Head of Elementary/Academic Dean

About Trinity School

Trinity School offers an extraordinary opportunity to make a meaningful impact at a premier independent elementary day school. Serving preschool through Grade 5 students, Trinity is set on 5.5 serene acres across two campuses in the heart of Silicon Valley. Our unique location—near Stanford University and downtown Menlo Park—places us at the crossroads of innovation, intellectual exploration, and social awareness, creating an ideal environment for students and staff alike.

For over 60 years, Trinity has partnered with families to nurture confident, capable problem-solvers who lead with empathy, curiosity, and courage. Our intentionally small community fosters deep connections where every student is seen, known, and valued. Guided by a mission to cultivate young learners with curious minds and discerning hearts, Trinity combines academic excellence with character development through hands-on learning, critical thinking, and creativity.

Joining the Trinity team means being part of a collaborative, supportive community that values lifelong learning. We offer competitive compensation, excellent benefits, and a chance to thrive professionally while shaping the lives of future leaders. If you’re looking for a place where your work will be valued and your impact felt, Trinity School is the ideal choice.

Overview

This role provides visionary leadership in implementing and continuously enhancing the Kindergarten through Grade 5 curriculum, ensuring alignment with Trinity School’s mission, belief statements, and strategic goals. This role fosters a culture of academic innovation, inquiry, and collaboration in service of delivering exceptional, student-centered learning experiences. Working closely with the Head of School, Head of Elementary/Academic Dean facilitates and supports a culture of professional growth, delivers high quality professional development, and ensures curricular continuity and coherence across grade levels. The role also emphasizes diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, promoting a learning environment that is engaging, safe, and inspiring for all students.This senior leadership position serves as part of the Pedagogical Leadership Team (PLT) and Admin Leadership Team.

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Key Responsibilities

Leadership and Vision:
Develop and articulate a clear vision for academic innovation aligned with the school’s mission and strategic goals.
Serve as a thought leader, staying abreast of educational trends, research, and technologies that enhance student learning experiences.
Promote diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, and sustainability within all aspects of the school community and curriculum.

Curriculum Leadership and Development:
Oversee the development, implementation, and revision of the Kindergarten through Grade 5 curriculum, ensuring alignment with academic standards and competencies.

Partner with faculty to design inquiry-based, transdisciplinary, and student-centered learning experiences.Integrate principles of concept-based inquiry into curriculum planning and instruction. Provide coaching and mentorship in curriculum design, teaching and assessment strategies.

Guide the documentation and mapping of units of study including curriculum standards, assessments, and learning goals.

Professional Development:
Design and deliver professional learning opportunities that inspire and equip teachers to adopt innovative practices.

Support internal professional growth through intentional and responsive design of professional development opportunities during grade level and grade band planning meetings, in-service days, and weekly staff meeting times.

Supervision and Faculty Support:
Guide faculty in reflective self-evaluation, goal-setting, and professional growth.

Conduct formal and informal teacher evaluations, including observation cycles, reflective conversations, and constructive feedback on the written, taught, and assessed curriculum.

Student Learning and Evaluation:
Oversee student assessment systems, including standardized testing (ERB, MAP), progress reports, and report cards.

Collaborate with teachers to adapt curriculum and learning plans to meet individual student needs, including those working above grade level.

Conduct parent-teacher conferences as needed to ensure timely and accurate communication about student progress and behavior.

Operational Management:
Coordinate schedules, internal calendars, and duty assignments for the Elementary Campus.

Community Engagement:
Act as a liaison between the school and families, addressing student concerns and promoting academic programs.

Contribute to school publications, admissions tours, and Board presentations to effectively communicate academic and co-curricular programs.

Collaboration and Administrative Support:
Partner with the Assistant Head of School and Head of Early Childhood Campus to ensure curricular continuity across grade levels.

Serve on committees as appropriate, including admissions, educator evaluations, and administrative meetings.

Budget Oversight:

Manage budgets related to academic programming, ensuring alignment with school priorities.

Fostering Innovation:

Lead the integration of innovative practices and programs that enhance student learning experiences.

Support the adoption of emerging educational trends and technologies to advance teaching and learning outcomes.

Other Duties:

The Head of Elementary/Academic Dean may be assigned additional responsibilities based on the needs of the School.

Qualifications:

Strong background in inquiry-based pedagogy.
Proven leadership experience in curriculum development and teacher supervision.
Expertise in fostering inclusive, student-centered, and innovative learning environments.
Strong interpersonal, organizational, and communication skills.

Tagged as: K-6