Lower School Director

Carney, Sandoe & Associates; Roanoke (VA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid holidays, vacation and personal time

Housing (for boarding schools)

Job summary

An education recruitment firm is seeking a Senior Recruiter for the position of Lower School Director at North Cross School in Roanoke, Virginia, starting July 2026. The ideal candidate will have over 5 years of leadership experience in early childhood education, possess a Bachelor's degree (Master's preferred), and demonstrate a collaborative leadership style. This role involves overseeing daily operations, hiring, and mentoring staff while fostering a welcoming school environment and advancing educational best practices.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of leadership experience in early childhood and elementary education.
• Experience as a Lower School Division Head preferred but not required.
• Demonstrated experience in program development and instructional best practices.
• Demonstrated experience in program development, professional supervision, talent development, and instructional best practices.
• Collaborative leadership style that builds trust, energizes teams, and encourages professional growth.
• Ability to develop, articulate, and implement a clear vision for the Lower School.
• Excellent judgment and discretion, particularly in managing confidential information.
• Significant experience in professional supervision and talent development.
• Commitment to ongoing professional development and staying current with educational best practices and trends.
• Experience fostering a positive, safe, and inclusive school culture and a nurturing learning environment for young students.
• Passionate advocate for early childhood and elementary education, with a strong foundation in child development.
• Motivated and proactive school leader who demonstrates initiative and strategic direction.
• A visionary and collaborative community builder who fosters strong relationships among faculty, families, and students.
• An expert in the developmental needs of Lower School students who deeply understands them, delights in them, and champions their growth.
• An enthusiastic ambassador for the school’s mission, vision, and values.
• An exceptional communicator with strong interpersonal skills who inspires trust, engagement, and shared purpose across the community.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and vision for the North Cross Lower School.
• Oversee day-to-day operations, curriculum, instruction, and student support.
• Hire, supervise, and mentor faculty and staff.
• Develop curriculum and co‑curricular programming aligned with the school’s mission and best practices.
• Foster a warm and welcoming environment for students and families.
• Communicate consistently with all NCS constituents.
• Collaborate with leadership to advance strategic priorities focusing on teaching and student experience.
• Be visible in the Lower School and at community events.

Skills

Leadership in early childhood and elementary education

Collaborative leadership style

Excellent judgment and discretion

Community building

Talent development

Instructional best practices

Collaborative leadership

Vision for Lower School

Judgment

Professional development

Inclusive culture

Advocacy for early childhood education

Initiative

Strategic direction

Community building

Lower School development understanding

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Master’s degree in education or school leadership

Job description

Senior Recruiter | Where Teaching Is A Passion, Not A Job | Connect to get started!

Carney, Sandoe & Associates, an education recruitment firm, has been retained by North Cross School and is currently seeking their next Lower School Director in Roanoke, Virginia.

North Cross School’s next Director of the Lower School will inherit a thriving division and will have the opportunity to build upon a legacy of strong leadership. Starting in July 2026, the new Director will join a dynamic leadership team and a vibrant North Cross community as a strategic thought leader and an advocate for our youngest students on campus, reporting to the Head of School, Armistead Lemon.

As Director, you will effectively lead grades JK‑3‑5, guiding and supporting faculty, engaging and partnering with parents, and serving as a community‑builder within the Lower School.

About CS&A

Our job placement service is free to job seekers. By getting to know you personally – beyond just your resume – we connect you directly with hiring schools whose open positions match your specific requirements (location, school type, position type, etc.) and skills, saving you the time of sorting through hundreds of job postings and getting lost in a pile of resumes.

Responsibilities:

• Provide leadership and vision for the North Cross Lower School, working closely with the Head of School as a member of the senior leadership team.
• Oversee all day‑to‑day operations of the Lower School, including curriculum, instruction, student support, and parent engagement.
• Hire, supervise, and mentor faculty and staff, spearheading a culture of growth, innovation, and collaboration.
• Provide oversight and development of curriculum and co‑curricular programming that aligns with the school’s mission, vision, and educational best practices.
• Foster a warm and welcoming environment for all students and families.
• Communicate consistently and effectively with all NCS constituents.
• Collaborate with school leadership to advance strategic priorities, with a particular focus on teaching and learning as well as the student experience.
• Serve as a visible presence in the Lower School – at morning and afternoon carpool, hallways and classrooms, performances – and in the larger NCS community at co‑curricular events.

Qualifications and Personal Attributes:

• 5+ years of leadership experience in early childhood and elementary education.
• Experience as a Lower School Division Head preferred but not required.
• Bachelor’s degree required; master’s degree in education or school leadership preferred.
• Demonstrated experience in program development, professional supervision, talent development, and instructional best practices.
• A collaborative leadership style that builds trust, energizes teams, and encourages professional growth.
• Ability to develop, articulate, and implement a clear vision for the Lower School.
• Excellent judgment and discretion, particularly in managing confidential information.
• Significant experience in professional supervision and talent development.
• Commitment to ongoing professional development and staying current with educational best practices and trends.
• Experience fostering a positive, safe, and inclusive school culture and a nurturing learning environment for young students.
• Passionate advocate for early childhood and elementary education, with a strong foundation in child development.
• Motivated and proactive school leader who demonstrates initiative and strategic direction.
• A visionary and collaborative community builder who fosters strong relationships among faculty, families, and students.
• An expert in the developmental needs of Lower School students who deeply understands them, delights in them, and champions their growth.
• An enthusiastic ambassador for the school’s mission, vision, and values.
• An exceptional communicator with strong interpersonal skills who inspires trust, engagement, and shared purpose across the community.

Potential Benefits: Compensation and benefit packages are competitive but will differ by school and will typically depend on geographic location, your experience, and your level of degree.

⛱️ Paid holidays, vacation and personal time

🏠 Housing (boarding schools only)

Carney Sandoe does not discriminate on the basis of physical handicap, sex, race, creed, color, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national or ethnic origin in administration of its services, consulting, events, professional development, or other programs.