It takes a village to raise a child, as the saying goes. In childcare centers, education administrators are the “villagers” who oversee children’s daily activities, design programs for learning and fun, and supervise staff and budgets. This career is all about inspiring children’s love for learning. While some administrators work directly with children, most focus on developing curriculum and activities and managing the preschool or daycare facility. Education administrators visit classrooms regularly. They ensure that equipment and spaces are clean and that children are engaged. Hiring, training, and supervising staff are other important parts of the job. Parent communication is also key; administrators meet with parents to discuss their children’s needs and progress, and to work together on solving any behavior or learning issues. Administrators develop budgets and allocate program funds, review relevant state regulations, and establish policies to meet them. To ensure safety at their center, directors and assistants often share the responsibility of being available during all open hours. Many education administrators for preschool and childcare programs have a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education and related work experience. Some states require related certifications. Background checks are generally required.
What they do:
Plan, direct, or coordinate academic or nonacademic activities of preschools or childcare centers and programs, including before- and after-school care.
On the job, you would:
Confer with parents and staff to discuss educational activities and policies and students' behavioral or learning problems.
Monitor students' progress and provide students and teachers with assistance in resolving any problems.
Recruit, hire, train, and evaluate primary and supplemental staff and recommend personnel actions for programs and services.
Business
customer service
management
Education and Training
teaching and course design
Arts and Humanities
English language
Math and Science
psychology
Basic Skills
keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements
listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
Problem Solving
noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it
Social
changing what is done based on other people's actions
looking for ways to help people
Verbal
communicate by writing
communicate by speaking
Ideas and Logic
use rules to solve problems
make general rules or come up with answers from lots of detailed information
Attention
pay attention to something without being distracted
Memory
remember words, numbers, pictures, or steps
People interested in this work like activities that include helping people, teaching, and talking.
They do well at jobs that need:
Dependability
Stress Tolerance
Integrity
Self Control
Adaptability/Flexibility
Independence
You might use software like this on the job:
Accounting software
Intuit QuickBooks
Quicken
Desktop communications software
ParentSquare
Tadpoles
Enterprise resource planning ERP software
ACS Technologies HeadMaster
The Gallagher Group DataCare
associate's degree or high school diploma/GED usually needed
Get started on your career:
New job opportunities are very likely in the future.
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