Executive Director

Michel R. Frendian
Private PK-12 School Practice Leader and Senior Consultant

The Sharon Cooperative School seeks an experienced, collaborative, and creative early childhood leader to serve as its next executive director. The executive director is a full-time, in-person role; the target start date is November/December 2024.

The executive director (ED) will oversee the Sharon Cooperative Learning Community (CLC)—which comprises the Sharon Cooperative School and the Cooperative Nature School—by supporting its mission, goals, and objectives and collaborating with staff and the Board of Directors. The ED oversees the two school sites and provides operational leadership, staff management, and continuous improvement of processes, approaches, and systems. They maintain a visible presence in the CLC, engage consistently and productively with families, and foster a culture that is in keeping with the CLC’s values.

Key duties of the executive director include:

School Governance

• Work with the volunteer Board of Directors to define strategic goals, plan budgets and finances, and track priority initiatives for the schools.
• Support the planning of all board meetings and agendas, and prepare regular reports and materials for the board, including monthly budget reports and analyses.
• Actively communicate with the board, including relevant subcommittees, about vital school matters.
• Keep the board apprised on recruitment, enrollment, and retention matters.
• Receive, present, and recommend all tuition assistance requests to the board for approval.
• Collaborate with the board’s marketing committee to create an annual marketing plan based on enrollment needs.

Employee Management and Leadership

• Support site coordinators with the execution of daily operations for all classrooms.
• Encourage and promote teamwork between educators, specialists, and families to meet every child’s needs.
• Support site coordinators and educators in their professional development, training, and achievement of personal goals.
• In collaboration with the site coordinators, provide performance oversight of the educators through educators’ meetings and evaluations per Department of Early Education and Care (DEEC) standards.
• Review and approve lesson plans to ensure they are developmentally appropriate and aligned with the school’s philosophy.
• Support the site coordinators in reviewing and approving student evaluations and work with educators to identify, evaluate, refer, and accommodate children’s individual needs.
• Recruit, interview, and hire new employees and work with staff to support and train new educators.
• Maintain employee files, track time off, and record and file time sheets.

Enrollment and Registration

• Actively work to maximize enrollment in all programs at all times.
• Maintain open communication with prospective and enrolled families.
• Work with site coordinators to ensure high-quality tours and interviews with prospective families.
• Create and distribute application and enrollment packets.
• Ensure the database of current applicants and prospective students is updated.
• Develop and conduct student and family orientation programs.
• Maintain student database and files, per DEEC and other regulatory agency requirements.
• Develop marketing media and communication materials (e.g., calendars, family handbooks, ads, and brochures).

Administration and Regulatory Compliance

• Administer the program to comply with established rules and standards of regulatory, accrediting, and partner agencies, including DEEC, National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR), Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH), Massachusetts Home Health and Child Care Services (HHCC), and Self-Help, Inc.
• Maintain certification, licensing, and accreditation from appropriate agencies.
• Maintain the highest safety standards.
• Maintain all files, evaluations, and records on students, adult volunteers, and educators per DEEC and other regulatory and certifying agencies.
• Keep current on all federal, state, and local statutes regarding employees, benefits, and all other financial matters.
• Create and maintain…