Berkwood Hedge School | Berkeley, CA
At Berkwood Hedge School, we believe school should be a place where children are deeply known, joyfully engaged, and inspired to grow into thoughtful, compassionate human beings.
For 80 years, our progressive K–8 community has nurtured creativity, curiosity, connection, and belonging through hands-on, project-based learning, social-emotional development, and a deep commitment to community. We are an intentionally small school with a big heart, where children’s voices matter, relationships are central, and learning is alive with purpose and joy.
We are seeking a Director of Auxiliary Programs who will help extend the spirit of Berkwood Hedge beyond the regular school day through joyful afterschool programming, enrichment opportunities, camps, family engagement, and thoughtful school operations support.
The Opportunity
This is a dynamic, people-centered role for someone who loves children, believes in community, and finds joy in making things work well.
The Auxiliary Programs Director will lead and support the school’s auxiliary programs, including afterschool and extended care, enrichment classes, seasonal camps, conference-day care, and related family programming. This person will also provide essential administrative and operational support across the school, helping ensure that daily systems, communications, and special projects are handled with care, clarity, and follow-through.
We are looking for someone who is highly organized, warm, flexible, creative, and all-in—someone who can move comfortably from planning a program calendar to supporting a child, communicating with a family, coordinating supplies, solving a logistical challenge, or helping bring a school event to life.
This is a wonderful opportunity for a relational and joyful leader who wants to contribute meaningfully to the daily life, culture, and vitality of a beloved school community.
What You Will Do
Auxiliary Programs Director 75%
- Lead and support Berkwood Hedge’s afterschool and extended care program
- Supervise, support, and guide afterschool staff with clarity, care, and consistency
- Develop engaging afterschool, enrichment, and camp programming that reflects the values and spirit of the school
- Create and manage quarterly program calendars for afterschool, enrichment classes, and auxiliary offerings
- Coordinate seasonal camps, holiday camps, conference-day care, and other non-school-day programming
- Serve as a warm and responsive point of contact for families participating in auxiliary programs
- Manage registration, attendance, family communication, feedback, and program logistics
- Support snack planning, ordering, supplies, inventory, and program materials
- Ensure that auxiliary programs are safe, well-supervised, and aligned with school expectations and emergency procedures
- Collaborate closely with teachers, administrators, and staff to ensure a strong and connected student experience
- Support school-wide operations, scheduling, communication, and special projects as assigned by the Head of School
- Assist with parent education programs, community gatherings, and school events as needed
- Coordinate vendor relationships and facility use connected to auxiliary programs and special projects
- Serve as a collaborative and positive member of the administrative team
Administrative Associate 25%
- Serve as a welcoming and steady presence in the front office, supporting students, families, faculty, and visitors with care, clarity, and responsiveness
- Partner closely with the Director of Operations and leadership team to support the daily rhythm of the school, including scheduling, communication, and coordination
- Support the stewardship of student records, attendance, and key systems with accuracy and confidentiality, ensuring families experience smooth and supportive processes
- Support clear, consistent, and thoughtful communication across the community, including newsletters, announcements, and family-facing messages
- Help bring school events, gatherings, and programs to life through thoughtful planning, organization, and attention to detail
- Support the day-to-day care and functioning of the campus, including supplies, facilities coordination, and creating spaces that feel organized, safe, and ready for learning
- Assist with essential administrative and financial processes, maintaining organized systems that support the school’s sustainability
- Show up as a flexible, collaborative team member, ready to support where needed and contribute to a joyful, connected, and mission-aligned school environment
Who You Are
- You have a deep love of children and a genuine appreciation for community, families, and school life
- You are joyful, creative, flexible, and energized by working with people
- You bring warmth, patience, and emotional intelligence to your interactions with children and adults
- You are highly organized and able to manage many moving pieces with calm and clarity
- You are a strong communicator, both in writing and in person
- You are collaborative and enjoy working as part of a team
- You are proactive, dependable, and able to follow through on details
- You are comfortable shifting between big-picture planning and hands-on daily support
- You see operations as an expression of care: when systems work well, children, families, and teachers are better supported
- You are aligned with progressive education and child-centered practices
- You bring a spirit of service, creativity, and possibility to your work
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree required; master’s degree preferred
- Minimum of five years of experience working with children in classroom and also in and educational camp or out-of-school-time settings
- Prior experience working with children in a school setting required
- Experience supervising or supporting staff preferred
- Strong organizational, time management, and problem-solving skills
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Comfort using Google Workspace and general technology tools for scheduling, communication, planning, and organization
- Background in arts, gardening, movement, dance, enrichment programming, or camp programming is a plus
- Event planning, project management, or school operations experience is also a plus
Our Philosophy
At Berkwood Hedge School, we believe that children learn best in environments where they feel safe, seen, and connected. We honor the whole child—cognitive, physical, social, emotional, and moral—and we believe that play, creativity, movement, friendship, and joyful exploration are essential parts of learning.
Auxiliary programs are not separate from the life of the school; they are an extension of our values. Afterschool, enrichment, and camp experiences offer children additional opportunities to build relationships, explore interests, practice independence, and feel a continued sense of belonging throughout the day.
We believe that how we care for children and how we work together matters. Our team is collaborative, reflective, and deeply committed to creating a school community where children, families, and staff feel valued and supported.
Compensation and Schedule
This is a full-time, year-round position with competitive salary and benefits. The salary range is $65,000 - 75,000, commensurate with experience and qualifications.
The regular schedule for this role is generally 9:30 a.m.–6:00 p.m., with some flexibility and occasional additional hours for school events, camps, family programs, or special projects.Berkwood Hedge School offers a competitive and thoughtfully structured benefits package, including:
- 50% employee tuition remission
- Kaiser medical
- Vision and Dentai
- Employer Funded Retirement Plan
- 403(b) retirement plan
- Life insurance
In addition to formal benefits, many employees cite the school’s warm, tight-knit colleague community as one of its most meaningful professional advantages.
Why Berkwood Hedge School?
Berkwood Hedge is a place where people care deeply—about children, about community, and about the everyday experiences that help a school thrive.
This role is ideal for someone who wants to be in the heart of school life: supporting children, communicating with families, collaborating with colleagues, and helping create joyful, well-run programs that reflect the best of Berkwood Hedge.
If you are someone who leads with warmth, brings order and creativity to complex work, and believes in the power of community to support children’s growth, we invite you to apply.
How to Apply
Please send a resume and cover letter outlining your interest and qualifications to [email protected].
Applications without a cover letter will not be considered. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and the position will remain open until filled.
Our Commitment to Inclusion
At Berkwood Hedge School, we believe that a thriving community is one where every individual feels seen, valued, and a true sense of belonging.
We are committed to building and sustaining a diverse, equitable, and inclusive school community. We welcome candidates whose experiences, identities, and perspectives contribute to the richness of our learning environment and strengthen our collective capacity to support children and families.
Berkwood Hedge School is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, citizenship, religion, age, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, family-care status, disability, medical condition, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
We seek educators and leaders who share our commitment to equity, inclusion, and the belief that every child—and every member of our community—matters.
Pay: $65,000.00 - $75,000.00 per year
Work Location: In person
