Head of Grades K-4

Mark Day School

Independent, All Gender K-8

Head of Grades K-4 Beginning July 2023

Mark Day School seeks an innovative, experienced teacher/administrator for Head of Grades K-4 beginning July 2023.  The Head of Grades K-4 leads the curricular and co-curricular programs of kindergarten through 4th grade, including faculty hiring, professional development and evaluation, curriculum advancement, integration of technology, development of student life, and parent education. The Head of Grades K-4 works in close partnership with the Academic Leadership team to lead the structural development of disciplinary skills and competencies, cross-disciplinary literacies, and metacognitive skills in the school’s approach to teaching and learning for grades K-4.

Candidates should have a track record of strong leadership, management, and interpersonal communication skills as well as the inclination and experience to work in a diverse community focused on issues of inclusion, equity, and social justice. The Head of K-4 reports to the Head of School and serves as part of a senior administrative team that collaborates closely on shaping and advancing the strategic direction of the school.

Mark Day School is an independent, all-gender, K-8 school located in the Bay Area in San Rafael, CA, with an enrollment of 380 students. Innovative, inclusive, and full of heart, Mark Day School unites an enriched, challenging academic program with a kind and inclusive community. The school nurtures a love of learning, engagement in the community, and development of compassion and an ethical framework. Students learn and practice the intellectual, social, and emotional skills they will apply to the unique challenges and opportunities of their time; graduates stand out not only for their intellectual curiosity and pursuit of ideas but also for their joy of learning and a deep sense of responsibility to be active, engaged citizens.

Mark Day School has established a consistent practice of thoughtful innovation in its curricular program, focusing on school-wide structural approaches to develop current century skills and concepts including four cross-disciplinary literacies: cross-cultural literacy, media and information literacy, eco-literacy, and social and emotional literacy. Highlights include the award-winning Media Literacy program; well-established local and global partnerships with the Hamilton School, Marin Head Start, eSibonisweni School and Kliptown Youth Program in South Africa, Beijing Experimental Primary School #2 in China, and Pan American School in Costa Rica, among others; Boxlight and FrontRow technology in every classroom, with a one-to-one laptop program beginning in sixth grade; Mandarin and Spanish language beginning in kindergarten; an integrated Social and Emotional Learning program; a commitment to differentiation across the school; and more.

Mark Day School is a vibrant and diverse community, and all community members continue to work towards the furthering of an inclusive and supportive school. Mark Day School is an equal opportunity employer committed to excellence through diversity, inclusion, and social justice. Mark Day School salary and benefits are very competitive by both NAIS and regional standards. For more information about Mark Day School, please visit our website (www.markdayschool.org), where you may also find the 2022 Strategic Plan.

Interested candidates should send a letter of interest, personal statement, resume, and list of five references via email (preferred) to Joe Harvey, Head of School, at jharvey@markdayschool.org. To submit materials via mail, please send to Leslie Garber, Assistant to the Head of School, Mark Day School, 39 Trellis Drive, San Rafael, CA 94903.

The deadline to submit materials is January 9, 2023. The Search Committee will begin evaluating candidates on a rolling basis beginning December 1, 2022.

Job Description for Head of Grades K-4

The Head of Grades K-4 reports to the Head of School, serves as a member of the Administrative Team, and is charged with leading the curricular and co-curricular programs of kindergarten through 4th grade. The Head of K-4 serves as part of the Academic Leadership team, which works collaboratively to lead strategic advancement of teaching and learning at Mark Day. The Head of K-4 takes primary responsibility for development and evaluation of the academic program, faculty supervision and evaluation, and student welfare.

The specific responsibilities of the Head of Grades K-4 include the following:

Academic Leadership

• In partnership with the Academic Leadership team, lead academic program development, implementation, and evaluation.
• Lead the structural development of disciplinary skills and competencies, cross-disciplinary literacies, and metacognitive skills in the school’s approach to teaching and learning for grades K-4.
• Lead development, design, and administration of student assessment programs, including disciplinary, cross-disciplinary, and metacognitive skills and competencies.

Faculty

• Support, counsel, supervise, and evaluate K-4 faculty through formal and informal observations, discussions, and conferences.
• Lead the recruitment and hiring process for new K-4 faculty, in consultation with the Head.
• Collaborate with the Academic Leadership team to lead the professional development of faculty, including overseeing faculty participation in professional growth opportunities.
• Supervise the Director of Learning Services and K-4 School Counselor.
• Supervise the Director of Extended Day and Summer Programs.
• Organize playground supervision, including staffing and scheduling.
• Supervise Support Teachers in grades K-4.
• Lead relationships with outside teacher education programs including Dominican University; lead the teaching fellow program.
• Oversee substitute teachers in grades K-4.

Students

• Collaborate with learning services specialists and counselors to lead responses to individual academic or social needs of students.
• Collaborate with faculty and school counselors to assist faculty with counseling and discipline of students.
• Coordinate with faculty to offer lunch activity options for K-4 students.
• Meet with parents and guardians new to the school.
• Schedule and attend parent/guardian conferences as needed.
• Oversee K-4 events, including regular communication with parents.
• Collaborate with the Academic Leadership team to lead parent education events focused on K-4 parents and guardians.
• Determine class placement for students in grades K-4, after reviewing teacher recommendations.
• Supervise the maintenance and appropriate transfer of student files.
• Counsel students and parents; make referrals as needed, including to outside support services.
• Review report cards.
• Facilitate student access to summer enrichment programs.

Other

• Collaborate with the Head of Grades 5-8 to create the all-school schedule of classes.
• Participate on the Admission and Indexed Tuition Committees.
• Assist with screening of potential Kindergarten students and other new students.
• Participate, as needed, on committees of the Board of Trustees.
• Oversee Outdoor Education planning in Grades 3-4. Approve field trips.
• Collaborate, as needed, with the Development Office, Admission Office, Business Office, and Director of Extended Day and Summer Programs.
• Assist in the development of the annual and monthly calendars.
• Assist with evening school functions.
• As needed, provide updates to the Parent/Guardian & Student Handbook.

Tagged as: K-6, Middle School