Laurence School is a dynamic and cutting-edge independent elementary school located near Sherman Oaks, California. Founded in 1953 and grounded in its “Total Child” philosophy, Laurence provides Kindergarten through 6th Grade students with a personalized, well-rounded education to students, ensuring their academic, social, emotional, and physical growth and development. With an enrollment of 375 students and a dedicated team of faculty and staff that is more than eighty members strong, Laurence is an excellent place to work. At Laurence, employees have the opportunity to thrive in a stimulating and diverse environment, where new ideas, opportunities, skills, and experiences are constantly being exchanged and shared. Laurence School is hiring for a Lower School Director for the 2026 - 2027 academic year. 

Lower School Director is responsible for the overall, direct, day-to-day  supervision and curriculum  of the Lower Division (LD), designated as grades K-2. The position provides leadership and administration that inspires instruction and supports personnel to strive for superior  performance, with the goal of creating and maintaining high standards for academic, character and  social/emotional growth of the school’s students. The Lower School Director works closely with students and families to ensure students are able to succeed and work to  their highest potential. The incumbent assists with admissions and transitioning new families into  the community. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include but are not limited to the  following:

Provide leadership and administration for the operation and functioning of the LD consistent with the philosophy, mission, values and goals of the school. This includes the  instructional, character, social-emotional and non-cognitive programs; student discipline; and  the evaluation of direct reports.

Provide leadership in the hiring process for all direct-report positions and recommend  finalists to the Head of School.

Provide leadership in the professional growth of all direct reports, collaborating with the  Director of 3-6, Director of DEI and Curriculum, and Head of School  to plan professional development opportunities and workshop days for faculty and staff.

Provide leadership and administration for the curriculum and instructional program for Grades K-2. Provide coaching and support for the LD faculty and staff in the areas of  curriculum and pedagogy. Maintain current knowledge regarding resources, research and  best practices in curriculum and instruction. Coordinate with the Director of 3-6 to develop an articulated K-6th grade curriculum and instruction scope and sequence.

Provide leadership in the work and dialogue around diversity and inclusivity.

With the Director of 3-6, coordinate and administer the school’s Co-Curricular programs.

Coordinate with the Director of 3-6 to develop a schedule to balance the developmental  needs of students with teacher planning time.

Establish and promote high academic standards and expectations for all students, faculty and  staff.

Facilitate the organization of effective classroom environments that reflect the school’s  educational philosophy.

Serve as a member of the Leadership Team.

Serve on and/or chairs committees as needed.

Assist with New Family admissions and evaluations of prospective families.

Oversee the daily running of the campus including supervision duties, scheduling, parking, lunch, facilities, etc.

Along with the Director of Summer camp, oversee the academic morning program

Perform other duties and oversee special assignments as necessary or as assigned by the  Head of School.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be  able to perform each essential duty to the satisfaction of the Head of School. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable  accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential  functions.

Minimum Qualifications:

Highly skilled in the following areas: communication, interpersonal and relationship building,  analytical and strategic thinking, organization, time management, delegation, problem  solving, conflict management and decision-making.

Strong background in curriculum development, childhood development and employee  management and supervision.

Adept at public speaking.

A role model of high standards of professional behavior and strong leadership.

Willing to embrace the lifestyle of working in a small independent school by being a team player and working the amount of time that is required to model excellence in job  performance.

A strong sense of ethics and integrity.

A strong commitment to collaborate as a member of the administrative team.

Experience:

Master’s degree required. Degrees in education or organizational leadership preferred.

Minimum of three years of experience in an administrative role.

Minimum of 8-10 years of experience as a teacher/educator

Compensation and Benefits: Laurence School provides a strong benefits package, including medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and eligible dependents, voluntary coverage options, access to 401(k) Retirement Plan with employer matching contributions, generous paid time off, wellness incentives, discounts, and professional growth opportunities.

Salary: $110,000 - $135,000 based upon education, degree(s), and years of experience and knowledge

To Apply

Please submit a cover letter, resume, and contact information for three references to jobs@laurenceschool.com and Laurie Wolke at lwolke@laurenceschool.com. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Non Discrimination Policy:

Laurence School is an equal-opportunity employer. We continually strive to build an inclusive culture in our diverse community. Laurence School prohibits discrimination against employees or applicants for employment on the basis of race, color, religion (including all aspects of religious beliefs, observance or practice, including religious dress or grooming practices), sex (including gender, gender identity, gender expression, transgender, pregnancy and breastfeeding), national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, marital status or registered domestic partner status, uniformed service member or veteran status, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic characteristics or information, or any other basis protected by law. The School will afford equal employment opportunity to all qualified employees and applicants as to all terms and conditions of employment, including, without limitation, compensation, hiring, training, promotion, transfer, discipline, and termination.

Physical Demands:

The employee is occasionally required to sit, climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. The employee must frequently lift and move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and move objects up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

The ideal candidate must be able to complete all physical requirements of the job with or without a reasonable accommodation.