Head of Pedagogy

Job Description

Job Description

Head of Pedagogy

Status: Full-Time Salaried 12-month
Salary Range: $90,000 to $115,000 DOQ with a competitive benefits package (see below)
FLSA Category: Exempt
Reports to: Head of School

At Lake Country School, we believe that everything in a school exists to protect and strengthen one relationship above all others: the relationship between guide and student. That belief is not just a value statement - it shapes every decision we make.

We are seeking an exceptional Head of Pedagogy to serve as our top instructional leader and the guardian of that relationship. This is a role for someone who leads with trust, shows up in classrooms every day, and believes deeply that supporting adults is the most powerful way to serve children.

If you are an experienced Montessori educator who is equally energized by coaching a guide through a difficult moment, partnering with a family navigating a challenge, and helping shape the long-term direction of a school - we want to hear from you.

About Lake Country School

Lake Country School (LCS) is a vibrant Montessori community serving students from Children's House through Junior High, including a unique Land School program. We are committed to Montessori fidelity, a strong faculty culture, meaningful family partnerships, and a deep commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Justice. Our urban and rural campuses offer a rich and distinctive educational environment, and our community is passionate, engaged, and mission-driven.

The Role

The Head of Pedagogy is LCS's top instructional leader and a key administrative partner to the Head of School. This is a highly visible, classroom-focused leadership role. You will spend meaningful time every day in classrooms, specialist environments, at lunch, at recess - present, engaged, and building the relationships that make everything else possible.

You will oversee and support Children's House, Elementary I and II, Junior High, Land School, and specialist faculty and staff across both campuses. You will be both the coach on the sideline and the strategist in the room - inspiring faculty, holding high standards, and translating Montessori philosophy into the daily reality of student experience.

This is a servant leadership role. Your purpose is to build trust, foster connection, and provide the support, accountability, and systems that allow LCS faculty to do their best work for children.

What You Will DoLead and Develop Faculty

• Be present in classrooms, specialist environments, and all student spaces every day
• Observe regularly and provide real-time coaching and structured written feedback
• Conduct meaningful check-ins, lead evaluation cycles, and set clear goals with every faculty member
• Lead a welcoming, thorough onboarding process for new faculty and substitutes
• Foster a trusting, professional, and collaborative adult culture across all roles

Support Students and Partner with Families

• Know students as individuals - be present and visible in their daily experience
• Lead school-wide implementation of a consistent, developmentally appropriate approach to student behavior and community expectations
• Support faculty in navigating complex student and classroom dynamics
• Build genuine, proactive relationships with families - not only when challenges arise

Lead and Collaborate Across the School

• Serve as a key member of the school leadership team and top pedagogical advisor to the Head of School
• Contribute to strategic planning, school-wide initiatives, and long-term program development
• Partner with Admissions to support enrollment goals and student placement
• Advance the school's commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Justice through leadership and practice

What We Are Looking For

• AMI Montessori trained and certified
• At least 5-10 years of Montessori teaching experience
• Proven experience managing and leading a team of educators
• A relationship-builder who leads with trust, presence, and accountability
• Skilled at delivering honest, constructive feedback with care and follow-through
• Committed to Equity, Diversity, and Justice - in practice, not just in principle
• Experience with EDJ training and best practices preferred
• Bachelor's degree or higher preferred

Why Lake Country School

• A mission-driven community with deep Montessori roots and a genuine commitment to living its values
• A collaborative, respectful adult culture where faculty feel supported and celebrated
• A unique dual-campus experience - urban classrooms and a Land School environment
• A leadership team that values partnership, transparency, and shared vision
• A school that takes Equity, Diversity, and Justice seriously - as ongoing practice, not a checkbox

Employee Benefits and Professional Development

LCS offers a robust employee benefits package, including: health, dental, short-term disability, long-term disability, life, 5% no-match-required 403 (b) employer contribution, 100% employer-covered MN Paid Leave premium, free before- and after-school care for staff children, sponsorship and training, and travel and study grants.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Lake Country School is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to creating and maintaining a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace. LCS does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. We actively encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds, identities, and lived experiences.

Accommodation Statement

Lake Country School is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities throughout the application and employment process. If you require an accommodation to participate in any part of the hiring process, please contact us and we will work with you to identify an appropriate accommodation.