Lower School Leadership & Student Experience Lead

La Jolla Country Day School; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 104,000 - 128,000; Full time

Job summary

La Jolla Country Day School is seeking an Assistant Head of Lower School for the remainder of the 2026-2027 academic year. This full-time role leads division operations, coordinates scheduling, and partners with families to support student learning and development across the Lower School.

The ideal candidate is a reflective, relationship-driven leader with strong organizational skills, deep understanding of child development, and a commitment to equity and belonging.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; an advanced degree in education, educational leadership, or a related field preferred
• Demonstrated leadership experience in an independent school or comparable educational setting; experience as a dean, department chair, team lead, grade-level leader, or similar role preferred
• Knowledge of curriculum development, instructional practices, assessment, and academic planning
• Experience with student life programming, character education, student leadership, advisory programs, or co‑curricular activities preferred

Responsibilities

• Lead the daily life and operations of the Lower School division, fostering a supportive, orderly, mission-aligned learning environment
• Establish, communicate, and implement division priorities, expectations, policies, and procedures
• Coordinate academic scheduling, class enrollment, exploratory programming, and other academic planning processes
• Develop and maintain the Lower School master calendar and coordinate key division activities and events
• Communicate division programs, expectations, behavioral guidelines, and important information clearly to students, families, faculty, and other school constituencies
• Maintain strong relationships and collaborate with Middle, Upper, and schoolwide colleagues to promote alignment across divisions
• Keep the Head of Lower School informed of significant student matters, operational needs, and developments affecting the division
• Collaborate with team leads and faculty to review, develop, and evaluate curriculum and ensure alignment with the school's mission
• Support development and implementation of engaging, developmentally appropriate academic programs
• Oversee academic planning, student progress reporting, grading practices, and maintenance of academic records
• Observe and support classroom instruction, provide constructive feedback, and strengthen teaching and learning
• Serve as a resource to teachers on instructional methods, classroom management, assessment, and school procedures
• Encourage reflective practice, innovation, and ongoing curriculum evaluation
• Help cultivate a safe, inclusive, and engaging school environment
• Oversee student discipline with empathy and sound judgment and coordinate with families as needed
• Support students as they navigate academic, social, and behavioral challenges
• Coordinate new student orientation and oversee homeroom assignments and transitions
• Support student leadership, character education, co-curricular activities, and student organizations
• Build meaningful relationships with students and foster a culture of belonging
• Partner with Head of Lower School to supervise faculty and manage performance and professional growth
• Lead faculty meetings and contribute to hiring and retention discussions
• Foster a professional culture grounded in trust, collaboration, and continuous improvement

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Collaboration

Emotional intelligence

Education

Bachelor's degree

Advanced degree preferred

Job description

La Jolla Country Day School is seeking an Assistant Head of Lower School for the remainder of the 2026-2027 academic year. This full-time role leads division operations, coordinates scheduling, and partners with families to support student learning and development across the Lower School.

The ideal candidate is a reflective, relationship-driven leader with strong organizational skills, deep understanding of child development, and a commitment to equity and belonging.