As a key member of the School’s administrative team, the Assistant Head of School and Head of Lower School will support the mission and vision of University Liggett School through positive interaction with students and faculty.  Specifically, it is the Head of Lower School’s responsibility to ensure that the school’s mission, vision, and core values are the center of all decisions and actions. The Head of Lower School will support an atmosphere of trust and openness among teachers, students, and parents and will support an atmosphere that fosters the intellectual, social, physical, behavioral, and emotional growth of each student.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities 

• Serve as the administrative lead of the Early Childhood through 5th grade
• Collaborate with the Assistant Head of School for Teaching and Learning, Early Childhood Program Director and other division heads to ensure continuity of curriculum.
• Serve as a member of the School Leadership and Academic Leadership Teams contributing to school-wide strategic planning, vision and communication.
• Act as a key partner with the Director of Enrollment and the Head of School in driving retention, enrollment, and program growth in the Lower School and the transition of students to the Middle School program.
• Communicate expectations for professionalism and conduct to faculty, staff, and students and provide direct feedback to faculty and staff members on the basis of those expectations as described in the Employee Handbook.
• Observe teaching to ensure that teaching models the Liggett Approach.
• Participate in regularly scheduled meetings with the Academic Leadership Team to discuss observations, goals, and next steps with assigned faculty members.
• Assist in the development and implementation of school programs, policies and procedures.
• Represent the school in regional and national professional associations, sharing with the school community information that can support the community’s growth in accordance with the school’s vision and The Liggett Approach.
• In collaboration with the Head of School, divisional colleagues, and School Leadership Team peers, identify, consider, and implement enhancements to the division’s educational program that will support a culture of innovation within the context of the Liggett Approach and in support of enrollment sustainability.
• Develop and maintain positive and mission-appropriate relationships with faculty, staff, students and parents; understand the needs of diverse groups within the division.
• Ensure that all division level programming is developed and executed in accordance with the school’s core values, mission, vision, and strategic planning.
• Develop and oversee the Division’s budget, bearing primary responsibility for achieving the school’s financial goals within the division.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required, advanced degree preferred.
• Demonstrates consistently exemplary personal and professional ethics in keeping with ULS’s Community Values.
• Embraces all elements of ULS’s Mission.
• Demonstrates the ability to develop, articulate, and pursue a compelling vision for the division in alignment with the School’s vision.
• Demonstrates strong written and oral communication skills.
• Demonstrates highly effective educational leadership abilities.
• Demonstrates excellent interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrates a commitment to innovation and to collaboration.
• Possesses substantive relevant successful administrative experience.
• Possesses a minimum of five years’ successful teaching experience.

Start Date:

July 2025

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work:

This is a full-time, twelve-month position.  Limited travel and occasional weekend and evening work will be required.

Equal Employment Opportunity and Non-Discrimination

Liggett is an equal opportunity employer and educational institution.   It is the policy of the school to ensure equal employment opportunity without discrimination, harassment, or retaliation on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, disability, veteran status, military service, age, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity,

and sexual orientation), genetic information, height, weight, misdemeanor arrest record, marital or familial status or any other status specifically protected by federal or Michigan law. 

This policy governs all aspects of employment at Liggett including hiring, assignments, training, promotions, compensation, employee benefits, discipline, discharge, and all other terms and conditions of employment. This policy applies to all conduct on school premises, during school-sponsored activities on or off campus, and in connection with all school-related duties or functions. This policy also applies to all conduct and communication by vendors or other third parties while on school premises or in connection with providing services to the school.

To Apply: 

University Liggett School in Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan, has engaged DovetailED to lead a search for a Head of Lower School beginning in the 2025-26 school year. Interested candidates should review the Opportunity Statement and submit a cover letter, resume, and list of references as a consolidated PDF to Zack Lehman, President at DovetailED Talent Sourcing, at zack@dovetailedsourcing.com.                

University Liggett School Head of Lower School Opportunity Statement Link: https://bit.ly/4gvzM33.

About University Liggett School

The oldest independent co-educational day school in Michigan, University Liggett School is among the preeminent PreK-12 institutions in the Midwest. Enrolling more than 600 students, University Liggett School offers a rigorous and innovative academic framework that allows students in every grade to find their passion and explore it in depth while developing creativity, critical thinking, teamwork and adaptability. This guiding philosophy is supported by a rich array of co-curricular programs and empowers students to drive their own academic experience, preparing graduates to flourish at some of the strongest colleges and universities in the country. Concentrated class sizes and challenging academics shape students, giving them a keen sense of self while simultaneously fostering lifelong appreciation for and an understanding of learning. The mission of University Liggett School is to empower students to develop intellectual curiosity, leadership and confidence to contribute to a complex and changing world. We challenge students to excel and to achieve their highest potential. We create opportunities for discovery and achievement by developing a faculty who foster the strengths o...f each student through the Curriculum for Understanding. We teach and practice the values of respect and responsibility in an emotionally and physically safe environment.

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Connections working at University Liggett School