AN INVITATION TO APPLY FOR THE POSITION OF

DIRECTOR

LEXINGTON PLAYCARE CENTER

LEXINGTON, MA

The Lexington Playcare Center Board of Directors invites well-qualified candidates to apply for the position of Director.

Lexington Playcare Center (LPC) is a non-profit child care center located in the heart of historic Lexington Massachusetts. LPC offers full or part-time year-round programs for toddlers 15 months to 2.9 years old and preschoolers 2.9 years old to 5 years old. Established in 1984, the philosophy and mission “…is to help children become good friends, proficient problem solvers, creative risk takers, and self-governing, accepting classmates. We want them to be as self-sufficient and independent as they can be based on their age and development. We respect parents and provide them with consistent and daily communication. Our community works hard to maintain a democratic, welcoming, and inclusive environment, which properly balances education and childcare. If you consistently see high staff morale, happy curious children, involved and informed parents, then we have reached our goals!” The school is deeply grounded in its history and is beloved by families and staff alike.  With a dedicated teaching team, high staff retention, and strong enrollment, LPC is a vibrant, supportive, and caring community that treasures its small size and ratios, personalized attention, and the relationships formed at all levels.

Lexington Playcare Center is looking for its next Director to be an experienced, approachable, and engaged educational leader who wholeheartedly aligns with the school’s mission, vision, and values. This individual should be capable of leading the school programmatically, inspiring staff, offering strategic insight, and building strong relationships with the Board, parents, and the broader LPC community. The new LPC Director should be an experienced and compassionate individual who possesses strong facilitation and organizational skills, and excels in early childhood planning, communication, decision-making, problem solving, and informational management. Candidates must demonstrate a collaborative leadership style and be committed to a hands-on approach to leading a non-profit organization with a focus on student centered activities and family support.

Desired Core Competencies:

• Alignment with LPC’s mission and vision, including a fundamental belief in the joy of working with young children
• Eagerness to engage actively with students, parents, and staff, and willingness to prioritize visibility and approachability amidst the demands of a busy professional schedule
• Demonstrates empathy and authenticity in interactions, building genuine connections with students, staff, and the broader diverse community
• Emotionally intelligent and possessing flexibility in effecting change to meet the evolving needs and services required of young children and their families
• Independent educational leader possessing visionary skills, a passion for early childhood learning and experience leading teams of teachers and/or staff
• Demonstrated skills in formulating and leading strategic-planning initiatives with a commitment to implementing LPC’s mission and vision 
• Demonstrated problem-solving, team building, and decision-making strategies
• Eagerness to nurture a close-knit community where every child and staff member feels known and valued

Desired Qualifications:

• 5+ years in education, childcare or preschool teaching preferred
• 2-5+ years in a leadership role within an educational setting
• Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree (preferred) in Early Childhood Education or related field
• Director II certification by the Massachusetts EEC (required or evidence of eligibility)
• Significant administrative experience including curriculum building and instruction, school operations and finances, and strategic planning
• Strong fiscal management skills with knowledge and fiduciary understanding of non-profit organizational operations
• Strong personnel management experience with demonstrated ability and insight to recruit and retain high-quality staff; ability to lead, guide, motivate and direct a diverse and talented staff
• Experience with early childhood local, state, and national resources/agencies, particularly EEC
• Deep understanding of early childhood development and the learning needs of a diverse community of learners, ages 15 months – 5 years
• Experience on, or working with, a Board of Directors is a plus
• Preschool teaching experience considered an asset
• Confident and clear communication, both verbally and in writing
• Awareness of and attentiveness toward emerging educational trends and EEC program development

The application deadline is March 31, 2025. Screening of applications will begin on April 1 with an anticipated start date of June 1, 2025. 

For more information, please contact: Dr. Michael Palladino, Lexington Playcare Center Director Search, NESDEC, 28 Lord Road, Marlborough, MA 01752; Phone: 508-481-9444; Email: search@nesdec.org

To access the application, please visit www.nesdec.org and click on the Executive Search tab

or visit: https://www.applitrack.com/nesdec/onlineapp/

Even if you don't feel that you meet every single requirement, you are still encouraged to apply. The Board is eager to meet diverse applicants who believe in the school’s mission and can contribute to the team in a variety of ways - not just candidates who check all the boxes.