Brooklyn Free Space
Executive Director
Start Date: July 1, 2026
Independent, co-ed, day school
Ages 2-5 years, 61 students
910 Union Street, Brooklyn, NY 11215
Educators Collaborative is pleased to be supporting Brooklyn Free Space in their search for an Executive Director to begin July 1, 2026.
About the Opportunity
Brooklyn Free Space seeks a relational, strategic, and values-driven leader to serve as its next Executive Director. This is a rare opportunity to lead a deeply respected cooperative preschool at a moment of thoughtful evolution, building on a strong foundation while helping to shape its next chapter.
For more than four decades, BFS has offered a distinctive early childhood experience grounded in play-based, child-centered learning and sustained by a highly engaged family community. The school is widely known for its warmth, its commitment to children’s social-emotional development, and the strength of its teacher-child relationships.
Today, BFS is poised to move from a period of resilience and continuity into one of clarity, sustainability, and strategic growth. The next Executive Director will partner with an experienced and dedicated team to strengthen systems, articulate vision, and guide the school through several key strategic decisions that will shape its future.
The ideal candidate will be a passionate educator, proven community builder, and skilled manager bringing integrity to the role. They will prioritize communication, authentic relationship building, and bring both deep relational capacity and strong organizational leadership.
About the School
Founded in 1978 and located in Park Slope, Brooklyn Free Space is an independent cooperative preschool serving children ages 2-5. The school’s program emphasizes:
- Child-centered, play-based learning rooted in inquiry and exploration
- A relationship-driven approach that prioritizes social-emotional development
- A cooperative model in which families actively participate in school life
- A commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion
- Small class sizes and strong teacher continuity
BFS is, at its heart, a community as much as a school – one in which children, families, and educators are deeply known to one another.
Learn more about the school and the position in the Information for Candidates, which contains the full Leadership Profile.
How to Apply
Candidates interested in the position should submit the following materials in a single merged pdf by April 25, 2026. Applications will be considered as they are received:
- EC Summary Sheet (you’ll be asked to make a copy upon opening)
- Letter of Interest addressed to the Search Committee
- Statement of educational leadership philosophy
- Resume
- A list of five professional references, with contact information (name, relationship to candidate, phone, and email)
- EC Disclosure Statement (you’ll be asked to make a copy upon opening)
Debbie Millon, Consultant, Educators Collaborative
Listing Date: March 26, 2026
Updated: March 31, 2026
The annual salary range for the Executive Director is $120,000-$130,000.
SEARCH, TRANSITION & STRATEGY
