Director, Ann Graves Child Development Center

The Hockaday School; Dallas (TX); On-site; USD 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

The Hockaday School seeks a mission-driven Director of the Ann Graves Child Development Center to provide visionary leadership, strategic direction, and operational management for the center. The Director oversees program quality, licensing compliance, curriculum implementation, staff leadership, enrollment management, family engagement, and financial stewardship.

Reporting to the Director of Auxiliary Programs, this role emphasizes building a strong team culture, maintaining high teaching

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree in Education, Business, or related field preferred.
• Licensed Child Care Center Director in the State of Texas or eligible to obtain licensure.
• At least 5 years of experience leading a childcare program, center, or preschool.
• Passion for childcare and nurturing growth, development, and well-being of young children.
• Strong knowledge of child development and developmentally appropriate practices.
• Knowledge of Texas Child Care Licensing regulations and compliance.
• Excellent organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Experience with budgeting, enrollment management, staffing, and operational oversight.
• Ability to build trust and foster positive working relationships among staff.
• Presence in classrooms to support teachers, children, and program quality; background checks required.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for all aspects of the CDC.
• Develop and maintain a nurturing, safe, and developmentally appropriate program.
• Establish and communicate a clear vision aligned with the school's mission.
• Foster a positive culture supporting children, families, and staff.
• Lead continuous improvement focused on program quality, enrollment, and family satisfaction.
• Ensure compliance with Texas Health and Human Services licensing regulations.
• Maintain licensing records, reports, and documentation.
• Oversee budgeting and financial stewardship for the CDC.
• Recruit, hire, onboard, supervise, evaluate, and retain qualified staff.
• Partner with families to support children's growth and well-being; conduct family engagement events.
• Monitor classroom ratios, staff qualifications, and training requirements.
• Develop leadership capacity among Assistant Directors and teaching staff.
• Plan and facilitate staff meetings and ongoing professional development.
• Maintain a warm, caring, and community-centered environment.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Staff leadership

Enrollment management

Family engagement

Budgeting and financial stewardship

Program quality

Communication

Safety and compliance

Coaching and professional development

Relationship building

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree in Education, Business, or related field

Job description

The Hockaday School seeks an enthusiastic and mission-driven Director of the Ann Graves Child Development Center to provide visionary leadership, strategic direction, and operational management for the child development center. The Director is responsible for fostering a nurturing, safe, and developmentally appropriate environment that supports the growth and well-being of young children while serving the needs of Hockaday faculty and staff families. The Director oversees all aspects of the Child Development Center, including program quality, licensing compliance, curriculum implementation, staff leadership and development, enrollment management, family engagement, and financial stewardship. This role is responsible for building and maintaining a strong team culture, ensuring excellence in teaching and care, and creating meaningful partnerships with families. The Director promotes continuous improvement through innovation, collaboration, and a commitment to best practices in childcare. Reporting to the Director of Auxiliary Programs, the Director of the Ann Graves Child Development Center serves as a key member of the Auxiliary Programs team. The Director ensures the Child Development Center remains a valued employee benefit and an integral part of the Hockaday community while advancing the Schools mission and standards of excellence.
The Ann Graves Child Development Center at The Hockaday School provides a nurturing, engaging, and developmentally appropriate learning environment for children from infancy through preschool. Designed to support Hockaday families and employees, the Center fosters curiosity, creativity, and social-emotional growth through a play-based approach led by experienced early childhood educators. The Center is licensed by the State of Texas and is nationally accredited by the National Accreditation Commission (NAC) for Early Care and Education Programs, reflecting its commitment to the highest standards of quality, safety, and early learning excellence.
Were excited about this opportunity because youll....

• Provide strategic leadership for all aspects of the Child Development Center (CDC)
• Develop and maintain a nurturing, safe, and developmentally appropriate childcare program
• Establish and communicate a clear vision for the CDC aligned with Hockadays mission and values
• Foster a positive culture that supports children, families, and staff
• Lead continuous improvement efforts focused on program quality, enrollment, and family satisfaction
• Ensure full compliance with all applicable Texas Health and Human Services Child Care Licensing regulations and minimum standards
• Maintain all required licensing records, reports, and documentation
• Ensure adherence to health, safety, emergency preparedness, and child protection policies
• Serve as the primary liaison with licensing representative and regulatory agencies
• Monitor classroom ratios, staff qualifications, training requirements, and supervision practices
• Recruit, hire, onboard, supervise, evaluate, and retain highly qualified staff
• Create a collaborative and supportive work environment that promotes professional growth
• Conduct regular classroom observations and provide coaching and feedback
• Ensure staff assignments align with qualifications, training, and experience
• Develop leadership capacity amont Assistant Directors and teaching staff
• Facilitate staff meetings, professional development, and ongoing training
• Maintain a warm, caring, and community-centered environment
• Maintain a visible and active presence in classrooms
• Ensure implementation of developmentally appropriate practices and curriculum
• Monitor childrens developmental progress and support teachers in meeting individual needs
• Promote a play-based learning environment that supports social-emotional, cognitive, physical, and language development
• Ensure smooth transitions between class ooms and age groups
• Build strong, trusting relationships with CDC families
• Communicate regularly with parents regarding childrens development, center operations, and special events
• Address parent concerns promptly and professionally
• Partner with families to support childrens growth and well-being
• Plan and facilitate family engagement opportunities
• Develop and maintain the CDC budget
• Monitor revenue and expenses to ensure financial sustainability
• Evaluate program needs and make recommendations regarding staffing, resources, and equipment
• Oversee purchasing and inventory for classroom and operational needs
• Perform other duties as assigned

Were excited about you because you have...

• Bachelors degree required; Masters degree in Education, Business, or related field preferred
• The qualiifications necessary to serve as a licensed Child Care Center Director in the State of Texas
• At least 5 years of experience leading an childcare program, child development center, preschool, or similar educational environment
• A passion for childcare and a deep commitment to nurturing the growth, development, and well-being of young children
• Strong knowledge of child development, developmentally appropriate practices, and current trends in childcare practices
• Knowledge of Texas Child Care Licensing regulations and a commitment to maintaining compliance, safety, and operational excellence
• Exceptional organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic environment
• Experience with budgeting, enrollment management, staffing, and operational oversight
• The ability to navigate challenges with professionalism, emotional intelligence, and sound judgment under pressure
• A demonstrated ability to build trust, strengthen team culture, and foster positive working relationships among staff
• A commitment to maintaining a consistent presence in classrooms to support teachers, children, and program quality
• Must have the ability to work in a school environment through satisfactory completion of all legally required and School-required background and screening checks and verifications, including criminal and sex offender background checks

Why you\'ll love working at Hockaday...

Youll join a mission-driven, joyful community that believes deeply in the limitless potential of girls.

We are a community grounded in the Hockaday CornerstonesCharacter, Courtesy, Scholarship, and

Athleticsand youll bring these values to life in your daily work.

We are energized by meaningful challenges, embrace a growth mindset, and seek creative solutions that positively impact our students.

We honor our rich traditions while embracing innovation across all areas of the School.

We val