Lower School Principal

Bucharest, Bucuresti

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Dr. Arnie Bieber, Senior Leadership Executive at International Schools Services (ISS) Leadership Search serves as the lead consultant for the American International School of Bucharest | Lower School Principal search.

Interested candidates must apply through the ISS EDUrecruit portal ®. Once logged in, you will be prompted to submit the following confidential materials on or before September 21, 2026, | 11:59 pm EDT

Cover letter expressing interest and qualifications for this position
Current CV / Resume (please do not include your photo)
Three confidential supervisory reference requests to your ISS EDUrecruit® profile from the last seven years, including one from your current post

Applicants are encouraged to apply as early as possible, as International Schools Services (ISS) and American International School of Bucharest (AISB) reserve the right to close the selection process at any time. If you require any assistance with the portal or have any questions, please contact execsearch@iss.edu.

Please see the ISS Leadership Search Position Announcement for more information and how to apply for this role: ISS Leadership Search - AISB - Lower School Principal

POSITION OVERVIEW SUMMARY

The American International School of Bucharest (AISB) seeks an inspiring, visionary, and collaborative educational leader to serve as its Lower School Principal. This pivotal role provides overarching leadership across two distinct but interconnected sections of the school: the Early Learning Center (ELC) and the Elementary School (ES), spanning from our youngest learners in EC2 (aged 2) through to Grade 5. Recognizing the unique developmental milestones within this broad age spectrum, each section is structurally supported by its own dedicated Vice Principal. As a vital member of the Core School Leadership Team, the Principal reports directly to the School Director and works in close partnership with the Secondary Principal and the Director of Teaching & Learning. The incoming leader will orchestrate a unified culture between ELC and ES, empower a highly talented faculty, and bring our bold Future Design Commitments to life across both sections. The Lower School Principal will help to create a learning environment where students and educators feel safe, valued, and empowered. Guided by the principles of agency and autonomy, the Principal will encourage voice, choice, and ownership in learning while thoughtfully shaping the use of space and time to create joyful, flexible, inclusive, and collaborative experiences. The role also carries a strong commitment to safeguarding and child protection, ensuring that policies and reporting protocols are consistently understood and followed. Above all, the Principal will model and embed the school’s student-authored mission—Think Fearlessly, Act with Kindness, Shape Tomorrow—in everyday leadership, decisions, and relationships across the Lower School.

Division: Lower School: the Early Learning Center (ELC) and the Elementary School (ES)
Reports to: AISB Director
Start Date: August 2027
Contract Length: 2 years initial contract

Duties & Responsibilities

Instructional Leadership

Provide transformative, visionary leadership that aligns the Early Learning Center’s and Elementary School’s daily practices with AISB’s core mission and vision.
Champion a concept and inquiry-based curriculum, ensuring the integrity and vibrant implementation of the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP).
Direct, mentor, and collaborate with the ELC Vice Principal and the Elementary School Vice Principal to ensure cohesive student support systems, robust daily operations, and unified growth.
Partner closely with the Director of Teaching & Learning to deepen a school-wide coaching and professional growth culture, utilizing the Professional Growth and Evaluation Program (PGEP) to empower faculty and elevate instructional practice.
Lead collaborative inquiry teams to analyze learning analytics and student growth data, utilizing these insights to target student variability, scaffold learning, and actively remove barriers for all learners. 2Position Overview
Partner with the Secondary School Principal to ensure smooth student and family transitions across school divisions, supporting academic, social-emotional, and pedagogical continuity.

Team Leadership & Operations

Lead, mentor, and inspire a diverse, highly qualified, and dedicated Early Learning and Elementary faculty and staff, cultivating a professional climate anchored in psychological safety, collaboration, and high expectations.
Nurture a healthy, transparent culture of feedback, actively supporting collaborative teaching teams and utilizing reflective practices to promote professional accountability, trust, and continuous improvement.
Partner with the Student Support Services team and curriculum leadership to design, map, and implement inclusive learning pathways that accommodate learner variability and ensure continuity of support across grade levels.
Oversee the respective sectional budgets, resource allocation, and strategic scheduling to maximize student learning, optimize physical spaces, and protect valuable time for adult collaboration.
Partner with the School Director and People & Culture team to recruit and retain innovative, culturally responsive educators who inspire and engage young learners.
Manage Lower School operations, safety, and student support, ensuring alignment with school policies and international accreditation standards.

Community Engagement & Culture

Be a visible and approachable advocate for students, actively engaging in the daily life of the Lower School from EC2 through Grade 5.
Communicate proactively, transparently, and empathetically with parents and the wider community; celebrate student learning and design meaningful parent education opportunities that bridge home and school.
Champion a strong culture of belonging by ensuring curriculum and community practices honor and celebrate the diverse cultures and perspectives represented across the school community.

Academic & Professional Qualifications

A Master’s degree or equivalent in Educational Leadership, Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, or a related field.

Skills, Experiences & Attributes

A proven track record of successful classroom teaching followed by significant leadership experience such as Principal, Vice Principal, or Head of Section within an international or culturally diverse school setting.
Experience managing multi-layered leadership teams (including Vice Principals) is advantageous.
Deep pedagogical knowledge of inquiry-based learning frameworks, specifically the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) and Early Childhood frameworks. Reggio Emilia alignment is a distinct advantage.
Demonstrated leadership in cultivating inclusive, equitable environments that respect neurodivergence, cultural identity, and diverse learning needs.
Warm, approachable, and emotionally intelligent, with a strong ability to build trust and meaningful relationships across a diverse community.
A strategic and systems-oriented thinker who can connect people, processes, and priorities effectively.
Deeply knowledgeable about child development, with expertise in the cognitive, social-emotional, and physical development of early childhood and elementary-aged students.
Creative and forward-thinking, with the confidence to take thoughtful risks that support student learning and strengthen the school.

Salary & Benefits

A multi-year, renewable contract will be offered, with an attractive European compensation and benefits package commensurate with the responsibilities of this significant leadership position and the qualifications and experience of the successful candidate. Specific details of the package will be discussed during the interview process.

Other

AISB is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all students. All faculty and staff members are expected to share this commitment and adhere to the school’s Child Protection Policy. Appointment to this position is contingent upon satisfactory background checks and references.

Please note: AISB follows the guidelines of the school’s protective behavior policies and protocols and personal data protection policies and procedures, including reporting any situation that might constitute a health and/or safety hazard to students or school employees, and reporting any personal data breach.