Child Care Center Director (Head of School)

Guidepost Montessori · Evanston, IL · Full-time, on-site · $90,000–$100,000 + bonus

Picture a classroom of children pouring their own water, setting their own tables, and choosing their own work, calmly and on purpose. That’s an ordinary morning at a Guidepost school. We’re looking for a leader to make it happen every day at our Evanston campus, and to grow with us as we bring it to more families.

As 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.

Why Guidepost

We believe young children can do far more than most programs assume. Montessori classrooms give them real work, real independence, and real responsibility, and the results are visible every day. Guidepost is a network of 60+ schools working to make that kind of early education available to many more families.

For you, that means two things a stand-alone center can’t offer:

• Support. Training, program, and operations teams who help you solve problems, and a network of school leaders who share what works.
• Somewhere to go next. Our directors grow into regional and network leadership roles. Here, the next step is part of the plan.

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 lead

Running 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.