Principal, K–8 General Studies

San Diego Hebrew Day School

About San Diego Hebrew Day School

San Diego Hebrew Day School is an Orthodox Jewish community day school serving approximately 230 students from preschool through eighth grade. For more than six decades, Hebrew Day has partnered with families to nurture children who are academically prepared, emotionally grounded, spiritually connected, and deeply proud of their Torah identity.

Hebrew Day is proudly Orthodox and serves a student population comprised of families of varied backgrounds and observance levels. We are a warm, mission-driven school community where students are known, supported, and challenged. Our school is committed to strong academics, meaningful Torah learning, joyful Jewish life, thoughtful character development, and the growth of each child as a whole person.

What We Are Seeking

San Diego Hebrew Day School seeks a collaborative, experienced, and mission-aligned educational leader to serve as our K–8 General Studies Principal. The Principal will help lead the next stage of growth for a school that values academic excellence, Torah values, professional collaboration, and deep care for every child.

This is an opportunity for a thoughtful school leader who is excited to partner with faculty, families, students, and the Head of School to strengthen curriculum, instruction, student support, assessment practices, and school culture. The successful candidate will bring both strategic vision and practical follow-through, with the ability to support excellent teaching, build healthy systems, and communicate with clarity and warmth.

The Role

The Principal serves as a key member of the school leadership team and leads the K–8 General Studies program. The Principal reports directly to the Head of School, supervises K–8 General Studies faculty and related instructional support staff, and works closely with Judaic Studies leadership, the Resource Team, classroom teachers, specialists, operations staff, students, and parents.

The role includes responsibility for curriculum and instruction, faculty supervision and growth, student support systems, assessment and data use, family communication, daily academic operations, and the continued development of a positive, safe, and mission-aligned school culture.

Key Responsibilities

Instructional Leadership and Curriculum

The Principal provides leadership for the K–8 General Studies program and ensures that curriculum, instruction, and assessment are aligned with the school’s mission, academic goals, and student needs.

Responsibilities include:

• Oversee the development, implementation, and ongoing refinement of the K–8 General Studies curriculum.
• Ensure vertical alignment across grade levels and continuity between elementary and middle school expectations.
• Support high-quality instruction in language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, and related academic areas.
• Lead curriculum review, adoption, and implementation processes in partnership with faculty and school leadership.
• Promote instructional practices that are engaging, rigorous, developmentally appropriate, and responsive to student needs.
• Use classroom observations, teacher feedback, assessment results, and student work to identify areas of strength and growth.
• Help faculty translate schoolwide goals into clear classroom expectations and effective instructional practice.

Faculty Supervision and Professional Growth

The Principal serves as the primary supervisor for K–8 General Studies faculty and related instructional support staff. The role requires a leader who can build trust, provide clear feedback, support professional growth, and maintain high expectations.

Responsibilities include:

• Supervise and evaluate K–8 General Studies teachers and related instructional support staff.
• Conduct regular classroom observations and provide timely, constructive feedback.
• Support teachers in lesson planning, classroom management, differentiated instruction, assessment practices, and student engagement.
• Help onboard and support new teachers through regular check-ins and clear expectations.
• Partner with the Head of School in hiring, retention, professional development planning, and faculty growth conversations.
• Build a positive, professional faculty culture marked by collaboration, accountability, reflection, and continuous improvement.
• Identify professional development needs and help design meaningful learning opportunities for faculty.

Student Support and Differentiated Learning

The Principal works closely with teachers, the Resource Team, specialists, and families to ensure that students receive the support, challenge, and guidance they need to thrive.

Responsibilities include:

• Collaborate with the Resource Team and classroom teachers to identify students who need academic, executive functioning, behavioral, or social-emotional support.
• Ensure that student support plans are clear, practical, monitored, and communicated effectively.
• Support differentiated instruction for students who need remediation, enrichment, or modified approaches.
• Participate in student support meetings and help coordinate follow-up with faculty and families.
• Monitor student progress and help ensure that interventions are data-informed and appropriately implemented.
• Promote a school culture in which every student is known, cared for, and held to high expectations.

