Job Description
Purpose
Oversee the high-quality learning, family-facing academic and social communication, and collaboration of all stakeholders for the benefit of children. In-situ curriculum development with teachers and integration, and leading documentation to make the learning visible. Tie together the big-picture vision and daily reality. Acting as part coach, part manager, part community builder to develop the relationships between co-teachers and the whole teaching team on the campuses. Guide the emergent curriculum based on student and teachers interests with nature as the third teacher. Create intentional and innovative opportunities for enhancing family and community relationships in collaboration with other members of the administrative team.
Core Responsibilities
Instructional Leadership & Program Quality
• Day to day support of teachers in presenting explicit instruction, exploration, and projects that are play-based and experiential.
• Enable Reggio Emilia project-based and nature science-based instruction principles within our DHS and DOE frames.
• Develop nature and inquiry rich environments to align to TN early learning standards as well as K-5 standards, assessment tools, or DHS QRIS.
• Coach teachers in documentation, portfolio/report card writing, and making learning visible to families and the wider community
• Model strong instructional practices by teaching alongside staff when needed
• Intentionally support all domains of development and multiple intelligences.
• Make suggestions within the weekly intentions template.
• Maintain the flow of weekly intentions in action.
• Create the learning flow to become ever more intentionally emergent, constructivist, and using inquiry.
• Proof-read teacher documentation and coach them to elevate documentation quality.
• Create original documentation to contribute to project development.
• Make the pedagogy and learning visible in multiple ways to the families and greater community using multiple channels of documentation including social media.
• Make the “why” behind our approach visible to staff and families.
• Regularly teach with teachers to role-model how to overcome barriers, develop our practices and relationships, and provide job-embedded training.
Operations, Licensing & Safety
• Be accessible and engaging during key family touchpoints (arrival/dismissal windows and on school communication tools).
• Handle day-of family concerns with empathy, clarity, and follow-through.
• Close the loop on minor concerns; escalate high-stakes issues to leadership per protocol.
• Ensure DHS and DOE compliance with ratios and supervision in action.
• Create coverage plans for staff shortages with the admin team.
• Execute staffing coverage plans day-to-day; protect ratios and supervision.
• Support teachers and serve as substitutewhen needed.
• Daily orchestrate or cover breaks and planning time.
• Ensure readiness (spaces, supplies availability, emergency materials access)
• Ensure rosters/allergy lists are visible and used correctly on-site.
• Ensure incident reporting is initiated promptly.
• Execute field trip logistics on-site using provided framework/checklists.
• Support operational delivery of festivals/events (day-of readiness and supervision).
Support & Professional Development
• Coach teachers through behavior incidents as they arise (de-escalation, boundaries, repair).
• Support staff conflict resolution day-to-day using established culture tools.
• Discuss and plan professional development, snow days and in-service training with members of the administrative team.
• Assist in the tracking of paid time off and behaviors around arriving on time and leaving early.
Relationships
• Create communication that builds community, trust, and connection.
• Encourage children as capable protagonists within respect for each other, rules and boundaries.
• Implement teacher home visits.
• Help support student positive behavior with necessary intervention, plans, conferences, evaluation.
• Parent Teacher Conference preparation templates & talking points
• Facilitate participation in parent workdays and school events.
• Create easy feedback channels for positive behaviors as well as incident/accident reporting processes.
Qualifications
• AA/BA in Early Childhood or Elementary Education
• 4+ years preschool or K-5 teaching experience
• Knowledge and practice of the Reggio Emilia approach to education
• Experience with project-based learning strategies
• Expertise in documentation
• Strong Emotional Quotient with social emotional learning guidance, conflict navigation
• Possess calm, warm persona with clear boundaries
• A love of Nature with some knowledge-based experience
• Licensing compliance
• Possess an unquestionable ability to focus on people and their development.
• Demonstrate a genuine drive to collaborate and learn with the team to grow together.
• Flexibility to handle day to day changes in plans and respond calmly and joyfully to the demands before you.
• Flexible hours on two campuses, and ideally available for parent drop off or pick up alternatively.
What We’re Looking For
The ideal candidate is a relationship-driven leader who can support teachers, connect with families, and help create a joyful, organized, and mission-aligned campus culture. They are a strong communicator, a thoughtful coach, and someone who believes children learn best through meaningful, hands-on experiences and caring community relationships.
Benefits:
• Disability insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Paid time off
Work Location: In person