Employment Opportunities with IALS Member Schools
If your school has employment opportunities available that might be of interest to our members, please share them with us. We will be glad to help you find the staff you need by publishing them here. Please send your employment opportunities to: ialslabschools@gmail.com
START DATE: July 1, 2026
12-month position
Falk Laboratory School, a coeducational K-8 school in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, seeks a full-time Director of Democratic Education (DODE). This is an exciting opportunity for a visionary professional to shape strategy related to democratic education and justice work in a K-8 laboratory school. This is a 12-month position with an anticipated start date of July 1, 2026.
Responsibilities and Duties:
Instruction and Implementation
Collaborate with Falk faculty in developing and implementing inclusive, social-justice-focused curricula and programs at all grade levels.
Coordinate and teach social justice lessons for middle school students.
Develop and implement a social justice curriculum for K-5 classrooms.
School Strategy
With the Director and other members of the administrative leadership team, build a shared vision for school improvement with faculty and staff.
Oversee the planning of activities and putting programs in place to ensure the attainment of the School’s progressive educational mission and philosophy surrounding justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion.
Identify, analyze, and apply research findings (e.g., practical school correlates) to promote school improvement.
Chairs search committees to fill teaching vacancies within the middle school division and works with the leadership team to orient new faculty to the School and its culture/systems.
Communicate with the various constituencies that make up the School community.
In collaboration with the Director and administrative leadership team, work to establish goals for and plan professional development activities and weekly faculty meetings.
Contribute to the school’s long-term faculty and staff recruitment and retention strategy.
Student and Family Concerns
Develop effective and trusting working relationships with Falk students, faculty, staff, and families, and help the community respond meaningfully to diversity and equity-related issues as they arise, particularly within the student body.
Ensure student discipline is appropriate, equitable, and just, and follow the Student/Family Handbook and Code of Conduct, as well as within Falk’s progressive educational mission and ethos.
Conduct conferences about student and school issues with parents, students, and teachers.
School and Community Relations
Build relationships with diversity coordinators and leaders at other schools—both independent and public—as well as the University of Pittsburgh Office of Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion
Build relationships with off-campus cultural resource organizations to support the learning experiences of Falk’s students.
Confidently articulate and share the school’s progressive mission, vision, and values with and to the community.
Demonstrate awareness of school and community needs and initiate activities to meet those needs. Use appropriate and practical techniques to advance inclusion and belonging for all. Assist with prospective family school tours during the admissions season. Attend admissions and/or advancement-related outreach events and activities, such as the welcome back family picnic, parent night, prospective parent information events (daytime and/or evening, where applicable), family nights, reunions, and so on.
Professional/Personal Demeanor, Comportment, and Growth
Continue developing and attaining the necessary professional skills appropriate to the senior leader position in a school setting.
Demonstrate professional, ethical, and responsible behavior at all times.
Serve as a role model/exemplar for all faculty and staff.
Demonstrate excellent verbal and written communication skills and have the ability to lead meetings with a variety of stakeholders.
Additional
Other duties as assigned.
Working Conditions:
Maintain emotional control under stress; frequent prolonged and irregular hours, with the ability to be on call in high-intensity/crises after-hours. This role requires the individual to move around the school to various rooms frequently.
Minimum requirements
Being an experienced and visionary practitioner in leading transformative, organizational change through a social justice lens
Bachelor’s degree required. Master’s degree preferred.
Strong preference will be given to individuals who have experience in one or more of the following: Administrative and/or program management; classroom teaching; working with students in grades K-8
Salary range is competitive and commensurate with experience. Falk Laboratory School, a department in the School of Education at the University of Pittsburgh, offers excellent benefits. Please direct questions to the search committee chair, Dr. Jill Sarada, at jill.sarada@pitt.edu. The review of applications will begin in late fall/winter of 2025. This is a 12-month position with an anticipated start date of July 1, 2026.
Materials can be uploaded to join.pitt.edu. For full consideration, please submit:
Letter of application
A Resume
An educational philosophy
Three recent letters of recommendation (not older than two years)
Unofficial transcripts (candidates may be requested to provide official transcripts at the time of hire)
Copy of PA instructional certificate or equivalent
Offer of employment is contingent on the candidate satisfactorily obtaining and passing the following before commencement of appointment: Pennsylvania Department of Human Services Child Abuse History Clearance, Pennsylvania State Police Criminal Record Check, and FBI Criminal Record Check. Candidates must also submit proof of a negative TB test before their first work day. Also, as Act 168 of 2014 requires, the candidate must satisfy the requirements on the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Education Sexual Misconduct/Abuse Disclosure Release Form.
