Director

About A Step Ahead

Our Core Values

• All People Matter: We are radically “for” people. We believe in children, honor families, and actively see the potential in our team members.

  
  

• Growth: We continually develop our gifts, skills, and leadership capacity.

  
  

• Positive Mental Attitude: We bring great energy, steady optimism, and purposeful presence to work every day.

  
  

• Unselfishness: We put our team, children, and families before ourselves.

  
  

• Integrity: We keep our word, hold uncompromising safety baselines, and do what is right even when unmonitored.

  
  

• Servant Leadership: We lead through support, mentorship, and giving what we have received.

  
  

What You’ll Lead & Own

1. Classroom Excellence & Curriculum Momentum

• Drive developmental momentum across every room, ensuring environments are purposeful, developmentally rich, and immaculately maintained.

  
  

• Coach and model elite classroom habits: 360-degree zone awareness ('withitness'), physical room geometry with zero blind spots, and smooth, orderly transitions (free play to clean-up, meals to naptime).

  
  

• Guide teachers in effective lesson planning, student observation, and developmental tracking so children stay actively engaged rather than passively supervised.

  
  

2. Staff Coaching, Mentorship & Orchestration

• Serve as the daily field coach for lead teachers and aides, holding structured weekly 1-on-1 check-ins and frequent classroom walk-throughs.

  
  

• Train lead teachers to actively orchestrate their assistants—assigning clear operational zones and micro-responsibilities rather than working in silos.

  
  

• Instill a culture of constructive feedback, emotional steadiness, and professional career progression.

  
  

3. Emotional Composure & Co-Regulation

• Champion emotionally responsive care across the building. Model how to lower vocal pitch and project physiological calm during peak sensory overload or behavioral meltdowns.

  
  

• Support teachers in real time during tough classroom moments, ensuring guidance is rooted in safety, empathy, and de-escalation rather than reactive discipline.

  
  

4. High-Trust Family Partnership & Tour Conversions

• Act as the welcoming, professional face of the center, building genuine long-term trust with current and prospective families.

  
  

• Host compelling, warm tours that showcase our educational standards, curriculum intentionality, and community culture.

  
  

• Handle sensitive parent inquiries, incident follow-ups, and developmental questions with absolute ownership, proactive communication, and de-escalation.

  
  

5. Operational Rigor, Compliance & Ratios

• Own roster integrity, classroom ratios, and staff scheduling, ensuring zero compromise on Nebraska state licensing standards and child safety protocols.

  
  

• Partner with the central leadership team to manage labor budgets, optimize center utilization, and lead conversion efforts from initial inquiry to enrollment.

  
  

Who You Are

• A Balanced Leader: You possess high relational warmth paired with firm operational discipline. You love child development, but you are also energized by clear processes, clean rosters, and hitting organizational targets.

  
  

• Physiologically Steady: You do not match chaos with chaos. When noise levels peak or competing priorities collide, your voice stays calm, your mind stays clear, and you triage with poise.

  
  

• An Autonomous Problem-Solver: You don't wait for administrative direction to fix a bottleneck. You see gaps on the floor, step in to assist teammates, and close operational loops before being asked.

  
  

• A Standard-Setter: You believe early childhood education deserves the highest professional dignity, and you inspect what you expect with consistency and grace.

  
  

Qualifications

• Experience: 3 years of leadership or lead classroom management experience in a licensed early childhood education setting (required).

  
  

• Licensing: Must meet or exceed Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Director licensing qualifications and background check requirements.

  
  

• Education: Associate or Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, Elementary Education, or related field (preferred).

  
  

• Skills: Demonstrated mastery in child guidance techniques, active supervision/ratio compliance, staff scheduling, roster management, and parent communication.

  
  

• Operational Literacy: Comfortable navigating modern scheduling tools, digital roster platforms, and daily management software.

  
  

What We Offer (Compensation & Benefits)

• Competitive Salary: Commensurate with experience and center scope.

  
  

• Comprehensive Health Insurance: Group medical coverage to keep you and your family healthy.

  
  

• 401(k) Retirement Plan: Dedicated retirement savings plan to invest in your long-term financial growth.

  
  

• Generous Paid Time Off (PTO): Accrued vacation, sick time, and recognized paid holidays.

  
  

• Childcare Discounts: Significant tuition discounts for your own children enrolled at our centers.

  
  

• Leadership Development: Structured peer mentorship, executive coaching, and ongoing career advancement pathways across our multi-center network.

  
  

How to Apply