This paper addresses the roles and responsibilities of a day care center director, based on the author's personal experience as an interim director during his junior year at college and a survey of other directors. The paper aims to provide insight into the reality of being a day care center director, particularly the acquisition of knowledge, skill, and training required to be effective. Various roles a director must perform are described, including that of the staff developer, accountant, personnel director, custodian, nutritionist, social worker, nurse, politician, activist, enforcer, mediator, and leader. The paper also discussed difficulties encountered while implementing changes in program operations. The results of the survey of day care center directors describes the career path and professional development of directors. Six ways to ease the transition from teacher to director are also discussed. Contains 10 references. (JPB)