Principal & Child Care Supervisor
Salary: $75,000 - $90,000 per year
Job Type: Full-time
Start Date: July 2026
About Guelph Montessori School
Guelph Montessori School is a well-established Montessori school and licensed childcare centre serving children from Toddler through Grade 6. Rooted in authentic Montessori principles, we are committed to fostering independence, curiosity, and a lifelong love of learning within a warm, respectful, and nurturing environment.
As we enter an exciting new chapter of growth and expansion, we are seeking an experienced and dynamic Principal & Child Care Supervisor to lead our school community and support our continued commitment to educational excellence.
This is a unique opportunity for an accomplished educational leader to oversee both the private school and licensed childcare programs while helping shape the future of a respected Montessori community.
Position Summary
The Principal & Child Care Supervisor serves as the operational and educational leader of the school. This individual is responsible for ensuring excellence in programming, regulatory compliance, staff leadership, enrollment growth, parent engagement, and day-to-day operations.
This position reports directly to ownership and will play a critical role in supporting the school's continued growth, operational excellence, regulatory compliance, and long-term strategic vision.
The ideal candidate is a seasoned educational leader who can balance strategic thinking with hands-on leadership while maintaining a strong commitment to Montessori philosophy and child-centered learning.
Key Responsibilities
Educational Leadership
- Provide academic and pedagogical leadership across Toddler, Casa, Lower Elementary, and Upper Elementary programs.
- Support educators in delivering high-quality Montessori programming aligned with Montessori best practices and child development principles.
- Conduct regular classroom observations and provide coaching, mentorship, and professional development opportunities.
- Monitor student progress and support educators in meeting the developmental and academic needs of each child.
- Foster a culture of continuous improvement, professionalism, and educational excellence.
- Support curriculum planning, student assessment, and educational programming across all age groups.
Staff Leadership & Performance Management
- Lead, mentor, and support a team of educators, assistants, and administrative staff.
- Promote a positive, collaborative, and accountable workplace culture.
- Conduct staff evaluations, performance reviews, and ongoing coaching meetings.
- Address employee concerns and performance issues through appropriate documentation, coaching, and corrective action processes.
- Support recruitment, interviewing, hiring, onboarding, and retention initiatives.
- Develop future leaders within the organization and support succession planning.
- Ensure staffing practices support both operational excellence and exceptional educational outcomes.
Child Care Operations & Funding Program Administration
- Serve as the designated Child Care Supervisor under the Child Care and Early Years Act (CCEYA).
- Ensure ongoing compliance with all licensing requirements, Ministry regulations, and funding agreements.
- Oversee administration of government-funded childcare initiatives, fee reduction programs, and associated reporting requirements.
- Monitor occupancy levels, enrollment trends, and staffing requirements to support operational sustainability.
- Coordinate workforce compensation initiatives and related reporting obligations.
- Maintain accurate records and ensure timely submission of required reports to regulatory bodies and funding partners.
- Stay informed of changes to provincial childcare policies, funding frameworks, and regulatory requirements.
School Operations
- Oversee the daily operation of the school and childcare centre.
- Ensure classrooms, common areas, and facilities remain organized, safe, and licensing-ready at all times.
- Manage staffing schedules, classroom ratios, and staff coverage requirements.
- Oversee supply purchasing, inventory management, vendor relationships, and facility maintenance needs.
- Support budgeting awareness and identify opportunities to improve operational efficiency.
- Lead emergency preparedness procedures, incident management, and risk mitigation efforts.
- Ensure operational practices align with the school's mission, values, and strategic objectives.
Enrollment & Admissions
- Lead enrollment initiatives to maintain and grow occupancy across all programs.
- Conduct school tours and effectively communicate the value of Montessori education to prospective families.
- Monitor enrollment trends, retention rates, and waitlists.
- Collaborate with ownership on marketing initiatives, community outreach, and growth strategies.
- Support the successful onboarding and transition of new families into the school community.
- Develop strong relationships with prospective families to support enrollment growth and retention.
Family Relations & Community Engagement
- Build strong, positive, and respectful relationships with families.
- Serve as the primary point of escalation for parent concerns and conflict resolution.
- Communicate professionally and effectively with families, staff, and external stakeholders.
