Georgetown Day School (GDS) in Washington, DC, seeks a visionary and inspirational educational leader for its Lower School to guide a joyful and purposeful community of 340 students and 65 faculty and staff. Founded as the first racially and religiously integrated school in the nation’s capital, GDS continues to keep at the heart of its school mission the maintenance and cultivation of a just, ethical, and inclusive community. Working with a dynamic and engaged faculty, the Lower School Principal is charged with overseeing the day-to-day operations of the Lower School as well as articulating a clear and compelling vision for the future with administrative colleagues. With a top-notch faculty, fully enrolled student body, committed parents, and first-rate facilities, GDS is in a uniquely attractive position, with a deeply felt and lived history, clear mission and genuine openness to the possibilities that lie ahead.

GDS this year celebrated our 75th Anniversary with the opening of a new, state-of-the-art Lower Middle School building across the street from our High School building. For the first time in GDS History, we are now unified on a single campus, PK-12, presenting great possibilities for our School. The exciting challenges and opportunities will require sound judgment, imagination, and a thorough understanding of the educational and emotional needs of curious, energetic, and capable lower school students. The next leader of the Lower School will ensure the continuing excellence of all aspects of the division’s operations and will seek, along with the faculty and school leadership, to envision and realize the division’s next chapter. A member of the senior administration, the Lower School Principal reports directly to the Head of School.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE LOWER SCHOOL PRINCIPAL

The new Principal will lead a deeply engaged, accomplished faculty chosen for their understanding of their subjects, exceptional teaching ability, and deep passion for working with students. Ideally, the Principal will lead the faculty in further strengthening the culture of the Lower School as a professional learning community where teachers work across disciplines, consider new pedagogies and methods of assessment, and encourage each other’s professional development.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND CHARACTERISTICS

The School seeks a Principal who will combine intelligence, passion for learning, diplomacy, firmness, humor, tact, candor, and the ability to respond to situations promptly and thoughtfully when working with students, parents, and faculty. The successful candidate will demonstrate an ability to work with all constituents and possess proven interest and experience in working in a diverse, multicultural environment. Accessibility, visibility, and a belief in the value of open, clear communication and process will be among the chief virtues of the successful candidate. Additionally, the ideal candidate will possess the ability to:

• Understand, empathize, and connect with elementary school students;
• Foster community along with academic excellence;
• Make timely, fair and clear decisions;
• Manage multiple priorities at once;
• Attend to details, manage change, and successfully run a large division;
• Write and speak with clarity, concision, and conviction;
• Listen;
• See challenges and problems as opportunities for growth and change;
• Model effective teaching, and;
• Reflect deeply and learn from mistakes.

The selected candidate will bring to the School a love of learning, a commitment to teaching, an embrace of the School’s mission of equity, inclusion and social justice, and the ability to deftly balance the needs and expectations of all three constituents of the school - students, faculty and parents. Seven to ten years of teaching and administrative experience in a lower school setting, as well as a B.A are required. An M.A. or Ph.D. is preferred.

Application Process

The search committee for GDS Lower School Principal will begin accepting nominations and reviewing applications immediately. Requested application materials include a letter of interest, curriculum vitae, statement of educational philosophy, and professional reference list. Candidates should submit materials by date to the following address: GDSLSPrincipal@storbecksearch.com.

For more information about Georgetown Day School, please visit https://www.gds.org/

Georgetown Day School is being assisted in this search by Storbeck Search. For additional information, please contact:

For more information, please visit https://www.gds.org/

Georgetown Day School is an equal opportunity employer. It does not discriminate or condone discrimination against any member of the School community on any basis, including race, color, ethnicity, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, religious creed, medical condition, pregnancy, childbirth, medical conditions related to pregnancy or childbirth, physical or mental disability, genetic information, genetic characteristics, marital status, citizenship, immigration status, primary language, veteran or military service status, and all other legally protected characteristics as protected by federal, state or local law or ordinance.