As a preschool director, articulating the complexity of your experience while maintaining a concise and engaging resume can prove challenging. Our guide will offer you targeted strategies to streamline your professional narrative, ensuring your resume captures your leadership and early childhood education expertise effectively.
- The most straightforward and effective resume format, ensuring your preschool director resume stands out among numerous candidate profiles;
- The significance of the top one-third of your resume, including the header, summary or objective, and skills section, and its impact on recruiters;
- Frameworks and structures used by real preschool director professionals, offering insights on how to enhance your resume with industry-specific expertise;
- A variety of preschool director resume sections that bolster your profile, showcasing your comprehensive capabilities and distinctiveness.
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Optimize your preschool director resume format to pass the recruiters' assessment
You may be wondering just how much time you need to spend on designing your preschool director resume.
What recruiters are looking for is systematised content that is clear and coherent. Thus, your preschool director resume needs to answer requirements and why you're the best candidate for the role from the get-go.
Often, a clear layout consists of:
- Sorting your experience in the reverse chronological order - starting with your most recent and relevant roles. This is an excellent choice for more experienced professionals;
- Writing your contact information (e.g. personal phone number and email address) and your portfolio or LinkedIn link in your preschool director resume header. If you're wondering to include a photo or not, always make sure that it's appropriate for the country you're applying in;
- Use the basic, most important preschool director resume sections - your experience, education, summary, etc. Use your resume's real estate wisely to tell a compelling, professional story and match job description's keywords;
- Don't go overboard with the length of your resume. One page is absolutely fine if you happen to have under a decade of relevant experience.
Are you still wondering if you should submit your preschool director resume in PDF or Word format ? The PDF has a few more advantages, as it doesn't change the format and the text can't be altered upon application.
Format matters most when your preschool director resume is assessed by the Applicant Tracker System (or the ATS).
The ATS parses resumes, looking for specific keywords, skills or experience that match the job description.
P.S. We recently did a study on how the ATS works and were able to demystify three of the biggest misconceptions about how it assesses candidate resumes.
To pass the ATS evaluation, select any of the serif or sans-serif fonts. Popular choices that would help your preschool director resume stand out include Raleway, Exo 2, Montserrat, etc.
Most traditionalists go for Arial or Times New Roman, but it's often the case that many candidates choose these fonts, and you'd thus lose points on the uniqueness front.
Keep in mind market-specific formats – for example, a Canadian resume might follow a different structure.
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PRO TIP
If you happen to have some basic certificates, don't invest too much of your preschool director resume real estate in them. Instead, list them within the skills section or as part of your relevant experience. This way you'd ensure you meet all job requirements while dedicating your certificates to only the most in-demand certification across the industry.
Don't forget to include these six sections on your preschool director resume:
- Header and summary for your contact details and to highlight your alignment with the preschool director job you're applying for
- Experience section to get into specific technologies you're apt at using and personal skills to deliver successful results
- Skills section to further highlight how your profile matches the job requirements
- Education section to provide your academic background
- Achievements to mention any career highlights that may be impressive, or that you might have missed so far in other resume sections
What recruiters want to see on your resume:
- Demonstrated leadership skills in early childhood education
- Experience with curriculum development and classroom management
- Strong communication abilities with parents, teachers, and children
- Knowledge of state licensing requirements and accreditation standards for preschools
- Proven track record of staff development and team building within an educational setting
Defining your professional expertise in your preschool director resume work experience section
The work experience section, often the most detailed part of your resume, is where you discuss your past roles and achievements. To effectively list your experience, consider these four key tips:
- Align your expertise with the job requirements. It's vital to integrate keywords matching the job criteria to pass initial assessments;
- Show, don’t just tell. Quantify your responsibilities by stating your actual achievements in previous roles;
- Include measurable metrics. For instance, how did your performance impact the annual ROI?
- Highlight crucial industry skills. Mention both technological knowledge and interpersonal skills in this section.
These guidelines will help you craft an impressive preschool director resume work experience section that is bound to catch recruiters' attention.
- Implemented an inclusive curriculum focusing on social, emotional, and cognitive development, serving over 150 students and achieving a 90% parent satisfaction rate.
- Managed annual budget of $500,000, reducing costs by 15% through strategic vendor negotiations and optimizing resource allocation.
