About the role
About Primer
Primer is a growing network of K–8 schools restoring the timeless foundations of American education. Inspired by the original teaching primers that shaped a nation of readers, thinkers, and builders, our schools begin with what has always worked, and build for what lies ahead. Close-knit learning environments. Skilled educators. A culture that takes kids seriously as learners and leaders.
Primers shaped the first 200 years of American children. Primer will ready them for the next.
About the Role
Primer Leaders are the heartbeat of a Primer campus. You take kids seriously, build deep relationships with families, and create a stable, joyful, consistent learning environment.
This is not a traditional classroom job. It blends instructional leadership, operations management, family partnership, and culture creation. You teach literacy, math, execute Pursuits that are a cross of science and social studies, and manage the daily rhythm of your cohort.
This work requires ownership, judgment, follow-through, and comfortability making decisions on your own. You are the quarterback of your classroom and a core member of the campus team.
Responsibilities
Student and Family Experience
- Build and uphold Primer’s Take Kids Seriously culture
- Know every student’s academic level, strengths, and needs
- Build trusting relationships with families
- Maintain a classroom culture where students feel respected, known, and safe
- Create a predictable, well-run environment every day
- Instructional and Program Ownership
- K–2: Teach daily lessons in reading, writing, and math through small-group instruction
- 3–8: Teach daily literacy lessons, provide instructional support as students work through an individualized digital math curriculum, and partner closely with math Content Teachers to drive individual progress.
- Know where every student is in math and literacy: pacing, mastery, misconceptions
- Comfortably use our school’s operations digital platform to monitor student progress and keep the day running smoothly
- Run high-quality Pursuits, Primer’s interdisciplinary curriculum for applied learning
- Follow a predictable daily schedule and keep students on track
- Review and respond to student data weekly
- Lead parent conferences throughout the year
- Support on-going admissions by running prospective family campus tours
Operational Excellence
- Share regular classroom updates with families and your campus team
- Participate in daily staff check-ins and weekly team communications
- Keep the classroom organized, safe, and optimized for learning
- Ensure students consistently follow school routines and expectations, including uniforms
- Follow all school safety procedures, including emergency drills and incident protocols
- Respond promptly to operational needs, requests, and school workflows
Communication and Team Collaboration
- Communicate proactively with families and teammates
- Ask early questions and avoid assumptions
- Collaborate with teammates for coverage and problem-solving
- Respond constructively to feedback
- Maintain a consistent, calm presence that supports the entire campus
What we’re looking for
- You have a bachelor’s degree or higher.
- You have 3+ years experience as a lead teacher, homeschooling parent or child care provider for K-8 kids.
- Strong communication with students, families, and teammates
- Ability to create a calm, structured, positive classroom environment
- Organized, prepared, and able to keep routines running smoothly
- Comfort using technology for instruction and tracking student progress
- Good judgment, especially in fast-paced situations
- Collaboration first — willing to problem-solve with others and ask questions early
- Proactive mindset: anticipates challenges and addresses small issues before they grow
Why this role may not be a fit
- You want to run your own school outside of Primer’s model
- You rely on large teams or heavy direction
- You struggle to make decisions quickly
- You prefer strict rules instead of clear systems
- You avoid difficult conversations
- You resist technology or digital tools
- You default to personal philosophy instead of Primer’s
Primer is a mission-first company. We believe our mission is the highest-leverage way we can create positive change. In service of that, we keep work centered on mission execution and avoid social or political activism at work that’s unrelated to the mission. If that energizes you, we’d love to see you apply.