- Maintain high levels of parent satisfaction and family retention.
- Lead open houses, parent education events, school celebrations, and community initiatives.
- Foster a welcoming, inclusive, and engaged school community.
Regulatory Compliance & Quality Assurance
- Ensure full compliance with all applicable legislation, including:
- Child Care and Early Years Act (CCEYA)
- Occupational Health and Safety Act
- Ontario Human Rights Code
- Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA)
- Public Health requirements
- Lead licensing inspections, Ministry visits, and regulatory audits.
- Ensure all policies, procedures, documentation, and staff practices remain current and compliant.
- Maintain a culture of continuous quality improvement across all programs.
- Monitor and implement changes required by evolving legislation and regulatory standards.
Health, Safety & Wellbeing
- Oversee implementation of all health and safety policies and procedures.
- Ensure compliance with supervision standards, medication administration protocols, emergency procedures, and sanitation requirements.
- Promote a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment for children, families, and staff.
- Investigate incidents and ensure proper documentation and follow-up.
- Champion a culture of wellbeing, professionalism, and respect throughout the school.
Strategic Leadership
- Serve as the primary operational leader of the school.
- Work closely with ownership to support strategic initiatives, school growth, and continuous improvement efforts.
- Provide regular updates regarding enrollment, staffing, compliance, operational performance, and key priorities.
- Support annual planning, goal setting, and school improvement initiatives.
- Contribute to the long-term vision and success of the organization.
Qualifications
Required
- Minimum 5 years of progressive leadership experience in a licensed childcare centre, Montessori school, independent school, or similar educational environment.
- ECE Diploma or Degree with RECE status in good standing and/or MACTE-accredited Montessori Diploma.
- Demonstrated experience managing teams and leading educational programs.
- Strong knowledge of CCEYA, Ministry licensing requirements, and childcare regulations.
- Exceptional leadership, communication, conflict resolution, and organizational skills.
- Experience conducting staff evaluations, performance management, and team development.
- Strong understanding of child development and family engagement practices.
- Standard First Aid & CPR-C Certification.
- Clear Vulnerable Sector Check.
- Up-to-date immunizations and TB screening.
Preferred
- Previous experience serving as a Child Care Supervisor.
- Experience administering government-funded childcare programs, funding agreements, fee subsidy programs, or related reporting requirements.
- Montessori leadership experience.
- Experience leading licensing inspections and Ministry visits.
- Experience managing enrollment and admissions processes.
- Elementary education leadership experience.
- Demonstrated ability to balance educational leadership with operational management responsibilities.
Why Join Guelph Montessori School?
- Opportunity to lead a respected Montessori school and licensed childcare centre.
- Supportive ownership team committed to quality, growth, and educational excellence.
- Meaningful leadership role with the ability to make a lasting impact on children, families, and educators.
- Collaborative and values-driven school culture.
- Competitive compensation package aligned with experience and qualifications.
- Professional development and leadership growth opportunities.
- Opportunity to shape the future of a growing school community.
Benefits
- Dental Care
- Vision Care
- Life Insurance
- Paid Time Off
- Professional Development Support
- On-Site Parking
How to Apply
If you are an experienced educational leader who is passionate about Montessori education, child development, team leadership, and operational excellence, we would love to hear from you.
Please submit your resume and cover letter to:
[email protected]
- We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
Pay: $75,000.00-$90,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Dental care
- Life insurance
- On-site parking
- Paid time off
- Vision care
Application question(s):
- How many years of leadership experience do you have in a licensed childcare centre, Montessori school, private school, or educational setting?
- Have you previously served as a Child Care Supervisor or equivalent leadership position in a licensed childcare setting?
- How would you rate your knowledge of Ontario's Child Care and Early Years Act (CCEYA) and licensing requirements?
- Are you currently registered and in good standing with the College of Early Childhood Educators (CECE)?
- Do you hold a Montessori credential? If so what do you hold (i.e. Elementary Diploma, Casa Diploma etc)
- This position oversees both a Montessori private school (Kindergarten–Grade 6) and a licensed childcare program. Why are you interested in this leadership opportunity, and what strengths would you bring to our school community?
- If you were hired today, what would be the first three priorities you would focus on during your first 90 days?
- What is the largest team you have directly managed?
Work Location: In person
