Head of Lower School

Headsnetwork; Bethesda (MD); On-site; USD 165,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Tuition remission

Health insurance

Lunch provided

Parental leave

Job summary

Holton-Arms School in Bethesda, MD, seeks a Head of Lower School to oversee Grades 3–6, align with the Portrait of a Graduate, and collaborate with division leaders to advance academic excellence and student well-being.

The ideal candidate leads with integrity, empathy, and strategic vision, guiding curriculum, pedagogy, and community life in a dynamic, multi-division setting. Strong commitment to belonging and family partnerships is essential.

Qualifications

• Experience leading a Lower School division or equivalent.
• Ability to translate mission and educational vision into daily school life.
• Knowledge of current best practices in Lower School curriculum, pedagogy, and student life.
• Strong communication, listening, and relationship-building with students, families, and staff.
• Commitment to building an inclusive community that values Belonging.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Lower School (Grades 3–6) and align with Holton-Arms' values and Portrait of a Graduate.
• Drive implementation of the strategic plan and support faculty and staff development.
• Partner with Admissions for enrollment strategy and school outreach.
• Foster collaboration across divisions and model Holton’s mission and culture.
• Promote belonging, trust, accountability, and professional growth among the school community.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic planning

Communication skills

Relationship building

School leadership

Job description

Overview

Founded more than a century ago, Holton-Arms School encourages young women in grades 3-12 to approach the world with a thirst for challenge, unflinching curiosity, and a sense of responsibility to use what they learn for the greatest good. A nationally recognized school that prioritizes purposeful connections, Holton is a vibrant place where both students and faculty are deeply engaged in the process of learning and bring tremendous spirit and passion to their work. With a 125-year legacy of excellence in educating girls, Holton provides students with time-tested and future-forward programming, preparing them not only to step into the future but to shape it.

The mission of the Holton-Arms School is to cultivate the unique potential of young women through the "education not only of the mind, but of the soul and spirit." Founded in 1901 by two visionary women, the School’s aspirations and current program are rooted in Mrs. Holton’s founding vision, which continues to serve as Holton’s North Star: “My high hope is that they who enter through the ‘Open Door’ of Holton-Arms remember they felt, in the friendliness of a home, the urge to learn and the joy of overcoming obstacles as the way to happiness and the fullest life.” In this vibrant community committed to academic excellence, discovery, creativity, and joy, students are scholars, artists, and athletes who find their voices, take risks, learn from mistakes, pursue opportunities for leadership, and build lifelong friendships. The School motto, Inveniam viam aut faciam (I will find a way or make one), exemplifies this spirit of agency and empowerment.

Position Summary

The Lower School is where Holton-Arms’ Portrait of a Graduate first takes intentional shape. Guided by the School’s core values of integrity, community, courage, creativity and kindness, the Lower School experience cultivates girls who are creators, grapplers, learners, and thinkers; ethical and grounded; and leaders in their communities. These aspirations serve as both a common vision and a practical lens for the work of the division, informing curriculum and pedagogy, relationships and community life, student support, and the ways adults model learning and leadership. The Lower School also prioritizes establishing an early mindset wherein the youngest girls see themselves as belonging to something greater than themselves and responsible for carrying on that sense of community. The combination of care of self and others is understood within the division and School as a core ethos to the Holton-Arms legacy.

Holton-Arms lives out its mission through a comprehensive and multi-dimensional approach to supporting each student and ensuring that all students thrive in school and in life, growing into leaders who will make the world a better place. Inspired by accomplished alumnae, caring faculty and staff, and each other, Holton students step up to challenges, try often, fail gracefully, and succeed proudly. The School’s commitment to belonging is grounded in the mission to cultivate the unique potential of young women through an education of mind, soul, and spirit and strengthened by Holton’s values of integrity, community, courage, creativity, and kindness.

The Lower School serves as the foundational experience for Holton students to begin their journey. Supported by a sense of safety, deep connection to their teachers, and respectful friendships with classmates, Lower School girls spend their days in an environment of joyful learning, in which agency is cultivated and self-actualization is evident. The culture of encouraging girls to try new things and take risks leads to both early wins and a few stumbles and builds the students’ resilience and confidence in navigating learning throughout their lives.

