The Pegasus School
Lower School Director
Start Date: July 1, 2025
Coed Day School for Gifted Students, PK-8
595 Students
19692 Lexington Avenue, Huntington Beach, CA 92676
Lower School Director Search for The Pegasus School
Educators Collaborative is pleased to assist The Pegasus School in its search for a Lower School Director to begin July 1, 2025.
About the School
The Pegasus School was founded in 1984 by Dr. Laura Hathaway who envisioned an educational and nurturing community where it would be safe for students to be smart; where academic challenges would be matched by a thoughtful social and emotional embrace; and where teachers would provide a student-centered enriched curriculum to encourage students to pursue their passions and talents.
Today, The Pegasus School is a vibrant academic community that inspires bright, motivated students to discover and develop their unique gifts. Teachers and students build trusting relationships that foster a sense of belonging, self-reliance, and innovative thinking. A pre-K to Grade 8 Pegasus education equips students to achieve future academic success and make a positive impact on society.
The school currently enrolls 595 students in grades Pre-K through 8, divided into Lower and Middle School divisions. The Lower School includes grades pre-K through 5, including 415 students served by approximately 40 faculty members and 23 teaching assistants.
Mission
To inspire bright, curious minds to become confident, compassionate leaders.
About the Position
The Lower School Director plays a critical role in the leadership of the Lower School to facilitate student success academically, socially, and emotionally. The Director is expected to effectively run the day-to-day operations of grades pre-K through 5, including oversight of the student experience; hiring, support, and retention of faculty and staff; and support of students and families as they progress through their educational journey. Frequent and consistent communication with an emphasis on building strong relationships with all members of the community is of paramount importance. The Director serves on the school’s leadership team, reports to the Associate Head of School, and works collaboratively with all school administrators to advance the institution.
The next Lower School Director will be an experienced instructional leader, charged with the responsibility to lead the development, implementation, and evaluation of a rigorous and innovative curriculum aligned with the school’s mission and emphasis on educating bright students.
Strengths of the School
The following have been mentioned repeatedly throughout the school community as central to the Pegasus experience:
- “Safe space to be smart”
- Teacher- student relations are truly special and highly valued by students, teachers and parents
- Very low faculty turnover – many members of the faculty have dedicated their professional lives to Pegasus and bring years of experience to their instruction
- Balanced approach between rigor and student support
- Supportive parents who value the education their children are receiving and respect the quality of instruction at the school
- Attractive and well-maintained campus
Challenges and Opportunities
The next Lower School Director will have the opportunity to address and manage several important challenges:
- Clear and transparent communication of decisions
- Support for the faculty that acknowledges and appreciates the high quality of their work
- Balancing the school’s commitment to a challenging and rigorous curriculum with the need to provide social and emotional support
- Balancing a strong sense of tradition with a commitment to innovation
- Advancing the school’s commitment to DEIJ through ongoing faculty education and support
- Providing both support and direction for the faculty while acknowledging their competence
Qualities of the Next Director
The next Lower School Director will possess many if not all of the following:
- Effective, experienced and confident leader who listens well, communicates clearly, loves kids and knows how to make teachers and parents feel valued.
- Lower School classroom experience
- Experience and knowledge of best practices in Lower School education
- Accessible and visible
- Clear, concise decision-maker
- Clear communicator
- Experience with and demonstrated support for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice (DEIJ).
- Empathetic
- Warm and humble
- Confident with a strong belief in self
How to Apply
Interested candidates should submit the following materials in a single merged document by February 1, 2025, to Marcus Hurlbut (email below):
- EC Candidate Summary Sheet (Contact Marcus Hurlbut)
- Letter of Interest
- Current Résumé
- Contact information for five professional references with name, relationship, phone number, and email address of each (references will not be contacted without the candidate’s permission)
- EC Disclosure Form (Contact Marcus Hurlbut)
Marcus Hurlbut, Partner, Educators Collaborative
Listing Date: December 16, 2024
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