Director of Lower School

Harding Academy•Nashville, TN

About The Position

Harding Academy is a warm and caring school environment where respect is the key ingredient. Every child, parent, and colleague is a unique individual worthy of our understanding and greatest effort. Harding Academy employs outstanding faculty, staff, and administrators, provides technologically enhanced facilities, and offers a broad and challenging curriculum designed to develop the whole person. The mission of our school is to educate and inspire young people to become thoughtful, creative, lifelong learners and self-disciplined, responsible, caring citizens. Members of the staff are an important part of this effort. We strive and serve so that the students may become individuals who are able to make choices that will benefit themselves, our society, and our world. Harding Academy’s Director of Lower School supports and supervises the day-to-day activities and operations of faculty and students in grades 1-5. Working with approximately 25 teachers and 275 students, the Director of Lower School is responsible for evaluating and developing faculty, monitoring academic growth and support of students, managing student programming/events, and all other facets of the division. The Director of Lower School supervises multiple budgets, manages student disciplinary decisions, and engages in curriculum related work. This is a full-time 12-month exempt, salary position offering applicable full-time benefits which may include Medical, Dental, Vision, Life and Disability insurance. EXPECTED START DATE: July 1, 2026

Requirements

Master’s degree from four year college/university
Direct classroom teaching experience
3+ years in lower school administrative experience
Knowledge of independent schools and educational landscape
Clear and consistent management approach that focuses on the needs of the institution while understanding an individual’s particular context
Professional and effective written, oral and listening communication skills
Respectful attitude toward school faculty, students and parents
Demonstrate a high level of work, personal, and professional ethics
Demonstrates professional conduct and demeanor consistent with the values and expectations of an independent school environment
Adheres to professional dress and grooming standards consistent with an independent school environment
Enthusiasm for working collaboratively as part of the Harding Academy team
Active involvement in school functions, strategic initiatives beyond the division, extra curricular activities, etc.
Ability to demonstrate critical thinking skills
Working knowledge of office technology including email, spreadsheets, written and electronic correspondence, internet, and health database

Responsibilities

To maintain congruency between the school's board-approved mission statement and all activities of that division.
To act as the educational leader of the school division, responsible for its day-to-day operation; to direct and evaluate the activities of the members of the school instructional and the non-instructional staff in the performance of their duties - specifically, the lower school faculty and assigned special area faculty
To coordinate joint activities, shared spaces, shared faculty, etc. with the primary and middle school director.
In coordination with school counselors, be aware of the educational, physical, social, and psychological needs of the members of our school community and to develop plans for meeting these needs.
To oversee and to direct the activities of the sponsors of various student organizations, activities, and ad hoc faculty committees.
To ensure compliance with the educational standards established by SAIS, the accrediting agency of the school.
To make recommendations to the head of school regarding the hiring, retention, and the assignment of faculty, as well as retention of students.
To establish programs for the orientation of new teachers, for in-service training of all teachers, and for the evaluation of classroom teachers, to ensure that teachers are familiar with and adhere to school policies in all areas of the school operation.
To conduct regular meetings with faculty which deal both with routine operational school matters and with the stimulating exchange of ideas on issues of educational/philosophical interest and concern.
To oversee the grading and the reporting of standards and methods used by teachers in measuring student achievement.
To be responsible for establishing guidelines for proper student conduct and dress; to maintain student discipline consonant with school policies; to monitor students' adherence to established school rules; to maintain accurate records of student attendance and citizenship.
To be a visible presence in all areas of the school to work toward a resolution of all problems - both routine and unique as they arise; to keep the head of school informed of the general programs, activities, and problems of the school.
To function as the chief articulator of the division‘s programs, expectations, behavioral guidelines, and other information necessary to ensure that all constituencies are fully informed consistent with their individual roles.
To instill honesty and a sense of responsibility within each student; to work with teachers and parents to see that each student does his/her best work.
To assist in the planning and the presentation of special assemblies and programs; to assist in maintaining a comprehensive calendar of school events (i.e., field trips); to keep the entire school community informed of various lower school programs and activities through CompassNet.
To be responsible for establishing guidelines for proper student conduct and dress; to maintain student discipline consonant with school policies; to monitor students' adherence to established school rules; to maintain accurate records of student attendance and citizenship.
To prepare a master class schedule and to assign teachers and students to classes and other obligations.
To serve as a consultant to teachers in matters of classroom management, teaching methods, and general school procedures.
To assist in the admission process for the testing, interviewing, and evaluating of applicants for enrollment.
To support the school, its leadership, and to perform other duties as assigned by the head of school.