Child Care Center Director (Head of School)Guidepost Montessori • Evanston, IL • Full-time, on-site • $90,000-$100,000 + bonusAs Center Director, you'll run the whole school: enrollment, staffing, families, licensing, and the quality of every classroom. You'll report to our [Regional Director] and work alongside directors across our network. You won't be figuring it out alone.
If you've run a child care center or preschool and want to lead one where the program comes first, we'd like to talk. You don't need Montessori experience to start. We'll train you.
What you'll own- Enrollment and retention. Fill the school and keep families with us. You'll lead tours and admissions with your Assistant Director and turn families into fans who refer their friends.
- Your team. Hire, coach, and keep great teachers. Keep classrooms fully staffed and in ratio, and manage schedules and labor cost. Over time, build up your Assistant Director and lead teachers so they can grow too.
- Program quality. Make sure every classroom meets our Montessori quality standard, with hands-on support from our training and programs team.
- Licensing and safety. Keep the center in compliance with Illinois DCFS licensing standards, lead inspections, and keep records current.
- Culture and community. Build a team people want to stay on and a parent community families recommend.
Where this role can leadRunning one strong school is the foundation, and it's also the way into multi-site leadership. Once you've got Evanston running well, you can get hands-on experience across more than one campus:
- Work on regional projects with your Regional Director, such as enrollment campaigns, hiring pushes, and new process rollouts.
- Support nearby campuses during leadership transitions, openings, or busy enrollment seasons.
- Mentor new directors as they join the network and learn the Guidepost model.
- Learn how a region runs, including multi-school budgets, staffing, and performance, from leaders who do it every day.
Directors who build that track record are first in line for Area Director, Regional Director, and network leadership roles as we grow.
What you bring- Meets Illinois DCFS child care center director qualifications (89 Ill. Admin. Code 407.130)
- 2-3+ years leading a licensed child care center, preschool, or early childhood program as a director, assistant director, or program director
- A track record of growing enrollment and keeping staff
- Clear, warm communication with families and staff
- Good judgment when you have to decide quickly with incomplete information
- Ambition to grow beyond a single site, and the follow-through to earn it
- Real openness to Montessori: curious, willing to learn, and excited about children's independence
Nice to have- Montessori credential (AMI, AMS, or MACTE-accredited) or Montessori classroom experience
- Early childhood classroom teaching experience
- Experience with a multi-site child care operator
What we offer- $90,000-$100,000 base plus a performance bonus
- 75% tuition discount for up to two children at any Guidepost school (ages 3 months to 6 years)
- Health, dental, and vision insurance
- Paid time off and paid holidays
- Montessori training and ongoing professional development, fully supported
- A network of fellow school leaders who share what works
- A real path into regional and network leadership, with multi-site exposure along the way
Ready to lead a school you'd be proud to send your own kids to? Apply today. We'd love to hear what you've built and where you want to go next. 
