About Us
The Haddam Cooperative Nursery School is a non-profit preschool located in the classroom space of the Haddam Congregational Church in Haddam, CT. We have been in operation since 1968. We provide children ages 3–5 with an environment of love, acceptance, and fun. We work hard to establish a creative atmosphere in which children are encouraged to grow in knowledge about themselves and the world around them.
Our goals are to help each child feel good about themselves—reflected in a positive self-image—and to feel confident in their abilities. We create a social, child-centered environment that serves as a positive beginning for their time away from home. At H.C.N.S., we seek to foster children’s intellectual growth through exposure to basic preschool academic components, including numbers, letters, shapes, colors, and preparatory reading skills.
Position Summary
The Director provides overall leadership for the school, ensuring compliance with Connecticut Office of Early Childhood (OEC) licensing regulations, supporting high-quality early childhood education practices, and managing daily operations, staff supervision, and family engagement.
Key Responsibilities
- Oversee daily operations of the nursery school program
- Ensure compliance with all CT OEC licensing regulations
- Supervise and support teaching staff and assistants
- Maintain enrollment, licensing records, and administrative documentation
- Foster strong family communication and cooperative engagement
- Lead curriculum oversight and program quality improvement
- Manage health, safety, and emergency preparedness procedures
Qualifications
- Must be at least 21 years old
- Completion of at least 3 college credits in Administration of Early Childhood Education or Educational Administration (required within first year if not already completed)
- Progressive experience in early childhood education setting
- Strong leadership, organizational, and communication skills
- Familiarity with CT OEC licensing standards
- Current CPR and First Aid certification (or ability to obtain upon hire)
- Completion of Mandated Reporter training
Preferred Experience
- Head Teacher Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in ECE or child development, at least 360 hours of supervised experience with children up to preschool, and at least one semester of student teaching. OR
- Associate’s degree in ECE or child development plus at least 1,080 hours of documented supervised experience with children under 13.OR
- Child Development Associate (CDA) credential along with 12 credits in ECE/child development and 1,080 hours of supervised experience.
- Prior experience in a preschool or cooperative school setting
Benefits
- School-year schedule aligned with the academic calendar (summers off)
- Employment in a parent-run, cooperative nursery school setting
- Strong classroom support from parent volunteers and school community
- Collaborative environment with family engagement in the classroom
- Professional development opportunities (as approved by the board)
- Paid sick time in accordance with school policy and applicable CT labor guidelines
Background Check Requirement
All candidates must successfully complete a comprehensive background check in accordance with Connecticut Office of Early Childhood (OEC) licensing requirements. This includes fingerprinting, criminal history review, and any additional screenings required for employment in a licensed early childhood program.
Pay: $23.00 - $25.00 per hour
Application Question(s):
- Have you completed at least 3 college credits in Administration of Early Childhood Education or Educational Administration?
- Have you completed Mandated Reporter Training?
License/Certification:
- Driver's License (Preferred)
- CPR Certification (Preferred)
- First Aid Certification (Preferred)
Work Location: In person
