Head of Lower School

Position Summary:   The Head of Lower School is a member of the Administrative Team, and reports directly to the Associate Head of School. The Head of Lower School takes leadership responsibility and accountability for all activities involving students and faculty in 1st through 4th grades. He/she is also responsible for management of personnel, communication, schedule and budget. 

Primary Responsibilities:

1. Develop and maintain active, positive, and productive relationships with members of the community.
2. Adapt management and leadership style to the culture and environment at Bayside Academy and the Eastern Shore of Lower Alabama. 
3. Ensure the safety of the Lower School students including proper supervision and safety of facilities. 
4. Observe, support, and evaluate all Lower School teaching faculty.
5. Develop individual personnel improvement plans as needed.
6. Assist in providing plan for professional growth opportunities for personnel. 
7. Assume primary responsibility for the recruitment of all Lower school teachers and staff as well as make recommendations for hire to the Head of School.
8. Assign mentor teachers to all new teachers and monitor process.
9. Develop schedules for teachers and students including teacher duty assignments.
10. Manage Lower School budgets including approval of all faculty requests for classroom resources.
11. Work in committee to decide the nature, scope, and distribution of professional development funds and programs.
12. Coordinate all internal and external communications from the Lower School. 
13. Work with the Director of Student Services and Associate Head of School in collecting and analyzing student performance data. Regularly meet with teachers to discuss student performance, advising on instructional adjustments for lagging indicators. 
14. Work collaboratively with faculty and staff to integrate technology into the academic program in meaningful ways:

1. includes a school wide technology integration plan.
2. work closely with other Division Heads.

1. Work with the Associate Head of School to develop, revise, and monitor implementation of standards-based curriculum for each grade level. 
2. Work closely with the other Division Heads to ensure that an updated and effective student handbook is published annually to include updated course descriptions.
3. Collaborate with Division Heads and Director of Student Services to plan for the Learning Place program’s scope of services and any future growth. 
4. Work closely with faculty to schedule grade-level, departmental, and team-based academic meetings. 
5. Provide monthly communication to Head of School for Board presentation. 
6. Participate in weekly Calendar and Academic Leadership meetings.
7. Perform other duties as assigned by the Associate Head of School.

Secondary Responsibilities Include:

1. Work closely with the admissions team on enrollment and retention practices and procedures.
2. Work closely with other members of the Leadership Team and faculty during the planning and execution of special events.
3. Provide opportunities with the schedule for teachers to observe classes in other grade levels as well as within their current grade level. 
4. Schedule meetings of vertical teaching teams. 
5. Monitor and proofread communication sent to parents by classroom teachers. 
6. Monitor, proofread, and prepare individual student progress reports for mailing each quarter.
7. Attend parent/teacher conferences as deemed necessary.
8. Maintain student files of pertinent information to be shared from year to year as needed.
9. Ensure that faculty absences are covered by effective and reliable substitutes.
10. Serve as the primary communicator of policies, rules, and expectations of an effective parent-school relationship, including being available and accessible to parents and students. 
11. Meet regularly with the Parent Association and/or Bayside Advisory Committee representatives to gather and communicate information that leads to an effective and positive relationship between parents and the school.
12. Conduct regular Lower School assemblies and faculty meetings. 
13. Lead Lower School recognition ceremonies.
14.  Monitor daily dismissal procedures and carline details. 
15. Report facility issues to maintenance staff; equipment issues to tech department as needed.
16. Develop summer maintenance schedule for Lower School facilities.
17. Provide leadership during safety drills or actual events.
18. Maintain communication with Lower School personnel throughout the summer regarding completion of maintenance activities, readiness of classrooms, schedules, and class lists.
19. Attend school events.
20. Take responsibility for ensuring that faculty perform assigned duties. 
21. Perform other duties as assigned by the Associate Head of School.  

1. Master’s degree or higher required.
2. Administrative experience, preferably in the Lower School division of an independent school.
3. Must possess excellent written and oral communication; instructional strategies that connect the curriculum to the learners, student management.