Assessment, Data, and Academic Growth

The Principal helps lead the school’s use of assessment and data to improve instruction and strengthen student learning.

Responsibilities include:

• Support the effective administration and use of standardized assessments, including MAP testing.
• Analyze assessment data to identify trends in student growth, instructional strengths, and areas needing attention.
• Work with teachers to use data meaningfully in planning instruction and supporting students.
• Report key findings, trends, and recommendations to the Head of School.
• Help develop schoolwide academic goals and monitor progress toward those goals.
• Ensure that data is used thoughtfully and constructively, without losing sight of the whole child.

School Culture, Student Life, and Daily Operations

The Principal plays a central role in shaping the daily K–8 student experience and maintaining a positive, safe, respectful, and mission-aligned school environment.

Responsibilities include:

• Support a school culture rooted in Torah values, derech eretz, responsibility, kindness, and respect.
• Address student behavior in a thoughtful, developmentally appropriate, and consistent manner.
• Partner with faculty to establish clear expectations and routines for classroom and schoolwide behavior.
• Support student transitions, schedules, supervision, programs, and events as needed.
• Collaborate with operational staff to ensure smooth day-to-day functioning of the K–8 division.
• Help create systems that allow students and teachers to flourish.

Family Partnership and Communication

The Principal serves as an important point of connection between school and home. The successful candidate will communicate clearly, listen carefully, and partner with parents in a way that reflects professionalism, warmth, and confidence.

Responsibilities include:

• Build positive, trusting relationships with parents and families.
• Communicate with families about academic progress, student support, behavioral concerns, and school expectations.
• Support teachers in effective parent communication.
• Participate in parent meetings and help resolve concerns in a constructive and mission-aligned manner.
• Ensure that families experience the school as responsive, thoughtful, and student-centered.

Leadership Team Collaboration

The Principal is a member of the school’s leadership team and works in close partnership with the Head of School and other school leaders.

Responsibilities include:

• Collaborate with the Head of School on academic priorities, faculty support, student needs, school culture, and strategic goals.
• Work in partnership with Judaic Studies leadership to support a cohesive student experience across the school day.
• Coordinate with student support staff, specialists, operations, and administrative team members.
• Contribute to leadership team discussions, planning, problem-solving, and schoolwide initiatives.
• Help advance the school’s mission, vision, and long-term growth.

Qualifications and Characteristics

The ideal candidate will bring strong educational expertise, excellent interpersonal skills, sound judgment, and a deep respect for the mission of an Orthodox Jewish day school.

Preferred qualifications include:

• At least 5–7 years of successful classroom teaching and/or school leadership experience, ideally in an elementary, middle school, or K–8 setting.
• A graduate degree in education, educational leadership, curriculum and instruction, or a related field preferred.
• Experience supervising and supporting teachers.
• Strong understanding of curriculum, instruction, assessment, differentiated learning, and student support.
• Experience using student data to guide instruction and school improvement.
• Ability to build positive relationships with students, faculty, parents, and colleagues.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Warmth, professionalism, integrity, humility, and emotional intelligence.
• Respect for and alignment with the values, culture, and mission of an Orthodox Jewish day school.

The successful candidate will be:

• A thoughtful instructional leader who knows what strong teaching and learning look like.
• A supportive supervisor who can help teachers grow while maintaining high expectations.
• A collaborative colleague who works well as part of a leadership team.
• A clear communicator who can partner effectively with families.
• A steady, mature presence who can handle complex student, faculty, and parent situations with judgment and care.
• A mission-driven educator who believes deeply in the potential of every child.

Compensation and Benefits

The salary range for this position is $120,000–$160,000. Final compensation will be commensurate with experience, qualifications, and the scope of responsibility. San Diego Hebrew Day School seeks to offer a competitive compensation package that reflects the importance of this senior educational leadership role.

Benefits may include health benefits, paid time off, professional development support, and other benefits offered to eligible full-time employees. Final benefit details will be shared during the hiring process.

To Apply

Interested candidates should submit a resume and cover letter to:

Nora Pessar

Director of Curriculum and Instruction

San Diego Hebrew Day School

Email: [email protected]

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.