Assistant Head of Early Childhood and Lower School
Heathwood Hall Episcopal School
Application
Details
Posted: 03-Feb-25
Location: Columbia, South Carolina
Type: Full Time
Salary: Commensurate w/experience
Preferred Education:
Masters
Assistant Head of Early Childhood & Lower School
Reports To: Head of Early Childhood and Lower School
Work Schedule: This position is currently a 12-month position.
Position Summary
The Assistant Head of Early Childhood and Lower School plays a lead role as a member of the Administrative Team impacting all constituencies for the division. The Assistant Head of the division must be a community builder, balanced against practical and pragmatic responsibilities to ensure the day to day operations are seamless for students, teachers, and families. As part of the school community, the Assistant Head will support and promote the mission and vision of Heathwood Hall in service to the whole-child.
The Assistant Head will have daily operational responsibilities but also be tasked with developing systems and structures to support the long term goals of the Division Head and the School. Strong interpersonal skills and a passion for young children are critical to this role, as are the desire to build relationships with colleagues and nurture a culture rooted in a growth mindset and focused around problem solving.
Essential Functions
Community Support
Build community and a sense of belonging for all families and students
Design and implement service opportunities for all ages
Fulfill additional duties as assigned, including responsibilities that may occur on weekends and evenings (e.g. admission open house, observations, and interviews).
Serve as a constant representative of Heathwood Hall's mission, vision, and values
Student Support
Create systems and processes that align Heathwood’s objective to know and value each student as an individual
Collaborate with student support team to propose class placements to the Division Head
Ensure the standards and objectives of the scope of work correlate with the students grade to grade
Train substitute teachers specific to the age group and learning accommodations
Coordinate in-school screenings and assessments with teachers to determine student progress and development
Attend and support after-school activities and programs (e.g. concerts, class programs, parent events)
Provide general day-to-day support of students, teachers and families
Foster positive discipline approaches in support of student behavior modifications on an as needed and consistent basis including communication with faculty and parents
Respond to faculty concerns, request for support with managing student behaviors and communicate plans with the division head.
Function as a liaison with the Afternoon Express and PEAK Program leaders to discuss students and behavior accommodations that are in place to promote consistency
Faculty Support
Observe faculty to provide feedback and support faculty growth and development
Model Responsive Classroom Approaches and best practices
Support student behavior modification plans and learning profiles with teachers
Maintain the required annual training hours including CPR/First Aid, mandated reporter training etc) and the 15 hours of DSS training requirements.
Admissions:
Meet with prospective families on tour when Head is not available
Read applicant files for mission fit and share input with the Division Head
Observe the applicants for Admission and provide feedback
Operations Management
Coordinate with the other Assistant Head to create duty rosters
Partner with the Dining Services to support lunch service
Coordinate with the other Assistant Head to design and implement all aspects of afternoon dismissal
Maintain and monitor DSS requirements for students and teachers in support of the Head including training hours and clearances
Support the Division Head to prepare for annual licensing inspections and renewal visits.
Collaborate with Human Resources to ensure newly-hired employees meet DSS requirements
Event Planning and Coordination
Oversee with the Division Assistant the design and implementation of the “Run of Show” event plans
Manage all aspects of field trip experiences in conjunction with the faculty including plans, transportation, reservations and collection of funds from families
Leadership in Support of Faculty, Students, & Families
Determine substitute coverage for faculty as needed
Participate in division, faculty, team, and grade-level meetings
Attend and support after-school activities and programs (e.g. concerts, class programs, parent events)
Specific Job Skills
The ideal candidate will:
Demonstrate commitment to the mission and vision of Heathwood Hall that is centered around the whole child
Exhibit exemplary organizational abilities
Possess strong written and verbal communication skills to effectively engage with students, parents, colleagues, and supervisors
Demonstrate professionalism and maintain composure while navigating stressful situations and successfully prioritizing a multitude of duties with judgment reflective of Heathwood’s Episcopal values
Foster innovative solutions while maintaining respect for the traditions and culture of the Heathwood Early Childhood and Lower School experience
Exhibit a growth mindset and a commitment to learning and problem solving
Maintain the required annual training hours including CPR/First Aid, mandated reporter training etc) and the 15 hours of DSS training requirements
Working Conditions
Expansive school campus with 122+ acres, must be able to travel between buildings independently.
