Employment
The Country Day School is an independent private preschool and kindergarten. Located at the heart of McLean VA, the campus includes 9 playgrounds and 4 wooded acres used for outdoor classroom learning activities.
The Country Day School celebrated an environmental education milestone in June 2021 becoming the first early childhood certified Project Learning Tree GreenSchool in the U.S.
The program's focus is on developing children’s pleasure and excitement for learning. Country Day is a NAEYC accredited and serves children 18 months to 6 years old.
Whether you’re wrapping up your teacher preparation program, earning your M.Ed., or an experienced educator ready for your next adventure, The Country Day School invites you to join a community where your work inspires, impacts, and makes a difference every day!
Current Open Positions
Part-Time Accountant
SEND RESUME AND COVER LETTER TO: Ms. Trish Dougherty, Head of School | tdougherty@countryday.org
Reports to: Director of Finance and Operations
Classification: Part-Time, 12-Month, Non-Exempt
MUST be available to work on-site in McLean, VA
Position Overview
The Country Day School seeks a detail-oriented, collaborative, and dependable Part-Time Accountant to support the daily financial operations of the school. Working closely with the Director of Finance and Operations, the Accountant assists with core accounting functions including accounts payable and receivable, payroll support, tuition processing, reconciliations, and financial record maintenance.
The Accountant will join a warm, inclusive, and mission-driven community dedicated to supporting young children and their families. This role is essential to ensuring accurate financial record keeping, compliance with regulatory requirements, and the efficient operation of the Business Office. The ideal candidate demonstrates strong organizational skills, attention to detail, discretion when handling confidential information, and a commitment to excellent customer service.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Accounting and Financial Operations
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Record and process accounts payable and accounts receivable transactions.
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Assist with vendor payment processing and maintain vendor records.
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Perform monthly bank and credit card reconciliations.
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Maintain accurate financial records in accordance with GAAP and school policies.
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Assist with maintaining and updating accounting procedures and documentation.
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Support preparation of monthly financial reports and supporting schedules.
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Assist with compiling financial data and documentation for annual audit and tax filings, including Form 990 preparation.
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Assist with tracking cash flow and preparing related reports as requested.
Payroll and Benefits Support
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Assist with payroll processing to ensure timely and accurate payroll administration.
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Prepare and submit payroll-related reports and documentation to retirement plan custodians and applicable state and federal agencies.
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Maintain payroll records and assist with employee compensation tracking.
Tuition and Student Billing Support
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Assist with tuition management system administration, including parent account setup and maintenance.
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Support preparation and processing of student contracts and incidental billing.
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Respond to parent inquiries related to billing and tuition accounts in a professional and timely manner.
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Support financial aid documentation and data organization as requested.
Compliance and Reporting
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Assist in maintaining compliance with financial reporting requirements and internal controls.
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Maintain organized financial records to support audits and regulatory reporting.
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Support insurance documentation and reporting processes as requested.
Collaboration and Office Support
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Work collaboratively with the Director of Finance and Operations, Admissions, Human Resources, and administrative staff to support school operations.
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Provide customer service support to families, faculty, and staff regarding financial and billing matters.
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Participate in Business Office process improvement initiatives.
Required Qualifications
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Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field preferred.
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Minimum of 3–5 years of accounting or bookkeeping experience.
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Knowledge of GAAP and general accounting procedures.
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Experience with accounting software and financial management systems; familiarity with Blackbaud or similar tuition management systems preferred.
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Experience with payroll processing strongly preferred.
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Strong attention to detail and accuracy.
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Excellent organizational and time management skills.
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Strong written and verbal communication skills.
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Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise sound judgment.
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Demonstrated commitment to working collaboratively in a team environment.
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Demonstrated commitment to equitable and inclusive practices.
Preferred Qualifications
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Experience working in a nonprofit or independent school environment.
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Experience working with student information or tuition management systems including the suite of Blackbaud products (i.e. Financial Edge NXT and Raiser’s Edge NXT)
Physical and Work Requirements
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Ability to sit and work at a computer for extended periods.
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Ability to navigate the uneven terrain on campus.
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Ability to manage multiple deadlines and priorities in a fast-paced environment.
Lead Teacher
SEND RESUME AND COVER LETTER TO: Ms. Trish Dougherty, Head of School | tdougherty@countryday.org
Reports to: Assistant Head of School
Classification: Full-time or part-time
Overview of Position:
The Country Day School seeks motivated educators to lead early childhood classrooms. The Lead Teacher position is ideal for individuals with a degree in early childhood education or related field with direct teaching experience in early childhood classrooms. The position reports to the Assistant Head of School.
Lead Teachers may be paired with an Associate teacher in a self-contained classroom of approximately 12-16 students aged Two-Six. Teaching, observing, and collaborating with other teachers, a Lead Teacher is responsible for mentoring their Associate Teacher and supporting their growth in all aspects of school life.
Highlights and Benefits of Position:
The Country Day School follows an academic calendar which includes generous breaks for Thanksgiving, winter holidays, and spring break. Benefits include medical, dental, life insurance, long-term disability, and retirement plan.
Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
- Teaching a class of children in a manner consistent with the philosophy and the goals of the center. This includes:
- Treating each child with dignity and respect.
- Planning activities, which will encourage each child’s growth in the areas of emotional, social, cognitive, and physical development.
- Recognizing and considering the individual needs of each child in relation to cultural and socio-economic background, disabilities, special talents and interests, style and pace of learning.
- Helping children learn to think creatively, to solve problems independently, and to respect themselves and others.
- Being responsible for the arrangement, décor, and learning environment in the classroom, keeping in mind that work done by the children should take precedence over decorations made by adults. Responsible for upkeep of educational materials and equipment. (Remove equipment needing repairs.)
- Being responsible for reporting any equipment repairs or replacements needed, maintenance needed in the room or elsewhere in the building or on the playground, and supplies that need to be reordered.
- Construct curriculum (HighScope/Reggio Emilia) using developmentally appropriate practices (DAP) as guidelines to meet the needs of the class and individual children, using prescriptive programming.
- Based on school wide assessments administered by the school psychologist, establish goals for each child in the areas of social, emotional, cognitive, creative, and physical development.
- Maintain on-going anecdotal records on each child.
- Prepare two written progress reports per year, prior to a fall and spring Parent-teacher conferences. Enter these into the child’s permanent file.
- Maintain a daily curriculum planning book as well as monthly plans which demonstrate strategies for meeting the developmental goals for the age-level in the class.
- Communicate regularly on an as-needed basis with parents regarding each child’s behavior and performance in school.
- Maintain all records and forms on each child in an up-to-date manner.
- Communicate and collaborate with Associate Teacher on classroom responsibilities such as lesson planning, newsletters, parent e-mail communication, Blackbaud, snack preparation, conference reports, etc.
- Establish classroom expectations and rules for children and utilize positive discipline strategies.
- Keep bulletin boards up-to-date by posting current copies of the following: monthly plans, daily schedule, enrichment schedule, monthly parent memo, medical alerts.
- Plan field trips where appropriate that are integrated into the curriculum and pre-approved.
- Teachers are responsible for reading all office e-mails daily, attending all-hands meetings, age-level meetings, individual meetings with their training supervisor, and professional development workshops.
- Actively seeking to continuously update skills by attending outside workshops and conferences whenever possible, by becoming active in professional organizations, and by constantly seeking new ideas and materials for use in the classroom with the children or to share with other staff members.
- Generally promoting a good rapport among staff members.
- Arriving on time and leaving at designated time per individual teacher contract.
- Maintaining strict confidentiality regarding children and their families.
- Maintaining professional conduct and attitudes in working with parents and staff as well as visitors and the general public.
- Navigate uneven terrain on the playgrounds.
- Assume postures in low level positions that best allow physical and visual contact with children.
- Must be able to sustain a high level of energy.
- Must be able to move from a seated position to a standing position promptly to respond to emergency situations.
- Must be able to assist with emergency evacuations and exit strategies including, but not limited to, lifting and carrying children quickly.
General Support Roles
2025-2026 Anticipated Teaching Positions
The ideal candidates are experienced early childhood teachers with educational vision, a natural ability to engage and support young learners, proven classroom management skills, strong interpersonal relations skills, excellent oral and written communication and computer skills, and a willingness to work collaboratively with faculty and families. Experience with integrating an outdoor classroom approach into the curriculum is a plus. Prior teaching experience in a NAEYC accredited program is valuable.
Duties include planning and implementing high-quality curriculum that is child-centered, developmentally appropriate, open-ended and process oriented. Teachers manage the classroom effectively with compassion, high energy, attention to detail, and problem-solving strategies. Teachers develop an engaging environment that encourages children’s independence and self-selection of activities and supports children’s ideas, initiatives, and creativity. Teachers develop developmental progress reports for each child based upon child observation and assessment. Regular communication with parents is by means of meetings, newsletters, phone calls, email, and individual parent conferences.
Requirements for the job include a minimum of a degree in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, or related fields with a minimum of 12 credits completed in Early Childhood Education. Transcripts and diploma/s need to be made available upon hire.
Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience. Credentials will be reviewed as they are received. Email letter of interest, resume, salary requirements, and names and contact information for three references to be contacted to Connie Bates.
On-Call Substitute Teachers
CDS is seeking substitute teachers for the school year.
The ideal candidate should have experience working with preschool-aged children. This position is ideal for college students who would like early childhood education experience or those with flexibility in their schedules. Typical hours are 8 am - 12:30 pm with occasional full-day options available.
CDS substitute teachers are responsible for facilitating a warm and welcoming class environment. Prior teaching experience in a NAEYC-accredited program is valuable.
Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience. Credentials will be reviewed as they are received. Email letter of interest, resume, salary requirements, and names and contact information for three references to be contacted to Connie Bates.
General Consideration
We appreciate your interest in working at The Country Day School. If you do not see any openings that fit your interests, but would still like to submit your materials for review, please email Connie Bates. Indicate your areas of interest on your cover letter or resume.
* Required
The Country Day School is an equal opportunity organization and does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, gender, or national origin in the administration of its programs, policies, and procedures.
