Job Description

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

You run a Primer campus and you teach in it. Every day you lead a cohort of kids through reading, writing, and math, and you keep the whole building running. You're the quarterback of your classroom and the person families come to when they need something.

The work takes ownership and judgment. You'll make a lot of calls on your own, and you'll be trusted to make them well. You take kids seriously. You build real relationships with families. You create a campus that feels steady and joyful every day.

What you'll do

Teach

• Lead daily lessons in reading, writing, and math. In K–2 you teach in small groups. In 3–8 you teach literacy and coach kids through an individualized digital math curriculum alongside our Content Teachers.
• Know where every kid is at in their learning journey: pacing, mastery, where they're stuck.
• Run Pursuits, Primer's hands-on curriculum that blends science and social studies.
• Review student data every week and adjust.

Run the campus

• Own daily operations and keep the building on schedule.
• Handle scheduling, substitute coverage, and aftercare.
• Lead daily staff check-ins and weekly team communication.
• Partner with Primer HQ to put systems in place, and tell them what's actually working.

Own the family relationship

• Build trust with every family and know them by name.
• Handle concerns directly, before they grow.
• Lead parent conferences through the year.
• Host family events and keep communication clear and consistent.
• Run campus tours for prospective families and support admissions.

Keep the campus safe and steady

• Create a predictable, well-run environment every single day.
• Follow every safety procedure, including drills and incident protocols.
• Keep the campus organized and set up for learning.
• Hold the routines that make the day work, including uniforms.

Work as a team

• Communicate early and often with families and teammates.
• Ask questions early instead of assuming.
• Take feedback well and act on it.
• Keep a calm, consistent presence the whole campus can lean on.

What success looks like

• 90%+ student and family retention.
• A safe, consistent, well-run campus.
• Kids making real academic progress you can see in the data.
• Families and kids who say they're glad they're here.

What we're looking for

• A bachelor's degree or higher.
• 3+ years teaching or leading K–8 kids, whether as a lead teacher, a homeschooling parent, or a childcare provider. Real classroom experience is essential.
• Strong communication with kids, families, and teammates.
• The ability to create a calm, structured, positive room.
• Organization. You keep routines running without being reminded.
• Comfort using technology to teach and track progress.
• Good judgment when things move fast.
• A collaborator who problem-solves with the team and asks early.
• A proactive read on problems. You fix small things before they get big.

Why this role might not be for you

• You need a big team or a lot of direction.
• You avoid hard conversations.
• You resist technology.

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.