Executive Director of Elementary Schools

Seattle Public Schools; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Seattle Public Schools in Seattle is seeking an Executive Director of Elementary Schools to lead district efforts to improve elementary outcomes and reduce opportunity gaps. The role reports to the Assistant Superintendent and is part of the EDS Team, aligning central-office support with school leadership.

The position emphasizes building principal capacity, fostering professional learning communities, and partnering with Curriculum and Instruction to promote sound instructional practices and

Qualifications

• Executive Director of Elementary Schools is a central office leadership level position.
• Commitment to culturally responsive and inclusive practices.
• Focus on eliminating systemic opportunity gaps through inclusive services.

Responsibilities

• Oversee elementary schools within Seattle Public Schools and coordinate with central office leaders.
• Build the capacity of school leaders and facilitate principal communities of practice.
• Collaborate with Curriculum & Instruction to implement sound instructional practices.
• Support district and building improvement efforts aligned with the district strategic plan.
• Raise attendance and ELA proficiency in elementary schools.

Job description

This position is open until filled. Interested candidates should apply immediately. First review will be the June 3, 2026. This posting is for three positions.

Overview of Position

The Executive Director of Elementary Schools will create specific conditions to actualize the Seattle Public Schools Strategic Plan and focus on the elimination of systemic opportunity gaps through inclusive services. The Executive Director of Elementary Schools will be a member of the EDS (Executive Director of Schools) Team that reports directly to the Assistant Superintendent of Schools. SPS is strategically committed to improving how central office leadership shifts its work to support building principals as instructional leaders to create improved outcomes for all students. The Executive Director of Elementary Schools will also support district and building school improvement efforts directly connected to our district strategic plan and building Comprehensive School Plans (C-SIP).

The Executive Director of Elementary Schools is committed to improving and supporting principals connected to the Association of Washington Schools Principals (AWSP) Leadership Framework and Seattle Public Schools Principal Attributes. This is an Executive Director central office leadership level position. This position requires the Executive Director to be a masterful teacher of adult learners - as well as a strong system thinker and collaborator. The Executive Director's main job is to effectively support Elementary school building principals and collaborate and supervise other leaders in the district office to support culturally responsive and inclusive practices, policies, and procedures.

The Executive Director of Elementary Schools will effectively build the capacity of leaders and partner with Elementary school principals in both one-on-one and group settings. The Executive Director of Elementary Schools is expected to create and sustain effective Elementary school principal communities of practice or professional learning communities. They are expected to broker resources between Elementary school principals and central office leadership. The Executive Director of Elementary Schools must effectively oversee Elementary schools within Seattle Public Schools, maintaining partnerships with key central office staff that support schools, from various departments including, but not limited to, human resources, budget and finance, curriculum and instruction, enrollment planning, safety and security, and student services. Additionally, the Executive Director of Elementary Schools is responsible for leading schools under their supervision and working to raise the outcomes for students related to the superintendent’s Top 5 in 5 – specifically increasing attendance and ELA proficiency rates across all elementary schools.

The Executive Director of Elementary Schools will also work as a team and plan with other peers as a part of the EDS Team to plan, align practices and procedures, and problem solve supports to building principals. Additionally, the Executive Director of Elementary Schools will partner and be the primary liaison representing elementary schools with the Curriculum and Instruction department for oversite and implementation of sound instructional practices and strategies related to 3rd grade ELA proficiency.