Open Positions

Position Overview 

The Assistant Director is a key operational leader and thought partner to the Head of Program, responsible for ensuring the smooth, consistent, and high-functioning day-to-day operations of the school. 

While the Head of Program leads the school’s educational vision, pedagogy, and family relationships, the Assistant Director ensures that the systems, structures, and logistics required to support that vision are executed with clarity and excellence. 

This role is ideal for an early-childhood professional who combines strong educational knowledge with exceptional organizational and operational skill; someone who thrives in dynamic environments, anticipates needs, solves problems proactively, and takes pride in making complex systems run seamlessly. 

As a founding team member, the Assistant Director will play a central role in building the operational foundation of the school from the ground up. 

Key Responsibilities 

School Operations & Daily Execution 

• Oversee the day-to-day operational flow of the school, ensuring a calm, organized, and well-functioning environment 

• Manage daily staffing schedules, classroom coverage, and ratio compliance across all age groups 

• Coordinate arrivals, dismissals, and transitions to ensure smooth experiences for children, families, and staff 

• Anticipate and respond to real-time operational needs, stepping in as needed to support classrooms or logistics 

• Maintain oversight of facilities, supplies, and shared spaces to ensure readiness and consistency 

Staffing, Scheduling & HR Operations 

• Partner with leadership on hiring, onboarding, and staffing strategy 

• Build and manage staff schedules, time-off tracking, and coverage plans 

• Support substitute and floater coordination to ensure continuity of care and teaching 

• Help manage staff performance processes, including documentation and operational feedback 

• Contribute to building a strong, reliable, and accountable team culture 

Systems, Compliance & Licensing 

• Ensure compliance with Connecticut licensing requirements, including ratios, documentation, and operational standards 

• Maintain accurate records related to attendance, staffing, health and safety, and required reporting 

• Support licensing visits, inspections, and ongoing regulatory readiness 

• Develop and refine operational systems, procedures, and internal workflows 

Family Experience & Communication 

• Support the day-to-day family experience, with particular attention to logistics, scheduling, and operational clarity 

• Serve as a warm, responsive, and solutions-oriented point of contact for families, particularly around operational questions and needs 

• Partner closely with the Head of Program to ensure clear, timely, and thoughtful communication with families 

• Actively participate in the admissions and onboarding process, including joining tours and family meetings alongside the Head of Program 

• Help manage enrollment logistics, transitions, and onboarding processes for new families, ensuring a smooth and welcoming entry into the school community 

Program Support & School Culture 

• Partner closely with the Head of Program to align operations with educational priorities 

• Support classroom teams in maintaining consistent routines and expectations 

• Help ensure that the physical and logistical environment reflects the school’s values and standards 

• Contribute to building a warm, respectful, and highly collaborative school culture 

Founding Team & Build-Out 

• Play an active role in setting up the school prior to opening (systems, schedules, materials, workflows) 

• Help operationalize the use of new spaces including classrooms, atelier, and shared environments 

• Identify opportunities to improve systems and processes as the school grows 

• Contribute to shaping a scalable, sustainable operational model 

Qualifications 

Required Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in early childhood education 

• Prior experience in an operational, administrative, or leadership role within a school or childcare setting 

• Strong understanding of child development and early childhood program structure 

• Demonstrated ability to manage complex logistics, scheduling, and systems 

• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and proactive in problem-solving 

• Excellent communication skills with staff, families, and leadership 

• Ability to remain calm, flexible, and solutions-focused in a dynamic environment 

Preferred Qualifications 

• Experience in a Reggio-inspired or progressive early childhood program 

• Experience opening or scaling a school or program 

• Familiarity with Connecticut licensing requirements 

• Experience with childcare management systems (e.g., Brightwheel or similar) 

Personal Attributes We Value 

• Deeply reliable and operationally minded; someone who “holds the whole system” 

• Warm, grounded, and respectful in all interactions 

• Takes initiative and anticipates needs before they arise 

• Balances high standards with flexibility and practicality 

• Collaborative partner who communicates clearly and directly 

• Energized by building something new and meaningful 

Why Join TCS Ridgefield? 

