Summary

Lake Highland Preparatory School seeks a Director of Lower School to begin July 1, 2025. The Director of the Lower School provides leadership and supervision in the daily operation of the 930- student Lower School. Rooted in the LHP mission and vision, the Director fosters a culture of academic excellence, personal growth, and community spirit for Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 6 students. The Director plans for and oversees the quality of learning, student services, and student outcomes while ensuring cohesive integration with school-wide policies, programs, and initiatives. 

Building on Lake Highland’s rich traditions and within an atmosphere of love, concern, and mutual respect, this leader will ensure that the Lower School provides a safe, inclusive environment that nurtures curiosity, respect, and a love of learning. Overseeing all aspects of campus operations—from curriculum development to community engagement—the Director of the Lower School’s key focus will be preparing students for a seamless transition to middle school by equipping them with the academic foundations, social skills, and confidence needed for future success. 

With most Lower School grades housed in one building (with adjacent classroom space for grade 6), the Lower School offers bright, vibrant classroom space surrounding a charming courtyard for learning /play. Program emphasis is on the whole child, with the first six weeks of each year focused on the social-emotional dimension of student development, resulting in more effective student learning. (They also use Responsive Classroom.) Parents are supportive and engaged, and teachers are empowered to make academic decisions that they know work best for students; student retention is 95%. 

This search is being facilitated by Carney, Sandoe, & Associates. Please apply directly through them using the information in the "To Apply" section of this posting.

Opportunities and Challenges 

The Director of the Lower School supervises four Associate Directors as well as an ample support staff, and reports to the Associate Head of School. LHP seeks an innovative educational leader eager to nurture an enriching educational program that excites curious young learners as they embark on distinctive educational journeys filled with abundant opportunities to become servant leaders of “noble character, keen intellect, and an enduring love of learning.” As the School begins this month to launch an ambitious strategic plan, the next Director of the Lower School will work within a dynamic, evolving leadership team to realize the bold aspirations in that plan. The Director of the Lower School provides leadership and supervision in the daily operation of the Lower School, fostering a culture of academic excellence, personal growth, and community spirit for students. PreK-6. S/he plans for and oversees the quality of learning, student services, and student outcomes while ensuring cohesive integration with school-wide policies, programs, and initiatives. 

Qualifications and Personal Attributes 

The ideal candidate(s) will offer most or all the following qualifications and qualities: 

• Deep appreciation and affection for the joys of a PreK-12 community; experience as a classroom teacher who celebrates, nurtures, and delights in Lower School children; 
• The ability to develop and articulate vision and strategy and the tactical skills to manage the systems and processes necessary to implement program growth; 
• Understanding of evolving best practices in curriculum, instruction, and assessment in the support of an effective and age-appropriate pedagogy; 
• Personal and professional commitment to inclusion and belonging and the requisite skills to support a diverse student body and faculty and to facilitate critical conversations; 
• Experience leading adults with confidence and collaboration, supporting their growth and development; 
• A leadership style built on availability, approachability, responsiveness, and transparent communication; 
• Strong understanding of how to step back to leverage and support the strengths of others, bringing people together in support of shared goals;
• The confidence and humility to advocate for new ideas, invite disagreement, and welcome feedback; 
• Alignment with Lake Highland Prep’s mission and vision, including a fundamental belief in the fulfillment enjoyed when working with young children; 
• Exceptional interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate with inspiration and clarity across a wide range of stakeholders; 
• Eagerness to engage actively with students, faculty, staff, and parents and willingness to prioritize visibility amidst the demands of a busy schedule; 
• Master’s degree or higher. 

To Apply 

Interested and qualified candidates are invited to contact the consultants in confidence. Candidates will ultimately need to submit the following materials as separate PDF documents: 

• A cover letter expressing interest in this particular position; 
• A current and thorough résumé of no more than four pages; 
• Finalists will need to submit a list of five professional references with name, relationship, phone number, and email address of each (references will not be contacted without the candidate’s permission) to: 
  • Ben Bolté, Senior Consultant - bbolte@carneysandoe.com 
  • John Allman, Senior Consultant - john.allman@carneysandoe.com 
  • Allison Stiles, Consultant - allison.stiles@carneysandoe.com 

This position announcement is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this job title and the education and skills required. This is not intended to be a complete list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills that are required or may be required in the future.

LHPS conducts background checks, including fingerprinting, and drug testing, and may use a third-party administrator. Background checks will be performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Lake Highland Preparatory School is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

This search is being facilitated by Carney, Sandoe, & Associates. Please apply directly through them using the information in the "To Apply" section of this posting.

About Lake Highland Preparatory School

About Lake Highland Preparatory School Lake Highland Preparatory School is Central Florida’s premier, private, college preparatory school for Pre-K through 12th grade. When students enter our classrooms, they meet energetic educators who are passionate about what they teach and who focus on developing the greatest potential of each student. Our classes are small, providing the optimal setting for students to be encouraged and inspired. At Lake Highland Preparatory School, students learn to question, create, challenge, analyze, and speak and write critically. They love learning, and each day we watch them reach for excellence, seek new discoveries, shine on the stage, and thrive in athletics. We not only prepare our students for success in college and beyond, but we also teach them to be compassionate leaders who make ethical decisions. Mission Within an atmosphere of love, concern, and mutual respect, Lake Highland Preparatory School is committed to instilling Christian values, inspiring patriotism, developing leaders, and preparing students for college and lifelong learning through academically challenging programs and affirming competitive experiences. Vision Lake... Highland Preparatory School develops and empowers students with noble character, keen intellect, and an enduring love of learning to thrive in a highly competitive, widely collaborative and ever-changing world. The school’s “whole child” approach fosters confident, competent, and functional citizens who are intellectually, physically, emotionally, and spiritually prepared to pursue their dreams, achieve their full potential, and successfully cope with life challenges.

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Connections working at Lake Highland Preparatory School