The Worth of a Director

Kris Finley, ELEA National Board President

     Recently on the ELEA list serve there was an interesting discussion on the worth of a Director.  The question was posed:  What’s a Director Worth? The writer was wrestling with salary and benefits obviously, but the question and the comments that followed struck me at my professional core.   Being an Early Childhood Director for the past 17 years and the National Board President of ELEA for the past five years, this subject has come up many times and my opinion has changed greatly on the subject.  Many of the responses that I read perpetuated the attitude that we all know that we will never be paid what we are worth and the programs we run cannot afford to pay a livable salary not to mention offer either medical and/or pension benefits.  The belief that this job is viewed as a ministry so accepting this inevitable situation does nothing to change it for ourselves, our staffs and the people who follow in our footsteps.

     I have heard the voice of people who would argue that we knew that this profession did not offer high compensation when we got into it so why expect more now?  Or if you work in a church then you should take less than the public education standard since this is considered a ministry.  All these arguments are right up there with:  working with children is easy, and this is a second income so you won’t need a livable salary or benefits and pension.  Quite frankly, these beliefs are all hogwash (as my mother would say) and outdated for our present economy and level of professionalism that is now required in Early Childhood Education.  Things have changed folks!  How are we ever going to attract the most highly qualified persons into our field if these attitudes prevail?  And if we don’t offer the highest quality programs in our community then are our programs doomed with the addition of public or universal preschool being mandated to the states in the very near future?

     You, the director, are the key to changing this!  What can you do?  First of all, believe you are worth:

• A cost of living raise every year

• A public pay standards adjustment raise

• Being offered Medical benefits

• Pension benefits

• A 40 hour work week or part time equivalent that is fair

• And a staff who is being offered all of the above as well

     Once you believe this, then dedicate yourself towards working with your school board to adapt a policy or goal that includes a time frame of when and how you will get there.  Friends, this is a social justice issue that the church needs to face and respond to.  Let’s challenge and support one another to this task!

Kris Finley serves as Director of Trinity Lutheran Preschool & Kindergarten in Lynnwood, Washington, and can be reached at KLynnFin@aol.com

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