Head of Lower School/ Grade One Teacher at Flying Kites Leadership Centre & Academy

GENERAL SUMMARY:

The Head of Lower Primary School occupies a pivotal leadership position in the Lower Primary School of the Flying Kites Leadership Academy (Grades 1-5) (the “Lower Primary School”). He/she is responsible for all aspects of the leadership, management and day-to-day operations of the Lower Primary School, including the effective supervision and performance management of Lower Primary School teachers and staff. He/she will prepare and manage the Lower Primary School budget, provide pastoral care to pupils, liaise with parents and guardians and be the primary point of contact for all Lower Primary School stakeholders. 

The Head of Lower Primary School is responsible for staffing, education resource budgeting, acquisition and distribution of resources. As the leader of the Lower Primary School, he/she is responsible for the recruitment, performance management and disciplinary action of teachers and other relevant employees, establishing goals and expected competencies for each teacher and managing performance to high standards. 

The Head of Lower Primary School arranges and participates in regular meetings with the Head of School, Deputy Head of School, Teachers, Counselors, Parents/Guardians and all stakeholders to discuss student progress and address issues. Finally, the Head of Lower Primary School teaches at least one class year (as a form tutor) in the Lower Primary School, promoting high levels of student engagement and a high standard of achievement and serving as a role model to other teachers. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: “Essential duties” are those that an individual must be able to perform with or without reasonable accommodation or additional staffing support.                       

• Work collaboratively and flexibly with the Director of School and Deputy Head of School concerning curriculum, schemes of work, teaching methods, and operational requirements.
• Lead and manage all curricula, courses, and programs of study for the Lower Primary School.
• Commit to teaching at least one class year in the Lower Primary School as a form tutor, in cooperation with other teachers and as organized by the Head of School.
• Schedule, set the agenda, and attend all school meetings with teachers and staff.
• Assist in setting Lower Primary School exam schedules and carrying out all exams consistent with established protocol.
• Participate in the marking of assessments, the preparation of teaching programs and the development of cross curriculum links.
• Asess and evaluate students’ educational progress and abilities, and meet with respective parents/guardians and stakeholders to provide clear progress updates and address identified issues of concern.
• Provide supervision to students, as directed, for activities outside the classroom (e.g., lunch or break).
• Work in conjunction with Head of School and Deputy Head of School to conceive, arrange, organise, and attend relevant field trips, events, and visits for Lower Primary School students.
• Maintain clear and professional communications and work relations with employees of all designations.
• Serve as a role model for maintaining a positive school ethos by being pro-active in the pastoral care of pupils and ensuring the Lower Primary School’s policy for behavior and discipline is applied consistently and fairly.
• Support and actively promote FKLA’s “whole child” model.
• Arrange for the attractive display of children’s work on designated boards around the school.
• Liaise with the Head of Upper Primary School to ensure the smooth transition of all pupils across preparatory school.
• Carry out and provide regular assessments, monitoring and evaluation on standards of teaching and learning across the Lower Primary School.
• Be actively involved in the recruitment, performance management and discipline of teachers and other employees within Lower Primary School.
• Ensure compliance with Health and Safety standards, including training of relevant employees.
• Uphold and enforce all rules and policies of the Lower Primary School and FKLA; work in co-operation with other teachers and staff to ensure standards of behavior and discipline levels of pupils are maintained.
• Ensure high levels of excellence in academic and extracurricular activities at all times. 

POSITION SPECIFICATIONS 

Education and Work Experience:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Education
• Minimum of 2 years’ experience in a leadership position within a Kenyan School environment.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Fluency in English and Swahili.
• Well-developed and mature professional interpersonal skills; ability to interact effectively with children, teenagers, donors, partners and colleagues at all organizational levels.
• Ability to handle confidential and sensitive information with appropriate discretion.
• Ability to respond quickly and maintain composure in situations that impact the safety and security of children.
• Ability to exercise judgment and discretion when making independent decisions.

Additional Requirements:

• An incident-free Children’s Check and National Police Check (Certificate of Good Conduct) is a strict condition of employment and must be provided at time of hire and updated on request.
• Weekend and after-hours work is expected and required to meet organisational priorities.
• Occasional travel may be required.
• Additional responsibilities may be assigned to support coverage for colleagues who are absent, on holiday or personal leave. 

Working Conditions:

• All Kenya-based positions are based from the Njabini campus and subject to occasional interruptions in power and/or Internet access.
• All of our programs and objectives serve children from preschool through young adults. Our workplace is thus regularly accessed and impacted by children.