Job Type Full-time
The Growing Place Position Description Position: Campus Director Location: Growing Place Early Childhood Lab School 1802 4th Street, Santa Monica, CA 90401 Status: Full-time, Exempt Reports to: Executive Director
THE ORGANIZATION: Growing Place is a non-profit 501(c)(3) child development center, established in 1985. Our mission is to create a better future by helping children develop into confident, compassionate, and creative problem solvers. Our unique program unifies children, parents, and teachers into a community that learns together. Growing Place provides the young children of working families with high-quality, full-day, year-round early education. Our philosophy holds that all children learn from interactions with other children and from interactions with the environment, as well as from interactions with adults. We are in dialogue with Reggio Children and use best practices from their school systems in our context. We fundamentally view children as competent, resilient, and curious individuals; teachers as researchers, facilitators, and collaborators of learning for children and adults; parents as authentic partners. We operate two NAEYC accredited campuses in Santa Monica and are in partnership with the City of Santa Monica and Santa Monica College operating a third campus, Santa Monica Early Childhood Lab School (SMECLS), which opened in 2021. This campus serves as a demonstration site for ECE students enrolled at Santa Monica College.
Description of the Position The Campus Director collaborates with children, staff, families, Santa Monica College, and the broader community to carry out the values and mission of the Growing Place. The Campus Director serves as the catalyst of the school to continuously reflect, innovate, and contribute to the evolution of the school. Working in concert with the Executive Director and community partners, the Campus Director is responsible for leading the school in a social constructivist curriculum design and implementation. The Campus Director, with support from the Assistant Director, directs, manages, monitors, and maintains control over all aspects of campus operations. The Campus Director is responsible for all center operations, and leads the center’s pedagogical and curriculum development and implementation through a close collaboration. The Campus Director is responsible for the partnership between GP and SMC; and strives to ensure SMECLS is an exemplary demonstration site for all learners. The Campus Director holds a strong and clear vision of the organization’s purpose statement and how to actualize the school’s goals and objectives as outlined in our Strategic Plan. The Campus Director is creative, organized, analytical, flexible, reflective and collaborative.
Responsibilities and Duties Promote Effective Teaching and Learning
Work with Children
Collaborate with staff and Educational Coordinating Team (ECT) to design and implement curriculum for the entire campus that is in accordance with the Growing Place philosophies and pedagogy
Ensure that all children are given opportunities to thrive and structures are in place to support children with learning and/or developmental variations
Build respectful, trusting, and positive relationships with all children
Work with Families
Assure all staff have the skills and disposition to create authentic partnerships with families
Welcome families and create relationships so they feel a sense of belonging
Support with orienting new families on philosophy and pedagogy
Participate in parent-teacher meetings and conferences
Lead family events and engagements related to pedagogy; such as Coffee & Conversations, Parent-Teacher Dialogues, Back to School Night etc.
Effectively communicate with families about the life of the school
Publish newsletters and other relevant communications to families and the wider community regarding the work and mission of Growing Place
Work with Staff
Cultivate a positive, healthy, and professional work environment
Cultivate a culture of curiosity, reflection, innovation, and critical thinking and feedback
Work alongside staff to promote positive language, constructivist teaching practices and developmentally appropriate practices
Participate in consistent and authentic feedback from employees, including having a continuous performance management plan
Ensure that staff understand and implement the Growing Place mission, values, and practices
Effectively lead and facilitate meetings
Design and lead professional development plans; specific to an employee, age-cohort, team, campus-wide or organizationally wide
Lead and participate in creating, reviewing and editing documentation for classrooms and across campuses
Work with Community and SMC
Deepen a working partnership with SMC E/EC Department faculty
Deepen an understanding of SMC’s E/EC department and program
Lead endeavors that highlight the teaching and learning model at ECLS
Ensure opportunities for all adult learners to engage in learning at Growing Place
Cultivate a strong, positive, and professional relationship with the Board of Directors
Attend and participate in professional development relevant to furthering the organization’s mission
Present at conferences that enhance the presentation of the Growing Place in the wider community
Assist staff to prepare and present work to parents and the professional community
Network with other schools to create partnerships and places of inspiration for future learning opportunities
Fiscal Responsibilities
Collaborate with Executive Director, Business Manager, and Assistant Director to develop an annual budget that reflects the school’s values and educational goals
Support a spirit of philanthropy with parents, community, and foundations
Follow the fiscal policies and procedures handbook
Collaborate with the Assistant Director on program report due to SMC and to implement operation agreements between SMC and GP
Enrollment and Marketing
Support Assistant Director to conduct tours of the center for prospective parents
Ensure all members of the community (parents, staff, etc.) understand the mission, values, and practices of the Growing Place
Collaborate with appropriate parties to ensure that all communication/marketing materials reflect Growing Place’s mission, values, and practices
Ensure visibility at Preschool/Career Fairs and local community events for recruitment of families and staff
Operations and Business
Support positive partnerships to promote good business practices
Stay abreast of best practices and research regarding children, families, teaching, learning, organizational structures
Campus Facilities
Plan and ensure that the campus environment promotes teaching, learning, development of trusting relationships, beauty, richness, connection to the natural world and the context of the school, and safety for children and adults
Provide training, direction and oversight so that materials in the center reflect our pedagogical and environmental values and are within our operating budget expense
Additional responsibilities will be assigned by the supervisor and outlined in the work plans.
