Immediate: Head of Lower School

Founded in 1961, Sandy Spring Friends School is a Quaker, coed, academically-rigorous day and boarding school serving approximately 620 students from age three through 12th grade. The campus is located on 140 acres in the historic Sandy Spring area of Montgomery County, Maryland, and the School is approved by the Maryland State Board of Education and accredited by the Association of Independent Maryland Schools.

Our school’s culture, rooted in the idea that collaboration engenders achievement, can be traced to our Quaker heritage and abiding belief in the Quaker values of simplicity, equality, honesty, stewardship of the environment, and peaceful resolution of conflict.

Head of Lower School

Summary: Sandy Spring Friends School seeks dynamic candidates for the role of Lower School Head. The Lower School Head is the academic, administrative, and cultural leader of the lower school division responsible for all aspects of the curricular and co-curricular program. The Head works with Lower School faculty and staff in order to implement and augment the mission of the school, core Quaker values, and to ensure all Lower School activities are consistent with that mission. This position reports directly to and works closely with the Head of School and as a member of the school’s senior leadership team (Administrative Council), partners in implementing and managing strategic and operational initiatives.

Essential Job Functions:

1. Building and sustaining a divisional culture that promotes a sense of community, belonging, collaboration, and growth for students and colleagues.
2. Overseeing the Lower School curriculum in concert with the administrative team; identifying and leading necessary or desirable curricular change.
3. Leading, supervising, and evaluating all Lower School faculty and staff.
4. Assisting in recruiting and hiring new faculty and staff in cooperation with the lower school administrative team, human resources, and Head of School.
5. Leading the division in the introduction, support, and maintenance of diversity initiatives.
6. Leading the administrative team in creating an educational environment that ensures all of our students are well-served and have equitable learning resources.
7. Working with the Middle School Head to facilitate interdivisional retention and student transition into the Middle School.
8. Managing the Lower School budget.
9. Ensuring appropriate and balanced teacher workloads in conjunction with human resources and Head of School.
10. Communicating effectively and gathering input from all lower school constituencies including faculty, staff, students, and parents.
11. Overseeing class placement and retention of students.
12. Working with the Student Resource Team on major discipline cases and on acute student support needs.
13. Overseeing Lower School student support services, including counselor and learning support.
14. Overseeing the integration of technology into the academic and administrative programs of the Lower School.
15. Working closely with Lower School parents and the Parents Association on community events, including social events and open discussion forums.
16. Working closely with the Admissions Department to ensure the consistent admission of students with profiles in alignment with the mission and capabilities of our program.
17. Overseeing the preschool classrooms to ensure developmentally appropriate programming and to facilitate a particularly strong partnership approach with the parent body at those grade levels.
18. Assuring, in partnership with the administrative team, compliance with Maryland State Department of Education and Office of Child Care requirements for early childhood education programs and elementary education accreditation standards of the Association of Independent Maryland Schools (AIMS).

Knowledge and Skill Set Requirements:

The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor's degree (Master's degree preferred) and a strong background in classroom teaching. Proven leadership experience is essential, along with the ability to communicate diplomatically and build meaningful partnerships. A passion for education and a deep understanding of child development are critical, as is a commitment to justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion within early childhood and elementary education. The successful candidate will be an effective delegator and a visionary leader who embraces Quaker values and processes in administrative work. Additionally, the candidate should be a seasoned professional with a comprehensive understanding of the independent school landscape in the Washington Metro area.

Physical Requirements:

Daily desk work includes significant amounts of telephone and computer time as well as mobility around the entire campus. This includes frequent walking inside and outside, maneuvering stairs as a part of daily routines. Bending and squatting as required to participate in activities; lifting/carrying boxes up to 25 pounds; and the ability to maneuver as necessary within a regular classroom and office setting.

Please note that the School has a mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy, which requires that all employees be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and provide proof of vaccination.

Summary of Benefits:

At SSFS, we offer a competitive benefits package designed to support your health, well-being, and professional growth. Our benefits include:

1. Comprehensive Insurance: Medical, dental, and vision coverage to keep you and your family healthy.
2. Disability & Life Insurance: Short-term and long-term disability coverage, along with life insurance for peace of mind at no cost to employees.
3. Retirement Savings: 403(B) plan with employer contributions to help you save for the future.
4. Paid Time Off: Generous paid time off, including holidays and parental leave.
5. Employee Assistance: Access to our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for personal and professional support.
6. Tuition: Financial aid available to children of SSFS employees.
7. Childcare Discounts: Discounted After Care and Summer Camp programs for employees' children.
8. Convenience Perks: Free parking, free lunch, and access to our library and gym facilities.
9. Professional Development: Opportunities for growth through tuition reimbursement, wellness programs, and ongoing professional development initiatives.
10. Campus Amenities: Work in a beautiful, historic campus with walking paths. We are a smoke-free, environmentally conscious community.

Commitment to Diversity:

Sandy Spring Friends School embraces the Quaker testimony of Equality and seeks applicants who represent all backgrounds and demonstrate a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We greatly value our diverse student population and we actively seek faculty representatives of our students’ diversity. Special consideration may be given to members of The Religious Society of Friends.