Frequent walking, standing, stooping, bending may be required throughout the day at various intervals
Ability to lift up to 50 lbs
Heathwood Hall Episcopal School believes that each employee makes a significant contribution to its success, and that contribution should not be limited by the assigned responsibilities. Therefore, this position description is designed to outline primary duties, qualifications, and job scope, but not limit the incumbent nor the organization to just the work identified. It is our expectation that each employee will offer his/her services wherever and whenever necessary to ensure the success of our endeavors.
Heathwood Hall Episcopal School is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer. Heathwood Hall Episcopal School participates in E-Verify, as mandated by South Carolina law. This position will require a Criminal Background Check.
Education and Experience
Masters Degree in Education or related postgraduate degree preferred
Fluency with Google Suite, specifically Google calendar and willingness to learn new technological resources
Experience with event/project management and execution
Heathwood Hall Episcopal School (HHES) is an independent, Episcopal day school founded in
1951 that serves 730+ children ages 2 through Grade 12. Just minutes away from the urban
grandeur of South Carolina’s capital city, Heathwood Hall is a serene, environmental oasis
nestled on 122 acres of wooded wetlands. The campus is bordered on the west by the
Congaree River, and on the north, east and south by lush farmlands.
HHES has long been known as Columbia’s premier independent school. Its tradition of academic excellence is coupled with a longstanding commitment to experiential learning that has led to the development of many distinctive programs.
Holding true to its Episcopal heritage, HHES celebrates and seeks to develop the whole child, and to develop tenacious, sophisticated thinkers who value service to others over self-interest. HHES further supports the development of the whole child through a rich array of extracurricular offerings that create ample opportunities for students to find and nurture their passions beyond the classroom.
HHES believes that children learn best when they are truly known and supported by their teachers. The school’s abiding commitment to bui...lding strong relationships between students and teachers allows the opportunity for each child to be met where they are in their educational and developmental journey, as opposed to taking a one-size-fits-all approach.
While HHES’s outcomes are second-to-none—its students compete nationally and achieve at the highest levels—each student’s Heathwood experience is unique, reflective of his or her interests and abilities, challenges and talents, goals and ethos. HHES graduates don’t just master the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in college and beyond; they know themselves, and know how to advocate for themselves, in ways that set them apart from most of their peers. They leave Heathwood prepared not only to take on our dynamic world, but to transform it.
While the school community includes members of many faith traditions, Heathwood is an Episcopal School where all students and faculty gather, by school division, for worship and prayer each Wednesday in the on-campus Chapel of the Epiphany. The school is affiliated with the Episcopal diocese and benefits from a supportive Episcopal community in Columbia. It is a school that engenders strong loyalty and strong connections, and promotes an authentic spirit of inclusivity, acceptance, and care for each individual.
Today, HHES seeks an experienced development professional who appreciates the culture of this exemplary place, shares it values, and will cultivate relationships and gifts to ensure the betterment of the school.
The Community | Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia, South Carolina is a city convenient to mountains and beaches. In just two hours you can be on a beach in Charleston, SC or head the opposite direction two hours toward the upstate and find yourself in the mountains. Sporting News recently recognized Columbia as one of the “Best Sports Cities;” residents love to support their local college teams including the University of South Carolina’s Gamecocks. The city also has a more refined side and is home to the Columbia Museum of Art, the SC Philharmonic Orchestra, the Columbia City Ballet, and a myriad of performing arts groups. Columbia has received numerous accolades for its cost of living, climate, job outlook, education, the arts, health care and recreation.