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  • Early Childhood Division Head

Description

The Evergreen School, an independent school serving highly capable students in preschool through 8th grade, is currently accepting applications for a new Early Childhood Division Head (grades PS, PK, and K).

Our Mission 
We inspire highly capable, creative learners to lead with curiosity, compassion, and courage in a diverse and dynamic world. 

About the Organization 
Located just north of Seattle in Shoreline, Washington, The Evergreen School has been educating highly capable, creative learners for over 60 years. Our students love to ask questions, and our teachers use that natural curiosity to craft engaging lessons and spark thought-provoking conversations. Evergreen’s program infuses challenging academics with foundational support for social skills, emotional well-being, a multicultural perspective, and empathy for others. Our students think deeply, take intellectual risks, and tackle complex problems. They learn how to self-advocate, collaborate with others, and understand and respect differences. Evergreen graduates move on to high school and beyond with confidence, ready to contribute to a diverse and dynamic world. 

Community
Our community members at Evergreen value and embrace the dignity and diversity of all people. We actively seek and support students, families, faculty, staff, and trustees who bring a diversity of identity into our community. Our mission makes it essential that we skillfully deliver an inclusive educational program that teaches respect for others, empowers students of all backgrounds equitably, encourages social responsibility, and prepares students to be leaders in an interdependent global community. At Evergreen, our goal is to curate a culture where every family feels fully welcomed and encouraged to participate in every aspect of the community. The school community is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion work; it is a place where all faculty and staff are required to complete training through the National SEED Project within the first three years of their employment. 

The Opportunity
It is an exciting time to be joining The Evergreen School as a new early childhood building will be opening in the fall of 2026 to house its existing but expanding PS-K grades. This building project is the culmination of multiple years of investment in our early childhood years that started with a review of our pedagogy, curriculum, schedule, documentation, assessment, screening practices, and so much more. Our amazing faculty have fully embraced this opportunity and have made incredible progress to date. The next important step is to provide our dedicated faculty with purposefully designed learning spaces for these young learners. Our goal is to be an exemplar in the education of highly capable students in these early childhood years, and we are well on our way to achieving it! As the school raises the profile of the early childhood program, it is creating a new Early Childhood Division with a dedicated division head. 

The early childhood division head will be charged with overseeing this continued process improvement and charting a vision for the ECE program in the years ahead. The early childhood head assists the head of school in the management and supervision of the school in specific oversight of the EC Division. The division head is responsible for the oversight of instructional content and program, delivery and organization of curriculum, student and classroom management, oversight and compliance with all requirements with early childhood licensing, as well as teacher supervision and evaluation. The division head is responsible for managing an annual work agenda mutually constructed with the head’s oversight and agreement and to undertake other tasks and projects deemed necessary by the head of school.

Reggio Emilia Inspired Program
Evergreen's Early Childhood program is on an exciting journey to create a vibrant early learning community inspired by the principles of the Reggio Emilia approach, while integrated with our Highly Capable program. We are seeking a visionary leader who is passionate about early childhood education and eager to continue cultivating an environment that values and fosters curiosity, creative expression, and collaboration while honoring and supporting our youngest children as capable and competent learners. 

Admissions
The head of early childhood will collaborate closely with the Enrollment Management team to support prospective and current families as they navigate the early years at The Evergreen School. This partnership includes reviewing files for preschool, prekindergarten, and kindergarten applicants, offering valuable insights to ensure a holistic understanding of each child’s needs and potential. The head of EC will also play a key role in presenting at admission tours, sharing their expertise to highlight the school’s approach to early childhood education. Since Evergreen requires IQ testing beginning in kindergarten, the head of early childhood, in partnership with the director of enrollment management, will offer thoughtful guidance to prekindergarten families. This support will help families navigate the transition to kindergarten with sensitivity and clarity. As part of this collaborative effort, the head of early childhood will contribute to the review and refinement of the admission process as needed to align the school’s evolving needs. 