To continue to lead the way, Holton-Arms School seeks a Head of Lower School to oversee a division serving students in Grades 3-6. The next leader will provide strong leadership in support of Holton’s academic program, pedagogical philosophy, and strategic vision, using the School’s core values and Portrait of a Graduate as a shared compass for the division. Ideal candidates will demonstrate deep knowledge of the developmental needs of children in this age group, the needs of their caregivers, and familiarity with evolving best practices in elementary pedagogy. The Lower School Head reports to the Associate Head of School, Barbara Eghan, and works closely with Holton’s Head of School, Penny Evins, as well as the Middle and Upper School Heads, ensuring that there is a “one school” mindset even as the divisions maintain age-appropriate approaches to implementing the School mission. While recognizing that “more is not necessarily better,” the Lower School Head will bring creative and strategic ideas that are aligned with the academic and programmatic excellence of the Lower School and will serve as an integral member of the senior administrative team, whose members partner collaboratively, joyfully, and productively.

Opportunities and Challenges

The priorities, opportunities, and challenges ahead include:

• Serving as an inspirational and creative leader who cultivates habits of excellence among faculty and encourages thoughtful and effective educational innovation and collaborative change;
• In partnership with the senior administrative team, shepherding the Lower School dimensions of the recently-published Strategic Plan, with priorities that include investing in and supporting the growth of faculty and staff; tending to the daily pace and support structures that support student thriving; developing deep and durable learning spaces in support of academic excellence; and leveraging the extraordinary network of alumnae and parents who are excited to open the doors of opportunity;
• Serving as a lead partner with the admissions office in its strategic enrollment work;
• Building upon the Lower School's strong foundation and joyful culture while further empowering faculty and staff, fostering trust, integrity, accountability, professional growth, purposeful collaboration, and shared leadership;
• Deftly managing the pace of change, fully exploring and communicating the purpose and ripple effects of changes;
• Partnering effectively and compassionately with parents and caregivers, including through parent education and transparent communication, building shared understanding of Holton-Arms’ educational philosophy and the qualities of intellect, character, agency, and purpose the School seeks to cultivate in girls;
• Collaborating closely with leadership of the Brown House, which provides on-site early childhood care for the children of faculty at five area schools, to offer best-in-class care that is fully consistent with the Holton-Arms mission and philosophy; and
• Building community, connection, kindness, and a spirit of joy between and among students, faculty, and parents, both within the Lower School and across divisions.

Qualifications and Personal Attributes

The next Lower School Head will be an experienced, empathetic, and forward-thinking educator who brings both heart and vision to their work. Ideal candidates will demonstrate the following qualities and professional competencies:

Professional Qualifications

• An experienced educator and visionary leader with teaching and leadership experience in a Lower School setting, along with a deep understanding of child development and appreciation for the opportunities of a multi-division school for girls;
• A demonstrated ability to translate mission and educational vision into the daily life of a school, using shared values and student outcomes to guide program, pedagogy, culture, decision-making, and adult practice;
• Knowledge of current and evolving best practices and innovation in Lower School curriculum, pedagogy (including differentiation and assessment), and student life;
• The ability to articulate vision and strategy, the tactical skills to deftly manage the systems and processes necessary to implement strategy, and the organizational fluency to manage multiple streams of information and respond to situations as they emerge;
• Strong evidence of a professional commitment to building and nurturing an inclusive community, wherein belonging is advanced and fostered;
• A successful record of recruiting, developing, evaluating, and retaining exceptional faculty and staff, while fostering a culture of growth, collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement;
• Exceptional communication, listening, and relationship-building skills, coupled with the ability to build trust with and partner effectively with students, families, faculty, and colleagues across the institution.

Leadership Style and Personal Qualities

• An approachable, engaged, authentic presence who is excited to be visible amidst the busy rhythms of school life;
• An ease with engaging with students, teachers and parents alike, modeling the building of strong relationships as crucial to creating a happy and thriving learning community;
• A strategic thinker and creative problem solver who can balance innovation with thoughtful implementation and change management;
• The curiosity, integrity, emotional intelligence, humility, and self‑awareness to know what one stands for, understand the impact of one’s choices on others, advocate for new ideas, invite disagreement, and engage in challenging conversations with grace;
• The confidence to make difficult decisions while remaining open to ongoing feedback and revision;
• An exceptional work ethic and action bias, alongside a commitment to community care;
• The ability to prioritize, execute, ideate, and lead as a model of Holton’s values; and
• A love of children, joyful spirit, sense of humor, and infectious enthusiasm for Lower School.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging

Holton-Arms cherishes the uniqueness of each of our members including current and former students, faculty, and staff. We seek to create an inclusive environment that sees, values, and supports diverse identities and experiences, cultivates engaging discourse, and empowers our students to be thriving members of the global community. At Holton-Arms, each of us is responsible for fostering an equitable, respectful, and just community.

Compensation and Benefits

The salary range for this position is $165,000 to $180,000, based on professional experience. Benefits include 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; and lunch is provided on school days.