Head of Lower School

The John Cooper School
Head of Lower School
Job Description

Job Title: Head of Lower School

Reports to: Head of School

FLSA Status: Exempt

SUMMARY

The Head of Lower School plays a pivotal role in strengthening this environment, leading with a blend of tradition and innovation. Key priorities include advancing curriculum alignment across grades, deepening development-appropriate pedagogical practices, and ensuring that every child is known, challenged, and inspired. As a culture carrier, this leader champions both the values that define Cooper and the forward-thinking practices that will sustain its excellence for decades to come. The Head of Lower School oversees the day-to-day operations of the division Prekindergarten through Grade 5) will enter a community that is both thriving and poised for thoughtful renewal. With a strong academic foundation, committed faculty, and joyful student culture, the Lower School presents significant opportunities for a strategic and emotionally intelligent leader to make a lasting impact.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Strengthen faculty culture and collaboration by cultivating a sense of shared purpose, professional growth, and open communication within the Lower School while fostering cross-divisional partnerships that enhance continuity in academics, student support, and assessment practices.
• Assess and understand the overall Lower School program to ensure integration across academics, arts, extracurriculars, and social-emotional learning and smooth developmental transitions between Prekindergarten, Lower, and Middle School.
• Review and refine the Lower School schedule to optimize student learning and program delivery, addressing challenges created by differences from the 8-day cycles of the Middle and Upper Schools.
• Ensure the curriculum reflects The John Cooper School’s educational philosophy, balancing creative initiatives with externally sourced programs such as Reading and Writing Workshop, Fundations Phonics, and Origo Math. Thoughtfully incorporate inquiry-based models and new technologies as developmentally indicated.
• Strengthen student support services by expanding literacy and mathematics offerings, partnering with specialists, and ensuring inclusive practices that meet the needs of all learners.
• Serve as the Lower School’s advocate and storyteller by effectively communicating the division’s mission, culture, and value to parents, prospective families, donors, and the broader community.

• Recruit, develop, and retain a mission-aligned faculty who reflect the diversity of the student body and foster a dynamic, inclusive learning environment.
• Partner with the Director of Admission to strengthen coordination, champion community relationships, and build mission-aligned classes that reflect the diverse perspectives of the community.

POSITION REQUIREMENTS

• An experienced educator and visionary leader with teaching and leadership experience in a Lower School setting, a wide-ranging understanding of child development from PreK through Grade 5, and a deep appreciation for the opportunities of a multi-division independent school.
• Joyful, approachable, and highly visible throughout the school day—an upbeat presence who delights in the rhythms of school life, engages with students and teachers alike, and models optimism in ways that create a happy and thriving learning community.
• Collaborative and respectful of faculty, listening well, honoring the professional expertise of educators, and fostering an inclusive and collegial culture where teachers feel supported and valued.
• Decisive and courageous, demonstrating fairness and moral clarity in making difficult choices while balancing empathy with a strong sense of responsibility for the well-being of students and the division.
• A clear communicator who provides consistent, respectful, and timely information to faculty and families, especially during periods of change, thereby building trust and understanding.
• Skilled in operations and comfortable with technology, using systems and tools that streamline processes, strengthen communication, and serve the needs of students, faculty, and parents.
• Culturally responsive and community-focused, embracing inclusion, celebrating diverse perspectives, and sustaining Cooper’s family-oriented culture through meaningful engagement with students, colleagues, and parents.
• Academically accomplished, holding an advanced degree in education or a related field, and bringing the intellectual grounding to lead with both expertise and vision

TO APPLY

Interested and qualified candidates will submit the following materials as separate PDF documents:

• Cover letter expressing their interest in position
• Current résumé
• A list of five professional references with name, relationship, phone number, and email address of each (references will not be contacted without the candidate’s permission)