Assistant Lower School Director of Academics

Assistant Lower School Director of Academics

Join to apply for the Assistant Lower School Director of Academics role at The Pingry School

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About Pingry

The Pingry School, a prestigious K‑12 coeducational independent day school with a rich history dating back to 1861, stands at the forefront of academic excellence in the United States. With campuses in Basking Ridge, Pottersville, and Short Hills, New Jersey, Pingry is celebrated for its academic programs, a student‑written Honor Code, and a comprehensive commitment to the arts, athletics, community, and civic engagement.

The Pingry School seeks an experienced, creative, and forward‑thinking Lower School academic leader to help oversee the K–5 academic program. Reporting to the Lower School Director and serving as an integral member of the Lower School leadership team, the Assistant Lower School Director of Academics functions as the center of gravity for academic life in the division by cultivating a culture of adult learning through clear structures for feedback, coaching, classroom walkthroughs, and ongoing professional growth.

The Assistant Lower School Director of Academics is expected to have experience in curriculum development, instructional leadership, and culturally responsive instructional approaches. This role drives curricular and pedagogical innovation and leads collaborative change across grades and disciplines in the Lower School. This includes designing and implementing a coherent professional development plan, guiding teacher evaluation and growth processes, and overseeing curriculum mapping, schedule considerations, and academic reporting.

Anchoring all of this work is deep relational engagement with faculty through regular 1:1 touchpoints, active listening, and trust‑building so that academic priorities and classroom practice are aligned in support of students and the broader K‑12 curricular framework.

• Model and reinforce the Pingry Honor Code and Lower School Code of Honor.
• Keep current with best practices in elementary education, with a focus on foundational student competencies.
• Articulate and advance research‑based pedagogical strategies in a K–5 setting.
• Support alignment and developmental progression of standards in the K–5 curriculum.
• Support the implementation of multiple modes of student assessment.
• Lead ongoing cycles of curriculum review and assessment practices to ensure coherence and effectiveness across K–5.

• In partnership with the Lower School Director, assist with designing the faculty teaching schedule, student homerooms, and class schedules.
• Direct Lower School curriculum coordinators and specialists to support alignment in the K–5 academic program.
• Partner with faculty to design and implement an academic program that advances cross‑cultural perspectives and an appreciation for differences in our community.
• Observe and coach faculty to support instructional growth.
• Serve as the hiring partner for Lower School roles, collaborating with HR on job descriptions, assembling interview teams, reviewing resumes, conducting first‑round interviews, and facilitating candidate debriefs.

• Direct Lower School specialists in scheduling and administering standardized tests.
• Oversee school‑to‑family communication related to academics, including report cards, newsletters, curriculum overviews, and classroom updates.
• Monitor student academic progress in collaboration with classroom teachers, specialists, and families, and coordinate supports or interventions when concerns arise.
• Review grades and report card comments, and participate in parent‑teacher conferences when needed.
• Build strong partnerships with families through clear, proactive communication about student learning and the Lower School academic program.
• Design and deliver parent‑facing presentations and information sessions that deepen family understanding of the academic program and instructional approaches.
• Design, manage, and adjust student and faculty schedules in ways that support program priorities and student needs.
• Serve on Lower School admissions…