ALL ABOUT LITTLE PEOPLE'S COLLEGE

Founded in 1980, Little People's College is a collaborative early education organization devoted to children, families, and the highest standards in early education. We believe everyone deserves to feel safe, loved, respected, and supported to reach their fullest potential. At LPC, we believe that great early education begins with a great team. We value passionate educators, strong relationships, open communication, teamwork, and a genuine commitment to supporting one another. We want our team members to feel valued, supported, and proud to be part of LPC, with opportunities to learn, grow, and make a meaningful difference every day. We take pride in what we do, in the people we work alongside, and in the positive impact we have on the children, families, and communities we serve.

POSITION OVERVIEW

Little People's College is seeking an experienced, collaborative, and passionate Director of Curriculum & Program Quality to provide organization-wide leadership for curriculum, educational quality, program standards, and continuous improvement. This position will help ensure that every LPC child experiences a consistently high-quality educational environment while recognizing and supporting the unique strengths of each center, education team and direct care teams. The Director of Curriculum & Program Quality will serve as a resource, coach, leader, and strategic partner to Center Directors, coaches and educators—not simply as an overseer of requirements.

CURRICULUM & EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP

Provide leadership and direction for LPC's curriculum philosophy, framework, and implementation. Ensure curriculum reflects developmentally appropriate, engaging, and meaningful learning experiences. Support consistency in educational expectations while allowing teachers and centers appropriate flexibility. Evaluate curriculum effectiveness and recommend improvements. Maintain oversight of age-specific curriculum practices and educational documentation.

PROGRAM QUALITY

Establish and maintain organization-wide standards for program and classroom quality. Conduct or oversee regular classroom and program observations and quality reviews across centers. Identify strengths, opportunities, trends, and areas for improvement. Partner with Center Directors, coaches and teaching teams to develop practical improvement strategies. Establish systems for monitoring progress and measuring quality over time. Ensure appropriate follow-up and completion of quality improvement actions.

LICENSING, REGULATORY & ACCREDIATATION SUPPORT

Maintain organization-wide readiness for applicable licensing and regulatory requirements. Monitor changes in applicable regulations and communicate implications to leadership. Coordinate licensing, permit, certification, and renewal requirements. Maintain oversight of NAEYC applications, annual reporting, portfolios, renewals, and supporting documentation. Maintain oversight of Health Care Consultant requirements and other required professional designations.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, EDUCATION & COACHING

Provide leadership and oversight for LPC's Education & Training function. Oversee the Education & Coaching Lead and Education & Coaching (ETC) team. Establish organization-wide professional-development priorities related to curriculum, classroom quality, child development, and educational practices; oversee implementation through the Education & Coaching Lead. Establish organization-wide coaching expectations and systems across locations; oversee implementation through the Education & Coaching Lead. Maintain oversight of professional-development documentation, CPR/First Aid instructor approval requirements, and organization-wide training compliance.

OBSERVATION & QUALITY ASSURANCE SYSTEMS

Maintain oversight of monthly classroom observations and quarterly scorecard observations. Ensure quarterly observations utilizing the EEC observation record are completed and appropriately followed up. Ensure observation findings are documented, reported, and used to support improvement. Monitor completion of follow-up actions and improvement plans.

CHILD PROGRESS, POLICIES & DOCUMENTATION

Maintain oversight of child progress-report processes and completion. Maintain oversight of educational policies, handbooks, program procedures, and related documentation. Recommend updates based on organizational needs, licensing requirements, and quality standards.

LEADERSHIP PARTNERSHIP & ORGANIZATIONAL SUPPORT

Serve as a strategic partner to Ownership, President, Executive Vice President, Regional Director, Finance, HR/People, and other functional leaders. Collaborate with Operations to ensure educational standards and operational practices support one another. Provide leadership continuity during significant center challenges, transitions, vacancies, or unexpected leadership absences. Temporarily fill in for Center Director or Assistant Director responsibilities when necessary. Routine daily center operations and classroom coverage are not the primary responsibility of this position.

CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT

Develop systems for evaluating program effectiveness and identifying opportunities for improvement. Use observations, assessments, feedback, data, and best practices to inform recommendations. Help develop scalable systems that support quality as LPC grows. Participate in strategic planning related to future centers, acquisitions, expansion, and organizational development.

WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE

Consistent, high-quality educational experiences across all LPC locations. Strong regulatory and accreditation readiness. Timely completion of licensing, renewal, reporting, and documentation requirements. Strong leadership and development of the Education & Coaching team. Clearly defined quality standards and measurable improvement processes. An educational model that can be successfully replicated as the organization grows.

IDEAL CANDIDATE

Significant leadership experience in early childhood education. Strong understanding of developmentally appropriate practices and early childhood curriculum. Knowledge of applicable licensing and regulatory standards. Experience with NAEYC accreditation, program assessment, quality improvement, or similar initiatives preferred. Demonstrated ability to coach and develop educators and leaders. Strong organizational and project-management skills.

LEADERSHIP PHILOSOPHY

Lead with support rather than policing, coaching rather than simply correcting, and partnership rather than inspection. Protect what makes each LPC campus special while creating shared standards and systems necessary for growth without compromising quality.

ORGANIZATIONAL IMPACT

Help establish the educational and quality infrastructure necessary to support 1,200+ children, 250+ team members, multiple locations, and future organizational expansion. Ensure that growth strengthens—not dilutes—the quality, culture, and educational experience that define Little People's College.

REQUIREMENTS

Must be at least 18 years old. Must meet EEC requirements for Director. Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education, Education, Child Development, or related field; Master's degree preferred. Significant leadership experience in early childhood education. Strong understanding of developmentally appropriate practices and early childhood curriculum. Knowledge of applicable licensing and regulatory standards. Experience with NAEYC accreditation, program assessment, quality improvement, or similar initiatives preferred. Demonstrated ability to coach and develop educators and leaders. Must be warm and have a friendly personality, be sensitive to the feelings and needs of others, and be able to relate well to children and team members. Have the ability to supervise and manage multiple team members. Must be willing to fulfill his/her responsibilities in accordance with the center's educational philosophy, goals, and mission.

Pay:

From $120,000.00 per year

Benefits:

401(k) 401(k) matching Dental insurance Flexible spending account Health insurance Health savings account Life insurance Paid time off Professional development assistance Retirement plan Vision insurance

Work Location:

In person