Primary Dean of Academics (PK-5)

Overview

Le Jardin Academy is looking for a Primary Dean of Academics PK-5 (Regular Full-time) for the 2026-2027 school year. This position plays a vital leadership role in cultivating a dynamic, inclusive, and high-performing learning community within the Primary Years Programme (PYP). This position is responsible for ensuring the development, implementation, and evaluation of a progressive, rigorous, coherent, and research-based curriculum. It also serves as the PYP Coordinator. Bachelor’s degree required. Master’s degree in Education, Curriculum, or related field preferred. Minimum five years of teaching experience and experience in IB Primary Years Programme are required. Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States. No phone calls, please. Salary range starting at: $98,000.

Job Details

Job Description: Primary Dean of Academics (PK-5)

Reports To: Head of Primary

Work Schedule: Monday–Friday, 7:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m.

Supervises: Grade Level Leaders, Teachers, Teaching Assistants, and Substitute Teachers (as assigned)

Status: Full-Time, Exempt

FLSA Status: Exempt

Revised: February 2026

Position Summary

The Primary Dean of Academics plays a vital leadership role in cultivating a dynamic, inclusive, and high-performing learning community within the Primary Years Programme (PYP). This position is responsible for ensuring the development, implementation, and evaluation of a progressive, rigorous, coherent, and research-based curriculum.

Serving as the PYP Coordinator, the Dean collaborates closely with the Director of Learning and Innovation, Secondary Deans of Academics, and other Primary Deans to ensure a seamless IB continuum and exceptional student experience. The role combines instructional leadership, faculty development, and operational collaboration to support student achievement and faculty excellence.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

1. Visionary & Strategic Leadership
   • Participate in schoolwide and divisional strategic planning.
   • Attend Educational Leadership Team meetings.
   • Lead and collaborate on initiatives aligned with the school’s mission and strategic goals.
   • Lead and manage long and short-term projects and change management.
   • Promote a culture of continuous improvement, innovation, and reflective practice.
2. Instructional & Curriculum Leadership
   • Lead and ensure the development, evaluation, vertical and horizontal alignment of the written, taught, and assessed curriculum.
   • Facilitate systematic analysis of student achievement and assessment data.
   • Guide curricular and structural changes to improve student outcomes.
   • Inspire and coach teachers toward the implementation of innovative instructional models and best practices in teaching and learning.
   • Collaborate with leadership to design and facilitate weekly faculty meetings.
   • Partner with MYP and DP coordinators and the Director of Learning to strengthen the IB continuum.
   • Remain current with educational research and developments.
3. PYP Coordination
   • Serve as Primary Years Programme Coordinator.
   • Communicate PYP updates, publications, and expectations to staff and families.
   • Ensure compliance with IB standards, practices, and timelines.
   • Co-lead the IB/WASC/HAIS self-study and authorization/evaluation processes.
   • Coordinate and oversee the PYP Exhibition.
4. Faculty Development & Professional Learning
   • Lead onboarding, induction, and ongoing mentorship of new faculty.
   • Support beginning-of-year orientations.
   • Promote professional learning opportunities.
   • Provide ongoing instructional coaching of all faculty.
   • Coordinate professional development opportunities and IB workshops.
   • Coordinate and communicate all on and off-campus travel related to PD.
   • Maintain records of professional learning and IB rotations.
   • Participate in Professional Development Council approval meetings.
5. Supervision & Performance Management
   • Supervise and evaluate teachers, teaching assistants, specialists, and grade-level leaders.
   • Support learning and professional growth through classroom walkthroughs, formal observations, and evaluations.
   • Meet with teachers regularly around professional growth or performance improvement plans.
   • Participate in recruitment and hiring processes.
6. Equity, & Inclusion
   • Ensure curriculum and instruction meet diverse learner needs through UDL tier 1 practices.
   • Promote inclusive, developmentally appropriate, and culturally responsive practices.
   • Collaborate with learning support, counseling, and student services teams.
7. Family & Community Engagement
   • Orient new families to the PYP.
   • Present at parent events, open houses, admissions testing, and information sessions.
   • Meet with families to address academic and program-related concerns.
   • Manage generation of communications of student learning through progress reports, parent-teacher conferences and celebrations of learning.
8. Operations & Compliance
   • Collaborate with Primary leadership on daily operations.
   • Support the needs of teachers in performing day-to-day operations.
   • Supervise and mentor students on campus and during off-campus excursions and trips.
   • Ensure adherence to school policies, safeguarding requirements, and ethical standards.
   • Budget and ordering of school supplies, materials, and resources.
   • Support risk management and compliance efforts.
   • Maintain confidentiality and professionalism.
9. Other Duties
   • Perform additional responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor’s degree required
• Master’s degree in Education, Curriculum, or related field preferred

Experience

• Minimum five years of teaching experience (required)
• Experience in IB Primary Years Programme (required)
• Experience in IB continuum schools (preferred)
• IBEN experience (preferred)
• Leadership or coordination experience (preferred)

Core Competencies

• Adept at facilitating the professional growth of colleagues and committed to one’s own professional growth
• Displays advanced level of intercultural sensitivity, international-mindedness, and global engagement
• Highly effective communicator
• Critical thinker, creative problem-solver, transparent decision-maker
• Inspirational leader who achieves a good balance between a results-orientation and a people-orientation
• Has a philosophy and vision that will meld with and enhance the school\'s mission
• Aware of current best practices in curriculum, pedagogy and assessment, particularly in the context of PYP

Specialized Skills & Knowledge

• Understanding of early childhood development
• Strong project management skills, including ability to prioritize and delegate
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work in a team environment
• Ability to meet deadlines in an environment with multiple simultaneous projects
• Build strong relationships
• Work independently and frequently without direct supervision
• Proven ability to represent the department and organization in writing – applicant may be asked for a writing sample
• Demonstrated organizational skills
• Intermediate level of productivity software and computing skills