Duties and Responsibilities
In all of their work, the early childhood division head must be committed to developing and practicing their cultural competence in their work, collaboration, and leadership. The early childhood division head oversees the personnel, curriculum, and programs within the division in accordance with Evergreen’s mission, strategic plan, and short- and long-term objectives. As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, the early childhood division head will report directly to the head of school, attend senior leadership meetings, and work collaboratively with all members of the Senior Leadership Team. They will work closely with the head of school, associate head, primary division head, and upper division head to support the educational goals of the school. The early childhood division head also works in partnership with our director of enrollment management regarding school admissions. Duties include but are not limited to:

  • Observe, evaluate, supervise, and advise all early childhood faculty, staff, teaching assistants, substitutes, and independent contractors 
  • Evaluate each instructional year’s curriculum initiatives and scope and sequence, with a particular emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion; work collaboratively with the associate head of school and/or primary and upper division heads to advance agreed-upon curricular initiatives
  • Advise the head of school regarding all new instructional hires and conduct some initial interviews for candidates, including substitutes and other auxiliary positions
  • Make recommendations to the head of school regarding any personnel discipline or necessary job action 
  • Coordinate and/or assign faculty duties and responsibilities outside of regular classroom instruction. This includes but is not limited to recess duties, before and after school duties, and school committee memberships
  • Serve as a member of the admissions and financial aid committees so as to directly deliberate on each applicant for the division, which includes some evenings and weekends
  • Assist in the construction and management of division budgets and oversee and approve the acquisition of appropriate instructional materials, advising the Business Office when problems occur
  • Conduct Early Childhood Division meetings and manage agendas  
  • Conduct regular reviews of Early Childhood Division programs for initial adoption, continued application, and effectiveness
  • Manage and maintain King County and Washington state early childhood licensing and ensure that all classrooms and programs are operating in compliance with licensing requirements
  • Oversee and manage professional development of all Early Childhood Division faculty with a specific focus on professional education requirements, continuing education, professional growth, and enhancing instruction
  • Prioritize classroom observations to provide feedback and coaching to EC teachers, supporting them in implementing best practices and effective pedagogy
  • Collaborate with the learning specialist and teachers to create a system for early interventions 
  • Support a high quality of collaboration among teaching teams in a way that values individual talents while clarifying school-wide approaches to curriculum planning, documentation, assessment, and integration
  • Manage an effective and transparent student behavior management system
  • Provide recommendations to the head of school regarding re-enrollment or dismissal of current students
  • Participate, as needed, in parent or parent/child meetings and evening meetings throughout the school year
  • Work with families and faculty to ensure a productive partnership characterized by strong communication, mutual trust, and a shared understanding of The Evergreen School’s educational programs
  • Review student semester report forms regularly and revise as necessary
  • Be a visible presence in the school; champion the educational goals of an Evergreen education among faculty, parents/guardians, and trustees. Be a community resource for educational context, goal setting, and conflict resolution
  • Assist with management of the school’s external and internal image through coordination with the communications and development departments and the head of school
  • Other duties as assigned

Experience, Education and Desirable Skills 
The ideal candidate for this position should:

