Lower School Director

The Harts brook School, located in Hadley, Massachusetts, is a vibrant Waldorf community where academics, fine and practical arts, experiential learning, and land stewardship come together with purpose and joy. Our approach is unhurried and intentional, meeting each child at their unique stage of development as we work towards an intentionally inclusive community culture. Our graduates are known for integrated, flexible, and creative thinking, moral clarity, and the capacity to bring new ideas into the world with passion and excellence.

The Harts brook School is seeking an experienced, creative, flexible, and collaborative Lower School Director
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The Lower School Director is a key leadership position responsible for the overall management and success of the Lower School program including the academic, social, and emotional development of students in parent-child and preK-5, including the School’s Extended Day program. Reporting to the Head of School, this role ensures that the curriculum, teaching practices, and student and parent/caregiver experience align with the values and philosophy of Waldorf education while fostering a culture of academic excellence, intentional inclusion, personal growth, and community engagement.

Reporting to the Lower School Director are the lower school teachers and assistant teachers and extended day staff. In this role, the Lower School Director leads the Lower School Faculty in fostering an inclusive, positive and collaborative school culture, supporting student learning and well-being, and building strong relationships with parents and caregivers, as well as the broader school community.

• Lead the ongoing process of Lower School curriculum evaluation, development, and implementation, ensuring alignment with Waldorf educational philosophy and informed by the school’s unique mission and vision and DEI Framework.
• Responsible for oversight of the development and implementation of the bridge between early childhood and elementary school.
• Ensure that teaching practices reflect the principles of Waldorf education and meet the developmental needs of a diverse group of students today.
• Observe and evaluate teacher instruction to ensure high-quality Waldorf teaching and learning.
• Support teachers in creating engaging and effective lesson plans and assessments.
• In collaboration with class teachers, objectively measure student progress, ensuring that academic and social-emotional goals and needs are met.
• In collaboration with lower school faculty, work towards an intentionally inclusive school culture that attracts and retains a diverse set of students, caregivers, faculty and staff.

• Hire, train, and mentor Lower School faculty in collaboration with the Head of School.
• Develop the Lower School schedule for classes.
• Support event scheduling: concerts, field trips, “windows” events, making sure parent/caregiver evenings are frequent enough and strategically placed
• In collaboration with the Directors and Head of School, develop and implement professional development programs for faculty.
• Provide regular feedback and conduct performance evaluations of lower school faculty
• Foster a positive, collaborative, and professional work environment for teachers and staff.

• Promote a positive, respectful and intentionally inclusive school culture grounded in the School’s mission, as well as the underlying values of Waldorf education, equity and inclusion.
• Using restorative approaches, oversee student disciplinary procedures, creating learning opportunities for students and communicating and collaborating appropriately with teachers and families.
• Provide oversight and assistance to student support staff, ensuring effective implementation of developmentally appropriate behavior management and conflict resolution strategies for student success.
• Collaborate with faculty, student support staff, and parents to implement student academic and social-emotional plans and address issues arising.
• In consultation with faculty and Directors, serve as the final decision maker regarding student enrollment and retention.
• Meet with families…