PROGRAM DIRECTOR
Rainbow Playschool, Woodstock, VT
Lead a beloved, four-star, community-owned preschool where children grow through outdoor play.
About Rainbow Playschool
For 44 years, Rainbow Playschool has been a cornerstone of early childhood in Woodstock and its surrounding villages. We're a four-star, state-accredited, community-owned nonprofit built on one core belief: young children learn best through guided, outdoor, play-based exploration. Our days are spent outside as much as in, and our families and staff feel more like a community than a customer list.
We're looking for a Program Director to lead our team, steward our mission, and help write the next chapter of a school this community deeply loves.
Role Overview
As Program Director, you're the heart of our daily operations and the leader our teachers look to. Working in close partnership with a supportive Board of Directors, you'll set the tone for our program, care for our staff and families, keep classrooms full and thriving, and keep us financially healthy and fully licensed. This is a role for someone who wants real leadership responsibility and the daily joy of staying close to children and teaching.
What You’ll Do
Lead & Inspire
- Lead a dedicated team of early childhood educators and set a warm, high-quality tone across the program
- Bring our play-based, outdoor philosophy to life through curriculum aligned with the Vermont Early Learning Standards (VELS)
- Serve as our licensing liaison, maintaining full compliance and a strong relationship with the state's Child Development Division
- Partner with the Board on strategic planning, policy, and long-range program growth
Care for Families & Enrollment
- Own enrollment: manage the waitlist, lead tours and outreach, and keep classrooms full year-round
- Build genuine, lasting relationships with families as their trusted first point of contact
- Represent Rainbow in the community and nurture local partnerships
Steward Our Resources
- Develop the annual budget for Board approval and manage day-to-day finances responsibly
- Oversee tuition collection, payroll, accounts payable, and record-keeping
- Keep our fiscal practices sound, transparent, and sustainable
Grow Our Team
- Recruit, train, and mentor excellent teaching staff
- Plan and lead engaging staff meetings and support ongoing professional development
- Cultivate a positive, collaborative workplace where teachers want to stay and grow
Champion Great Early Learning
- Ensure rich, developmentally appropriate programming and mentor teachers in their practice
- Uphold health, safety, and emergency procedures so every child is cared for and secure
- Keep a welcoming, well-run environment that reflects our four-star standard
What You Bring
Required
- 21 years of age or older
- Vermont Teacher Associate qualification (or higher), plus one of the following Program Director credential paths:
- A Vermont Early Childhood & Afterschool Program Director Step One Certificate, or
- Successful completion of a three-credit college course in program management (or staff supervision) for early care/education or school-age care, and a three-credit college course in curriculum
- Strong communication and leadership skills, with genuine warmth toward children and adults alike
- Current pediatric first aid and CPR certification (or willingness to obtain)
- Ability to pass a comprehensive background check, including fingerprinting
- A real passion for early childhood education and outdoor, play-based learning
Preferred
- Two or more years of leadership, administrative, or lead-teaching experience in a licensed early childhood setting
- An associate's or bachelor's degree in early childhood education, child development, or a related field
- Familiarity with the Vermont Early Learning Standards and nonprofit or Board-partnered operations
- Completion of the required management course within one year of your start date preferred
Compensation & Benefits
$55,000–$70,000, based on experience, plus:
- Paid holidays, sick days, and vacation
- Performance-based yearly bonuses and raises
- Paid training and career development opportunities
- Childcare discount at our center
To Apply: Send your resume and a short cover letter telling us why this role speaks to you, to board@rainbowplayschool.org. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, so we encourage you to reach out early. We'd love to hear from you!
Rainbow Playschool is an equal-opportunity employer committed to an inclusive workplace where every team member can thrive. We warmly welcome applicants of all backgrounds.
