Description:
Basic Purpose: Shady Hill is looking for a Lower School Division Head beginning August 2024. The Lower School Division Head oversees the educational program for Beginner (PreK) - Grade 4, a 270+ student division with 60 faculty. The Lower School Division Head serves on the senior administrative team called the Administrative Council and also works collaboratively with the academic administrators including Middle School Division Head, Assistant Head of School, Director of Equity and Inclusion, Director of Auxiliary Programs, Director of LS/MS Student Life and Executive Director of Teacher Training Center. This Leadership Team with the Head of School ensures the smooth day-to-day operation of the School within and across divisions; supports the needs of faculty, students and parents; and, meets the guidelines and expectations set by the Board of Trustees.
The Lower School Division Head leads and works closely with the Lower School Student Support Team which include the Director of Learning Resources, Lower School Counselor, Lower School Math Curriculum Coordinator and Coach, Assistant Director of Equity and Inclusion, and the Director of Student Life (LS and MS).
Division Heads are responsible for: curriculum oversight; supervision; evaluation and professional development of faculty; personal and academic welfare of students, including the coordination of student programs and services, student evaluation and assessment, and scheduling; administration of school-wide policies; and management of parent relations. Division Heads work in concert with the Assistant Head, Department Chairs, Gradeheads and Department faculty to meet needs in each area of responsibility listed below.
Primary Responsibilities:
- Cultivate a productive and collaborative division
- Oversee with Assistant Head of School all curriculum, curriculum development, and implementation of new academic programs in
- Lower School division within and across grades
- Plan and implement regular faculty meetings
- Oversee supervision, evaluation, and professional development of faculty
- Support new faculty in first two years; regular meetings, observations
- Coach, advise, and support faculty
- Oversee and edit Lower School progress reports
- Attend parent conferences on student progress (as needed)
- Meet and plan regularly with Lower School administrative team: Director of LS Learning Resources, LS Counselor, LS Math
- Curriculum Coordinator, LS Faculty Coach, Director of Student Life, and Assistant Director of Equity and Inclusion
- Manage hiring process for LS Gradeheads
- Coordinate faculty and grade-level schedules in conjunction with Assistant Head of School and the scheduling team
- Communicate weekly newsletter for faculty and staff
Students
- Monitor student learning and progress; Coordinate resources and services to meet individual student needs
- Coordinate special programs, assemblies, and events
- Ensure the continuity of the curriculum (academic and affective) within and across grades
Parents
- Connect parents to the mission of the school
- With Gradeheads, respond to questions and concerns about student learning and progress
- Manage communication about the Lower School program and student experience
- Educate parents on topics related to child development, academic and social/emotional learning (Curriculum Night, Let's Talk Lower School, What to Expect, etc.)
Other Duties
- Participate in all-school administrative planning and events
- Assist Director of Admissions with all aspects of Lower School admissions
- Cultivate cohesion across divisions through collaboration with Middle School Division Head
- Interact with Board of Trustees as invited by Head of School
Key Qualifications:
- Educational leader with 5-7 years of teaching and a minimum of 3 years of administrative experience focused on Lower School
- Bachelor's degree required, Master's degree in Education or Administration preferred
- Demonstrated commitment to social justice & creation of an inclusive & equitable community
- Dedicated to progressive education tenets: possesses a learning mindset and applies current research and evidence-based practices in pedagogy and curriculum development
- Experienced in supervision and coaching of faculty
- Collaborative professional with strategic vision, creative thinking, and vibrant energy
- Demonstrated strength in oral and written communication skills
- Possesses a high level of emotional intelligence, warmth, and sense of humor