Director, Ann Graves Child Development Center

Position Description (What you will do):

The Hockaday School seeks an enthusiastic and mission-driven Director of the Ann Graves Child Development Center to provide visionary leadership, strategic direction, and operational management for the child development center. The Director is responsible for fostering a nurturing, safe, and developmentally appropriate environment that supports the growth and well‑being of young children while serving the needs of Hockaday faculty and staff families.

The Director oversees all aspects of the Child Development Center, including program quality, licensing compliance, curriculum implementation, staff leadership and development, enrollment management, family engagement, and financial stewardship. This role is responsible for building and maintaining a strong team culture, ensuring excellence in teaching and care, and creating meaningful partnerships with families. The Director promotes continuous improvement through innovation, collaboration, and a commitment to best practices in childcare.

Reporting to the Director of Auxiliary Programs, the Director of the Ann Graves Child Development Center serves as a key member of the Auxiliary Programs team. The Director ensures the Child Development Center remains a valued employee benefit and an integral part of the Hockaday community while advancing the School’s mission and standards of excellence.

The Ann Graves Child Development Center at The Hockaday School provides a nurturing, engaging, and developmentally appropriate learning environment for children from infancy through preschool. Designed to support Hockaday families and employees, the Center fosters curiosity, creativity, and social‑emotional growth through a play‑based approach led by experienced early childhood educators. The Center is licensed by the State of Texas and is nationally accredited by the National Accreditation Commission (NAC) for Early Care and Education Programs, reflecting its commitment to the highest standards of quality, safety, and early learning excellence.

• Provide strategic leadership for all aspects of the Child Development Center (CDC)
• Develop and maintain a nurturing, safe, and developmentally appropriate childcare program
• Establish and communicate a clear vision for the CDC aligned with Hockaday’s mission and values
• Foster a positive culture that supports children, families, and staff
• Lead continuous improvement efforts focused on program quality, enrollment, and family satisfaction
• Ensure full compliance with all applicable Texas Health and Human Services Child Care Licensing regulations and minimum standards
• Maintain all required licensing records, reports, and documentation
• Ensure adherence to health, safety, emergency preparedness, and child protection policies
• Serve as the primary liaison with licensing representative and regulatory agencies
• Monitor classroom ratios, staff qualifications, training requirements, and supervision practices
• Recruit, hire, onboard, supervise, evaluate, and retain highly qualified staff
• Create a collaborative and supportive work environment that promotes professional growth
• Conduct regular classroom observations and provide coaching and feedback
• Ensure staff assignments align with qualifications, training, and experience
• Develop leadership capacity amont Assistant Directors and teaching staff
• Facilitate staff meetings, professional development, and ongoing training
• Maintain a warm, caring, and community‑centered environment
• Maintain a visible and active presence in classrooms
• Ensure implementation of developmentally appropriate practices and curriculum
• Monitor children’s developmental progress and support teachers in meeting individual needs
• Promote a play‑based learning environment that supports social‑emotional, cognitive, physical, and language development
• Ensure smooth transitions between classrooms and age groups
• Build strong, trusting relationships with CDC families
• Communicate regularly with parents regarding children’s development, center operations, and special events
• Address parent concerns promptly and professionally
• Partner with families to support…