Job Applications

About The Children’s Garden

The Children’s Garden of St. John’s is a ministry of St. John’s Lutheran Church, rooted in the belief that every child is a beloved child of God. We are committed to nurturing the whole child—socially, emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually—through a play-based, relationship-centered environment.

We strive to create a community where children, families, and staff are known, valued, and supported. Our work is grounded in care, curiosity, and compassion, and we seek to reflect God’s love in all that we do.

Position Summary

The Director of The Children’s Garden of St. John’s Lutheran Church provides overall leadership and management of the program, ensuring a high-quality early childhood environment that is nurturing, organized, and fully compliant with licensing standards. This role is central to carrying out the mission of St. John’s—“Grow in Faith, Share God’s Love, Serve Others”—through the daily life of the Center.

We are seeking a leader who will uphold this mission and be able to bring it to life through their leadership, relationships, and decision-making. The Director fosters a professional, team-oriented culture marked by joy, accountability, and care, creating an environment where children, families, and staff are supported, equipped and able to thrive.

This role requires a strong, steady leader who can effectively manage and motivate a large staff, balancing clear expectations with encouragement and grace. The Director leads with integrity, communicates with clarity and compassion, and is committed to ongoing learning—bringing best practices into the program to ensure continued growth and excellence.

The Director is a staff member of St. John’s Lutheran Church and is supervised directly by the Lead Pastor, working in collaboration with church leadership to support the ministry and mission of the congregation.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership and Program Oversight

• Lead daily operations with professionalism, warmth, and visibility

• Foster a team-oriented, respectful culture grounded in accountability and care

• Ensure a safe, developmentally appropriate, play-based learning environment

• Conduct classroom observations and support strong teaching and curriculum practices

• Lead strategic growth of the program

• Maintain consistent quality across all classrooms

• Maintain the requirements of grants received

Staff Supervision and Development

• Hire, onboard, supervise, and evaluate staff annually with written evaluations

• Ensure coaching, professional development, and ongoing support 

• Lead staff meetings and promote a culture of growth and shared responsibility

• Address performance concerns with clarity, consistency, and grace while following the Disciplinary Procedure/Policy

• Support staff retention and engagement

Operations and Compliance

• Ensure compliance with DHS and Keystone STARS regulations

• Oversee licensing, inspections, documentation, and PELICAN records

• Maintain policies, health and safety standards, and overall center organization

• Coordinate facility maintenance and cleanliness

• Manage staffing schedules, meeting minimum state-regulated ratio requirements 

• Administration of a staff grievance procedure

Family and Community Engagement

• Build strong, trusting relationships with families

• Support enrollment and welcome new families into the program

• Communicate clearly and compassionately regarding updates, events, and concerns

• Serve as a representative of St. John’s and its ministry and mission

• Sharing passion for early childhood development and relationship building

Administration and Collaboration

• Oversee finances in collaboration with church leadership

• Prepare reports for regular meetings with the Lead Pastor and attend monthly Church Council meetings

• Able to work closely with Pastoral staff

• Maintain professional confidentiality 

• Create a Parent board and hold meetings regularly (frequency in consultation with Lead Pastor)

• Collaborate to keep website updated

• Other duties and responsibilities as assigned by the Lead Pastor

Qualifications

• A person of Christian faith who supports and embodies the mission and values of St. John’s Lutheran Church. This person will be committed to growing and reflecting Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA) values through a commitment to being LGBTQIA+ affirming, anti-racist, and grounded in grace, hospitality, and care for all (see attached for more information on ELCA values)

• Strong organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills

• Strong computer skills: comfortability with school management software, google drive, canva, office software

• Ability to lead with both compassion and clarity, balancing accountability with support

• Commitment to ongoing professional growth and bringing best practices into the program

• Experience with or willingness to learn Keystone STARS processes, including documentation, STAR level maintenance, and quality improvement planning

• Meets Pennsylvania DHS requirements for a Child Care Center Director, including:

  • Minimum age of 21 years

  • One of the following:

    • Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education (ECE) (or related field) + 1 year experience

    • Bachelor’s degree (any field) + 30 ECE credits + 2 years experience

    • Associate’s degree in ECE (or related field) + 3 years experience

    • Associate’s degree (any field) + 30 ECE credits + 4 years experience

• Minimum of 2 years of leadership experience in an early childhood setting (Director, Assistant Director, or similar role preferred)

• Demonstrated ability to support a high-quality early learning program aligned with Keystone STARS standards, including:

  • Staff supervision, coaching, and professional development

  • Continuous quality improvement and use of assessment tools

  • Implementation of developmentally appropriate curriculum and practices

  • Family engagement and communication strategies

• Provide Clearances for Childline, PA State Police Background Check, NSOR, FBI Fingerprint, Health Assessment with TB test

Physical Requirements

• Ability to move throughout the building and actively engage with children and staff throughout the day

• Ability to lift, carry, and assist children (up to approximately 40 pounds) as needed

• Ability to sit on the floor, bend, kneel, and stand for extended periods of time

• Ability to respond quickly in emergency situations and maintain a safe environment

• Ability to perform tasks related to classroom and center operations, including light cleaning and organizing

Benefits

• Time off at Christmas/New Year

• Paid holidays: Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving (and following day), MLK Day, Good Friday

• Staff tuition discount for Director’s dependents

• Full time salaried position commensurate with education and experience

• Shared cost insurance benefits (medical, dental, and vision)

• 403B retirement investments (after 2 years)

• Continuing education budget

Send Cover Letter and Resume to searchcommittee@tcgpa.org 

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, so we encourage early submissions