Head of Lower School

Holton-Arms School • Bethesda, MD

2d • Onsite

About The Position

Holton-Arms School, founded over a century ago, is a nationally recognized institution dedicated to educating young women in grades 3-12. The school fosters a challenging, curious, and responsible approach to learning, preparing students to shape the future. The mission is to cultivate the unique potential of young women through an education of the mind, soul, and spirit. The Lower School, serving grades 3-6, is where the school's Portrait of a Graduate begins to take shape, guided by core values of integrity, community, courage, creativity, and kindness. This division focuses on nurturing creators, learners, thinkers, ethical individuals, and leaders, emphasizing a sense of belonging and responsibility to the community. The Lower School Head will provide strong leadership, aligning with Holton's academic program, pedagogical philosophy, and strategic vision. The role requires deep knowledge of child development, caregiver needs, and elementary pedagogy best practices. The Head of Lower School reports to the Associate Head of School and collaborates with the Head of School and other division heads to ensure a cohesive "one school" approach. This integral member of the senior administrative team will drive innovation, support faculty and staff growth, enhance student thriving, develop learning spaces, and leverage the school's network of alumnae and parents. Key responsibilities include partnering with the admissions office, empowering faculty, managing change effectively, collaborating with parents, and fostering community across divisions.

Requirements

• Experienced educator and visionary leader with teaching and leadership experience in a Lower School setting.
• Deep understanding of child development.
• Appreciation for the opportunities of a multi-division school for girls.
• Demonstrated ability to translate mission and educational vision into the daily life of a school.
• Knowledge of current and evolving best practices and innovation in Lower School curriculum, pedagogy (including differentiation and assessment), and student life.
• Ability to articulate vision and strategy, with tactical skills to manage systems and processes for strategy implementation.
• Strong evidence of a professional commitment to building and nurturing an inclusive community.
• Successful record of recruiting, developing, evaluating, and retaining exceptional faculty and staff.
• Exceptional communication, listening, and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to build trust with and partner effectively with students, families, faculty, and colleagues across the institution.
• Approachable, engaged, authentic presence.
• Ease with engaging with students, teachers, and parents alike.
• Strategic thinker and creative problem solver.
• Curiosity, integrity, emotional intelligence, humility, and self-awareness.
• Confidence to make difficult decisions while remaining open to feedback and revision.
• Exceptional work ethic and action bias.
• Commitment to community care.
• Ability to prioritize, execute, ideate, and lead as a model of Holton’s values.
• Love of children, joyful spirit, sense of humor, and infectious enthusiasm for Lower School.

Nice To Haves

• Familiarity with evolving best practices in elementary pedagogy.
• Familiarity with the needs of caregivers.

Responsibilities

• Provide strong leadership in support of Holton’s academic program, pedagogical philosophy, and strategic vision.
• Oversee the Lower School division serving students in Grades 3-6.
• Use the School’s core values and Portrait of a Graduate as a shared compass for the division.
• Cultivate habits of excellence among faculty and encourage thoughtful and effective educational innovation and collaborative change.
• Shepherd the Lower School dimensions of the recently-published Strategic Plan, including investing in and supporting faculty/staff growth, tending to student thriving, developing learning spaces, and leveraging the alumnae and parent network.
• Serve as a lead partner with the admissions office in its strategic enrollment work.
• Empower faculty and staff, fostering trust, integrity, accountability, professional growth, purposeful collaboration, and shared leadership.
• Manage the pace of change, exploring and communicating the purpose and ripple effects of changes.
• Partner effectively and compassionately with parents and caregivers, including through parent education and transparent communication.
• Collaborate closely with leadership of the Brown House to offer best-in-class early childhood care consistent with the Holton-Arms mission and philosophy.
• Build community, connection, kindness, and a spirit of joy between and among students, faculty, and parents, both within the Lower School and across divisions.

Benefits

• Health insurance with a generous employer contribution to medical, dental, and vision.
• Life and disability insurance.
• 403b retirement savings with an employer match and non-elective contribution.
• Employee assistance program.
• Tuition remission for eligible children.
• Professional development opportunities.
• Paid parental leave after one year of employment.
• Paid vacation, sick and personal days.
• Lunch is provided on school days.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior