Program Development Specialist; Reggio Emilia Approach

Location:

KMS/Open Mind a Project for The Development of Children | Katherine Michiels School | San Francisco, CA

Start Date:

March 23, 2026

We are a small, progressive Elementary school in San Francisco seeking a Program Development Specialist with formal training and deep experience in the Reggio Emilia Approach.

This is a leadership role for a visionary educator who can design and steward inquiry-based, child-centered, and authentically driven curriculum while mentoring and guiding our teaching team. The ideal candidate will serve as both pedagogical leader and collaborative partner, working closely with faculty and founders to ensure our program remains aligned with Reggio principles in both philosophy and daily practice.

Focus on child-directed, open-ended experiential projects, natural materials, journaling/reflection, problem-solving, collaboration and acceptance of the unknown as the teaching motivation.

• Curate and evolve inquiry-based, emergent curriculum grounded in the Reggio Emilia philosophy and the CORE values of our school.
• Mentor and guide teachers in a collaborative, team-teaching model rooted in reflective practice
• Support staff in observing, documenting, and interpreting children’s learning processes
• Integrate the environment as the “third teacher” in meaningful and intentional ways, particularly empowering students and teachers to keep the organization of materials
• Cultivate a culture of documentation, reflection, and co-construction of knowledge
• Follow through on program needs and address the interpersonal dynamics and job performance of program staff
• Collaborate with founders on long-term program development and school vision

• Formal training in the Reggio Emilia Approach (certification, coursework, or documented professional study required)
• Minimum 5 years of experience in a Reggio-inspired or inquiry-based educational setting
• Demonstrated experience mentoring, selecting and leading teaching teams
• Strong understanding of emergent curriculum design and pedagogical documentation
• Proven ability to guide reflective practice and facilitate collaborative planning sessions
• Bachelor’s degree required;
  Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education, Education Leadership, or related field strongly preferred
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and organizational skills

Together, we are empowering exceptional education.