Start Date: April 1, 2025
About Inman Park Cooperative Preschool (IPCP)
Nestled in the vibrant and historic neighborhood of Inman Park in Atlanta, Georgia, IPCP has been a pillar of early childhood education for over 40 years. As a cooperative preschool, we emphasize a community-focused approach that fosters collaboration among educators, parents, and children. Our mission is to provide a loving, fun and safe environment that supports our children’s social, emotional, cognitive, and physical development. We offer a curriculum of educational excellence that nurtures each child’s unique gifts and talents. We are committed to environmentalism, creativity and diversity through an atmosphere of respect, collaboration, inclusion and cooperation.
About the Role
The Executive Director at IPCP will be a visionary leader who embodies our cooperative values and is passionate about early childhood education. The Executive Director will oversee the school’s educational programs, support and inspire a dedicated team of teachers and staff. As IPCP is a cooperative preschool, the Executive Director reports to the Board of Directors which is made up of current and former parents. This role requires a dynamic leader who can balance strategic planning with day-to-day operational responsibilities while maintaining a nurturing and engaging environment for children, families, and staff.
Key Responsibilities
Leadership and Vision
- Leads the development and implementation of a nature-based, conscious discipline-led curriculum that aligns with IPCP’s mission and values.
- Fosters a positive, inclusive, and collaborative school culture for children, families, teachers, and staff.
- Develops collaborative partnerships with other organizations.
- Serves as a source of information about IPCP for the community.
- Attends community and early childhood education events.
- Works with the Board to ensure the school is fulfilling its mission and upholding the requirements of the cooperative model.
Educational Program Oversight
- Ensure teachers and classrooms are implementing Creative Curriculum, Nature-Based Curriculum, and Conscious Discipline.
- Conducts formal and informal observations to manage quality of curriculum and instruction.
- Manages & supports Curriculum Directors in
- Planning/reviewing lesson plans.
- Observing and assessing children, consulting with teachers and parents to develop strategy plans to support children experiencing challenges.
- The management of the ExtendedCare program, including scheduling and supervising staff, overseeing curriculum and activities, scheduling enrichment, scheduling children, and responding to parent inquiries.
- Organizing and conducting annual training for all staff including staff training week, teacher workdays, online training, off-site training and conferences, First Aid/CPR training, and summer camp training.
- The coordination of fall and spring plantings with the Outdoor Classroom Committee and teaching staff.
- Plans and develops the summer camp program including developing session themes, creating website content, managing registrations and enrollment forms, scheduling visitors, and evaluating the program.
- Supports the Program Managers and Animal Care team with animal care and coordinates weekend and school break care
- Monitors and assesses the effectiveness of the curriculum and programs, making adjustments as needed.
Staff Management
- Recruits, hires, and retains highly qualified teachers and staff who align with IPCP’s values.
- Supervises and evaluates teaching staff, Curriculum Directors, and Operations Manager
- Supports teachers with annual evaluation, professional development opportunities, classroom resources, and mentorship.
- Facilitates regular staff meetings, communicating school information, upcoming events, Board news, and other important information.
- Manages teacher and staff scheduling; reviews and approves payroll.
Community Engagement
- Act as a liaison between families, teachers, and the Board of Directors to ensure strong communication and collaboration.
- Engage with families to build a supportive and inclusive school community. Attends and conducts parent meetings as needed.
- Manages parent communication, addressing any parent questions and concerns in a timely manner
- Coordinates with the Board President and Parent Education and Involvement Chair to organize and present at Co-op 101 for new families.
- Attends and reports at all Board of Directors and Management Team meetings.
- Makes recommendations and writes proposals to the Board of Directors/Management Team for program fee changes, significant program changes, and significant expenditures (as outlined in the IPCP Financial Controls Policy).
- Assists the Board President with the Back to School Night and Business Meeting presentations.
- Coordinates school events with Board Chairs such as Back to School Night, Grandparents and Special Friends Day, and Art Night.
Operational and Financial Management
- Coordinates with Management Team and Board of Directors to create, maintain, and enforce parent policies and guidelines in the IPCP Parent Handbook. Updates the Handbook as needed.
