As Head of School, you will establish and lead a Bezos Academy with children ages three through five as part of a growing multi-state network of high quality, tuition-free, Montessori-inspired preschools in under-resourced communities. You will bring significant teaching and school leadership experience, knowledge of child development, culturally responsive teaching practices, an understanding of the Hawaiian culture, customs and local spirit of aloha, and experience working with diverse communities. You are deeply committed to making a difference in the lives of children and families, embodying our Child First Always leadership principle.

As the first Head of School on the island of Maui, you will be Bezos Academy’s leader in the community, county, and state. You will build a partnership of county and state-wide support with community, political, and education leaders to further Bezos Academy’s mission. You will lead external stakeholder engagement, representing Bezos Academy and embodying our Leadership Principles. In preparation for your school opening in fall 2025, you will build a strong school culture, coach and develop teaching staff, create an environment that is inclusive of all children of Hawaii, and ensure the educational experience in every classroom is of the highest standard. You will participate closely in the launch and opening of your preschool by working closely with the community, selecting materials, ensuring proper licensing, and hiring teaching/support staff. You will lead the effort to infuse Hawaiian culture and language with child-centered Montessori practices. Above all, you will lead the preschool with aloha, respect for the environment and island, and demonstrate passion for our mission to expand access to high-quality preschool in under-resourced communities.

LOCATION

We anticipate opening a new Bezos Academy preschool in Lahaina, Maui in partnership with a local community partner in the fall of 2025, pending construction.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

This is a full-time, benefits-eligible, salaried position.   
The full salary range for this position is $83,000 - $133,000 per year. Starting salary will vary by qualifications and prior experience, though we expect starting salary to be at least $100,000 given our desire for an experienced leader. The upper third of the salary range is typically reserved for existing employees who have been in the role for multiple years and have demonstrated strong performance over time.
This position offers a $7,500 bonus ($2,500 each on first paycheck, after 90 days, and after 6 months).
This role includes 22 paid days of scheduled breaks, 7 paid days of vacation, 3 paid days of personal time off, 7 paid days of sick (care) time, 10 paid holidays, and additional time off if required by applicable law. Benefits for this role include medical, dental, and vision insurance, life insurance, disability insurance, a 401(k) plan with a 4% employer contribution match, paid parental leave, an employer-matched flexible spending account for dependent care, and more. Please see here for details.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor’s degree
Five or more years of experience managing a multi-classroom school or childcare center OR 2+ years in network/district leadership position. Experience must include overseeing the operating needs of the school/center (e.g. strategic planning, program evaluation, student recruitment, family and community engagement) and teacher hiring, development, and performance management
Experience, teaching or similar, working directly with children aged 0 to 3rd grade with strong outcomes 
Familiarity with Hawaii and Hawaiian culture
Familiarity with child-centered practices
Track record of delivering results with meaningful, measurable outcomes for children
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
Two or more years prior work experience with children and families in under-resourced communities in the US AND/OR significant personal experience in under-resourced communities in the US (grew up and/or attended school in)
Strong personal commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, including significant experience building relationships across lines of difference  
Meet the minimum qualifications for a preschool director in the state of Hawaii in alignment with the Department of Human Services
Reliable transportation and ability to travel to local partners and to the preschool

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Experience as Head of School/Center Director for a preschool or administrative leadership experience in an early childhood education setting
Experience, teaching or similar, working directly with children ages 3-5 years old
Experience leading the opening of a new school site with multiple classrooms successfully or comparable start-up leadership experience
Experience managing a multi-site network of schools or childcare centers, including hiring, managing, coaching, and evaluation
Experience in culturally responsive & trauma-informed teaching practices
MACTE-accredited Primary (ages 3-6) Montessori certification and teaching experience
Proficiency in Hawaiian language
Instructional or leadership experience working with children aged 0 to 3rd grade with special needs or early intervention

RESPONSIBILITIES

Promote and embody the true spirit of aloha to create a positive impact
Create a warm and welcoming environment for children and families
Infuse the Montessori-inspired approach with culturally relevant pedagogies that center on the culture of Hawaii
Support the planning, preparation, and delivery of instructional activities that facilitate child-centered Montessori-inspired learning experiences
Support an inclusive, culturally responsive and respectful partnership between families, community, and school on behalf of the child
Partner with local community agencies to provide additional wraparound supports and services
Maintain a strong, thoughtful presence in external early childhood education spaces at the state and local level to further our mission
Develop and implement a consistent and respectful community engagement strategy
Collaborate with leaders across the state of Hawaii to build trust and ensure Bezos Academy’s impact is responsive to the needs of the preschool keiki and community
Build and execute an impactful external stakeholder strategy with community, county, and statewide leaders
Represent Bezos Academy externally in the state of Hawaii
Periodic island-to-island travel, as needed
Assume responsibility for the day-to-day operation of the preschool
Supervise and develop all faculty and staff, both teaching and non-teaching
Provide administrative and professional leadership for faculty and staff
Oversee the development, implementation, and evaluation of programs and services that support the mission, vision, and strategic goals of the preschool and Bezos Academy
Provide leadership for activities which affect the current and future development of the preschool (such as strategic planning and setting curricular goals)
Ensure that program quality is maintained and that classrooms have appropriate instructional materials
Supervise and participate in the selecting and hiring of qualified persons to serve as members of the faculty
Support with initial and ongoing student recruitment efforts
Create ways for families to stay informed, educated, and active in the Bezos Academy community
Oversee effective marketing, communications, and outreach to the preschool community
Serve as the public spokesperson for the preschool and for Montessori-inspired education

Please click here for the full job description.

Bezos Academy is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All applicants receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran status, or disability status.

Bezos Academy participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with employee Form I-9 Information to confirm authorization to work in the U.S. Bezos Academy only uses E-Verify once a candidate has accepted a job offer and completed the Form I-9. If E-Verify cannot confirm that an employee is authorized to work, Bezos Academy will give the employee written instructions and an opportunity to contact the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or Social Security Administration (SSA) so the employee can begin to resolve the issue before any adverse employment action is taken. For more information about your right to work, please see the Notice of Right to Work.

We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If you are in need of an accommodation to participate in the application process, please reach out to talent@bezosacademy.org. We will work with you to ensure you have a fair opportunity to apply for our open positions.

If you are a current Bezos Academy employee, please use the internal job board to apply.

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Note: If hired, a Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, must be completed at the start of employment.

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Head of School: Lahaina, HI

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