Director of Early Childhood Education

About the role

At Bellevue Children's Academy, students thrive in an IB World School that blends academic excellence with innovation, global awareness, and genuine care. They question, create, and connect with peers from diverse cultures. Students spark their curiosity through a rigorous IB curriculum, strong core subjects, and engaging specialist classes. They build confidence in small, supportive communities and prepare to succeed at leading secondary schools. Rooted in Bellevue's vibrant cultural landscape and part of International Schools Partnership, students become part of a global community with big ambitions.

Position Summary

The Director of Early Childhood Education leads BCA's Preschool (PS), Transition Pre-Kindergarten (TPK), and Pre-Kindergarten (PK) programs, providing instructional oversight, staff leadership, and licensing compliance across the Early Childhood division. This role partners with the Head of School and Director of Elementary to ensure consistent, high-quality experience for ECE families and a smooth transition into BCA's Kindergarten-Grade 4 program.

The Director is the school's primary point of accountability for Washington State DCYF licensing and holds direct responsibility for keeping BCA's Early Childhood programs in full compliance with state childcare licensing standards.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Provide instructional leadership across PS, TPK, and PK classrooms, ensuring curriculum and daily practice align with BCA's IB PYP framework and play-based philosophy.
• Serve as BCA's primary contact for Washington State DCYF licensing, maintaining full compliance with MERIT background check requirements, teacher-to-student ratios, and required health and safety documentation across all ECE classrooms.
• Recruit, hire, coach, and evaluate Early Childhood teaching staff, including onboarding new hires to DCYF/MERIT requirements.
• Own classroom staffing and substitute coverage for ECE programs, coordinating with Human Resources on leave, scheduling, and open positions.
• Partner with the Director of Elementary and Head of School on enrollment strategy, program growth, and PreK-to-Kindergarten transitions.
• Manage the Early Childhood program budget, including supply ordering and classroom material needs.
• Build and maintain relationships with ECE families, serving as the escalation point for program-level concerns.
• Conduct regular classroom Learning Visits to confirm licensing standards, safety protocols, and curriculum fidelity are being met.
• Represent BCA's Early Childhood Education program in community and outreach settings, including partnerships with local ECE training programs.
• Participate in school leadership team meetings and contribute to whole-school culture, events, and strategic planning.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, or a related field required; Master's degree preferred.
• Minimum 5 years of progressive experience in early childhood education, including at least 2 years in a leadership or administrative role.
• Working knowledge of Washington State DCYF licensing regulations and the MERIT system required.
• Experience with IB PYP or another inquiry-based, play-centered curriculum framework preferred.
• Demonstrated experience supervising, coaching, and evaluating teaching staff.
• Washington State School Administrator certificate is preferred.

Position Details

• Reports To: Head of School
• FLSA Status: Exempt
• Employment Type: Full-Time

Pay Range

We anticipate the salary range to be $100,000-$130,000. An individual's compensation can vary based on several factors which include, but are not limited to, geographic location, experience, training, education, and local market conditions.

Benefits

We offer a benefits package for eligible employees that can include health benefits, retirement contributions, and paid time off.