- Led the accreditation process for the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), resulting in a successful accreditation.
- Developed a technology integration plan that included smart boards and tablets in every classroom, increasing interactive learning opportunities by 25%.
- Trained a team of 40 educators and support staff in child-centered approaches to learning, leading to a 10% improvement in developmental milestone attainment among students.
- Expanded the preschool's community partnerships, securing sponsorships and resources valued at over $80,000.
- Orchestrated the launch of a second preschool location, which brought in an additional 100 enrollments within the first year.
- Collaborated with local health organizations to integrate a health and wellness program, decreasing student sick days by 20%.
- Successfully obtained a grant for $50,000 to develop an outdoor learning environment which included a sensory garden and play area.
- Raised staff retention rates by 30% over two years through the implementation of ongoing professional development and staff recognition programs.
- Designed and launched a successful Parent Engagement initiative that tripled parental involvement in school events and volunteer programs.
- Coordinated the update of the child assessment system to improve the tracking of individual progress and tailor instruction.
- Revitalized an underperforming preschool turning it into a profitable enterprise within 18 months by boosting enrollment by 40% and increasing community engagement.
- Implemented a staff mentorship program that enhanced teaching strategies and classroom management skills, which contributed to a lower teacher turnover rate.
- Negotiated an exclusive partnership with a leading educational toy manufacturer to supply learning materials, enhancing the play-based learning experience.
- Pioneered a multicultural education program promoting diversity, which was recognized by the State Education Board for Excellence in Early Childhood Education.
- Increased revenue streams by 25% through the introduction of new after-school programs, including language immersion and STEM activities.
- Initiated and led a strategic planning process that reshaped the school's mission and objectives to better align with current educational trends and family needs.
- Led a successful campaign to secure funding for a $200,000 playground renovation, which included adaptive equipment for children with special needs.
- Conceived and implemented a comprehensive digital record-keeping system that streamlined administrative tasks and saved the school approximately 150 hours of labor annually.
- Cultivated a teacher-led professional development program that resulted in 95% of staff achieving advanced certifications in early childhood education.
- Coordinated with the local university to incorporate the latest child development research into the school curriculum, enhancing cognitive development strategies used.
- Enhanced the security system at the preschool, adding new layers of safety protocols that increased parent confidence and contributed to a 30% rise in enrollment.
- Supervised the expansion of the special needs program to accommodate 20 additional children, ensuring compliance with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs).
- Executed a school-wide eco-friendly initiative, reducing waste by 60% and incorporating sustainability into the classroom, which garnered local media coverage.
- Forged a partnership with a national literacy foundation that provided free books for the school library, enriching the reading program considerably.
- Coordinated and executed a highly successful summer camp program that generated an additional $30,000 in revenue for the preschool.
- Overhauled the early childhood curriculum to align with the latest educational standards, improving teaching effectiveness and outcomes in standardized assessments.
- Secured a state grant for $100,000 dedicated to professional development, leading to all faculty members becoming early childhood certified.
- Streamlined communication with parents through the introduction of an app, resulting in a measurable improvement in parent-teacher interaction and feedback turnaround.
The following content includes information from "O*NET OnLine" by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. The data represents the top responsibilities present on the task lists for preschool director professionals.
Top Responsibilities for Preschool Director:
- 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.
- Teach classes or courses or provide direct care to children.
- Set educational standards and goals and help establish policies, procedures, and programs to carry them out.
- Determine the scope of educational program offerings and prepare drafts of program schedules and descriptions to estimate staffing and facility requirements.
- Determine allocations of funds for staff, supplies, materials, and equipment and authorize purchases.
- Direct and coordinate activities of teachers or administrators at daycare centers, schools, public agencies, or institutions.
- Prepare and maintain attendance, activity, planning, accounting, or personnel reports and records for officials and agencies, or direct preparation and maintenance activities.
- Plan, direct, and monitor instructional methods and content of educational, vocational, or student activity programs.
Quantifying impact on your resume
- Include the number of children served during your tenure, to show the scale of your responsibility.
- List the percentage of staff retention to highlight your success in building a stable team environment.
- Mention the budget size you have managed, to demonstrate your financial responsibility and planning skills.
- Quantify improvements in child development outcomes, such as learning milestones, to show your educational impact.
- State the number of successful accreditations or awards the preschool has received under your directorship.
