Director of the Lower School

About The Roeper School

Founded in 1941, The Roeper School serves preschool through 12th grade students. We are the nation’s oldest independent school for gifted learners. We empower gifted students to become thoughtful, compassionate citizens through a progressive, student-centered approach. While rooted in tradition, Roeper remains at the forefront of research-based, forward-thinking education.

Position Summary

The Director (Principal) of the Lower School is a member of the School Leadership Team and advances The Roeper School’s mission by leading and providing operational and academic oversight to the Lower School.. The Director works under the guidance of the Head of School to implement and maintain an innovative, progressive, child-centered program for gifted learners.

Responsibilities include supervising the Lower School faculty and staff (including teachers, instructional support, and administrative support staff) to ensure that division objectives are fulfilled. Supervisory duties include mentoring, coaching, encouraging professional development, providing curriculum support and evaluation of faculty and staff. The Director is also responsible for managing multiple budgets with careful planning for each school year.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as a member of the School Leadership Team (LT) to collaborate with other LT members and provide thoughtful and mission-aligned advice and support to the Head of School as they direct the overall operations of the school.
• Serve as the educational leader for the Lower School and oversee its day-to-day operations and activities, modeling best practices in early childhood and elementary school education.
• Oversee and evaluate the development, implementation and effectiveness of the curriculum and academic programs.
• Observe, coach, guide and evaluate faculty and staff in the Lower School annually.
• Embrace and implement a multicultural and culturally relevant curriculum, in accordance with Roeper's commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice.
• Lead a collegial approach consistent with Roeper School’s collaborative culture characterized by diversity and teamwork.
• Maintain and further develop a Lower School program which is highly individualized, allows for differentiation, and is focused on meeting the social, emotional, and intellectual needs of the whole child.
• Provide daily support and guidance for students, including providing direction and oversight to teachers, counselors, and instructional support staff in meeting student needs.
• Lead in the implementation and utilization of instructional and assessment methods (curriculum-referenced and normed) and, when appropriate, the integration of technology to ensure the effective delivery of our learning program.
• Oversee communication of student progress by teachers and instructional support staff to parents.
• Coordinate recruitment and hiring processes for Lower School staff and faculty and make recommendations to the Head of School regarding the hiring, retention, and assignment of Lower School faculty and staff.
• Maintain an active, positive, and visible presence on campus, at school events, and in the larger community.
• Serve as the ambassador and main point of contact for communications specific to the Lower School.
• Organize and lead division faculty, committee, and other meetings.
• Collaborate with the Director of Enrollment Management and Financial Aid on recruitment, retention, and transition of students.
• Collaborate with the Associate Head for Finance and Operations to develop and maintain fiscal responsibility in use of the division’s budgets.

The Roeper School in Bloomfield Hills, MI, has engaged DovetailED to lead a search for a Director of the Lower School to start in July 2026. Interested candidates should review the Opportunity Statement and submit a cover letter, resume, and list of references as a consolidated PDF to Alison Moore, Senior Recruiter at DovetailED Talent Sourcing, at alison@dovetailedsourcing.com.      

 The Roeper School, Director of Lower School Opportunity Statement Link: 

Director of the Lower School