St. Anne's-Belfield School, Head of Lower School

St. Anne’s-Belfield School, a coeducational day (age 2 through Grade 12) and boarding school (Grades 9 through 12) in Charlottesville, Virginia, seeks an inspirational, forward-thinking academic leader to serve as its next Head of the Lower School. The division, encompassing both the Early Childhood Program (Two-Year-Olds, Pre-School, and Junior Kindergarten) and Lower School (K – Grade 4), represents the foundation of the School’s mission to educate students to become “strong in body, broad of mind, tender of heart, responsive in soul.”

At St. Anne’s-Belfield, learning is alive. The School is a community that balances warmth and rigor, where children are known deeply, challenged thoughtfully, and encouraged to see themselves as both learners and leaders. Guided by the School’s Portrait of a Graduate, which emphasizes curiosity, integrity, diversity, agency, impact, and creativity, the Lower School lays the foundation for these enduring habits of mind and heart. Faculty, students, and families describe the community as vibrant, connected, and rooted in purpose — a place where curiosity and joy are paired with clear expectations and strong academics.

Reporting to Head of School Autumn A. Graves, the Head of the Lower School (LS) will join a collaborative senior administrative leadership team (SALT) and guide a talented faculty that cares deeply about their students and craft. The next division head will be an experienced leader with a deep understanding of early childhood and elementary pedagogy, a proven ability to motivate faculty to embrace research-based educational innovation, and the operational skill to manage a large, dynamic program and campus. The division head will bring both expertise and an educator’s heart to every interaction, balancing empathy with decisiveness, and vision with follow-through.

The division head will be visible and engaged, present in classrooms, in conversation with parents and guardians, and in partnership with colleagues. The successful candidate will have a clear point of view, demonstrate courage, integrity, and professional poise, and use data and research to inform thoughtful decisions. The division head will be someone who can honor the School’s traditions while leading the Lower School boldly into its next chapter, advancing excellence through robust operational systems, transparent communication, and a steadfast focus on teaching and learning.

STRATEGIC PRIORITIES

In partnership with the Head of School, the Academic Team, and fellow division heads, the next Head of the Lower School will focus on the following priorities:

• Inspire Excellence and Belonging in Teaching and Learning: In partnership with faculty, students, and families, promote a learning environment that reflects the School’s mission and values. Foster a culture of professional excellence and intellectual engagement that empowers teachers and students alike to grow as learners and citizens.

• Champion Rigorous and Innovative Curriculum: Ensure balanced academic and co-curricular programming that honors the School’s traditions while advancing 21st-century pedagogical design. Promote practices that blend inquiry, creativity, and structure, leading to measurable student growth and authentic engagement.

• Align and Strengthen the ECP – Grade 4 Continuum: Strengthen a cohesive bridge between the Early Childhood Program (ECP) and the Lower School by aligning philosophy, curriculum, and expectations for growth. Collaborate with the Director of the ECP, Admission, and Learning Support Specialist to partner on student retention and transition readiness to thoughtfully serve each child’s best interest..

• Lead the Continued Implementation of Standards-Based Learning (SBL): Use data and professional research to guide instructional decisions and measure progress toward desired learning outcomes. Provide clear direction and communication around SBL to strengthen understanding among faculty and families.

• Advance Experiential and Outdoor Learning: Collaborate with faculty and school leaders to expand interdisciplinary, hands-on learning that connects students meaningfully to the world around them. Cultivate a culture that celebrates curiosity, creativity, and exploration, deepening alignment with the School’s Portrait of a Graduate competencies.

• Serve as a Strategic Partner in School-Wide Leadership: As an integral member of SALT, partner with the Head of School and Academic Team to advance institutional goals, ensure cohesive age 2 through Grade 12 alignment, and sustain a vibrant, inclusive community that embodies the School’s mission.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Work collaboratively with the Academic Team to meet the School's purpose and strategic goals;

• Provide meaningful leadership of the ECP, including direct supervision of the program’s director;

• Define and support appropriate student behavior that embraces the School's expectations of being an inclusive and supportive learning community;

• Support the admission, retention, and re-enrollment process; 

• Enthusiastically engage the division's parent body as a whole and individual parents/guardians to build a trusting partnership between the School and home.

• With the LS Dean of Students, drive K – 4 co-curricular programming, community service, Chapel, inclusive excellence, and student leadership programming design and implementation;

• With the Head of the Middle School, effectively leverage the Lower and Middle School Dean of Academics as a resource for curricular innovation and academic program execution;

• Actively seek ongoing professional development through a well-established professional learning network and support divisional faculty in the same pursuit.

• Set clear expectations for faculty and staff and follow the School's evaluation model;

• Thoughtfully oversee operating budgets for the ECP and Grades K – 4; and

• Actively serve as a member of the senior administrative leadership team that leads and supports school-wide initiatives, policies, and procedures.

QUALITIES & ATTRIBUTES

St. Anne’s-Belfield seeks a Lower School leader who is both an educational visionary and a grounded, relational presence. The next Head of the Lower School will inspire trust and confidence among students, faculty, and families by leading with clarity, consistency, and heart. The person will be a strong advocate for teachers and children alike, someone who believes deeply in the power of early education to shape character, curiosity, and community. The ideal candidate will pair pedagogical depth with warmth and humility, bringing both strategic insight and everyday attentiveness to a division that values joyful learning and meaningful relationships.

This leader will champion innovation grounded in sound practice, support faculty in aligning purpose and pedagogy, and communicate with transparency and empathy. The division head will be a visible, engaged presence across classrooms and community events — approachable to students, collaborative with colleagues, and trusted by families.

Additionally:

• Demonstrates integrity, discretion, and sound judgment.

• Balances confidence with approachability; leads with empathy..

• Models clear, consistent, and transparent communication.

• Brings strong organizational skills, follow-through, and attention to detail.

• Values data-informed and research-based practices while honoring teacher expertise.

• Enjoys coaching and developing faculty, fostering collaboration, and promoting professional growth.

• Has the courage to make thoughtful, sometimes difficult decisions in service of balancing the good of the individual with the good of the whole. 

• Demonstrates steadiness under pressure, flexibility in the face of change, and optimism in community life.

• Exhibits a growth mindset, cultural competence, and a genuine curiosity about others’ perspectives.

• Serves as a reflective partner to senior leadership and a visible advocate for the Lower School within the broader St. Anne’s-Belfield community.

QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

• An advanced degree in a field related to curriculum, child development, leadership, or pedagogy; 

• Demonstrated record of innovative teaching expertise with proven learning outcomes and interdisciplinary experiences;

• 3 – 5 years of administrative experience leading and managing a diverse community of educators through relationships based upon mutual respect, trust, and empathy;

• Experience as a teacher, student, parent, and/or administrator in an independent school;

• Extraordinary verbal and written communication skills that demonstrate warmth, empathy, humor, and love for early childhood and elementary children, their parents/guardians, and their teachers;

• Proficiency in a second language desired. 

https://www.strategenius.org/opportunity-st-annes-belfield-headls 

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