Infant Toddler Children’s Center | Acton, MA
Start Date: September 1, 2026
Founded in 1981 by a pediatric nurse and early childhood educator, ITC is a beloved nonprofit early education center in Acton, Massachusetts. Grounded in the belief that learning begins at the very start of life, the Center welcomes approximately 100 children each year from infancy through preschool, supported by nearly 30 educators on a 3.5-acre campus that feels both expansive and deeply familiar.
ITC creates an early learning environment marked by wonder, connection, creativity, and delight. Children are known and understood as individuals, teachers are valued as professional lifelong learners, families are welcomed as invested partners, and Board members champion the mission and the people who make it possible. Inspired by the schools of Reggio Emilia and guided by constructivist and emergent principles, the Center’s educational philosophy reflects a view of children as capable, curious, and full of ideas. Educators observe, listen, document, and develop responsive curriculum with children as their questions and interests unfold. Indoor and outdoor spaces function together as learning environments, with nature woven into daily discovery.
At ITC, children are not rushed through childhood. They are invited to live it fully through exploration, imagination, relationships, and play. The Center’s respect for individuality and continuous learning extends to its adult community. Educators bring varied backgrounds and perspectives but share a wholehearted dedication to ensuring that every child is seen, heard, and celebrated. For families, ITC offers more than care: it provides reassurance, belonging, and a first school community. When childhood is honored, everything that follows is strengthened.
Across four decades, ITC has earned a reputation for innovative, compassionate early childhood education that extends beyond the Center’s classroom walls through mentorship, professional exchange, and contributions to the broader conversation about the importance of early education. More than 2,000 children have begun their learning lives here, and families often remain connected long after their children graduate.
The Center’s legacy is rooted in place. Its home (the historic Hapgood Family Farmhouse) was once the residence of Clara Hapgood Nash (a teacher, poet, and the first woman in New England admitted to the bar) and her husband Frederick (a superintendent of schools and a founder of the West Acton Citizens’ Library).
A century later, ITC carries their spirit of learning and civic purpose forward for future generations. As it approaches its 45th anniversary, ITC is investing in renewal of its historic campus and deepening its commitment to its people and programs. The next Assistant Director will play a critical role in ensuring the Center remains a cherished resource for families and valued reference point for the field.
Reporting to Executive Director Barbara Carlson, the Assistant Director (AD) will join a four-person leadership team that also includes the Director of Development and the Director of Business and Operations. As Barbara’s principal partner in the educational life and day-to-day operations of the Center, the AD will help shape curriculum and program quality, advise and develop educators, and ensure that ITC’s operations remain aligned and true to its values.
This is a Center-wide role with meaningful authority and influence, and it calls for an engaging leader – someone who will bring creativity and flexibility, and who will advocate for every child. The position pairs broad responsibility with regular engagement in classrooms, where the Assistant Director will observe and reflect alongside educators, support them in deepening their practice, and help them respond thoughtfully to children’s varied developmental needs and classroom dynamics.
In partnership with Barbara and ITC’s teachers, the AD will advance the Center’s emergent, play-based, nature-rich, and Reggio-inspired approach, fostering a shared commitment to programmatic excellence. They will also be an accessible resource for families and a steady presence for teachers. Warmth, openness, and empathy will be essential, as will the confidence to communicate expectations with care, apply policies fairly, and make good decisions.
Alongside the pedagogical components of the role, the Assistant Director will provide senior leadership for the Center’s daily operations, translating ITC’s values and priorities into coordinated decisions and consistent practices across the Center. The Director of Business and Operations leads finance, HR administration, enrollment systems, facilities, and technology, while part-time administrative support helps protect the Assistant Director’s capacity to focus on people and programs. Because the portfolio spans both pedagogical and operational leadership, its precise emphasis will be shaped with the successful candidate, reflecting their strengths and ITC’s evolving priorities.
The successful candidate will be first and foremost a teacher who sees this role as extending their impact. They will approach leadership as a collective endeavor to create the conditions for children, educators, and the broader ITC community to learn and thrive together.
Educational Leadership & Teacher Development
The salary for this position is $85,000–$100,000 per year, commensurate with experience.
To express interest, please submit your cover letter and resume in confidence https://www.developmentguild.com/current-searches/assistant-director-at-infant-toddler-childrens-center/
For more information about ITC, please visit https://www.itcacton.org
Cole Sussman
Executive Search Associate
Development Guild
csussman@developmentguild.com
Together, we are empowering exceptional education.