Title: Director
Start Date: Flexible but approximately May 1, 2025
Compensation: Commensurate with education and experience
Full-Time School Year/Part-Time Summer & School Closures
$48,000-$56,000

AAUW Preschool, founded in 1953, is a non-profit, parent-cooperative preschool located in Waukegan, IL. We are seeking an energetic, passionate and experienced individual to serve as Director. Ideal candidates will have required education, certification and experience as required by Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) and the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS).

AAUW Preschool is well-respected and has a rich history of fostering quality, developmental growth in a diverse student body. Students aged two to five have a wide variety of class options to choose from.

In addition to weekly classes, AAUW Preschool hosts a variety of enrichment opportunities. Family Nights, Kindergarten Information sessions, LearnScape workdays and various other opportunities are regularly scheduled and are open to current families and community members.
AAUW Preschool teachers and staff are held to the highest standard in Early Childhood Education. High quality teachers and professional staff are the heart of the school. Our team consistently improves their knowledge with professional development opportunities, collaboration and ongoing education.

AAUW Preschool is financially self-sufficient. As a non-profit organization, the school relies on various sources of annual revenue. Student tuition, state grants (ISBE PFA), annual fundraisers and foundation support are examples of current revenue streams.

AAUW Preschool operates under the governance of the Department of Children and Family Services and the Illinois State Board of Education. In addition, the school is NAEYC accredited and currently holds a Gold Circle of Quality rating from ExceleRate Illinois.

Required Qualifications
• Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education/Child Development (including minimum 9
semester hours of Business Administration)
• Director Credential II or III
• ECE Credential 4 or 5
• 2+ years ECE program administration experience
• 1+ years ECE teaching experience
Ideally, candidate would begin employment prior to current Director’s departure to ensure a seamless transition.
Preferred Qualifications:
• Bilingual (English-Spanish) preferred but not necessary

About AAUW Preschool

AAUW Preschool is a not-for-profit cooperative preschool where young children are respected, nurtured and encouraged. The school serves students from northern Lake County, Illinois, including Waukegan, Gurnee, Wadsworth, Beach Park and Zion, as well as southern Wisconsin. We offer a variety of half-day programs for two, three, four and five-year olds and weekly parent-child classes. Every day at AAUW your child will have opportunities to wonder, explore and discover in our outdoor and indoor learning environments. Children walk into a classroom structured by the teacher and see a world of endless possibilities. They initiate and engage with a wide variety of materials that encompass all learning areas. Through this purposeful play, children make connections that build knowledge. Our Mission Our mission is to provide a comfortable, yet stimulating learning environment which values each child as an individual. We challenge each child to reach his or her potential by encouraging the development of social, emotional, intellectual, perceptual, language, and large and small motor skills.

Connections working at AAUW Preschool