Founding Montessori School Director

Montessori Namta; Lincoln (NE); On-site; USD 75,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Four weeks paid time off

Employer contribution toward health保险

Job summary

Meadowlark Montessori in Lincoln, Nebraska, seeks a Founding School Director to lead the new infant/toddler/primary program. You will establish Montessori practices, build a teaching team, engage families, and oversee daily operations with strong autonomy and accountability.

Collaborate with the Founder on strategic direction, licensing readiness, budgets, and program development to open the school and create a thriving educational community rooted in Montessori philosophy.

Qualifications

• Significant professional experience in a Montessori educational environment.
• Experience supervising, coaching, and developing educators or school staff.
• Strong knowledge of Montessori philosophy, child development, and classroom practices.
• Experience managing educational programs, school operations, or comparable responsibilities.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to lead independently, exercise sound judgment, and own outcomes.
• Nebraska childcare director qualifications, licensing requirements, and background-check standards.
• Montessori teaching credential from AMS, AMI, or another recognized Montessori training organization.
• Prior Montessori School Director, Head of School, Assistant Director, Program Director, or comparable leadership role.
• Experience with Infant/Toddler and Primary Montessori programs.
• Experience opening, expanding, or developing a Montessori school or early childhood program.
• Knowledge of Nebraska childcare licensing and regulatory requirements.
• Montessori administrator training or certification.

Responsibilities

• Establish and maintain authentic Montessori practices across Infant, Toddler, and Primary programs.
• Guide thoughtfully prepared classroom environments and educational materials.
• Ensure high-quality Montessori instruction, observation, and individualized child development.
• Coach, mentor, and develop Montessori guides and classroom assistants.
• Maintain Montessori fidelity while meeting licensing and regulatory requirements.
• Partner with the Founder to establish the school’s educational and operational foundations.
• Contribute to facility and classroom planning, materials selection, staffing models, and operational readiness.
• Lead development of school policies, procedures, schedules, and educational standards.
• Coordinate licensing preparation and support regulatory compliance.
• Establish enrollment, orientation, and parent communication processes.
• Build the founding educational team and prepare the school for opening.
• Oversee daily operations, staffing, scheduling, classroom coverage, and program quality.
• Recruit, hire, onboard, supervise, and evaluate faculty and staff.
• Build a positive, accountable, collaborative workplace culture.
• Establish efficient and consistent operational systems.
• Manage resources responsibly and collaborate with the Founder on budgets and priorities.
• Ensure compliance with applicable health, safety, childcare licensing, and employment requirements.
• Identify challenges, develop solutions, and continuously improve operations.
• Develop trusted relationships with children, families, and staff.
• Communicate Montessori philosophy and child development principles clearly.
• Establish family orientation, education, and engagement opportunities.
• Address parent concerns with professionalism, empathy, and sound judgment.
• Represent Meadowlark Montessori in the Lincoln community.

Skills

Montessori leadership

Program management

Child development knowledge

Communication skills

Independent leadership

Education

Montessori credential (AMS/AMI)

Job description

Meadowlark Montessori in Lincoln, Nebraska, seeks a Founding School Director to lead the new infant/toddler/primary program. You will establish Montessori practices, build a teaching team, engage families, and oversee daily operations with strong autonomy and accountability.

Collaborate with the Founder on strategic direction, licensing readiness, budgets, and program development to open the school and create a thriving educational community rooted in Montessori philosophy.