Head of Elementary

General Summary (July 2026 Start)

The Head of Elementary serves as the educational and administrative leader for Grades 1-5, responsible for the students, faculty, programs, and day-to-day operations of the elementary division. As a member of the Senior Management Team and Educational Leadership Team, this role works closely with the Head of School and other divisional leaders to advance the International School of Portland’s mission, core values, and vision through the philosophy of the International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme (PYP). The Head of Elementary helps shape the strategic direction of the elementary program while ensuring alignment with IB standards and practices and the school’s overall goals.

In this role, the Head of Elementary models the attributes of the IB Learner Profile and fosters a positive, inclusive school culture. They strive to foster the joy of learning and a sense of belonging for every child, keeping students’ well-being and growth at the center of decision-making. The Head of Elementary works with students, parents, and teachers to support equity, and justice, continually developing their own cultural competence and encouraging intercultural understanding across the school community. The position supervises elementary faculty and staff (Grades 1-5), ensuring high standards in curriculum delivery, teaching practice, and student support. In all areas, the Head of Elementary provides collaborative leadership to maintain an engaging, safe, and high-quality learning environment in which every student can thrive.
Qualifications

Required Qualification

• Master’s degree in Education, Educational Leadership, or a related field.
• Experience in educational leadership or school administration.
• Fluency in written and spoken English.
• Experience leading within a diverse school community.

Preferred Qualifications

• Administrator license or equivalent.
• Experience as a Head of Elementary, Division Head, or similar role.
• IB PYP and/or language immersion experience.
• Bilingual or multilingual (Spanish, Japanese, Chinese, or another language).

We encourage candidates with diverse backgrounds who meet the core requirements to apply, even if they have taken non-traditional paths to gaining their expertise.
Working Conditions

The Head of Elementary is a demanding full-time leadership position that may require work hours beyond the traditional school day, including occasional evenings or weekends for special events. The position involves regular movement across our multi-building and hilly campus, occasional lifting, and sustained use of technology.

HOW TO APPLY
(Create a new user profile or log in with your existing user name and password to submit your cover letter, and resume).

To be considered for this position, please provide a cover letter that describes how your background, experience and skills make you a great candidate for this position. In addition, include a current resume, and a list of 3-5 references who can speak to your leadership. References will not be contacted until further along in the process.

Please note, no immigration visa sponsorship is available for this role.