Lower School Administrative Assistant

The Principia • Des Peres, MO

6d

About The Position

The Lower School Administrative Assistant advances Principia by ensuring the effective daily operations of the Lower School through proactive problem-solving, systems leadership, and high-level administrative support. Reporting to the Lower School Principal, this role plays a critical part in the smooth functioning of Lower School operations by identifying challenges, proposing and implementing solutions, and ensuring the school systems, events, and processes run smoothly.

This position collaborates closely with administrators, employees, students, parents, alumni, and community members, exercising sound judgment, prioritization, and discretion to support the educational mission of the Lower School. Success in this role requires the ability to manage complex operational details, lead administrative systems and training, coordinate events from planning through execution, and respond effectively to student and Lower School needs.

At our award-winning Early Childhood through grade 12 Principia School in St. Louis, Missouri, and top-ranked Principia College in Elsah, Illinois, Principia faculty and staff make up a close-knit community of educators, coaches, and professionals taking a distinct approach to education—blending academic excellence with Christian Science-based character education. Principia’s team of over 500 employees supports not only Principia School and Principia College, but also a worldwide network of alumni and friends.

At Principia School, our core value is
LOVE [https://www.principiaschool.org/about/belonging-and-community]. Love and its attributes underpin our foundational beliefs as well as our educational approach. We focus on developing the whole child—intellectually, physically, mentally, socially, and spiritually, preparing students for the next steps in life. We foster a challenging yet supportive environment where character unfolds naturally, and talent is cultivated through boundless opportunities. Character education plays an essential role in every aspect of the student experience, and classroom work is augmented by character trips, leadership development, and real-world, hands-on, project-based learning.

Principia employees are part of an engaging academic community preparing students to be tomorrow’s leaders, thinkers, and changemakers. We strive to create a
collaborative and inclusive environment [https://www.principia.edu/debm]
where everyone feels they belong and are valued.

Requirements

• Student of Christian Science Preferred
• Supportive of Principia’s guiding statements as articulated here https://www.principia.edu/about/guiding-statements [https://www.principia.edu/about/guiding-statements]
• Bachelor’s degree; 3 years relevant experience
• Experience using Google and Apple Suites
• A clear understanding of and dedication to Principia’s purpose, mission, and place in the education field

Responsibilities

• Identify operational challenges affecting the Lower School and recommend practical, effective solutions
• Assess student-related and operational issues and take appropriate action to resolve them or escalate as needed
• Prioritize competing demands, make day-to-day operational decisions, and ensure timely follow-through
• Manages and ensures the successful daily operation of the Lower School Principal's office, including communications, meeting scheduling, equipment, and supplies
• Serves as the first point of contact for students and families, providing support and guidance as issues arise
• Provides prayerful support and basic student health care assistance, including occasional medication administration and light bandaging
• Assists with daily adjustments to student schedules, including pick-up and drop-off information, and coordinates with parents and teachers
• Serves as the administrative lead for the Lower School Portal and related systems
• Manages and oversees the Portal and Magnus systems for Lower School; sets up and manages classes and attendance in the Blackbaud Portal; maintains confidential student academic records for all past and present Lower School students; collaborates with Educational Technology to build report card backend structures and settings; uploads and prepares reports for portal access; and serves as a member of the School Portal Core Team
• Lead administrative use of the Portal, providing training and ongoing support to Lower School faculty and staff
• Oversees Raptor system, trains employees on system use, and supports school readiness during emergency drills
• Oversees Lower School events, relations, and matters of significance, including enrichment programs, fifth-grade celebration, Festival of Cultures, Showcase of Learning, Grandparents’ Day, and other planned events
• Develops event timelines, coordinates logistics, and tracks deliverables from planning through execution
• Organizes event staffing, campus signage, schedules, and campus logistics
• Works with the Purchasing Agent to prepare contracts and hold harmless agreements with speakers and outside vendors
• Actively manages event execution, troubleshooting issues in real-time, and ensuring successful outcomes
• Manages the Principal’s calendar by scheduling meetings, identifying and tracking key activities, and prompting deadlines and participation
• Serves as the first point of contact for students, providing prayerful support and health care assistance, including occasional medication administration and light bandaging
• Assists with daily adjustments to student schedules, including pick-up and drop-off information, and coordinates with parents and teachers
• Manages the Lower School office and provides comprehensive administrative support, including maintaining office equipment and office supply inventory
• Creates and distributes timely newsletters, maintains digital signage, and schedules school bells
• Collaborates with administrative assistants across divisions and with the Head of School, Admissions, Athletics, Marketing, and other departments to coordinate relevant campus-wide matters
• Facilitates field trip planning, including bus reservations, lunch orders, and ticket payments
• Manages the use of shared Lower School spaces, including the gym, IDEA Lab, and Library; submits work orders; and coordinates event logistics
• Coordinates calendars for meetings, events, and parent-teacher conferences, including online sign-ups
• Supports the Principal in budget management and reconciles credit card expenses for the Principal and other cardholders
• Organizes and produces the Lower School yearbook
• Demonstrates proficiency with Google Workspace, Microsoft Office, digital design software, and Apple operating systems
• Provides student supervision in the lobby, hallways, and classrooms as needed

Benefits

• Generous Employee Tuition Discount: Enjoy a 90% discount on tuition (pro-rated for part-time staff) for your eligible children enrolled from Pre-K3 through College (infant and acorn programs excluded).
• Relocation: Principia provides a relocation reimbursement of up to 12% of your annual salary when moving from outside a radius of more than 50 miles.
• Professional Development: Access to learning opportunities, training programs, and career growth support.
• Comprehensive Benefits: Learn more about all our benefits here [https://www.principia.edu/jobs/highlights], including comprehensive health, dental, and vision plans, paid time off, a 403(b) retirement plan with Principia matching, and more.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Number of Employees: 101-250 employees