Requirements
Minimum Qualifications/Requirements
A Master Degree in a related field (i.e.. Early Childhood Education, Educational Leadership/Administration)
Experience in leadership, administration, supervision, mentorship
Two (2) years of experience working with children ages 3 months-6 years old in a licensed quality child care program, NAEYC accredited child care center preferred
Demonstrate an understanding of child development
Demonstrate and easily communicate social constructivism, Reggio Emilia approach
Qualify for Program Director Permit per the CA Commission of Teacher Credentialing
Meet requirements of the CA Department of Social Services (TB status, required immunizations, CPR certification, fingerprint clearance)
Competencies
Values parents as important partners in the work of the school
Pays attention to the many ways that children make meaning of the world
Collaborates with children and adults in positive ways
Exhibits a positive, team player spirit
Has a keen interest and curiosity about the nature of learning and teaching
Finds joy in working with children and adults
Approaches teaching as a life-long learner
Embraces reflection as a tool for growth and learning
Demonstrates commitment to diversity, inclusion, and equity
Seeks out resources to continually improve one’s practice
Values learning from mistakes
Establishes professional boundaries with children, parents, and colleagues
Demonstrates professionalism in dress, attitude, communication, and punctuality
Shows and values integrity for oneself and others
Provides value add to the organization beyond the job position
Demonstrates strong writing and communication skills
Demonstrate skillful dialogue and relationship building with parents
Working Conditions
Ability to stand and sit in indoor and outdoor environments designed for children ages 3 months - 6 years
Ability to move rapidly from a sitting to standing position, and to be able to get down and up off the ground as needed
Ability to push, pull, or lift up to 50lbs
Working in all weather conditions
Some travel, evening and weekends are occasionally required
Requires developmentally normal hearing abilities and visual acuity
Requires strong communication skills with children, families, faculty, and staff
Salary and Benefits Starting Annual Salary: $95,000 - $120,000 (salary commensurate with experience)
Benefits:
4 Weeks Synchronized School Closure
10 days additional Paid Time Off (PTO)
9 Paid Days National/State Holidays
Up to 72 Hours of Paid Sick Leave (PSL)
Unused PSL will roll over to the next school year as Paid Time Off (PTO)
Medical, Dental, Vision Benefits Covered at 100% for the base policy
Life Insurance with a fully paid premium and a $25,000 benefit
403(b) retirement plan with a 50% match up to 3%
Application Process: Qualified candidates will be contacted to participate in a phone interview. Candidates who advance through the interview process will participate in an in-person interview with Growing Place administration. Finalists will be invited to participate in a ½ day interview that will include an opportunity to observe our classrooms and engage with constituents from our community (Board Members, parents, and staff).
Contact Info No phone calls. Please send all required information to employment@growingplace.org
Salary Description
$95,000.00 - $120,000.00
We are pleased to announce an exciting opportunity for the position of Editor of the IALS Journal. This prestigious role is integral to shaping the voice, quality, and impact of the journal within the lab school academic community. We invite applications from individuals committed to advancing education in laboratory schools, upholding the highest standards of editorial integrity, and fostering a vibrant scholarly environment.
Role and Responsibilities
The responsibilities of the IALS Journal Editor are multifaceted and crucial to the journal's ongoing success. The Editor will:
Oversee the entire publication process, from initial manuscript submission to final publication.
Manage and coordinate the peer review process, ensuring timely and fair evaluations.
Maintain and update editorial policies in alignment with evolving academic standards.
Ensure academic and professional integrity throughout the editorial workflow.
Uphold the mission and scope of the IALS Journal, safeguarding its reputation and objectives.
Provide guidance and support to authors and reviewers at every stage of publication.
Promote the journal within the academic community, encouraging original submissions and broadening its readership.
Represent the journal at relevant academic events and in professional forums.
Stipend
The selected Editor will receive a stipend of $3,500 (USD) per printed edition.
Qualifications
Demonstrated experience in academic publishing, editing, or related roles.
Strong organizational and leadership skills.
Commitment to scholarly excellence, diversity, and ethical standards.
Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities.
Possess at least a master's degree, although a Ph.D or Ed.D is preferred.
Application Process
Interested candidates are invited to submit a letter of interest and a current curriculum vitae outlining relevant experience. Applications should be sent to the IALS Journal Search Committee at nicolas.ramos1@upr.edu. Shortlisted candidates may be contacted for an interview.