Founding Head Of School: Dallas (Starting Summer 2023)

DESCRIPTION
As Head of School, you will establish and lead a Bezos Academy with children ages three through five as part of a growing multi-state network of high quality, tuition-free, Montessori-inspired preschools in underresourced communities. You will participate closely in the launch and opening of your school, selecting materials, and hiring teaching/support staff. In preparation for your school opening in fall 2024, you will hire teachers, support student recruitment efforts, build a strong family community, coach and develop teaching staff, and ensure the educational experience for each child in every classroom is of the highest standard. You will bring significant teaching and school leadership experience, knowledge of child development, management experience, exceptional communication skills, and experience working with families and leaders from diverse community areas. Above all, you demonstrate passion for our mission to expand access to high quality preschool in underresourced communities.

LOCATION AND START DATES
We are hiring a Founding Head of School to lead the opening of our Dallas- Kiva East site (4724-4806 Eastside Ave, Dallas, Texas 75226) in partnership with a local community organization in the fall of 2024.
This new preschool is likely to open in October 2024, and we have purposefully designed a year-long onboarding program for founding Heads of School, so the start date will be early August 2023.

COMPENSATION

• This role includes 18 paid days of scheduled breaks, 7 paid days of vacation, 3 paid days of personal time off, 7 paid days of sick (care) time, 10 paid holidays, and additional time off if required by applicable law. Benefits for this role include medical, dental, and vision insurance, life insurance, disability insurance, a 401(k) plan with a 4% employer contribution match, paid parental leave, an employer-matched flexible spending account for dependent care, and more. Please see here for details.
• The full salary range for this position is $97,000 - $156,000 per year. The upper third of the salary range is typically reserved for existing employees who demonstrate strong performance over time. Starting salary will vary by qualifications and prior experience.
• This is a full-time, benefits-eligible, salaried position.

Relocation support is available for this role.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• 5+ years managing a multi-classroom school or childcare center OR 2+ years as the top leader/principal of a large public or charter school. Experience must include running the fiscal and operating needs of the school/center (e.g. strategic planning, program evaluation, student recruitment, family and community engagement) and teacher hiring, development, and performance management.
• Bachelor's degree

• Strong personal commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusiveness
• Meet the minimum qualifications for being a school director in Texas
• Prior experience, teaching or similar, working with children aged 0 to 3rd grade with strong outcomes
• Strong track record of operating a multi-classroom school/center with meaningful, measurable outcomes for children.
• 2+ years prior work experience with children and families in low-income communities in the US OR significant personal experience in low-income communities in the US (grew up and/or attended school in)

PREFERRED REQUIREMENTS

• Experience as head of school/center director for a preschool or administrative leadership experience in a K-3 setting
• Primary diploma from an AMI, AMS, or MACTE-accredited institute
• Experience implementing Montessori philosophy and curriculum

• Background knowledge of the fiscal and operating needs of a school
• Experience working with children and families in low-income areas
• Demonstrated experience with strategic planning and program evaluation
• Proven results coaching and developing teachers

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Support the planning, preparation, and delivery of instructional activities that facilitate active Montessori-inspired learning experiences
• Supervise all faculty and staff, both teaching and non-teaching
• Assume responsibility for the day-to-day operation of the school
• Provide administrative and professional leadership for faculty and staff

• Ensure that program quality is maintained and that classrooms have appropriate instructional materials
• Oversee the development, implementation, and evaluation of programs and services that support the mission, vision, and strategic goals of the school and Bezos Academy
• Supervise and participate in the selecting and hiring of qualified persons to serve as members of the faculty
• Support an inclusive and respectful partnership between families, community, and school on behalf of the child
• Provide leadership for activities which affect the current and future development of the school (such as strategic planning and setting curricular goals)

• Serve as the public spokesperson for the school and for Montessori-inspired education
• Support with the initial and ongoing student recruitment efforts
• Create ways for families to stay informed, educated, and active in the Bezos Academy community
• Partner with local community agencies to provide additional wrap around supports and services for students and families
• Oversee effective marketing, communications, and outreach to the school community

DESIRED, DEMONSTRABLE QUALITIES

• Ownership philosophy
• Ability to invent new ways to address the needs of children while simplifying at every turn
• A positive, child centered mentality

• Lifelong desire to learn
• Hires and develops bar-raising people
• Standards that are unreasonably high
• Ability to think big, and see things that are not apparent
• Strong judgement and instincts

• A bias to get things done
• Character, competence, personal integrity, and actions that build trust
• Ability to operate at all levels
• Fearless pursuit of doing what is right for children
• Focus on investing time and resources on things that help children

• Strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusiveness
• Ability to execute and take action to accomplish goals along an unchartered path
• Willingness to change and adapt when presented with new information or data
• High level of passion and energy applied to delivering results

FOCUS & DELIVERABLES (FIRST 12 MONTHS)

• Participate in training to be a highly effective Head of School at Bezos Academy
• Develop initial communication and outreach materials for families
• Support in the hiring and training of school team, including teachers, teaching assistants, and any other support staff
• Support recruitment of students and families for school launch

• Implement and execute on Bezos Academy curriculum, assessment, and improvement tools, providing feedback to leadership team on regular basis
• Create a warm and welcoming environment for all students and families, including the set up of all necessary school and classroom materials

Please click here* for the full job description.*
Bezos Academy is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All applicants receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran status, or disability status.
Bezos Academy participates in E-Verify_ and will provide the federal government with employee Form I-9 Information to confirm authorization to work in the U.S. Bezos Academy only uses E-Verify once a candidate has accepted a job offer and completed the Form I-9. If E-Verify cannot confirm that an employee is authorized to work, Bezos Academy will give the employee written instructions and an opportunity to contact the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or Social Security Administration (SSA) so the employee can begin to resolve the issue before any adverse employment action is taken. For more information about your right to work, please see the_ Notice of Right to Work.

Job Types: Full-time, Temporary

Pay: $97,000.00 - $156,000.00 per year