Preschool and childcare center directors direct and lead staffs, oversee daily activities, and prepare plans and budgets. They are responsible for all aspects of their program. Preschool and childcare center directors held about 63,800 jobs in 2012.The industries that employed the most preschool and childcare center directors in 2012 were as follows: Child day care services54%Religious, grantmaking, civic, professional, and similar organizations17Elementary and secondary schools; state, local, and private12Individual and family services4Although preschool and childcare center directors work in schools and childcare centers, they spend most of their day in an office. They also visit classrooms to check on students or speak to preschool teachers or childcare workers.Many preschool and childcare center directors find working in an early childhood educational environment rewarding, but they also have significant responsibilities. Coordinating and interacting with staff, parents, and children can be fast paced and stimulating, but also can be stressful. Work SchedulesPreschool and childcare center directors generally work full time.
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When childcare centers are open, a director must always be on staff, so directors and assistant directors stagger their schedules to ensure someone is always available. Education requirements range from a high school diploma to a college degree. Most states require these directors to have experience in early childhood education.
Some states or employers require preschool and childcare center directors to have a nationally recognized certification such as the Child Development Associate (CDA) certification. EducationMost states require preschool and childcare center directors to have at least a high school diploma, but some require an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in early childhood education. These degree programs teach students about child development, strategies to teach young children, and how to observe and document children’s progress. Employers may prefer candidates who have a degree in early childhood education, or at least some postsecondary education in early childhood education. Work Experience in a Related OccupationMost states require preschool and childcare center directors to have experience in early childhood education. The amount of necessary experience varies by state.
Licenses, Certifications, and RegistrationsMany states require childcare centers, including those in private homes, to be licensed. To qualify for licensure, staff must pass a background check, have a complete record of immunizations, and meet a minimum training requirement. Some states require staff to have certifications in CPR and First Aid.Some states and employers require preschool and childcare center directors to have a nationally recognized certification. Most often, states require the Child Development Associate (CDA) certification offered by the.
Obtaining the CDA certification requires coursework, experience in the field, and being observed while working with children.Some states recognize the Child Care Professional (CCP) designation offered by the. Candidates for the CCP must be at least 18 years old, have a high school diploma, have experience in the field, take courses in early childhood education, and pass an exam. Preschool and childcare center directors typically have an interest in the and interest areas, according to the framework. The Helping interest area indicates a focus on assisting, serving, counseling, or teaching other people. The Persuading interest area indicates a focus on influencing, motivating, and selling to other people. The Organizing interest area indicates a focus on working with information and processes to keep things arranged in orderly systems.If you are not sure whether you have a Helping or Persuading or Organizing interest which might fit with a career as a preschool and childcare center director, you can take a to measure your interests.Preschool and childcare center directors should also possess the following specific qualities:Business skills.
Many preschool and childcare center directors own childcare centers and need to be able to manage their business effectively.Communication skills. Preschool and childcare center directors need to inform parents and colleagues about the progress of the children. They need good writing and speaking skills to convey this information effectively.Interpersonal skills. Preschool and childcare center directors must be able to develop good relationships with parents, children, and co-workers.Leadership skills. Preschool and childcare center directors supervise staff, so they need good leadership skills to inspire staff to work diligently. They also must enforce rules and regulations.Organizational skills.
Directors need to maintain clear records about students and staff. In addition, they must be able to multitask when multiple people or situations require their attention. The median annual wage for preschool and childcare center directors was $43,950 in May 2012. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.
The lowest 10 percent earned less than $27,930, and the top 10 percent earned more than $84,340.In May 2012, the median annual wages for preschool and childcare center directors in the top four industries in which these directors worked were as follows: Elementary and secondary schools; state, local,and private$68,410Individual and family services47,500Religious, grantmaking, civic, professional, andsimilar organizations43,240Child day care services40,880Preschool and childcare center directors generally work full time. Some work more than 40 hours per week. When childcare centers are open, a director must always be on staff, so directors and assistant directors stagger their schedules to ensure someone is always available. Employment of preschool and childcare center directors is projected to grow 17 percent from 2012 to 2022, faster than the average for all occupations.Working parents will continue to need help caring for their children. The number of children who are of preschool age is increasing, leading to a greater need for childcare and increasing the demand for preschool and childcare center directors.In addition, there is a continued focus on the importance of early childhood education, specifically preschool.
Early childhood education is widely recognized as important for a child’s intellectual and emotional development. As the number of preschool programs grows, the need for preschool and childcare center directors will increase as well. Job ProspectsWorkers with formal postsecondary education, such as an associate’s or bachelor’s degree, should have better job prospects than those with a high school diploma. Those with a bachelor’s degree should have the best prospects.
For more information on childcare centers, visitFor information about early childhood education, visitFor more information about professional credentials, visitFAQWhere does this information come from?The career information above is taken from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This excellent resource for occupational data is published by the U.S. Department of Labor every two years. Truity periodically updates our site with information from the BLS database.I would like to cite this page for a report.
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However, if you would like to correct a typo or other technical error, you can reach us at.I am not sure if this career is right for me. How can I decide?There are many excellent tools available that will allow you to measure your interests, profile your personality, and match these traits with appropriate careers. We recommend the assessment ($29), the assessment ($19), or the (free). Download permainan cooking mama.