Lower School Director Job Abington Pennsylvania USA,Education / Teaching

Location: Abington

Abington Friends School — Jenkintown, Pennsylvania

Nestled on a 50-acre, tree‑lined campus in Jenkintown, Pennsylvania just north of Philadelphia, Abington Friends School (AFS) is a vibrant Early Childhood (3 and 4 year‑olds) through Grade 12 Quaker day school grounded in more than three centuries of educational leadership and innovation. Founded in 1697, AFS is shaped by the enduring testimonies of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), simplicity, peace, integrity, community, equality, and stewardship, which guide the daily life of students and educators alike.

At AFS, our mission is to cultivate intellectual excellence, foster strength of character, and support the growth of each student’s unique talents, while nurturing the physical, emotional, social, and spiritual well‑being of the whole child. Our campus provides a rich environment for discovery, supported by inspiring classrooms, expansive green spaces, robust arts and athletics programs, and a community culture that honors both individuality and collective purpose.

In this context, the Director of Lower School plays a pivotal role in guiding the early years of students’ learning journeys, ensuring that curiosity, confidence, agency, and belonging take root in developmentally intentional and joy‑filled ways.

The Director of Lower School position is a full‑time, 12‑month role beginning July 1, 2026
.

The Role

At Abington Friends School, education is both academic and deeply human. The Director of Lower School serves as a leader of people, a steward of program, and a champion of young learners from Early Childhood (EC) through Grade
4. Working closely with faculty, families, and senior leadership, the Director helps craft a joyful, rigorous, inclusive, and mission‑aligned experience for children during these formative years.

The Lower School enrolls approximately 170 students across EC–Grade 4 and is supported by 37 full‑ and part‑time faculty and staff. The Lower School Director is a member of the school’s Administrative Council, collaborating with colleagues across divisions to shape school wide priorities and strategic direction.

The Director is a relational presence in the life of the division – visible in classrooms, on the playground, and in community gatherings – engaging in the reflective conversations with families and faculty that sustain a thriving learning environment.

Why This Role Matters

The Director of Lower School shapes the tone, culture, and direction of the division, anchoring teaching and learning in the mission and values of the School while nurturing an environment where students, faculty, and families flourish.

Collaborative leadership drives the life of the Lower School. The Director plays a central role in fostering trust, professional partnership, and shared purpose among faculty, building a culture in which teachers feel supported, empowered, and engaged in the collective work of teaching and learning.

The division’s pedagogical direction relies on thoughtful, research‑informed innovation. The Director champions experiential, inquiry‑driven approaches to teaching and learning, ensuring that hands‑on engagement, authentic problem‑solving, and creative exploration remain core elements of the program.

Mission alignment is strengthened through thoughtful stewardship. The Director helps sustain a Lower School environment grounded in Quaker values, where relationships are honored, reflection is encouraged, and children feel genuinely known and valued.

School–family partnership is integral to student achievement. The Director cultivates strong, trusting relationships with families and ensures that they are essential partners in their children’s growth. Clear, proactive, and thoughtful communication about student progress and achievement is a central expectation of the role, supporting each child’s academic, social, and emotional development.

Strategic coherence across divisions supports each child’s progression. The Director collaborates with school leadership to create smooth transitions, program alignment, and shared accountability for student growth from Early Childhood through the Lower School and beyond.

Key…


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