Director of Early Childhood

The Organization  For over 55 years, Urban Community School (UCS) has served Cleveland’s children by providing an individualized, innovative, and challenging education. Rooted in the Ursuline Sisters’ tradition of faith, character, and educational excellence, UCS engages our faculty, families, and community partners in the successful whole child development of students. Serving nearly 800 children from 6 weeks old through 8th grade, the school uses restorative practices and conscious discipline to foster growth and community. Accredited by the Independent School Association of the Central States (ISACS), UCS enrolls a student body in which seventy-six percent of families are economically disadvantaged.  Our growing 15-acre campus in the Ohio City neighborhood is home to a vibrant mix of facilities and partners. The Roundstone Athletic Center features the Glick Family Fieldhouse and the Greater Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame and Museum. The campus also hosts The MetroHealth System, House of Champions, Urban Squash Cleveland, USA Lacrosse, Re:Source Cleveland, and Facing History and Ourselves. Outdoor spaces include Doyle Field, a new Little League field, along with a sports mini-pitch, lacrosse field, basketball court, three playgrounds, and learning garden.  UCS is a recipient of the 2026 and 2022 Top Workplace Award from The Plain Dealer, which is based solely on employee feedback. UCS has also been recognized as one of Cleveland’s City Champions by The Plain Dealer, a National Green Ribbon School for Environmental Practices and Learning Model, and a School of Excellence by the Cleveland Foundation and The George Gund Foundation.on. Role Overview The Director of Early Childhood provides leadership and oversight for the Early Childhood program, ensuring high-quality care, education, and experiences for 110+ students in the Gallagher Family Early Education Center (EEC) and 72+ students in the school program across 13 classrooms serving infants, toddlers, and pre-kindergarten students. The Director leads and supports the Early Childhood team, oversees the day-to-day operations of the program, and helps create an environment where children, families, and team members feel known, supported, and connected. Working closely with the Principal/Chief Academic Officer, Division Directors, Enrollment Team, and other cross-functional leaders, the Director ensures strong alignment across academics, enrollment, staffing, family engagement, operations, and compliance. The Director also manages key external partnerships and publicly funded programs, including Head Start, Early Head Start, UPK, and PRE4CLE, and ensures UCS continues to meet applicable licensing, credentialing, and program requirements. As a member of the school’s leadership team, the Director brings a collaborative, solutions-oriented approach to strengthening systems, supporting educators, partnering with families, and continuously improving the quality and sustainability of the Early Childhood program. Responsibilities Coaching & Developing the Early Childhood Team  Hire, train, and manage the Early Childhood team, including 13 teachers, 25 Teacher Assistants, Assistant Director of Early Childhood, and administrative assistant, in alignment with the overall mission, vision and goals of the organization  Develop and implement systems to support consistent, frequent observation and feedback cycles for teachers, including shared intellectual preparation with teachers.  Cultural Leadership Develop systems and procedures that promote a sustainable, positive culture for faculty, staff and students   Set the tone for strong, positive learning environments in each classroom  Implement the school’s restorative practices model Consistently model leadership in interactions with students, families, faculty and staff  Engage with parents and caregivers to promote positive, learning-focused relationships between families and the school Serve on the school’s leadership team and participate in school-wide planning and decision-making, including accreditation and long-term school design efforts Facilitate and Lead Professional Development Design and deliver a range of ongoing professional development sessions that support the vision and culture of UCS programs, implementation of the curriculum, and growth of core academic skills and knowledge that align with the academic priorities Support teachers through the process of intellectual preparation (IP) to ensure that teachers deeply understand the content they teach Continuously research and study best practices implemented in excellent early childhood programs Analyze & Leverage Data to Drive Decisions  Analyze student data using periodic reports and data meetings to determine how to support teachers with implementation and action planning as well as making future improvements to curricular products and instructional materials Develop curriculum elements in response to data, incorporating initial implementation and feedback as part of the process In collaboration with the CAO and academic leadership team, use data to adjust and focus instruction Occasionally create tools (e.g., trackers or templates) that support the efficient gathering review and analysis of data  Lead and Coordinate Early Childhood Programs in 10 month and 12 month programs  Provide leadership and oversight for the day-to-day operations of the EEC (year round) and school based program (10 months), ensuring strong coordination across infant, toddler, and pre-K classrooms. Partner with the Enrollment team on admissions, classroom placements, student transitions, and enrollment planning to support annual enrollment and funding goals. Coordinate daily staffing and classroom coverage across teachers and teacher assistants, proactively addressing absences and other staffing needs to ensure continuity for children. Serve as the internal expert and primary point of contac