- Detail the percentage increase in enrollment numbers to indicate your effectiveness in growing the program.
- Report on any cost-saving initiatives you implemented, including the amount saved.
- Document the number of educational programs or curriculums you have developed or enhanced.
Action verbs for your preschool director resume
No relevant experience - what to feature instead
Suppose you're new to the job market or considering a switch in industry or niche. In such cases, it's common to have limited standard professional experience. However, this isn't a cause for concern. You can still craft an impressive preschool director resume by emphasizing other sections, showing why you're a great fit for the role:
- Emphasize your educational background and extracurricular activities to demonstrate your industry knowledge;
- Replace the typical experience section with internships or temporary jobs where you've gained relevant skills and expertise;
- Highlight your unique skill set, encompassing both technological and personal abilities;
- Showcase transferable skills acquired throughout your life and work experiences so far.
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PRO TIP
Mention specific courses or projects that are pertinent to the job you're applying for.
In-demand hard skills and soft skills for your preschool director resume
A vital element for any preschool director resume is the presentation of your skill set.
Recruiters always take the time to assess your:
- Technological proficiency or hard skills - which software and technologies can you use and at what level?
- People/personal or soft skills - how apt are you at communicating your ideas across effectively? Are you resilient to change?
The ideal candidate presents the perfect balance of hard skills and soft skills all through the resume, but more particular within a dedicated skills section.
Building your preschool director skills section, you should:
- List up to six skills that answer the requirements and are unique to your expertise.
- Include a soft skill (or two) that defines you as a person and professional - perhaps looking back on feedback you've received from previous managers, etc.
- Create up to two skills sections that are organized based on the types of skills you list (e.g. "technical skills", "soft skills", "preschool director skills", etc.).
- If you happen to have technical certifications that are vital to the industry and really impressive, include their names within your skills section.
At times, it really is frustrating to think back on all the skills you possess and discover the best way to communicate them across.
We understand this challenge - that's why we've prepared two lists (of hard skills and soft skills) to help you build your next resume, quicker and more efficiently:
Top skills for your preschool director resume:
Child Development Software
Learning Management Systems (LMS)
Budgeting and Financial Management Tools
Enrollment Management Software
Child Assessment Tools
Safety Compliance Systems
Curriculum Development Software
Scheduling and Planning Tools
Communication Platforms
Database Management Systems
Leadership
Communication
Conflict Resolution
Empathy
Organizational Skills
Problem-Solving
Team Building
Time Management
Adaptability
Creativity
Next, you will find information on the top technologies for preschool director professonals from "O*NET OnLine" by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Top technologies for Preschool Director’s resume:
- Intuit QuickBooks
- Quicken
- ParentSquare
- Tadpoles
- ACS Technologies HeadMaster
- The Gallagher Group DataCare
PRO TIP
Bold the names of educational institutions and certifying bodies for emphasis.
Certifications and education: in-demand sections for your preschool director resume
Your academic background in the form of certifications on your resume and your higher degree education is important to your application.
The certifications and education sections pinpoint a variety of hard and soft skills you possess, as well as your dedication to the industry.
Add relevant certificates to your preschool director resume by:
- Add special achievements or recognitions you've received during your education or certification, only if they're really noteworthy and/or applicable to the role
- Be concise - don't list every and any certificate you've obtained through your career, but instead, select the ones that would be most impressive to the role
- Include the name of the certificate or degree, institution, graduation dates, and certificate license numbers (if possible)
- Organize your education in reverse chronological format, starting with the latest degree you have that's most applicable for the role
Think of the education and certification sections as the further credibility your preschool director resume needs to pinpoint your success.
Now, if you're stuck on these resume sections, we've curated a list of the most popular technical certificates across the industry.
Have a look, below:
The top 5 certifications for your preschool director resume:
- Child Development Associate (CDA) - Council for Professional Recognition
- National Administrator Credential (NAC) - National Early Childhood Program Accreditation
- Director's Credential - Various state institutions (e.g., Texas Director's Credential)
- Early Childhood Education Leadership Certification - McCormick Center for Early Childhood Leadership
- Child Care Center Director Certificate - eCDA (online program)
The content below includes information from "O*NET OnLine" by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. The data represents the top associations for preschool director professionals.
