Interim Head of Lower School

About Grace

Grace Church School is a JK–12, independent school located on two nearby campuses in downtown New York City. An Episcopal school, welcoming children of all faiths and of none, Grace believes in the inherent, precious dignity of every individual and seeks to provide an outstanding education worthy of our common humanity. Successful candidates will demonstrate a commitment to the Episcopal values of dignity and belonging.

Grace is a school of big ideas, and our structured curriculum promotes academic excellence through a pedagogy of joy: an approach that reflects our belief that joy is the fuel of academic achievement, and that students learn best when motivated by delight, wonder, curiosity, and purpose. We work hard to nurture a culture of dignity and belonging, and we seek to foster in each student skills of intellectual excellence and habits of ethical virtue.

Grounded in tradition, the school remains ever open to innovation, looking to the best research on the science of learning and the craft of teaching to advance the timeless values and aspirations of our mission.

Grace Church School seeks to hire an Interim Director of Lower School Division to begin in January and to serve through June 30, 2027. The ideal candidate will be an experienced educator who demonstrates qualities of excellent leadership, including the ability to: communicate clearly with a broad range of constituencies; demonstrate competence and understanding of advancing belonging amid a diverse community;

support curriculum work and advise teachers in its effective implementation; cultivate trust among colleagues; and handle difficult conversations with as much ease as possible, listening with an open mind and providing firm and fair guidance when needed. The Interim LS Division Head should be flexible and discreet, approach their work with joy, have a well-developed toolkit for managing disciplinary situations and for inspiring students to be their best, and take a “hands on” approach to learning—whether in the classroom, dining room, hallways, or play yard.

The candidate should believe in attending to the learning process and not just the product, balancing students’ emotional, social, and academic development. Caring, confident, and critical when necessary, the LS Division Head should create a safe haven where students can trust that they will receive age‑appropriate guidance to navigate teachable moments when problems occur. The person should be able to work effectively under pressure and within time constraints while maintaining an optimistic and growth‑oriented mindset.

Lastly, candidates should feel in their bones that Lower School students are special.

Its specific duties include but are not limited to:

• Providing administrative oversight of the Lower School (Grades 2–4). This includes managing and supporting the faculty, monitoring curriculum, hiring substitutes, and supervising the production of report cards;
• Teaching of academic classes and modeling best practices in the classroom;
• In collaboration with the Dean of Faculty, conducting classroom observations of teachers and providing constructive feedback and coaching;
• In collaboration with the Dean of Faculty, leading the hiring teams for open Lower School positions, facilitating the process with an understanding of school policies and best practices around equity, fairness, and anti‑bias;
• Leading all Lower School faculty meetings;
• Leading LS lunch;
• Attending and helping organize Lower School Chapel services;
• Maintaining standards for appropriate Lower School conduct;
• Getting to know the students in the division and working with the faculty, counselors, and specialists to monitor and encourage their academic, social, and emotional growth;
• Serving on the JK–8 Guidance Committee;
• Serving on the following school‑wide committees as assigned by the Head of School;
• Interviewing and assessing applicants to the Lower School, working closely with the Admissions team;
• In partnership with the Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and the Office of Community Engagement, working to support and advance the institutional commitment to equity, belonging,…