  • Hold a bachelor’s degree with a master’s degree (or doctorate) in early childhood education or a related field
  • Have a minimum of four to six years of experience working as a teacher in early childhood education
  • Be familiar with the principles and practices of Reggio Emilia 
  • Be familiar with or learn about King County and Washington state licensing requirements for early childhood
  • Have experience with twice exceptional (2E) children is a plus
  • Have a proven track record of effective leadership, including initiating and completing multiple tasks, independently or collaboratively as required, supervising personnel, coaching/mentoring faculty, and managing budgets
  • Exceptional skills as a deep thinker, listener, collaborator, and facilitator, along with a disposition to act and problem-solve
  • Have demonstrated cultural competence skills that allow them to successfully collaborate across diverse cultures and backgrounds; can build relationships and trust with all constituents
  • Communicate effectively and professionally with a diverse community of children and adults internally and externally, both verbally and in writing
  • An accomplished track record of instructional leadership in curriculum development (alignment, assessment, creation), social and emotional learning, student-centered learning, and/or other progressive educational practices, done through a DEI lens
  • Demonstrate an ability to collaborate and empower in their decision-making, but also ensure that progress is made to achieve the stated goal or solve the problem
  • Skill in building professional relations with colleagues; exhibit a professional manner in dealing with others but successful in creating an informal and fun working environment
  • Have a high level of analytical and organizational skills
  • Be open to direction and feedback
  • Be able to keep information in the strictest of confidence
  • Can be depended on to report to work at the scheduled time and is seldom absent from work. Can complete work in a timely, accurate, and thorough manner and is conscientious about assignments and deadlines

Equipment Used 

  • Computer (PC), Google Suite, and Microsoft Office Suite
  • LMS, such as SeeSaw
  • Classroom smart projector
  • Other instructional technology tools as directed  

Physical Requirements

  • Ability to lift up to 35 pounds in connection with job duties such as assisting with classroom setup or moving materials.
  • Ability to stand, sit, and move comfortably throughout classrooms and school hallways for extended periods.
  • Ability to climb stairs, navigate uneven surfaces, and escort students as needed between locations within and outside school buildings.
  • Willingness to work outdoors in varying weather conditions, including inclement weather.

Position Details:

This is an exempt, 1.0 FTE full-time, benefits-eligible position for the 2025-2026 school year beginning July 1, 2025. This position follows a 12-month work schedule. The salary range for the head of early childhood position is $130,000 to $145,000 per year.

Benefits:

  • School-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance
  • School-paid Life, Accidental Death & Dismemberment, and Long-Term Disability insurance plus an Employee Assistance Program
  • 403(b) Retirement Plan with a School match of up to 7% and immediate vesting
  • Flexible Savings Account and/or Health Savings Account
  • Commuter Assistance
  • Tuition Remission
  • Infant/toddler care is available on campus  (availability limitations apply)
  • Paid holidays and other paid leave

Visit our website for more detailed benefits information.

TO APPLY:

Complete the Evergreen Online Employment Application. Please include "EC Division Head" on the application. The deadline to apply is January 13. Semi-finalist interviews will be conducted January 21, 22, and 23 with finalist visits from January  30-February 7. 

Be prepared to provide or upload the following information: 

  • A cover letter, outlining interest in and qualifications for this position.
  • A current resume.
  • Three references (Evergreen will inform candidates before contacting references, generally after round 2 interviews.)

Any applicant scheduled for an interview will be asked to submit a 500-word (max.) answer to the following question:
At Evergreen, our mission calls us to “inspire highly capable, creative learners to lead with curiosity, compassion, and courage in a diverse and dynamic world.” Reflecting on your current or previous experiences, describe a time in which you moved diversity and inclusion efforts forward in that role. How did you approach this effort and what did you learn about yourself during this process? 

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Statement
The Evergreen School is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to qualified individuals with disabilities. We will provide reasonable accommodations to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their job unless doing so would cause an undue hardship. Physical requirements and job duties listed in this posting are essential to the role. If you believe you need an accommodation to perform these functions, we encourage you to apply and discuss potential accommodations with our team.

If you require accommodation during the application or hiring process, please contact Carleigh Brown, HR Manager at [email protected].

Notice of Nondiscrimination
The Evergreen School strives to provide equal opportunity to all employees. The school's policy is not to discriminate in employment based on race, color, sex (including pregnancy), religion, creed, age, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran or military status or any other status protected under applicable local, state or federal law. The School is committed to administering employment decisions, including hiring, promotions, compensation benefits, transfers, layoffs, return from layoffs, terminations, training, sabbaticals, tuition assistance, and other programs, without regard to an employee's protected status.