Head Teacher at Aga Khan Education Service, Kenya (AKESK)

Role Summary

As the Head Teacher of the Nursery School, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the students’ quality of education and their achievements. Working closely with the leadership team including school heads in the Junior and Senior Schools, you will drive academic, programme development and extracurricular initiatives, ensuring the school's adherence to and customisation of the IB Early Years PYP standards to the mission of the Academy. You will lead the students and staff, monitor performance against targets and quality indicators, and oversee the day-to-day operations of the school. 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develop and implement annual objectives and a comprehensive school development plan, aligning with AKES, Kenya's vision for high-quality early childhood education.
• Lead the effective teaching of the IB Early Years and the PYP curriculum, fostering cognitive, emotional, and social development among young learners.
• Monitor nursery school performance, conduct regular evaluations, and provide insightful reports to senior leadership.
• Strengthen the implementation of the IB Early Years and PYP curriculum, positioning the nursery school as a model institution within the International Baccalaureate Organisation.
• Ensure compliance with authorisation requirements.
• Prioritise young students’ wellbeing through developing a culture that prioritizes a culture of responsive relationships between staff and students.
• Cultivate a high-performance team and support teachers in curriculum implementation and professional development tailored for early years education.
• Lead the effective use of data to drive staff performance and programme improvement initiatives.
• Implement an effective child assessment scheme that includes documentation and ongoing assessment of student learning that is individualized and based on data that includes informal and formal observations and summative and formative assessments.
• Build a culture of learning amongst staff that reflects the pursuit of international standards of excellence.
• Manage the nursery school's budget, resources, and assets, ensuring efficient allocation in line with AKES, Kenya's policies.
• Foster strong relationships with parents and the community, championing collaborative partnerships and effective communication channels.
• Implement the AKES, Kenya safeguarding policy and crisis response plans, prioritizing the well-being of young students and staff.
• Ensure that the nursery school has appropriate teaching and learning resources through the annual budgeting process while adhering to the guidelines and policies of the AKES, Kenya.
• Liaison with leadership to support the development of the Academy as a whole, with a focus on seamless transition from early years to primary education.
• Contribute to, and work collaboratively with ECD Head Teachers in the Aga Khan Schools network on quality improvement initiatives and curriculum development goals.

The requirements

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education, Primary Education, or a related field from an accredited university, with successful IB experience.
• Master’s degree in Education, Educational Leadership, or a related area is preferred.
• A minimum of 8 years of leadership experience in international curriculum schools, of which, at least 5 years should be within an IB Early Years Programme leadership role.
• Good understanding of, and experience in, curriculum management, design, implementation and evaluation.
• Understand that the needs of young students are constantly changing, and an ability to evaluate and develop the educational offering in response.   
• Proven experience in leading strategies for raising students’ achievement, school improvement planning, implementation and self-evaluation.
• Candidates currently in Kenya will require TSC registration.