom coverage

• Follow all required procedures for accidents, injuries, illnesses, emergencies, and incident documentation

• Ensure children are released only to authorized individuals according to Launchpad procedures and applicable regulations

• Maintain confidentiality regarding children, families, employees, and company information

• Follow required sanitation, health, emergency preparedness, and safety procedures

• Immediately respond to or report conditions that could jeopardize the health or safety of a child

Minimum Qualifications

The Assistant Director must:

• Be at least 18 years of age

• Meet all applicable Florida Department of Children and Families requirements for child care personnel

• Successfully complete and maintain all legally required background screening requirements

• Complete required Florida child care training and competency examinations within applicable deadlines

• Maintain all required annual in service training and continuing education

• Maintain any credentials required for the duties assigned to the position

• Meet applicable staff credential requirements if the employee is being used to satisfy the facility's credentialed staff requirement

• Hold and maintain a Florida Director Credential if Launchpad designates the employee to serve in a capacity for which a Director Credential is legally required

• Maintain First Aid and CPR certification when required for assigned responsibilities or facility compliance

• Maintain all required documentation of training, credentials, and qualifications

Preferred Qualifications

• Florida Director Credential

• Florida Staff Credential or equivalent recognized credential

• Previous experience in a licensed early childhood education program

• Previous supervisory or administrative experience

• Experience with Florida DCF licensing requirements

• Experience with VPK, accreditation, CLASS, or other early childhood quality programs

• Strong leadership, organization, communication, and problem solving skills

Physical and Professional Requirements

The Assistant Director must be able to perform the essential functions of the position, with reasonable accommodation when required by law. Duties may include standing, walking, sitting, bending, assisting children, supervising indoor and outdoor activities, responding quickly during emergencies, and performing classroom responsibilities.

The Assistant Director must maintain professional conduct, confidentiality, reliability, appropriate boundaries, and sound judgment at all times.

Accountability

The Assistant Director is responsible for supporting the Director in maintaining a safe, compliant, organized, and high quality preschool environment.

The Assistant Director does not independently modify company policies, licensing procedures, tuition policies, employee disciplinary decisions, enrollment agreements, or other significant operational policies unless specifically authorized to do so.

When serving in the Director's absence, the Assistant Director must operate within the scope of their training, credentials, assigned authority, and applicable Florida requirements.

All employees remain individually responsible for complying with applicable child care laws, mandatory reporting requirements, health and safety standards, and Launchpad Preschool policies.