Director of Early Childhood Programming

Job Description

Job Description

Salary:

About Atlas Public Schools

Atlas Public Schools is a year-round public charter school in St. Louis that educates the whole child through a rigorous academic program and authentic, real-world learning experiences. We believe joyful learning and strong systems can coexist. We invest deeply in our educators so they can create classrooms where students thrive academically and socially.

As Atlas continues to grow across multiple campuses, we are committed to building an exceptional early childhood program that prepares students for long-term success.

Position Overview

The Director of Early Childhood Programming provides strategic and operational leadership for Atlas preschool programs across two elementary campuses. This role ensures high-quality instruction, strong family partnership, regulatory compliance, financial sustainability, and seamless transitions into Kindergarten.

The Director builds the systems, talent pipeline, and instructional foundation necessary to operate an exceptional, compliant, and financially sound early childhood program that reflects Atlas commitment to belonging, rigor, and whole-child development.

This role requires a leader who can think systemically, coach teachers effectively, ensure regulatory excellence, and build strong community partnerships. This is a year-round leadership position that plays a key role in advancing the strategic priorities of Atlas Public Schools.

Key Responsibilities

Student Recruitment and Family Outreach

• Build partnerships with community-based organizations, childcare centers, churches, and neighborhood groups to create a strong PK pipeline.

• Lead early childhood information sessions, participate in school tours, and represent Atlas at outreach events.

• Collaborate with internal teams to ensure enrollment targets are met at both campuses.

Student Enrollment and Family Onboarding

• Partner with the Operations Team to ensure completion of all required enrollment documentation, health forms, eligibility verification, and tuition agreements.

• Design and implement a PK onboarding experience that fosters belonging and clarity around expectations.

• Support strong retention through thoughtful transitions from PK to Kindergarten.
  

Reporting and Compliance

• Oversee compliance for the Missouri Quality Pre-K Grant and all related funding streams.

• Ensure accurate and timely MOSIS Core Data submissions.

• Maintain audit-ready documentation and ensure adherence to all state licensing requirements.

• Monitor attendance, eligibility documentation, and grant compliance metrics.

Teacher Support, Coaching, and Development

• Provide ongoing coaching and observation cycles for PK teachers across campuses.

• Lead early childhood professional development aligned to Atlas instructional priorities.

• Build a professional learning community among PK educators.

• Support performance management and professional growth in partnership with campus leadership.

Curriculum Leadership

• Lead implementation of the AppleTree Early Childhood Curriculum with fidelity.

• Ensure alignment between PK programming and Atlas Kindergarten readiness expectations.

• Analyze formative and benchmark data to drive continuous instructional improvement.

• Support the integration of developmentally appropriate play-based learning within a rigorous academic framework.

Tuition and Payment Systems

• Oversee tuition billing systems for PK and before and after care programs.

• Ensure accurate invoicing, payment tracking, and communication with families.

• Partner with Finance to reconcile accounts and manage subsidy documentation.

Student Data Systems

• Ensure accurate maintenance of PK student records in PowerSchool and related platforms.

• Monitor attendance and chronic absenteeism trends.

• Track developmental assessment data and readiness indicators.

• Develop dashboards to inform recruitment, retention, and instructional decisions.

Licensing and Quality Assurance

• Ensure programs meet all state licensing and health and safety regulations.

• Prepare for and lead licensing visits and audits.

• Maintain required staff-to-student ratios at all times.

• Conduct internal quality assurance reviews.

Family Engagement and Education

• Develop PK-specific family workshops focused on literacy, behavior, and school readiness.

• Support meaningful family conferences and communication systems.

• Ensure early childhood programming reflects Atlas commitment to belonging and partnership.

Kindergarten Readiness and Vertical Alignment

• Develop and monitor a Kindergarten readiness framework.

• Facilitate collaboration between PK and Kindergarten teachers.

• Analyze longitudinal data to ensure students are on track for elementary success.

• Support strong academic and social-emotional transitions.

Operations and Facilities Coordination

• Ensure classrooms are developmentally appropriate, safe, and fully equipped.

• Partner with Operations on furniture, materials, playground safety, and compliance.

• Monitor daily operational systems including arrival, dismissal, rest time, and food service.

Staffing and Talent Pipeline

• Support recruitment and selection of high-quality early childhood educators.

• Develop a PK resident and assistant teacher pipeline.

• Engage in workforce planning aligned to Atlas growth strategy.

Budget Oversight

• Monitor early childhood budgets across campuses.

• Track grant expenditures and allowable cost categories.

• Recommend strategic reinvestment decisions to strengthen program quality and sustainability.
  

Continuous Improvement and Growth

• Establish measurable goals for enrollment, readiness, attendance, and retention.

• Conduct annual program evaluations.

• Identify opportunities for program expansion aligned to Atlas long-term growth plans.

• Stay current on early childhood research and bring innovative practices to Atlas.

Qualifications

• Bachelors degree in Early Childhood Education or related field required; Masters degree preferred.

• Valid Missouri teaching certification in Early Childhood Education required.

• 5 or more years of experience in early childhood education.

• Demonstrated success coaching and developing teachers.

• Experience managing compliance, licensing, or state reporting processes strongly preferred.

• Strong organizational, financial, and systems thinking skills.

• Ability to lead across multiple campuses and collaborate with cross-functional teams.

Why Atlas

At Atlas, you will join a team that believes joyful learning and strong systems belong together. We operate on a year-round calendar, provide meaningful support to educators, and are building a model designed to last. As we expand our early childhood programming, this role offers the opportunity to shape foundational systems that will impact generations of students.