Top US associations for a Preschool Director professional
- ACSD
- American Montessori Society
- Association for Early Learning Leaders
- Association of Christian Schools International
- Child Care Aware of America
PRO TIP
If the certificate you've obtained is especially vital for the industry or company, include it as part of your name within the resume headline.
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The ideal preschool director candidate resume summary or objective
You may have heard that your resume top one-third plays an important part in your application.
It basically needs to show strong alignment with the job advert, your unique skill set, and your expertise.
Both the resume summary and resume objective could be used to ensure you've shown why you're the best candidate for the role.
Use the:
- Resume objective to pinpoint your current successes, that are applicable to the field, and your vision for your career. Remember to state how you see yourself growing within this new career opportunity.
- Resume summary as an instrument to pinpoint what is most applicable and noteworthy form your professional profile. Keep your summary to be no more than five sentences long.
At the end of the day, the resume summary or objective is your golden opportunity to shine a light on your personality as a professional and the unique value of what it's like to work with you.
Get inspired with these preschool director resume examples:
Resume summaries for a preschool director job
- With over 10 years of dedicated experience in early childhood education, this seasoned educator has successfully managed a vibrant preschool in New York, integrating cutting-edge curriculum designs that nurture children's cognitive and social development. Her pivotal role in increasing enrollment by 40% stands as a testament to her exceptional leadership and communicative finesse.
- Transitioning from a decade-long career in pediatric healthcare into early childhood education, this adept professional brings a unique perspective on child development and wellness. Her expertise in creating safe and inclusive learning environments, along with prolific patient education, ensures a smooth adaptation to managing a preschool with health and developmental milestones in mind.
- A former children's book editor with 8 years of experience sculpting young minds through storytelling and literary engagement seeks to pivot talents into preschool education. Strong editorial skills combined with a profound understanding of early literacy development uniquely position this candidate to craft and implement enriching preschool programs.
- Bringing together 15 years of strategic oversight and robust program development in nonprofit youth organizations, this leader is poised to direct a dynamic preschool environment. Recognized for spearheading community outreach programs that served over 500 children, their passion for transformative education is matched by a track record of inspiring team excellence and parental collaboration.
- As a fresh and eager entrant to the field of early childhood education, this candidate is driven by a passion for shaping young minds and a steadfast commitment to learning the intricacies of preschool administration. With a recent degree in Child Psychology and numerous volunteer hours in child care settings, the pursuit is to grow and excel in creating enchanting learning experiences.
- With no prior experience in preschool management but armed with an extensive background in creative event planning and a Bachelor's in Child Development, this enthusiast aims to leverage organizational skills to craft memorable educational programs. Determined to make a mark by fostering a vibrant school culture that ignites curiosity and encourages holistic child growth.
Average salary info by state in the US for preschool director professionals
Local salary info for Preschool Director.” Source: My Next Move, National Center for O*NET Development. Accessed 10/15/2024
| State | Average Salary (in USD) |
|---|---|
| US National Average | $54,290 |
| California (CA) | $60,620 |
| Texas (TX) | $47,820 |
| Florida (FL) | $47,160 |
| New York (NY) | $79,230 |
| Pennsylvania (PA) | $53,160 |
| Illinois (IL) | $49,250 |
| Ohio (OH) | $45,270 |
| Georgia (GA) | $49,250 |
| North Carolina (NC) | $49,330 |
| Michigan (MI) | $48,510 |
Four more sections for your preschool director resume
Your preschool director resume can be supplemented with other sections to highlight both your personality and efforts in the industry. Use the ones you deem most relevant to your experience (and the role):
- Awards - to celebrate your success;
- Interests - to detail what you're passionate about outside of work (e.g. music, literature, etc.);
- Publications - to show your footprint in the wider community;
- Projects - to pinpoint noteworthy achievements, potentially even outside of work.
Key takeaways
We trust that this Enhancv guide has been informative and useful. To summarize the essential points:
- Opt for a simple and readable format, focusing more on your preschool director achievements rather than just duties;
- Emphasize your accomplishments in the preschool director experience section over mere responsibilities;
- If lacking relevant experience, utilize various resume sections like education and volunteering to demonstrate your suitable skill set;
- Never overlook the significance of pertinent higher education, training, and certifications;
- Incorporate diverse sections in your resume to highlight not just your skills expertise but also your personality.
