Founding School Director

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

Benefits offered by this job

Four weeks PTO

Health insurance contribution

Autonomy in leadership

Job summary

Meadowlark Montessori in Lincoln, Nebraska seeks a Founding School Director to lead educational and operational efforts for a new Montessori school serving infants to 6-year-olds. You will establish authentic Montessori practices, recruit and develop staff, and drive families’ engagement while partnering with the Founder on strategic direction.

The role offers autonomy to shape culture, programs, and facilities, with oversight of licensing compliance and long-term growth opportunities as the

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 and meet Nebraska childcare director qualifications.

Responsibilities

• Establish Montessori practices across Infant, Toddler, and Primary programs.
• Lead and coach Montessori guides and classroom staff.
• Oversee daily operations, staffing, scheduling, and program quality.
• Build relationships with families and the Lincoln community.
• Coordinate licensing readiness and regulatory compliance.

Skills

Montessori leadership

People leadership

Program development

Community engagement

Communication

Education

Montessori credential (AMS/AMI)

Job description

Salary: $75,000.00 - $90,000.00 Annually

Founding School Director

Proposed annual salary: $75,000–$90,000 (subject to founder approval)

Meadowlark Montessori is a new Montessori school in development in west Lincoln, Nebraska. Rooted in the educational philosophy of Dr. Maria Montessori, our mission is to create an authentic Montessori community where children develop independence, curiosity, confidence, and a lifelong love of learning. Our initial programs will serve infants, toddlers, and Primary children ages 3–6, with a long‐term vision to expand into elementary education. We are seeking an exceptional Founding School Director to help bring this vision to life.

The Opportunity

This is an opportunity to help build a Montessori school from the ground up. The Founding School Director will serve as Meadowlark’s educational and operational leader, responsible for establishing an exceptional Montessori program, developing a strong teaching team, building relationships with families, and overseeing daily school operations. Working in partnership with the Founder, the Director will have meaningful autonomy and ownership over educational programs, people, culture, and operational success. The Founder will provide strategic direction, business oversight, and financial support, while the Director leads day‑to‑day execution.

Key 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.

School Development and Launch

• 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.

School Operations and Leadership

• 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.

Family and Community Engagement

• 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.

Qualifications

Required

• Significant professional experience in a Montessori educational environment.
• Demonstrated leadership 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.
• Ability to meet applicable Nebraska childcare director qualifications, licensing requirements, and background‑check standards.

Preferred

• 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.

The Ideal Candidate

Our ideal Founding School Director is both an educator and a builder. You are deeply committed to Montessori philosophy and understand authentic practice. You enjoy developing people, creating systems, solving problems, and building something meaningful. You make decisions confidently, set expectations, and hold yourself and others accountable. You bring warmth and compassion to relationships with children and families while maintaining high professional standards. You are entrepreneurial, resourceful, organized, and energized by launching a new school.

Compensation and Benefits

The following package is proposed and subject to final approval; it must not be represented as confirmed until approved.

• Annual salary: $75,000–$90,000, commensurate with qualifications and experience.
• Four weeks of paid time off (proposed).
• Employer contribution toward health insurance (proposed).
• Meaningful autonomy and decision-making authority.
• Opportunity to shape the culture, programs, and operations of a new Montessori school.
• Potential for expanded leadership responsibilities as the school grows.

School Development and Employment Timeline

Meadowlark Montessori is currently in planning and development, including facility selection, financing, licensing preparation, and launch planning. The opening date has not been finalized. Any employment offer and start date are contingent upon financing, facility readiness, licensing, and final organizational approval. The selected candidate may participate in pre‑opening planning.

Meadowlark Montessori is committed to equal employment opportunity and considers qualified applicants without unlawful discrimination.