Early Childhood Education Director

About the Employer

Director of Early Age Education

The Opportunity

Sipe's Orchard Home serves 4-5 year old children through two North Carolina Pre-Kindergarten (NC PK) classrooms at its Tyndall Center.

The Director of Early Childhood Education provides strategic and operational leadership for Sipe's Orchard Home's licensed North Carolina Pre-K program and other early childhood education initiatives. Reporting to the Executive Director, this leader is responsible for ensuring the delivery of high-quality, developmentally appropriate educational experiences that prepare children for lifelong learning and success.

The Ideal Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate will have the appropriate professional and personal qualities, skills, and characteristics to accomplish the following:

Program Leadership

Provide visionary leadership for all early childhood education programs, ensuring alignment with Sipe's Orchard Home's mission, strategic priorities, and North Carolina Pre-K standards. Lead the ongoing development, implementation, and evaluation of high-quality early childhood programming that supports children's cognitive, language, physical, social, and emotional development. Develop annual program goals, monitor outcomes, and implement continuous quality improvement initiatives. Foster a positive, inclusive, and nurturing learning environment where every child can thrive. Represent the organization in early childhood education initiatives and community partnerships.

Curriculum and Instruction

Ensure implementation of developmentally appropriate curriculum aligned with NC Pre-K requirements. Oversee lesson planning, classroom observations, instructional coaching, and assessment practices. Promote evidence-based instructional strategies and innovative teaching practices that enhance children's learning experiences. Monitor student progress and support teachers in differentiating instruction to meet individual developmental needs. Ensure classrooms maintain high standards of safety, quality, and educational excellence.

Staff Leadership and Professional Development

Recruit, supervise, coach, and evaluate 2 lead teachers, 2 assistant teachers, and other program staff as needed. Foster a collaborative, supportive, and accountable team culture grounded in continuous improvement. Develop individualized professional growth plans for teaching staff and provide ongoing coaching and mentoring. Coordinate required professional development, including compliance with DCDEE regulations. Encourage reflective practice and continuous learning across the educational team.

Family and Community Engagement

Build strong, collaborative relationships with families, recognizing parents and caregivers as essential partners in children's education. Establish systems for effective communication regarding children's development, classroom activities, and program expectations. Develop partnerships with schools, community organizations, and early childhood agencies that strengthen services and expand opportunities for children and families. Promote family engagement through educational events, workshops, and volunteer opportunities.

Compliance and Administration

Ensure full compliance with all DCDEE, licensing, health and safety, and accreditation requirements. Maintain accurate program documentation, student records, and regulatory reporting. Develop and implement policies and procedures that support operational excellence and regulatory compliance. Monitor classroom environments to ensure safe, healthy, and developmentally appropriate learning spaces. Lead licensing visits, audits, and quality assurance reviews.

Financial and Operational Management

Develop and manage the annual program budget in collaboration with organizational leadership. Monitor expenditures and allocate resources to maximize program effectiveness. Identify opportunities to secure grants, partnerships, and additional funding that support program growth and sustainability. Ensure efficient utilization of staff, materials, facilities, and educational resources.

Additional Requirements

The ideal candidate must meet the following qualifications:

Level III Childcare Administrative Credential

Strong background in curriculum development, teaching, and classroom management. Demonstrated success in strategic planning, management, and leadership roles within educational settings. Experience in fundraising activities to support program growth and sustainability. Excellent public speaking skills to advocate for early childhood education initiatives effectively. Supervising experience with a track record of developing high-performing teams of educators. Knowledge of budgeting processes and resource management within educational organizations. Passion for working with young children and understanding their developmental needs.

Additional Preferred Attributes

A deep commitment to early childhood education and a belief in every child's ability to succeed. Strong instructional leadership and curriculum expertise. Exceptional relationship-building skills with children, families, educators, and community partners. The ability to inspire, mentor, and develop high-performing educational teams. Excellent organizational, analytical, and problem-solving abilities. Strong verbal and written communication skills. Sound judgment, professionalism, integrity, and emotional intelligence. A collaborative leadership style that balances accountability with encouragement. Cultural competence and an understanding of trauma-informed educational practices. Flexibility, adaptability, and a commitment to continuous improvement.

About Sipe's Orchard Home

Our History
For more than 80 years, Sipe's Orchard Home has been helping children and young adults overcome adversity and build successful, independent futures. Founded in 1943 by Vernon O. and Viola Sipe, the organization has evolved from a traditional children's home into an innovative nonprofit serving children, youth, and young adults throughout Western North Carolina.

The North Carolina Pre-K Program serves as the starting point for many children on that journey. Located in the Tyndall Center on the Sipe's campus, the licensed NC Pre-K program provides high-quality early childhood education for four/five-year-old children, preparing them academically, socially, emotionally, and developmentally for success in kindergarten and beyond.

Through developmentally appropriate instruction, strong family partnerships, and a nurturing learning environment, the program helps children build the confidence, curiosity, and foundational skills that support lifelong learning.

Why Sipe's Orchard Home?

Unlike larger school systems, Sipe's Orchard Home offers a highly personalized and supportive professional environment. The NC Pre-K program consists of just two classrooms led by two lead teachers and two teaching assistants, providing the opportunity to work as part of a small, collaborative team.

In your role, you will offer individualized coaching, mentorship, and support while partnering with each teacher to establish and achieve professional development goals. This level of accessibility and personalized leadership is uncommon in traditional educational settings and creates an environment where administrators and teachers are known, supported, and empowered to grow professionally.

Combined with the resources and stability of an established nonprofit, Sipe's Orchard Home offers educators the unique opportunity to build strong relationships, innovate in the classroom, and make a lasting difference in the lives of young children during one of the most important stages of their development.

How to Apply

To apply, click on the link to the Director of Early Age Education position profile at https://jobs.armstrongmcguire.com/. You will see instructions for uploading your compelling cover letter, resume, and salary requirements. Please provide all requested information to be considered. In case of any technical problems, contact talent@armstrongmcguire.com.

No phone calls, please, and no applications will be accepted by email or directly from third-party posting sites.

Review of candidates will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.

This is a full-time leadership position offering a competitive salary in the $45,000 to $50,000 range commensurate with experience and qualifications.

Sipe's Orchard Home offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support employees personally and professionally, including:
- Employee assistance program
- Employer-paid life insurance
- Retirement savings plan
- Professional development assistance
- Paid time off and paid holidays
- Opportunities for ongoing leadership development and continuing education

Sipe's Orchard Home is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Sipe's Orchard Home seeks a diverse pool of candidates and is committed to a policy of equal employment opportunity without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, disability, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, or age.

About Armstrong McGuire

Armstrong McGuire is a leading executive search, fundraising, and strategic advising firm that believes in unlocking the potential of nonprofit leaders and the communities they serve. Founded in 2004, our diverse team of advisors work with clients and leaders to align strategy, optimize operations, build capacity, and lead nationwide searches that bring supremely talented individuals to high-impact organizations.

Learn more about our services in talent acquisition, fundraising counsel, and strategic planning.