- Maintains the IPCP Employee Handbook as needed; implements and documents disciplinary action in accordance with the handbook
- Oversees daily school operations, including enrollment, scheduling, and compliance with Bright from the Start (BFTS) Regulations, federal and state laws, and other accreditations.
- Updates the school year calendar annually and presents it to the Board of Directors for approval.
- Participates in the annual budget process with the Treasurer by estimating expenditures and revenue and making recommendations for budget lines.
- Oversees relationships with vendors/brokers for various services at the school (insurance, cleaning, pest control, etc.).
- Coordinates with the Communications Committee to manage all technology, software, and online programs.
- Provides content for the IPCP website, marketing materials, annual newsletters, and other printed/online materials.
- Maintains all required written records for children, families, and staff in accordance with applicable laws and best practices.
- Provides general oversight of all classroom spaces to ensure spaces are safe, clean, and enriching.
- Supports the Program Managers in the coordination with the Buildings and Grounds and the Outdoor Classroom Committees to maintain facilities and make updates as needed.
- Supports the Program Manager in the Buildings and Grounds task lists for monthly workdays.
Enrollment
- Works with the Admissions Chair to promote the school to prospective parents by marketing IPCP to prospective families, answering inquiries, and conducting tours and meetings for prospective parents.
- Ensures student enrollment falls within state-mandated maximum capacities and teacher to student ratios.
- Processes re-enrollment and determines student schedules for upcoming school years.
- Works with the Admissions Chair to determine open spaces and family acceptances for upcoming school years.
- Maintains the waitlist and offers acceptances as spaces become available.
- Assigns classes for enrolled students.
- Generates enrollment forms based on state requirements.
- Collects and processes paperwork for all students.
Qualifications
- Education: Bachelor degree in Early Childhood Education, Educational Leadership, or a related field preferred
- Experience: Minimum of 5 years of experience in early childhood education, with at least 3 years as Lead Teacher, and 1 year in a leadership or administrative role.
- Skills and Traits You’ll Need to Successful in this Role:
- Strong commitment to nature-based and early childhood education.
- Convey an advanced understanding and knowledge of developmentally appropriate practices, developmental areas, and learning theories for children ages 1-5 years old.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills to engage and resolve conflict with both children and adults.
- Proven ability to lead, mentor, and inspire a team.
- Strategic thinker with strong organizational and problem-solving skills.
- Familiarity with budgeting, compliance, and operational management in an educational setting.
- Demonstrate ability to consistently adhere to school and Bright from the Start (BFTS) policies and procedures.
- Can physically meet the demands of caring for young children by demonstrating the following abilities:
- Lift up to 40 lbs., including lifting a young child to an adult level surface
- Supervise by sight and sound all children in your care
- Walk and run with ease
- Sit on the floor and get up and down
- Go up and down stairs
- Hear and see up to a distance of 70 ft.
- Verbally respond to a child at a distance of 30 ft.
- Use appropriate fine motor skills to assist children with various activities
- Be outdoors for extended periods of time in various weather conditions
Compensation and Benefits
- Annual Salary: $75,000.00
- Benefits: PTO, health, vision, and dental insurance. We value work-life balance and professional growth and are committed to supporting our staff in their personal and professional endeavors.
How to Apply
Interested candidates should submit the following materials by January 31, 2025:
- A cover letter detailing your philosophy of early childhood education and alignment with IPCP’s values and the cooperative model.
- A current resume.
- Name, Phone Number or Email for three individual references:
- One former direct manager
- One former direct report
- One former colleague
Please email application materials to directorsearch@ipcp.org with the subject line: Executive Director – [Your Full Name].
Interview Process
- A member of our Director Search Committee will screen applications on a weekly, rolling basis.
- If your application is selected, you will be contacted to coordinate an introductory interview to learn more about IPCP and the role, and share more details about your experience and qualifications. The virtual interview will take up to 30 - 45 minutes.
- Finalists will move on to a three-part process that includes a brief prompt, site visit, and conversations with select stakeholders from the Board, Management Team, teachers and staff.
- A member of the Director Search Committee will contact your three references.
- A background screening will be conducted.
- IPCP extends an offer of employment!
Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion
IPCP is an equal-opportunity employer and is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive community. We encourage candidates of all backgrounds to apply.
