Academy of the Sacred Heart, established in 1851, is Michigan’s oldest independent school, offering a Catholic, college-preparatory education to girls (infant-Grade 12) and boys (infant-Grade 8) of many cultures and faiths. As part of an international network of schools, we are committed to a set of principles shared by all Sacred Heart Schools. Known as the Goals and Criteria, these principles articulate the core components of a Sacred Heart education and charge our community with a unified educational mission.

At the heart of our philosophy is the belief that each child possesses unique gifts. Our job is to unearth those gifts, nurture them, and empower each child of the Sacred Heart to share those gifts with the global community. Academy of the Sacred Heart is committed to being an equitable and inclusive community and seeks candidates who connect to our Mission and Goals.

The Associate Director of the Primary and Lower School plays a vital leadership role in supporting the mission, program, and operations of the Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 4 experience. Working in close partnership with the Director of Primary and Lower School, this leader helps ensure a vibrant, joyful, and mission-aligned learning community rooted in the Sacred Heart Goals and Criteria. 

This role focuses on translation vision into meaningful student experiences, overseeing student life systems, supporting faculty in classroom instruction and program implementation, and maintaining a strong, visible presence in the daily life of the Primary and Lower Schools.

Key Responsibilities

Student Life and Programming 

• Design, lead and oversee PRI/LS student life programming, including signature events, social-emotional programming and co-curricular experiences. 
• Develop programs that foster joy, curiosity, responsibility and friendship. 
• Collaborate with faculty and staff to ensure programming is cohesive, inclusive, and responsive to student needs. 
• Maintain a consistent and visible presence in student life, building strong, trusting relationships with students.
• Serve as a chaperone for student events, trips, and school-sponsored activities.

Student Support and Conduct 

• Oversee the development and implementation of student conduct expectations. 
• Address student concerns with empathy, clarity, and consistency.
• Partner with teachers to implement consistent and aligned student routines and expectations for behavior Pre-K through Grade 4. 
• Partner with families, counselors, and faculty to support student well-being, growth, and accountability.

Faculty and Program Support

• Partner with the Director to support faculty in planning and delivering a high-quality, developmentally appropriate curriculum.
• Conduct classroom observations, provide coaching and feedback, and assist in evaluating instructional practices.
• Assist the Director of the PRI/LS with professional development planning, meetings, and communications.

Academy and Program Operations 

• Manage PRI/LS event and programming schedules. 
• Coordinate faculty duty assignments, including lunch and recess and dismissal facilitation. 
• Coordinate substitute coverage and ensure continuity of instruction during faculty absences.
  
  

Family Engagement and Communication

• Assist in building strong partnerships with parents through consistent, proactive communication and responsiveness.
• Support the planning and facilitation of parent-teacher conferences, parent education opportunities, and community-building events.
• Represent the division in admissions events, tours, and other family-facing engagements as needed.

Institutional Collaboration

• Partner with the School Leadership Team to ensure vertical alignment and mission cohesion.
• Collaborate with departments such as admissions, learning support, finance, and operations to support the needs of the division.
• Act as a thought partner to the Director of the Primary and Lower Schools in advancing schoolwide goals.
• Engage in ongoing professional learning related to early childhood education and student development.
• Contribute positively to the collaborative culture of the Academy.

The ideal candidate should be a great public speaker with strong written and verbal communication skills. Outstanding contenders are detail-oriented, able to follow instructions, and also take initiative. A clear commitment to the educational philosophy of Sacred Heart Schools is essential.

The School Network
Academy of the Sacred Heart is one of 25 schools in the U.S. and Canada Network of Sacred Heart Schools and is affiliated with a network of over 200 Sacred Heart schools worldwide. The school's mission is to cultivate in our students a personal and active faith in God and to lay the foundation for a meaningful life.

Archdiocese of Detroit

The Archdiocese of Detroit is an equal opportunity employer that does not illegally discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, height, weight, genetic information, marital or other legally protected status.

Basic requirements include but are not limited to:

• Master's Degree, with training in administration, supervision, and curriculum development at the elementary school level.  
• 5 years of successful teaching experience, preferably at the elementary school level. 
• 3 years or more of successful leadership/supervisory experience at the elementary school level. 
• An administrative leadership style based on effective human relations and a continuous improvement model.  
• Visible accessibility.  
• Excellent communication and listening skills.  
• Committed to ensuring all students grow.  
• Possesses an understanding and appreciation for diversity.  
• The compassion and enthusiasm for effective team leadership to motivate high standards and continuous improvement.

About Academy of the Sacred Heart

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