Job Details

Missoula Community School is seeking their new Executive Director to lead our innovative early education program. This position is on-site, full-time, and located in Missoula, MT. We offer some healthcare reimbursement and the wage range is $52,000 - $58,000. Please see our website for a full description of essential duties and qualifications. Interested candidates should email their individualized cover letter and resume to our Executive Search Consultant, Paige, at ...@cascadiamg.com by April 30th.

Key Responsibilities

• Directly and indirectly oversee staff at Missoula Community School and maintain employment files.
• Provide a career development path and opportunities for growth to engage staff and teachers.
• Plan and facilitate initial staff orientation and ongoing training to establish clear expectations and ensure alignment with MCS mission, policies, and procedures.
• Plan regular and ongoing professional development for staff in coordination with the Curriculum Coordinator.
• Evaluate staff performance, offering ongoing support and feedback, both informally with regular classroom observation and formally with annual performance reviews and, if necessary, disciplinary actions.
• Assess school needs and determine enrollment projections to make a classroom staffing recommendation to the Board for budgetary approval.
• Hire qualified staff, teachers, and substitutes including recruiting, screening, interviewing, offers, and new hire onboarding.
• Maintain the Employee Handbook, reviewing at least annually and proposing policy adjustments to the Board as needed.
• Ensure the school's pedagogical framework, as implemented by the Curriculum Coordinator, prioritizes inquiry-based learning, mindfulness, and the Reggio Emilia approach.
• Collaborate with Curriculum Coordinator to develop meaningful special programs and school events in alignment with pedagogical vision.

Operational Management

• Develop and manage staff schedules, including advance approval of time off requests.
• Coordinate day-to-day classroom staffing including fielding calls for unforeseen absences, securing classroom coverage, and communicating day-to-day staffing changes appropriately.
• Remain readily accessible by staff for urgent matters during the school day.
• Keep a consistent, active, and engaged presence at school, particularly during morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up times, and in individual classrooms to observe staff.
• Manage enrollment and class assignment process for both the school year and summer programs.
• Lead all marketing and outreach – informational sessions, open houses, school tours, etc.
• Serve as the chief security officer and primary point of contact, and lead deployment of all school safety and emergency protocols when needed.
• Maintain a complete record of all school safety and emergency protocols, proposing updates to the Board as necessary.
• Routinely inspect facility, grounds, and security camera footage and report and act on security concerns appropriately.
• Regularly evaluate facility spaces and classroom furnishings, making recommendations to the Board when capital investments are needed for facility maintenance and improvement.
• Ensure school-wide compliance with licensing regulations, health and safety standards, and other relevant local, state & national requirements.
• Maintain and submit proper documentation for annual licensing and STARS renewal as needed.
• Prepare the Director's Report for Board meetings every other month.
• Provide additional support for teachers when needed.

Financial Oversight & Fund Development

• Advise the Board on the development of the annual operating budget and wage scale for teaching staff and administer the Board-approved operating budget.
• Collaborate with the Board Treasurer to ensure the school's ongoing adherence to the budget.
• Designate tuition scholarship funds available for disbursement each year and identify qualifying families to receive tuition scholarships.
• Actively partner with staff and the Board to develop an annual development plan, pursuing all funding opportunities including, but not limited to campaigns, partnerships, and events.
• Research, coordinate, write, and manage all grant applications, timelines, and compliance.
• Represent MCS at school-sponsored community and fundraising events and engage the school with the Missoula community.
• Maintain open lines of communication with the Board of Directors, staff, parents, prospective families, and community.
• Provide regular, ongoing, and prompt communication with families.
• Serve as the point of contact for all school-wide matters, health and safety concerns, school closures, staffing updates, and any other special announcements.
• Partner with Curriculum Coordinator and teaching staff to address student behavioral issues, including meeting with families and facilitating additional resources as needed.
• Identify and facilitate resolution of conflicts that arise among staff and community in a confidential and compassionate manner.
• Communicate and implement all school policies and procedures with staff, students, and families, as identified in the Employee Handbook and Family Handbook.

Educational Background

Bachelor's Degree in a related field or equivalent experience

Skills/Experience

Required Skills/Abilities:

• Leadership and management experience in an organization focused on education or related nonprofit.
• Familiarity with the principles of inquiry-based learning.
• Proficiency in or willingness and ability to learn all software used for school operations.
• Emergency and crisis management training is preferred.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced work environment with specific deadlines.

Required Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field or equivalent experience. Master's degree preferred.
• Work experience in an educational setting or related nonprofit.

Required Licensure and Screenings:

• Must complete a pre-employment background check and documentation of immunizations as required by the state licensing agency.
• Must complete the approved CPR and First Aid courses within 30 days of hire.
• Must complete the required licensing training within 90 days of hire.

Must register with the Early Childhood Project and complete required annual training.

$52,000 - $58,500 annual salary range

PTO and paid school holidays/breaks

How to Apply

All interested candidates should send an individualized PDF of their cover letter and resume to ...@cascadiamg.com by April 30, 2025.

At MCS we believe that children are capable, kind, and connected to the world around them. We center experiential, project-based learning that is child-led and teacher-scaffolded.

Programs

Missoula Community School is a Reggio Emilia-inspired preschool serving children ages 2-6. The Reggio approach is a play-based, inquiry-led educational philosophy rooted in viewing children as competent, capable citizens from birth. At MCS, children and teachers are co-constructors of learning — engaging in long-term projects following the children's inquiry, tackling real-world problems that are relevant to the children's lives, revisiting documentation as a group to inform future learning, and building skills in advocacy along the way.