This is a rare opportunity to join the founding leadership team of a new early-childhood school backed by 20 years of experience and a clear educational vision. 

The Assistant Director will play a critical role in bringing that vision to life, ensuring that each day runs smoothly, that educators are supported, and that families experience a school that feels thoughtful, organized, and deeply caring. 

For the right candidate, this role offers the opportunity to build, shape, and lead the operational systems of a school designed with intention from the very beginning. 

Interested candidates please email doug@tribecacommunityschool.com

Position Overview 

The Atelierista & Pedagogy Lead is a central pedagogical leader within the school. This individual serves as both an artist-educator and a curriculum leader, working across classrooms to deepen children’s thinking through materials, documentation, and long-term project work. 

This is not a standalone studio role. We are looking for someone who can: 

• Drive curriculum and pedagogy across the program 

• Support teachers in translating theory into practice 

• Elevate documentation and reflective work school-wide 

• Help build systems, structures, and coherence 

The Atelierista works in close partnership with the Head of Program and teaching teams to ensure that the atelier is not just a space—but a way of thinking that lives throughout the school. 

Key Responsibilities 

Pedagogical Leadership & Curriculum Development 

• Collaborate with the Head of Program to shape and evolve the school’s curriculum 

• Support teachers in developing emergent, project-based investigations 

• Bring a strong lens to materials, aesthetics, and the role of environment as the “third teacher” 

• Help ensure coherence and depth of learning across age groups (infants through 5s) 

Atelier Practice 

• Design and facilitate experiences in the central atelier and mini-ateliers across classrooms 

• Introduce children and teachers to a wide range of materials, tools, and expressive languages 

• Support children in representing ideas through drawing, painting, print-making, sculpture, construction, light, etc. 

• Maintain and curate atelier materials with intentionality and care 

Documentation & Research 

• Lead and elevate documentation practices across the school 

• Support teachers in observing, interpreting, and making learning visible 

• Help transform documentation into tools for reflection, curriculum planning, and communication 

• Contribute to school-wide displays, panels, and narrative documentation 

Teacher Support & Professional Development 

• Serve as a pedagogical partner to teachers in classrooms 

• Model strong practice through co-teaching, observation, and reflection 

• Lead workshops, study groups, and ongoing professional learning 

• Support onboarding of new teachers into Reggio-inspired practice 

Program Coordination & Systems 

• Help establish structures for curriculum planning, documentation cycles, and project work 

• Collaborate with leadership on aligning practices across classrooms 

• Support organization and coordination of materials, atelier scheduling, and shared resources 

• Contribute to long-term program development and growth 

Family & Community Engagement 

• Share documentation and insights with families in meaningful, accessible ways 

• Support communication around curriculum and children’s learning processes 

• Contribute to admissions events, parent events, exhibitions, and community-facing work 

Qualifications 

Required 

• Significant experience in early childhood education (Reggio-inspired or progressive setting preferred) 

• Strong background in visual arts, design, or material-based exploration 

• Deep understanding of child development and constructivist learning 

• Experience supporting or mentoring teachers 

• Demonstrated strength in documentation and pedagogical thinking 

• Ability to move fluidly between classroom practice and big-picture thinking 

Preferred 

• Experience in an Atelierista or pedagogical coordinator role 

• Background in curriculum leadership or program development 

• Experience opening or shaping a new program 

• Graduate degree in Early Childhood Education, Art Education, or related field 

Personal Attributes We Value 

• Deeply curious about children’s thinking and processes 

• Both creative and highly organized (this role needs both) 

• Collaborative, reflective, and grounded 

• Comfortable leading while working alongside others 

• Able to hold vision while attending to detail 

• Excited to build something from the ground up 

Why This Role Matters 

At TCS, we view the atelier, as well as the creative work that happens throughout the program, as central to how children think, express, and learn. 

This role is an opportunity to: 

• Shape the pedagogical identity of a new school 

• Work alongside a highly thoughtful teaching and leadership team 

• Build systems that support deep, sustained learning 

• Contribute to a program grounded in nearly 20 years of practice and evolution 

To Apply 

Please send a resume, portfolio (if applicable), and a brief statement of educational philosophy to doug@tribecacommunityschool.com.