Preschool Director - Palma Sola Early Learning Academy
- A True Genius School Bradenton, FL (34209)
- Full-Time
- On-Site
- $60,000-$75,000/year + performance bonuses
- Relocation assistance available The short version Most director roles hand you someone else's program and a binder of "how we've always done it.
" This one hands you the keys. Palma Sola Early Learning Academy is a licensed center serving children ages 0-5 — infants through VPK — in one of West Bradenton's most sought-after family neighborhoods. The school is beginning a new chapter as the flagship of True Genius Schools, and ownership is investing real capital into the facility right now. We are rebuilding this program from the ground up, and we're looking for the Director who will lead that rebuild: your hires, your classrooms, your culture, your standards — with an owner behind you who believes early education is the most important work in the world. If you've ever walked through a struggling program with low enrollment (due to entirely reversible reasons) and thought, "I know exactly how I'd fix this," this is your job. Why top Directors choose this role Real authority, real backing. This is a true turnaround. You'll rebuild the staff, set the standard, and shape the program — with the autonomy and ownership support to actually do it. You won't do it alone. You'll work directly with True Genius Schools CEO Jason and receive the operational and financial support necessary to get the job done (translation: we have the funding necessary to successfully turn the school around) Ground floor of something bigger. True Genius Schools is built to grow. Our first Director isn't filling a seat — you're helping define what every future True Genius school looks like, with a clear path toward multi-site leadership as we expand. A compelling mission. Our Whole Family Curriculum serves the child and the parents — because the research is clear that family engagement is the #1 predictor of a child's long-term success. We're proud members of NAEYC, FLAEYC, NCCA, and FACCM. Above-market pay and a fast, respectful process. Competitive salary, negotiable benefits, relocation assistance — and we move quickly. Qualified candidates typically hear from us within two business days. A community worth serving. Engaged, education-minded families in a beautiful corner of Florida's Gulf Coast. What you'll own Full operational leadership of the center: staffing, scheduling, compliance, budgets, and the daily family experience Recruiting, hiring, onboarding, and coaching an excellent teaching team — and holding a high bar Rebuilding enrollment: leading tours, converting inquiries, building community relationships, and retaining families through outstanding service VPK and ELC School Readiness (SR) program administration and compliance Maintaining inspection-ready DCF licensing compliance at all times — health, safety, ratios, documentation Living and protecting our culture (we call it the TrueGenius Twelve) in every classroom, every day Non-negotiable requirements Active Florida Director Credential (current / non-expired) Current CDA (Child Development Associate credential) 45 DCF training hours completed and up-to-date 3+ years of experience as a full-time Director in a licensed childcare setting Hands-on experience with VPK and ELC School Readiness (SR) classrooms (if you have not built or run either of these, but meet all other reqs, please show up to the first interview having done your homework on exactly what is required to establish and fill up VPK and ELC SR programs, and on how to ensure we collect absolutely every dollar of eligible subsidy money for them) A proven track record hiring, onboarding, and managing teaching staff DCF/Clearinghouse background screening You'll thrive here if you… Believe "good enough" isn't — excellence lives in the small details, from the drop-off greeting to how clean the floors are Take extreme ownership: no excuses, no "not my job" Serve the whole family , not just the child — lightening the load for moms and dads is part of the work Communicate directly and honestly — problems go to the person who can solve them, never the breakroom Default to "I'll figure it out" — you see obstacles as puzzles, not dead ends Bring genuine joy to this work, and it shows (We'll walk you through our full values — the TrueGenius Twelve — during interviews. They're not a poster on a wall; they're the daily standard our team lives by.) Compensation & benefits Base $50,000-$60,000 per year , based on experience and credentials Performance bonuses $10,000-15,000 per year, tied to enrollment growth and quality milestones Benefits negotiable — no one-size-fits-all; instead, tell us what you truly need and then what you really want, and why, and we'll work something out (PTO, professional development, childcare discount, and more) Relocation assistance for strong candidates located 1+ hour from Bradenton Target start date: July 20 or July 27 About True Genius Schools True Genius Schools exists to reverse-engineer success for children — by supporting the whole family. Research from the Harvard Center on the Developing Child shows that roughly 90% of brain development happens before age 7, and family engagement is the strongest predictor of a child's long-term outcomes. So we built our school model around a Whole Family educational approach. Founder Jason Bern previously created Preschool From Home, a virtual early learning program serving 550+ children ages 3-5, and founded True Genius to bring that mission into brick-and-mortar schools. Learn more at TrueGeniusSchools.com. How to apply Apply through this posting with your resume plus a few short paragraphs introducing yourself, why this role speaks to you, and — bonus points — a program you've built or turned around and how you did it. You may also email jason@truegeniusschools.com directly. We're hiring immediately. Applications are reviewed daily. True Genius Schools LLC is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a Level 2 background screening as required by Florida DCF.
Pay:
$55,000.00 - $75,000.00 per year
Benefits:
Dental insurance Health insurance Relocation assistance Tuition reimbursement Vision insurance
Work Location:
In person
