Head of Early Childhood

The Head of Early Childhood at Lake Forest Country Day School is a visible presence and a supporter of the School’s mission. This educational leader is an integral member of the Leadership Team and on all key divisional committees. They are the chief advocate for the needs and care of young students and work with families and faculty to implement an engaging, academically rich, child-centered, and differentiated program for students age two through Senior Kindergarten. The Head of Early Childhood is a strong communicator who builds relationships that are characterized by mutual trust and a shared understanding of the School’s mission, vision, core beliefs, and educational programs.

LFCDS, founded in 1888 and located on a 30-acre campus about 30 miles north of Chicago, Illinois, is a co-educational, independent day school serving 420 students from age 2 through eighth grade. The School has a long tradition of producing thoughtful, confident, and successful students. Children are known, loved, and challenged at LFCDS, and a state-of-the-art facility provides a remarkable setting for inspired teaching, personal growth, and nurturing a love of learning.

Key Responsibilities
● Construct, shape, and guide the academic, social, and emotional program in the Early Childhood to meet the needs of the students by directly leading the Early Childhood in matters relating to teachers, students, and parents.
● Partner with families to support student learning, foster a positive learning environment in the Early Childhood program, and respond to students' emotional needs, including communication and follow-up with parents and teachers.
● Provide counsel alongside the Admissions team as families transition into the Early Childhood program.
● Serve as mentor and coach for Early Childhood faculty and staff through collaboration with the Head of School, Division Heads, and team leads.
● Recruit, orient, grow, evaluate, supervise, and advise Early Childhood faculty.
● Support initiatives in curriculum and planning through the evaluation of programming, student performance, assessments, and curricular alignment.
● Serve as an engaged and trusted partner on the Leadership Team, advocating for Early Childhood’s needs while supporting the Head of School and colleagues on institutional goals and strategic objectives, helping the team lead a “one school” focus.
● Ensure compliance with legal requirements of government regulations and agencies; to maintain the educational standards established by the State of Illinois and by those agencies that examine and accredit the 1st STEP two-year-old program.

Qualifications 
● Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in an appropriate content area.
● A graduate degree in Administration, Leadership, Education, or other appropriate area of study is preferred.
● Additionally, three to five years of leadership experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Mission: Through inspired teaching and partnership with families, Lake Forest Country Day School nurtures a love of learning and builds a foundation of strong character, preparing students to navigate their path with purpose.

Vision: Lake Forest Country Day School envisions a world where all children learn in community, discover their gifts, and thrive as adults. Rooted in timeless tradition and a timely approach, we create an environment that elevates the academic and personal growth of every child. Collaborating with one another and in partnership with families, our talented educators craft authentic and challenging learning experiences that empower our students to emerge as confident, compassionate learners, ready to lead, serve, and shape what comes next.

Core Beliefs
Childhood is championed: We center all we do on what is best for our students, protecting and building upon the magic of these precious years.

Community is our core: Honest and respectful relationships, formed through conversation and collaboration, build trust and a sense of belonging – honoring the dignity of every person.

Curiosity is a gift: Wonder is an animating force that resides in every person and should be modeled and nurtured to stimulate self-discovery, spark innovation, and drive creativity.

We aim high: Raising expectations activates the great potential we see in every person and elicits efforts that result in individual growth and the collective success of our community.

Professional Association Memberships: NAIS, ISACS, & INDEX

Prospective candidates should send the listed materials in a single PDF document by November 22, 2024 to the Search Committee at search@lfcds.org including a letter of interest specifically addressing this position, a resume (education and work experience), a statement of educational philosophy, and a list of five professional references with contact information.

Lake Forest Country Day School seeks and embraces diversity among our faculty, staff, and student body. LFCDS is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and it does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, religion, marital status, disability, sex, gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, military or veteran status, order of protection status, genetic information, or any other category protected by applicable law