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School Director

Employer
Clayton Early Learning
Location
Denver, Colorado
Salary
$90,000 - $110,000 per year + benefits

About Clayton Early Learning

Clayton Early Learning is a hub for Colorado’s innovative work in early childhood development. Committed fiercely to the belief that healthy early childhood development offers one of the most powerful levers for ending poverty, Clayton plays a leadership role in demonstrating what’s possible in the early years and the positive impact that has for children and families over time. Clayton’s 20-acre campus in the heart of Denver is the home of Colorado’s only Educare school, a nationally recognized model supporting children, from birth to age five, and their families.

We impact systems change in Colorado and beyond through our research and evaluation services, professional development for teachers and leaders throughout Colorado, and policy and advocacy work at the state and federal level. Our direct service and systems change work impacts 20,000 children throughout Colorado each year.

At Clayton, we believe that a whole child, whole family approach to the early years is one of the most powerful ways to eradicate societal inequities and create a thriving community. We aim to create the beloved community and work to foster a community characterized by trust, dignity, love, and justice, with our children and families, our team members, and other partners on our campus and beyond.

The following values are foundational to Clayton Early Learning’s beloved community:

Community

Community fosters belonging, resiliency, stability, and strength. We are committed to creating a caring, trauma-informed, professional community at Clayton and we are committed to being a positive member of the many communities we partner with and serve. Community means living the seven Sanctuary commitments: nonviolence, emotional intelligence, social learning, democracy, open communication, social responsibility, and growth and change.

Collaboration

Collaboration builds trust and relationships and brings new ideas, skills, and knowledge to help us do better work. We are committed to approaching our work as one team across Clayton. Collaboration means working across teams and departments and with our external partners.

Diversity, Equity, and Belonging

Diversity, Equity, and Belonging leads us to reflect the communities we serve and bring the widest variety of ideas and innovation to our work. We are committed to building and sustaining an organization centered on diversity, equity, and belonging. Diversity means building a team that is reflective of the world around us, in all aspects of our personal and professional backgrounds. Equity means recognizing that we need to provide different resources to meet different needs and circumstances that are often the result of systemic
injustice; it is core to everything we do in service of our children and families and in how we work with each other. A true sense of belonging means that everyone who enters the Clayton campus is valued for who they are and can meaningfully say “I belong here.”

Growth

Growth allows us to develop as professionals and to provide the best services we can to the children, families, and educators we serve. We are committed to growing as individuals and as an organization. Growth means we are continually learning how to do our individual and collective work better and we adapt and evolve our programs and practices to reflect new learning and to meet changing needs.

Stewardship

Stewardship enables us to have the greatest impact we can with the resources we have. We are committed to being good stewards of our community and our resources. Stewardship means using our financial resources wisely and responsibly so that we can sustain our work into the future, taking care of our unique and beautiful campus so it can remain a resource for our community, and caring for our community and team and treating each other with respect and responsibility.

Fun

Fun reduces stress, keeps us motivated, builds connections, and models for our children the joy that can come with learning and working together. We are committed to having fun! Fun means noticing and sharing things that bring us joy, being creative in our work, making connections with each other, and finding humor and hope in our work.


The Opportunity

Clayton Early Learning is at an exciting point in its history. We are currently going into the third year of a five-year strategic roadmap that builds on our wide-ranging strengths and positions Clayton to be a nationally recognized hub for innovation in the field of early childhood development. The role of School Director is an opportunity for a leader to enable Clayton’s school to reach its potential as the center of excellence. We have exciting aspirations, and we are seeking a school leader who is not only a highly skilled, strategic visionary with passion for our direction, but one who is ready to roll up their sleeves and design systems improvements.

This role offers the opportunity for a skilled school, early childhood center, or organizational leader to shape the culture and develop and manage a diverse team to achieve our goals. Central to the values of the organization is a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion as Clayton aspires to become one of the best places to work in Colorado where each of our employees is thriving while advancing our mission.


Position Summary

The School Director leads Clayton’s Educare school for 200 children from birth to age five and leads a staff comprised of five to seven direct reports and an overall team of more than 60 staff members. The School Director sets strategy and culture for Educare Denver and holds primary responsibility for mobilizing the team to deliver outcomes related to that vision. The School Director creates an environment of excellence, innovation, and equity and fosters continuous learning and improvement while positioning the school to serve as an action lab generating insights for the field.

