Job Title:  Primary Division Head

Department: Academics

FTE/ Benefits Status: 1.0, Full-time

Supervisor: Associate Head of School for Academics

Visa eligibility:  Not Eligible

 To be considered for this role, please download the Primary Division Head - Opportunity Statement and follow the instructions for required documentation (all documents to be submitted via the UKG portal).

International School of Denver (ISDenver) is an independent school that teaches the curricula and fulfills the highest educational standards of the United States, China, France, and Spain to prepare its students to thrive in a diverse and competitive global society.  ISDenver is a prestigious International Baccalaureate World School offering immersion bilingual international education from PreK-High School, and is accredited by the Association of Colorado Independent Schools (ACIS) and participating governments. To learn more about ISDenver, please visit our website.

Staff and Faculty members are the cornerstone of our school. In addition to driving the school’s operations, they must also embody the school’s values and believe in the school’s mission:

ISDenver Values: Diversity, Integrity, Compassion, Responsibility, Perseverance

 

ISDenver Mission: Our inclusive, globally minded community develops highly motivated and academically successful bilingual learners who are inter-culturally adept and make positive contributions in a complex world.

 

Position Summary: The Division Head offers instructional and administrative leadership that inspires and supports faculty in achieving excellence, ensuring the best possible opportunities for student growth and development. As the school brings its Lower and Upper Primary divisions together, the Division Head will lead this unified Grades 1–5 division — aligning curriculum and practice across the grades, partnering closely with the IB Coordinators, and ensuring smooth transitions for students into and out of the Primary years.

 

Duties & Responsibilities:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that people of color and people who do not identify as cisgender men are less likely to apply to jobs unless their experience specifically matches the qualifications. At ISDenver we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply. You may be just the candidate we are looking for!

 

Instructional & Curriculum Leadership

 

• Lead and manage the evaluation of learning and teaching within the Primary School, and supervise the teacher evaluation and growth process.

• Partner with the IB Coordinator to manage the production of course guides and

curriculum statements, and hold them accountable for the vertical and horizontal

alignment of the PYP curriculum across Grades 1–5.

• Advance inquiry-based, language-immersion instruction across four languages,

championing age- and developmentally-appropriate, 21st-century teaching practices.

• Lead the developmentally appropriate integration of technology in teaching and

learning, supporting faculty in effective, ethical, and age-appropriate use.

• Protect and strengthen the Primary School’s academic and programmatic strengths

— bilingual/multilingual immersion, IB and inquiry-based learning, Target Language

• Acquisition, and a nurturing, inclusive learning environment.

• Develop divisional grade-transition protocols in consultation with the whole-school

• Counselor and the relevant Division Heads.

• Develop the Primary School’s yearly schedule and calendar, and ensure curricular

• alignment and coherence within the division and with the other divisions, while

respecting the expertise and developmental needs of different grade levels.

Community, Students & Families

 

• Act as the primary contact point for staff, students, and families in the daily operational running of the Primary School.

• Be highly visible and engaged in the daily life of the school — regularly visiting classrooms and common spaces and interacting informally with students and faculty — to develop a strong, firsthand understanding of the Primary School experience.

• Convene with parents as needed to discuss student behavior, academic progress, and general inquiries, in alignment with the ISDenver organizational chart.

• Advocate for faculty while maintaining strong, constructive relationships with families — setting appropriate boundaries around parent expectations and supporting teachers in navigating challenging or unreasonable demands.

• Lead and/or manage assemblies, contributing to the whole-school social and emotional learning program, and support a dynamic student-life program of clubs, enrichment, and other programming.

• Establish and implement a clear, consistent approach to student behavior and discipline, with shared expectations and protocols

• Provide active support and coaching to teachers in behavior management, including responding to significant behavioral challenges, and ensure faculty have the tools, resources, and support they need to address student needs effectively.

• Ensure coherence and alignment in the division’s approach to behavior and social-emotional learning across Lower and Upper Primary, as part of building one unified Primary School.

•  Manage student support services for the division in liaison with the Head of Student

• Services, and strengthen support for diverse learners — including neurodivergent students and students with learning differences — through Universal Design for Learning (UDL), counseling, and appropriate accommodations.

 

Faculty & Team Leadership

• In partnership with school leadership, recruit, hire, and retain outstanding educators committed to bilingual, international education.

• Support the IB Coordinator with the induction and support of all new staff and students.

•  Mentor and shape the new role of Assistant Division Head, helping to define the role so that it meets the needs of the division and aligns with the other divisions.

• Coordinate and facilitate staff meetings, in-service training, and professional-development sessions.

• Oversee and monitor assigned staff duties within the division.

•  Provide clear, actionable feedback and coaching that supports professional growth while empowering teachers with appropriate autonomy and ownership.

• Build trust and create meaningful structures for faculty voice and shared decision-making — including regular opportunities for teacher input before significant decisions are made — communicating the rationale behind important decisions clearly and transparently.

• Address conflict and difficult conversations directly, respectfully, and constructively, building a culture in which concerns are raised openly rather than through informal or “backchannel” communication.

• Support faculty well-being and sustainable workloads, balancing high expectations for teaching and learning with attention to workload, resources, and morale.

•  Be responsible for the allocation of professional-development funds, ensuring equitable access to professional development and leadership opportunities through transparent processes.

• Secure substitutes for the division as needed.

Strategy, enrollment & communications

 

•  Serve as a member of the school leadership team and academic leadership team, contributing to the development and implementation of the school’s strategic plan and annual action plan.

•  Represent the division in admissions, advancement, and external outreach; support parent and student interviews for new applicants in collaboration with Admissions.

•  Work with Admissions to recruit new students and lead student-retention efforts for the division.

• Contribute content for the parent newsletter, external communications, and the ISDenver website; assist in compiling the calendar and events.

 

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, & Personal Characteristics we are looking for:

We are looking for people who support our mission and values and want to join us in creating a nurturing, supportive, and caring environment for our students. We take great pride in how much our students love to be at our school and with our staff; a true desire to create an environment where our students are known and cared for is imperative for any candidate. Being kind, compassionate, and open-minded and having a team-first mentality are characteristics integral for anyone joining our community.

 

• A master’s degree or international equivalent.

• English proficiency with excellent verbal and written communication skills (Level B2 required, C1+preferred per the CEFR, or equivalent certification such as TOEFL or IELTS).

• Demonstrable experience as an instructional leader, trainer, or mentor for primary-aged students, including successful teaching and leadership in an independent or international school.

• Experience working with students across a range of learning styles and differences, including neurodivergent learners, in the mainstream classroom.

• Demonstrable experience establishing clear, consistent approaches to student behavior and supporting teachers in responding to behavioral challenges.

• Well-versed in 21st-century methodologies with an eye toward innovation and creativity, and a commitment to ongoing professional learning; cross-cultural exposure and understanding.

• Preferred: experience in one or more International Baccalaureate Programmes and experience in language-immersion education.

• A hands-on leader with the ability to see what needs to be done and the initiative to do it — accessible, approachable, and welcoming.

• Able to manage confidential situations with discretion, respect, and sensitivity, and to maintain professionalism in all aspects of the role.

• Strong interpersonal, leadership, management, communication, organizational, and time-management skills.

• Leads collaboratively and with emotional intelligence — empathy, humility, self-awareness, openness, integrity, compassion, and sound judgment — with strong listening skills, a habit of seeking input, and the ability to adapt approach based on feedback and context.

• A commitment to collaborating with and supporting classroom and specialist teachers as part of a cohesive team, and to the benefits of a PK–12 education.

• Knowledge of and proficiency in age- and developmentally-appropriate teaching methods, and technological competency (e.g., Google Workspace, database management).

• Lived experience in multicultural settings, including international work experience, with appreciation and respect for all cultures.

• Fluent in English; proficiency in Chinese, French, and/or Spanish is preferred, but not required.

• Collaborative, team-oriented, globally- and open-minded, innovative, and compassionate — a life-long learner who continually enhances their skills.

• Demonstrate a commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging through continuous development, modeling inclusive behaviors, and proactively managing bias.

• Eagerness to engage with co-curricular, extra-curricular, school community, and PTO activities that promote the school’s programs and reputation

• Professionalism, punctuality, reliability, and an ability to exercise sound judgment and analytical and problem solving skills

 

Physical Demands/Work Environment: Physical Demands/Work Environment: 

• Regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds

• Occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, stand; walk; use hands to handle; reach with hands and arms and see, talk and hear 

• Exposure to natural elements such as heat and cold

• The employee may occasionally be required to bend, stoop or kneel

Visual & Environmental Demands:

• Required to use digital displays (e.g., computers, projectors, tablets, monitors) for ~6-8 hours per work day to perform [tasks like planning, grading, or communication].

• Ability to work in environments with standard overhead lighting, including fluorescent or LED fixtures.

• Ability to function effectively in environments with moderate to high noise levels (e.g., classrooms, musical performances, lunchroom(s), crowded hallways).

Cognitive & Executive Demands:

• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and pivot between tasks as needed.

• Ability to process and follow complex, multi-step instructions provided in both verbal and written formats.

• Capacity to maintain professional boundaries and engage in regular 1:1 or group interactions with students, staff, and the public.

Location and Schedule:  Expected work hours are approximately 8-4:30, M-F. This job has limited remote work flexibility. All employees must be based in the Denver metro area.

 Apply Here

Benefits (please see ISDenver benefits summary information here):

 

• Generous Time Off: 

• • Paid leave for all full-time staff: Thanksgiving break (3 days), winter break (2 weeks), 4th of july week (1 week)

  • Faculty: summer break (~ 2 months), October, February, and April breaks (1 week each), 6 days FTO (prorated for part-time positions)

  • Year Round Administrative staff: FTO accrued starting first day of work, 20 days FTO/year as base FTO

  • FTO encompasses most time off such as sick, personal, and vacation time

• Cigna Medical, Dental and Vision insurance with significant school contribution to Medical and Dental

• Employer-paid Life, Long- and Short-Term Disability Insurance, Life Insurance, and AD&D

• Supplemental insurance available through Colonial

• Employer contribution to 401k regardless of employee participation

• Partial tuition remission and discounted co-curricular clubs for children enrolled at ISDenver

• Discounted summer and break camps for children of full-time staff (ISDenver enrollment not required)

• J-1 visa sponsorship

• Relocation allowance

• Free daily lunch

• Professional Development opportunities

• Staff appreciation and cultural celebration events

• ...and more! 

 

This position is not eligible for J1 visa sponsorship.

 

To Apply:  Applications are only accepted via ISDenver’s online employment portal.   

 

Interviews: Candidates selected for interviews will be contacted directly. Interviews may be conducted in person, by telephone or via video conferencing. Only applicants to be invited for an interview will be contacted; no phone calls or emails, please. ISDenver does not consider nor save information sent for non-posted positions.

 

Notes: 

• Job descriptions are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications associated with the job.

• All employees are required to undergo, at minimum, a Colorado Department of Human Services required background check prior to employment.  Certain positions may require more extensive background checks.

• Racism, misogyny, classism, ableism, homophobia, and transphobia do not represent the values of ISDenver and will not be tolerated.

 

ISDenver celebrates diversity and values the strengths that come with having a diverse community. People of color, LGBTQIA+ candidates, and people from other historically marginalized communities are strongly encouraged to apply. ISDenver is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, physical or mental disability, or any other characteristic protected by law.