Executive Director, Early Learning & School Readiness

Executive Director, Early Learning & School Readiness

Who We Are and What Sets GCPS Apart?

Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) is the largest school district in Georgia and the largest employer in Gwinnett County, serving more than 178,000 students across 143 schools and educational entities. Our diverse community, commitment to excellence, and focus on providing world-class educational opportunities for every student make GCPS an exceptional place to lead, serve, and create lasting impact.

At GCPS, we believe that school readiness begins long before a child enters kindergarten. We are committed to creating a comprehensive early learning ecosystem that supports children from birth through age five and ensures every learner enters school prepared to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

We are seeking an innovative, collaborative, and visionary leader to serve as our next Executive Director of Early Learning & School Readiness .

Position Summary

The Executive Director of Early Learning & School Readiness provides strategic leadership for the planning, development, implementation, and continuous improvement of Gwinnett County Public Schools' early learning initiatives and programs serving children from birth through age five.

This executive leader is responsible for advancing a comprehensive early childhood framework that includes district early learning programs, Pre-K initiatives, early childhood special education services, family and community partnerships, and countywide school readiness efforts. The Executive Director collaborates with district leadership, local schools, families, community organizations, and governmental agencies to ensure every child develops the skills necessary for success in kindergarten and beyond.

The position serves as a key member of the district leadership team and works across divisions to align early childhood programming with the district's strategic priorities, instructional goals, and student achievement outcomes.

Strategic Leadership for Early Learning

• Provide visionary leadership for all district early learning and school readiness initiatives serving children from birth through age five.
• Develop, implement, evaluate, and continuously improve a comprehensive early childhood education strategy aligned with the district's mission and strategic priorities.
• Ensure all early learning programs support equitable access, high-quality instruction, and positive outcomes for children and families.
• Lead the development and implementation of innovative practices based on current early childhood research and best practices.
• Promote a culture of continuous improvement focused on readiness, achievement, and long-term student success.

Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment

• Lead the development, articulation, evaluation, and revision of early childhood curriculum, instructional programming, and learning opportunities.
• Direct implementation of early learning curriculum and instructional programs aligned to the district's Academic Knowledge and Skills (AKS).
• Utilize student performance data, research, and assessment findings to drive program improvement and instructional effectiveness.
• Collaborate with the Executive Director of Accountability and Assessment to ensure instructional programs support district accountability measures and student achievement goals.
• Monitor the effectiveness of curriculum and instructional initiatives and make recommendations for improvement.

Early Childhood Ecosystem Development

• Lead the development and sustainability of a collaborative early learning ecosystem across Gwinnett County.
• Build and strengthen partnerships with families, community organizations, childcare providers, higher education institutions, government agencies, and advocacy organizations.
• Collaborate with county, state, and national leaders to advance early childhood programming and school readiness initiatives.
• Lead countywide school readiness efforts, including continued facilitation of Gwinnett Building Babies' Brains and related initiatives.
• Advocate for early childhood education and promote awareness of the importance of early learning within the community.

Early Childhood Special Education Leadership

• Lead and support the planning, implementation, and evaluation of comprehensive early childhood special education programs.
• Ensure alignment between early childhood special education curriculum and district instructional standards.
• Support the continuous improvement of early childhood special education services and programs.
• Provide leadership and support for teachers, paraprofessionals, and instructional staff serving children in district and community-based settings.
• Lead and support early childhood assessment teams throughout the district.
• Collaborate with school-age special education programs to ensure seamless transitions and compliance with all special education regulations and requirements.
• Oversee staffing, professional learning, and program effectiveness within early childhood special education services.

Leadership and Talent Development

• Supervise, support, evaluate, and guide the work of directors, coordinators, and other departmental leaders.
• Establish clear performance expectations and accountability measures for departmental staff.
• Foster collaborative planning, innovative thinking, and exceptional service delivery throughout the department.
• Participate in personnel selection and staffing recommendations.
• Lead professional development initiatives that align with district goals and instructional priorities.
• Build leadership capacity within the department to ensure sustainability and continuous improvement.

Budget, Grants, and Resource Management

• Lead the development, implementation, and management of departmental budgets.
• Oversee the responsible stewardship and accountability of departmental financial resources.
• Identify, secure, and manage grant opportunities that support early learning initiatives.
• Monitor expenditures and ensure alignment between resources and strategic priorities.
• Evaluate program effectiveness and resource utilization to maximize impact.

Cross-Divisional Collaboration

• Work collaboratively with the Assistant Superintendent of Elementary Education and Student Support, Chief Learning Officer, and Superintendent's Cabinet.
• Partner with district leaders to ensure alignment between early learning programming and broader district goals.
• Collaborate with:
• Executive Director of School Operations and Support
• Executive Director of Data Governance
• Executive Director of Special Education and Psychological Services
• Executive Director of Research, Evaluation and Analytics
• Executive Director of Federal Programs and Special Programs
• Other district leaders and departments
• Support principals and school leadership teams in maximizing school readiness, instructional quality, and student achievement.

Communication and Stakeholder Engagement

• Communicate effectively with district leaders, employees, families, community organizations, and the public.
• Present information and recommendations to the Board of Education, Superintendent, leadership teams, and community groups.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Promote district initiatives and communicate the impact of early learning programs on student success.

Additional Responsibilities

• Function as an active, collaborative member of the district's executive leadership team.
• Support districtwide strategic initiatives and priorities.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

Licensure

• Must hold or be eligible for a valid Georgia Educator's Certificate in Educational Leadership and/or Support Personnel License issued by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission.

Education

• Master's Degree in a related field required.
• Specialist Degree in a related field preferred.
• Doctoral Degree in a related field preferred.

Experience

• Minimum of ten (10) years of combined educational and administrative experience required.
• At least two (2) years of direct experience in the development of early learning programs for students, either in a teaching role or administrative leadership role required.
• System-level PreK-12 experience preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• Extensive knowledge of early childhood development, learning, and instructional practices.
• Comprehensive understanding of school district operations, systems, and procedures.
• Knowledge of early childhood special education programming and regulatory requirements.
• Strong strategic planning, organizational leadership, and change management skills.
• Ability to lead large-scale initiatives that advance educational outcomes for all students.
• Exceptional collaboration and relationship-building abilities.
• Strong analytical skills and ability to use data to inform decision-making.
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation communication skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively with the Board of Education, Superintendent, staff, families, community organizations, and the public.
• Commitment to fostering positive and productive work environments.
• Demonstrated ability to lead diverse teams and promote innovation, excellence, and accountability.

Why Join GCPS?

This is a unique opportunity to shape the future of early childhood education in one of the nation's leading public school systems. As Executive Director of Early Learning & School Readiness, you will lead transformative initiatives that strengthen school readiness, support families, expand opportunities for young learners, and create lasting impact for generations of children throughout Gwinnett County.

Join a district committed to innovation, collaboration, and ensuring that every child enters kindergarten ready to learn, grow, and succeed.

Gwinnett County Public Schools is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to building a workforce that reflects the diversity of the communities we serve.