Montessori Head of School
Dandelion Chinese Montessori Immersion Program — Job Posting
Department: Early Childhood / Chinese Immersion
Reports To: Founder/CEO
Classification: Full-Time, Exempt
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Position Summary
We are seeking an entrepreneurial, strategic, and highly experienced Head of School to lead the multi-phase launch and ongoing business operations of a premier Montessori Chinese Immersion Toddler and Early Childhood school in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Operating under a Mandarin Chinese Immersion Program with English as an Additional Language model, slated for an official opening in Spring 2027, this ground-up venture will serve children aged 18 months to 6 years across Toddler and Early Childhood Classrooms. The ideal candidate will combine a strong understanding of early childhood pedagogy, operational expertise navigating Pennsylvania Department of Human Services childcare licensing, and a commercially driven mindset to hit high capacity performance targets while maintaining premium educational fidelity. To view a full job description, see: Head of School Job Description.
Phase 1: Pre-Launch & Construction Strategy (Now through Spring 2027)
Licensing & Regulatory Mandates: Act as the primary Head of School on record to secure and complete all Pennsylvania DHS Chapter 3270 structural, environmental, and administrative licensing clearances.
Talent Acquisition & Sourcing: Recruit, interview, and onboard a world-class dual-language staff, including AMI/AMS/MACTE certified Infant/Toddler and Early Childhood teachers, native Mandarin-speaking classroom assistants, and an English language teacher.
Pre-Enrollment Marketing & Business Pipeline: Lead local community outreach, host informational family nights, manage prospective parent lead sheets, and execute admissions tours across the Greater Philadelphia market.
Phase 2: Operational Execution & Business Health (Post-Launch)
Daily Operations & Compliance Management: Direct daily facility infrastructure,
ensuring absolute compliance with health, safety, background-clearing registries, and
staff-to-child ratio matrices.
. Student Admission & Enrollment: Perform all admissions tasks necessary to achieve Dandelion Chinese Montessori’s enrollment objectives.
Montessori & Immersion Curriculum Oversight: Mentor teaching staff to balance authentic Montessori curriculum with high-fidelity total Mandarin immersion.
Community & Stakeholder Relations: Build a strong, elite school brand culture among Philadelphia families; manage corporate reporting metrics, handle escalated issues, and nurture parent partnerships.
Talent Acquisition & Team Leadership: Hire and onboard teaching staff, administer equitable systems of compensation, working conditions, and professional development for all staff; where necessary, counsel and advise school employees; advise the Founder/CEO of any personnel issues; and build and maintain a collaborative, respectful workplace culture focused on excellence rooted in Montessori principles and shared educational values.
Required Qualifications & Requirements
Pennsylvania DHS Director Eligibility: Must unconditionally fulfill PA Chapter 3270.35 requirements (e.g., a Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education with 2+ years of administrative experience, or a master's degree with relevant childhood credits, background checks, fingerprinting, CPR/First Aid certification, physical exam, and TB test).
Bilingual Fluency: Native or near-native fluency in Mandarin Chinese alongside strong functional, professional written and verbal English skills.
Montessori Certification: AMI, AMS, or MACTE (Primary or IT) Certification, required.
School Leadership Experience: minimum 3-5 years of leadership experience in a Montessori or Early Childhood Education setting, required.
Compensation & Organizational Benefits
Dandelion Chinese Montessori offers a competitive salary package of $55,000-$65,000 tailored to experience, plus performance-based enrollment milestone bonuses, comprehensive healthcare/dental coverage, and dedicated funds for continued professional development.
How to Apply
Interested candidates should submit a comprehensive professional resume, a cover letter detailing their organizational philosophy for launching a language-immersion early childhood facility, and proof of PA DHS Director credentialing and Montessori certification to:
