Summary
Description
About the role:
At Clayton Early Learning, we are dedicated to fostering a dynamic, inclusive environment that supports the growth and development of young children. As the Director of Early Childhood Education, you will work as part of a team of directors to provide an exceptional start for the almost 200 children we serve in our school-based program. You'll have the opportunity to lead a team of managers and other school-based personnel to manage educational operations and ensure quality outcomes in our classrooms. If you are passionate about early childhood education and want to be part of a collaborative team that's making a difference, we encourage you to apply today!
Who we are:
Clayton Early Learning is a leading nonprofit dedicated to advancing early childhood education and improving family outcomes through high-quality programming, comprehensive research and evaluation, and community-driven initiatives. We directly serve over 500 children annually through our school, home-based programs, and community sites. As a proud member of the Educare Learning Network, we are deeply committed to the whole-child, whole-family approach, with high quality early childhood education as the foundation of our work. Our unique location on a 20-acre historic campus in Denver provides many opportunities to serve our families beyond the classroom and school walls.
We know that our future rests in the hands of the youngest generation and that the experiences of inclusion and belonging they have in early childhood make a lasting impression that remains well into their adult lives. The atmosphere is not just about work; it's about building a community where individuals are valued, supported, and empowered to reach their fullest potential. At Clayton, we believe that a great place to work isn't just about the job but the people who create success together.
What we want you to do:
SCHOOL-BASED PROGRAM OPERATIONS
People Management and Culture
- Provides leadership, management, and support to a team of managers who are responsible for the day-to-day management of the school and classrooms
- Develop a culture based on accountability, belonging, and commitment to our mission and the children and families
- Ensures team effectiveness through planning, delegation, prioritization, and collaboration
- Maintains proactive lines of communication with all key stakeholders
- Supports with all supervisory responsibilities including hiring, compliance, and performance management
Educational and Child Development Outcomes
- In partnership with the Chief Impact Officer and Senior Director, Professional Development & Data, implement the strategic vision for instructional approach to comprehensive child development
- Collaborates with comprehensive services, continuous learning and data, and family engagement teams
- Promotes and ensures the success of the school-based program; facilitates change management within the school as we implement programs and initiatives
- Applies innovative, evidence-based research and practices to continuously improve educational programs, seek new ideas and partnerships to elevate the quality of the programs
Operations and Compliance
- Leads and manages the school operations budget, administration, compliance; dedicated focus on enhancing classroom learning and integration of family engagement
- Partner with the Chief Impact Officer to monitor revenue and expenses to ensure financial viability and sustainability, including multiple funding sources (CPP, CCAP, DPP, and parent fees)
- Ensures that all required state and local licenses and other regulatory requirements (e.g. Head Start performance standards, Colorado childcare licensing, NAEYC) are maintained
ECE Community Leadership:
- Partners closely with Denver Great Kids Head Start and the Educare Learning Network (ELN); connects Clayton Early Learning to national best practices from within the Office of Head Start and ELN
- Maintains current knowledge of Head Start, Early Head Start, Child Care Partnerships, Colorado licensing and the various resources and requirements associated with public funding sources
- Cultivates relationships with Policy Council/Policy Committee members, Board Trustees and funders positioning our school as a source of inspiration and learning for the field
What you must have:
- Education: Master's degree preferred; bachelor's degree required. The strongest candidates will have an academic background in early childhood development and education. Experience with infants and toddlers is strongly preferred. Early Childhood Large Center Director certification is strongly preferred; if not, commitment to pursue a large director center early childhood license is required.
- Experience: 10+ years of experience in administration, program leadership, or coaching experience in an early childhood education setting. Track record of successful organizational leadership in a school, early learning center, education system, and/or nonprofit, including knowledge of best practices in teaching, learning, and leadership; ideally with specific expertise in early childhood education and development.
- Skills: Knowledge of best practices in early childhood education – including child development, teaching, learning, and management. Pediatric first aid, CPR,
- Background Check: Must be able to pass a comprehensive background check, including CBI/FBI fingerprinting. MVR and a national sex offender registry check
- Other: Bilingual skills strongly preferred, driver's license required
The perks:
- 16+ paid company holidays
- Spring Break and Winter Break – up to 10 paid days off
- Accrued vacation time, starting at 10 days per year up to 30 days per year, based on years of service
- Paid sick time
- Medical, vision, and dental insurance coverage
- Life, AD&D insurance
- Mental health support through our medical coverage and our employee assistance program (EAP)
- Long-term disability coverage
- 401(k) with 5% employer match after 1 year of employment
- FSA plans
- College 529 investment plans
- Identify theft and protection plans
Compensation:
- $100,000 to $120,000 Annually
Clayton's Core Values:
At Clayton Early Learning, we believe that our core values help to drive actions and create habits that allow our belief in the unlimited potential of young children to become a reality. We seek candidates who demonstrate our core values and are motivated by a values-driven environment.
- Collaboration builds trust and relationships and brings new ideas, skills, and knowledge to help us do better work.
- Community fosters belonging, resiliency, stability, and strength. We are committed to creating a caring, trauma-informed, professional community at Clayton and to being a positive member of the many communities we partner with and serve.
- Belonging leads us to reflect the communities we serve and bring the widest variety of ideas and innovation to our work.
- Fun reduces stress, keeps us motivated, builds connections, and models for our children the joy that can come with learning and working together.
- Growth allows us to develop as professionals and to provide the best services we can to the children, families, and educators we serve.
- Stewardship enables us to have the greatest impact we can with the resources we have.
Clayton Early Learning is an equal opportunity employer. We prohibit unlawful discrimination against applicants or employees on the basis of physical or mental disability, race, creed, color, sex, pregnancy, childbirth and related conditions, marriage to a co-worker, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, citizenship, past, current, or prospective service in the uniformed services, genetic information, legal off-duty conduct, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law.
