Head of School Director

Montessori Kids Universe•Bannockburn, IL

17h•Onsite

About The Position

Montessori Kids Universe Bannockburn is seeking an experienced, dependable, and highly organized Head of School - Director to lead the daily operations of our early childhood education program. This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who is passionate about children, committed to supporting educators, comfortable working closely with families, and capable of managing the many moving parts of a licensed childcare center. The Head of School - Director is responsible for maintaining a safe, nurturing, compliant, and high-quality educational environment while supporting staff development, family relationships, enrollment, school operations, and the overall success of the school. We are looking for a leader who is proactive, solution-oriented, professional, and willing to step in wherever needed to support the school. At MKU Bannockburn, we are dedicated to providing a high-quality, authentic Montessori education that fosters independence, creativity, and a love for learning. Our warm and welcoming community supports children, families, and educators in a collaborative, innovative, and nurturing environment. As the Head of School - Director, you will lead a team of passionate educators, cultivate a thriving school culture, and ensure our programs meet the highest standards of excellence.

Requirements

Must meet or exceed Illinois DCFS Director Qualification requirements or be able to obtain required qualifications within an agreed-upon timeframe.
Previous experience working in a licensed childcare center or early childhood education environment required.
Previous childcare administration, director, assistant director, or comparable leadership experience strongly preferred.
Strong leadership and staff-management skills.
Excellent organizational, communication, interpersonal, and problem-solving abilities.
Demonstrated ability to manage confidential and sensitive information.
Strong attention to detail and ability to manage multiple priorities.
Comfortable using technology and childcare management systems.
Knowledge of licensing compliance, staff ratios, child records, employee documentation, and childcare operations preferred.
Montessori education or experience is preferred but not required.
Have or willing to obtain Food Managers Certification.
Must successfully complete and maintain all required background checks, fingerprinting, health documentation, and licensing requirements.
CPR/First Aid certification and other required childcare training must be maintained.
Must be physically capable of and willing to work in an early childhood school environment and assisting in classrooms when necessary.

Nice To Haves

Montessori training will be provided when appropriate.

