Head of School / Director

About N4 Montessori Academy

N4 Montessori Academy is an authentic Montessori school in Melissa, TX, built on a simple belief: education for independence. We create prepared environments where children are trusted to try, to fail safely, and to achieve mastery on their own timeline. Our work rests on three interconnected values — Prepare the Adult, Equip the Child, and Empower Others — and on five leadership behaviors we ask every team member to live daily: Model the Way, Inspire a Shared Vision, Challenge the Process, Enable Others to Act, and Encourage the Heart.

We partner closely with families as a child's first and most important teachers, and we invest deeply in our educators, because a well-prepared adult is what makes a truly prepared environment possible. We're growing, and we're looking for a Head of School who will protect that mission while running an excellent, compliant, and financially healthy school.

Job Description

N4 Montessori Academy is hiring an experienced Head of School / Director to lead all aspects of our campus: authentic Montessori program quality, Texas child care licensing compliance, enrollment and family engagement, staff hiring and development, and day-to-day operations and budget oversight.

You'll be the single point of accountability for the school — the person families trust, the person staff look to for coaching and culture, and the person of record with Texas HHSC Child Care Licensing. This is a hands-on leadership role: you'll be in classrooms regularly, in budget meetings, on tours with prospective families, and in the trenches with your team, not just behind a desk.

What You'll Do

• Own Montessori program fidelity across all classrooms — coach lead guides, observe classrooms regularly, and ensure materials and practice meet authentic Montessori standards.
• Serve as the licensing-accountable director with Texas HHSC Child Care Licensing — ratios, background checks, health/safety, and inspection readiness at all times.
• Manage the full enrollment funnel — inquiries, tours, enrollment, and family retention — to keep the school at healthy occupancy.
• Recruit, hire, train, and manage performance for lead guides, assistants, and support staff.
• Own the campus budget: tuition billing and collections, payroll oversight, and vendor management.
• Maintain a safe, well-prepared physical environment and lead emergency preparedness.
• Build genuine relationships with families and the local community as the face of the school.
• Report regularly to N4's ownership on enrollment, financial, staffing, and compliance status.

Job Requirements

Must-Have

• Minimum 3+ years of experience as a Director, Head of School, or Assistant Director in a licensed child care or Montessori setting.
• Meets or is able to meet Texas HHSC Child Care Licensing director qualification requirements (education, experience, and required director training/CDA or equivalent).
• Direct experience managing licensing compliance, inspections, and required documentation (ratios, background checks, health records).
• Hands-on staff management experience: hiring, training, scheduling, and performance evaluation.
• Experience managing a school or center budget, including tuition billing/collections and payroll oversight.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills for family, staff, and licensing interactions.
• Ability to pass a background check and meet all Texas child care employment eligibility requirements.

Should-Have (Preferred)

• AMI or AMS Montessori credential (Director/Administrator level strongly preferred; Teacher-level credential plus strong operational experience also considered).
• Track record of achieving or maintaining a quality accreditation (e.g., Texas Rising Star, COGNIA, NAEYC, or equivalent).
• Experience leading a school through growth, a leadership transition, or a program transformation (e.g., converting a traditional program to authentic Montessori).
• Experience with enrollment/CRM tools and data-driven pipeline management.
• Demonstrated financial results — budget management, cost control, or margin improvement.
• Familiarity with tools such as Transparent Classroom, Bamboo HR, or similar school/HR platforms.

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive base salary, commensurate with experience and credentials ($70,000–$75,000 target range).
• Performance-based bonus opportunity tied to enrollment, licensing compliance, and staff retention.
• Professional development support for continued Montessori training.
• Paid time off and standard school holiday closures.
• Childcare tuition benefit for employees' own children (where applicable).

How to Apply

Submit your resume and a brief note on your Montessori philosophy and leadership approach. Qualified candidates will be invited to a multi-stage interview process including a behavioral, job-fit, and case-based conversation with N4 leadership.