The School Director oversees classrooms, family engagement, and school operations. The leader builds relationships cross functionally and partners closely with peers to deliver high-quality care and education services. The School Director works with external partners to elevate the quality of work at our school by connecting with local and national leaders and networks. This leader will serve as a representative for Clayton in the national Educare Learning Network.


Responsibilities

School Leadership

 

  • People + Culture
    • Provides leadership, management, and support to a team of managers who are responsible for the day-to-day management of the school and ensuring the implementation of family and child services
    • Develops a culture of trust where team members thrive by building and maintaining high functioning teams and communicating clearly and effectively
    • Models core values of diversity, equity, and inclusion, integrity, bold humility, excellence, and collaboration; maintains an unwavering focus on fostering the “beloved community”
    • Ensures team effectiveness by delegating, offering solutions to complex issues
    • Articulates and propels the vision and marshals resources to execute effectively on that vision
    • Maintains proactive lines of communication with all key stakeholders
    • Supports with all supervisory responsibilities including hiring, professional development, training, and performance management
  • ​​​​​​Educational + Developmental Outcomes:
    • ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Sets the strategic vision for instructional approach as well as the approach to comprehensive child development, working in partnership with subject-matter experts within and beyond Clayton
    • Responsible for measures of whole child and whole family development and outcomes related to school and life readiness, including through collaboration with comprehensive services, continuous learning and data and community engagement teams
    • Collaborates, promotes, and ensures the success of the programs; facilitates change management within the department through the implementation of programs and initiatives; continuously evaluates current state and identifies opportunities of improvement
    • Applies innovative, evidence-based research and practices to continuously improve educational program delivery; seeks new ideas and partnerships to elevate the quality of the school
    • Drives continuous learning and improvement processes that result in increased quality and results through a multifaceted approach, including evaluation, curriculum/ curriculum development, coaching, and data
  • Operations + Compliance:
    • Leads and manages school operations, including budgeting, administration, and policies and procedures; dedicated focus on enhancing classroom learning and integration of family engagement
    • Monitors revenue and expenses to ensure financial viability and sustainability, including multiple funding sources (CPP, CCAP, DPP, and parent fees)
    • Ensures that all required state and local licenses and other regulatory requirements (e.g. NAEYC) are maintained

Organizational Leadership

  • Understands the critical connection between research, policy, and practice and consistently seeks ways to deepen the cross-departmental and cross-functional relationships and work necessary for Clayton to realize its vision as an innovation hub
  • Supports design and implementation of cross-organizational projects that impact the quality of the whole child whole family services we provide
  • Collaborates effectively as a member of Clayton’s leadership team to achieve organizational outcomes
  • Serves as a critical communication path for escalations, problem solving, and cascading messages both internally and externally

Local + National Leadership

  • Partners closely with Denver Great Kids Head Start and the Educare Learning Network (ELN); connects Clayton Early Learning to nationally adopted, leading strategies and best practices from within the Office of Head Start and ELN
  • Maintains current knowledge of Head Start, Early Head Start, Child Care Partnerships, Colorado licensing and the various resources and requirements associated with public funding sources and programmatic approaches that support Clayton’s work
  • Cultivates relationships with Policy Council/Policy Committee members, Board Trustees, and funders positioning our school as a source of inspiration and learning for the field
  • Acts as a local and national thought leader, presenting to various audiences and remaining ahead of current trends and advancements in early childhood education



Reporting Relationships

The School Director reports directly to the Chief Impact Officer and has five to seven direct reports at both the manager and individual contributor level.


Education, Experience, Skills, + Abilities

Education:

  • Master’s degree in Education preferred; Bachelor’s degree required. The strongest candidates will have an academic background in early childhood development and education. Experience with infants and toddlers strongly preferred.
  • Early Childhood Large Center Director certification strongly preferred; immediate commitment to pursue an Early Childhood Large Center Director license, if not already certified.

