Director of Lower School

Established in 1689 by William Penn and members of the Religious Society of Friends, William Penn Charter School (Penn Charter) is a community guided by Quaker values and the central belief that there is "that of God" in every person. Today, Penn Charter is a leading, all-gender, independent day school offering a vigorous pre-K through 12 program in academics, arts, and athletics, all within the context of the Quaker values that have guided the School for more than three centuries.

We invite nominations and applications for the position of Director of Lower School from confident and collaborative educational leaders with strong interpersonal and communication skills.

About William Penn Charter School

Penn Charter is the fifth-oldest school in America and the oldest Quaker school in the world. Over three centuries, even as we have honored tradition, the School has advocated for change. Our curriculum embraces a plurality of cultures and celebrates an array of voices, instilling in us a deeper understanding and empathy for individuals in this community and the world.

The Penn Charter educational program exposes students to a breadth of content and ideas as well as opportunities for deep exploration in the pursuit of personal passion. Guided by research and best practices, faculty collaborate across divisions and disciplines to design and deliver engaging and relevant learning experiences. We provide students with the knowledge and skills they need to thrive in a complex and changing world.

Diversity, equity, inclusion, & belonging

Penn Charter seeks to build a community representing diversity in race, religion, ethnicity, socioeconomic background, gender, sexual orientation—as well as learning style, opinion, and hometown. When you walk through Penn Charter's red doors, there is a reason our formal-looking school suddenly feels down to earth: the people. Penn Charter was founded not for some people but for all people. That is as true today as it was in 1689. Penn Charter was one of the first schools to open to children of all religions and races, and among the first to educate girls and to offer financial aid. Despite that history, our community is not immune from the racism, sexism, homophobia, and intolerance that challenge this city and nation. Our diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) work is ongoing and unfinished. 

The role of the Director of Lower School

Reporting directly to the Head of School, the Lower School Director leads a division of about 325 students and 50 faculty members in grades PreK-5 and is an integral member of the School’s Leadership Team. The director will provide the vision and direction for effectively managing the Lower School division and ensuring a quality educational experience for Pre-K-5 students. They will have expertise in early childhood and elementary curriculum and instruction, demonstrated success as a school leader and lifelong learner, and a desire to work in a Quaker School that leads students to lives that make a difference. The Lower School Director will use the Portrait of a Penn Charter Learner as a guidepost to nurture our students as they become Courageous Learners, Compassionate Friends, Constructive Communicators, and Change Cultivators while fostering a positive, inclusive environment and collaborating with educators to uphold the School's mission and values.

The Director of Lower School will be an instrumental partner in addressing the following key opportunities and challenges:

●       Curriculum Development: While the Lower School has always been at the forefront of best teaching practices and curriculum, we have an opportunity to look closely at various aspects of our curriculum and adjust the curriculum and teaching approaches used to support student learning. The School is committed to project-based learning and will continue to leverage this framework to guide our curricula.

●       Enrollment, access, and affordability: The Lower School has long occupied a position of market strength and the new Director will partner with the Head and others to ensure an exemplary student experience reflective of best practice, while remaining attentive and responsive to market conditions, enrollment growth, selectivity, and yield.

●       Opening of the Richard A. Balderston OPC 69 Lower School: For the first time in 17 years, our new building will have our entire Lower School division under one roof. Our division has been developing a vision for our early childhood program (pre-Kindergarten through first grade); blending our Pre-Kindergarten classrooms with our kindergarten and first grade programs is key to the success of our programs. We are also working on the specials area schedule that reflects all of our students and their cognitive and social-emotional development and considers the importance of play, establishing routines, predictability, and transitions.

●        Parent and Caregiver Engagement: Building home and school partnerships is key in ensuring the success and holistic approach to a child’s educational journey. Existing programs in place to support this engagement include open houses, volunteer opportunities, conferences, parent/caregiver reading programs, school performances, grade-level presentations, social media connections, field trips, parent forums, and drop-and-stops. Programs for further development include curricular nights, parent/caregiver education, and opportunities in the classroom.

Desired qualifications and characteristics

Exhibiting a deep understanding of early childhood education, the successful Director of Lower School will value and thrive in being part of a close-knit, diversity-minded, and student-focused school community with a deep, rich history and strong sense of tradition. Ideally, candidates will possess many of the following qualifications and characteristics:

Desired Qualifications:

• A master's degree in early childhood or elementary education, educational leadership, or a related field.
• Minimum five years of experience leading a lower school division in an independent school.

Desired Competencies:

• Understanding of child development and age-appropriate educational practices.
• Ability to develop and implement strategic plans for the Lower School.
• Visionary thinking and alignment of school goals with the broader educational mission.
• Strong leadership qualities and the ability to inspire and motivate others.
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with internal and external members of the Penn Charter community.
• Skills in team building, conflict resolution, and fostering a collaborative culture.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to make informed and effective decisions.
• Effective communication with all stakeholders.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated capacity to work with students, families, faculty, and staff to achieve goals and objectives.
• Proven ability to collaborate with teachers, staff, and parents to create a positive and supportive learning environment.
• Performing work with a constant awareness of improving processes for positive growth.
• Appreciation of independent school culture.
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, and social justice in all aspects of work and relationship building.
• Awareness and understanding of diverse cultures, backgrounds, and learning needs among students and families.
• Familiarity with Quaker principles and practices, including embracing the Quaker tradition of consensus decision making in education.
• Strong organizational and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to analyze needs and set priorities.
• Empathetic listening.
• Honoring confidentiality.
• Reflecting a team-oriented attitude of service, including respectfully challenging and inspiring others.
• Engaging as a patient and relational collaborator.
• Excellent sense of humor.
• Love of working with children.

Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience. Penn Charter offers a generous benefits package as well, including 90 percent tuition remission for up to two children at a time for grades K to 12 and a 20 percent discount for Pre-K.