Responsibilities

Provide day-to-day leadership and oversight of school operations.
Create and maintain a safe, organized, welcoming, and nurturing environment for children, families, and staff.
Ensure appropriate classroom staffing, ratios, and leadership coverage throughout the day.
Monitor daily attendance, staff call-offs, late arrivals, early departures, and scheduling adjustments.
Respond proactively to staffing or operational challenges and coordinate coverage when needed.
Conduct regular walkthroughs of classrooms and common areas to ensure safety, organization, professionalism, and adherence to school expectations.
Ensure opening and closing procedures are consistently followed.
Maintain effective systems for communication among leadership, teachers, assistants, and administrative staff.
Assist in developing and implementing school policies, procedures, and operational systems.
Work collaboratively with the Owner on school priorities, staffing, financial planning, enrollment goals, and strategic initiatives.
Complete additional administrative, operational, classroom, or leadership responsibilities as needed to support the school.
Ensure ongoing compliance with all applicable Illinois Department of Children and Family Services licensing standards and other regulatory requirements.
Maintain accurate and complete child and employee records.
Monitor required staff credentials, medical forms, background checks, training, certifications, and professional development.
Prepare for and participate in licensing visits, inspections, audits, and other regulatory reviews.
Ensure classrooms maintain required ratios and staffing qualifications.
Monitor health, safety, sanitation, emergency preparedness, and supervision practices throughout the school.
Address compliance concerns promptly and document corrective actions when appropriate.
Ensure incident reports, accident reports, medication records, and required notifications are completed accurately and timely.
Recruit, interview, onboard, mentor, supervise, and retain high-quality teachers and staff.
Create a positive and professional school culture built on teamwork, accountability, respect, and strong communication.
Provide clear expectations regarding attendance, punctuality, professionalism, classroom responsibilities, communication, and performance.
Conduct regular classroom observations and provide timely, constructive feedback.
Hold teachers and staff accountable to school policies, licensing requirements, and professional expectations.
Facilitate regular staff and leadership meetings.
Conduct or assist with employee performance reviews, coaching, corrective action, and performance improvement plans when necessary.
Identify employee strengths and areas for growth and develop individualized professional development goals.
Coordinate and track required staff training and continuing education.
Encourage professional growth and provide opportunities for teachers to strengthen classroom management, Montessori practice, parent communication, leadership skills, and child development knowledge.
Support teachers with curriculum planning, classroom organization, behavior guidance, and family communication.
Recognize strong performance and celebrate staff accomplishments.
Develop future classroom leaders and support succession planning within the school.
Oversee approval of staff time off requests and payroll accuracy.
Promote and protect the school's Montessori philosophy, values, and educational standards.
Ensure classrooms provide developmentally appropriate, child-centered learning experiences.
Support teachers in maintaining prepared environments that encourage independence, concentration, confidence, and a love of learning.
Observe classroom environments regularly and identify opportunities for improvement.
Partner with educators to support children experiencing developmental, behavioral, social-emotional, or classroom adjustment challenges.
Ensure appropriate communication with families regarding children's progress and development.
Stay informed regarding early childhood education practices, licensing updates, child development, and Montessori education.
Participate in Montessori professional development and training as required.
Maintain relationships with local public and private schools when appropriate to better understand kindergarten readiness expectations and transitions.
Serve as a visible, approachable, professional leader within the school community.
Build strong relationships with current and prospective families.
Respond to parent questions, concerns, and feedback professionally and promptly.
Partner with families and teachers to resolve concerns and support children's success.
Provide clear communication regarding school policies, classroom expectations, events, transitions, and operational changes.
Support new families through the enrollment and onboarding process.
Follow up with prospective families after tours and throughout the enrollment process.
Help maintain strong family retention by ensuring families feel welcomed, informed, and supported.
Support enrollment growth and student retention goals.
Conduct school tours and effectively communicate the value of the MKU program.
Maintain consistent follow-up with prospective families and enrollment leads.
Assist with enrollment forecasting and classroom capacity planning.
Develop and participate in marketing and community outreach initiatives.
Build relationships with local businesses, organizations, schools, community groups, and referral partners.
Represent MKU Bannockburn professionally at community events, festivals, open houses, school functions, and networking opportunities.
Help coordinate family events and experiences that strengthen the school community.
Assist in planning, organizing, and executing school events, including family activities, parent education events, graduation, seasonal celebrations, open houses, staff events, and community outreach.
Coordinate staff responsibilities and event logistics.
Be available for occasional evening or weekend events as required.
Ensure school events reflect MKU's professional standards and create positive experiences for children and families.
Maintain strong organization and follow-through across multiple priorities and deadlines.
Oversee school calendars, staffing schedules, classroom transitions, enrollment dates, and operational deadlines.
Review documentation for accuracy and completeness.
Maintain confidential employee and student information appropriately.
Monitor and respond to school communications, including email, phone calls, parent messages, and internal communication platforms.
Assist with payroll and timekeeping verification as needed, including reviewing missed punches, late arrivals, early departures, absences, and approved time off.
Monitor classroom supply, curriculum, equipment, and operational needs and communicate priorities to appropriate team members.
Participate in budget awareness and responsible management of school resources.
Demonstrate excellent judgment and professionalism.
Be punctual, dependable, and responsive.
Communicate clearly and respectfully.
Follow through on commitments and deadlines.
Maintain appropriate professional boundaries with staff and families.
Protect confidential information.
Model the standards expected of the school team.
Remain calm and solution-focused during busy or challenging situations.
Be comfortable managing multiple priorities simultaneously.
Take initiative without needing constant direction.
Accept feedback and demonstrate a commitment to continued professional growth.
Be willing to assist with duties outside of the normal scope of the position when necessary to support children, staff, families, or school operations.