Assistant Director - Academic Affairs

Every Saturdays, Kennedy International School provides a Japanese education for its students from preschool through 9th grade. Through our individualized approach to instruction, thanks to our small student-teacher ratio, students are encouraged to leverage their personal strengths and passions as they develop their language and academic knowledge.

Position Overview:

We are seeking a part-time Assistant Director to oversee all Academic Affairs to join our Japanese Saturday School for the 2026-2027 school year.

This role will primarily be on Saturdays working from 8am – 4pm. Some additional hours during the week as needed.

The Assistant Director of Academic Affairs reports to the Saturday School Director. The Assistant Director of Academic Affairs focuses on teaching and learning, curriculum planning as well as faculty management.

Responsibilities

·         Designs, implements, and evaluates a Japanese-language curriculum aligned with the school’s mission, grade-level expectations, and the needs of heritage-language learners attending once weekly.

·         Develops cohesive annual, unit, and weekly lesson plans that maximize limited instructional time while maintaining rigor in reading, writing, speaking, and listening.

·         Integrates instruction using Japanese Ministry of Education textbooks, supplementary materials, and culturally relevant content to support bilingual and bicultural development.

·         Adapts curriculum for mixed-level classrooms, differentiating instruction for students with varying Japanese proficiency, literacy backgrounds, and home-language exposure.

·         Implements formative assessments, including kanji checks, dictation, composition, and reading comprehension to monitor progress and adjust teaching strategies.

·         Coordinates curriculum alignment across grade levels, ensuring consistency in kanji progression, grammar sequencing, and thematic units throughout the Saturday program.

·         Incorporates cultural curriculum, including seasonal events, traditions, and project-based learning to strengthen cultural identity and engagement.

·         Collaborates with faculty to review curriculum outcomes, share instructional practices, and refine teaching materials.

·         Selects and updates learning materials, including leveled readers, kanji practice tools, workbooks, and digital resources appropriate for a heritage-language context.

·         Three years of teaching experience in elementary or middle school required

·         Japanese fluency required

·         Japanese elementary or middle school teaching certified

·         Leadership experience in guiding and supporting faculty and staff

The hourly rate for this position is $45 per hour.