Candidates will have experience:

  • Demonstrating a track record of successful organizational leadership in a school, early learning center, education system, and/or nonprofit, including knowledge of best practices in teaching, learning, and leadership; ideally with specific expertise in early childhood education and development
  • Working with communities that experience inequities; demonstrated passion for social justice and eliminating structural inequality
  • Driving innovation and developing programs from idea, to impact, to scale
  • Developing and improving systems that support educational excellence with a focus on whole child development
  • Employing comprehensive services to supporting a whole child, whole family (or 2gen) approach
  • Approaching conversations about identity, power, and privilege with awareness, humility, and a quest for greater understanding
  • Creating the conditions for high performance and talent retention by fostering a development-oriented environment of support and accountability
  • Developing effective means to actively communicate messages to a wide range of stakeholders

Skills + Abilities:

  • Strategic thinker and problem solver who can implement strategic initiatives; empathetic and engaging individual who attentively listens and responds with solutions and results oriented approach
  • Results-oriented leader with well-honed analytic skills and the ability to develop and motivate teams to produce quality materials and results
  • Relationship builder and collaborator acting as a natural partner who remains calm and establishes credibility with a variety of trusted partners; demonstrated success at cultivating strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders
  • Adept change manager with the ability to manage organizational change and communicate change effectively; drives initiatives and achieves desired results
  • Passion for the organization’s mission and approach with the ability to effectively articulate this information to internal and external stakeholders
  • High level of personal integrity; models the organizational values; leads and fosters collaboration, diversity, and inclusion
  • Excellent written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to build effective relationships at all levels and tailor communication to diverse audiences
  • Technologically proficient (Microsoft Office and G-suite) with the ability to learn new systems

 

Compensation + Benefits

This is a full-time, salaried position with a salary range of $90,000-$110,000.

A competitive benefits package is provided, including:

  • Medical, vision, and dental insurance
  • Mental health and Employee Assistance Program
  • Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
  • Life insurance*
  • Short- and long-term disability insurance*
  • 401(k) retirement plan with eligibility starting at the start of the first of the quarter following date of hire and an employer match of up to 5% after one year of employment
  • Five (5) days of flex time and ten (10) sick days per year
  • Fourteen (14) paid holidays and ten (10) vacation days that begin accruing upon date of hire

* Life insurance and short- and long-term disability are provided at no cost to the employee.

As a reflection of our firm’s commitment to equity and equal pay for all, it is Cooper Coleman’s requirement that salary ranges or salary starting points be published for every search we conduct. The practice of not posting salaries perpetuates the gender and racial wage gap and discriminates against women, people of color, and other historically excluded populations by causing individuals to negotiate from a disadvantaged starting point.


Location + Travel

Clayton Early Learning’s Denver Educare School is located at 3751 Martin Luther King Blvd., Denver, CO 80205. Minimal travel outside of Denver may be expected occasionally and may include participation in professional conferences.


EEO + Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Clayton Early Learning is an equal opportunity employer that values workplace diversity. We strive to create an inclusive workplace that embraces diverse backgrounds, life experiences, and perspectives. We prohibit discrimination of employees or applicants on the basis of race, creed, color, age, sex, national origin, sexual identity, sexual orientation, religious affiliation, disability, or any other classification considered discriminatory under applicable law. 


Background Checks

Before sending your resume for this position, please read it over for accuracy. Cooper Coleman verifies its candidates' employment and academic credentials represented at the time of offer and offer of employment is contingent upon successful completion of a criminal background check, being fingerprinted for the state of Colorado, and FBI investigation criminal background checks including the sex offender registry and reference checks.


Submission Instructions (read carefully)

Cooper Coleman is leading this search on behalf of Clayton Early Learning.  To apply, please visit this link (www.coopercoleman.com/current-searches). Inquiries and nominations of qualified candidates can be sent to:

Paul Towne

paul@coopercoleman.com

A cover letter is not required with your initial application but is welcomed to help us understand your fitness for this role during our initial evaluation. Candidates invited for interviews will be asked to provide a thoughtful letter of interest indicating their specific qualifications for the opportunity, desire to join Clayton Early Learning, and connection to its mission.

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the successful candidate has been selected.

Cooper Coleman LLC is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all qualified candidates and will refer candidates without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation or identity, age, ability, veteran status, or any other legally protected basis.

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