Head of School

Alexandria

Do you believe that community shapes a child? The Montessori School of Alexandria (MSA) has that special something...that secret sauce... that pixie dust, if you will... that has built a community and inspired passion and loyalty from our families for 50 years. Founded in 1970 and serving children ages 3-12, MSA’s vision is to be the foundation for a peaceful community of socially responsible, independent thinkers and self-motivated lifelong learners. We respect the learning journey and style of each child and of each other; we provide learning experiences that promote a sense of belonging, confidence, independence and agency; and we foster a prepared environment in and out of the classroom. We are seeking a thoughtful, visionary, full-time Head of School that will shepherd our small but mighty school into its next fifty years. Our ideal candidate will be a strong, seasoned educational leader who combines a deep understanding of Montessori pedagogy and practice, a results-driven management style, strong communication skills, creative problem solving, and an orientation toward long-term strategic thinking.

Skills Required ● Montessori certified: official training completed and a belief in Montessori ideals in theory and practice ● A Growth Mindset: hearing, “We’ve always done it that way” should fire up your creative juices ● Decisiveness: ability to get things done balanced with a sensitivity for nuance ● Creative problem-solving: thinking big-picture, focusing in on the priorities hidden amid the noise, working efficiently, delegating deftly, and delivering strong, sustainable results ● Strong communication skills: ability to tailor a written or spoken message succinctly and tactfully to any audience, with transparency when possible and discretion when necessary ● Strong, visionary fund-raising: be a relationship builder with a savvy ability to engage donors and alumni ● A passion for equity: both in staff and student recruitment, as well as policy creation and implementation ● Strategic Thinking: a talent for thinking long-term and guiding the school forward without compromising Montessori principles or the shared vision of our community What the Job Entails Reporting to the Board of Trustees, the Head of School will be a beacon for Montessori pedagogy and practice, while overseeing the day to day operations of the school including: ● Administrative management and operation of the school, supported by the current administrative staff ● Budget & cost management ● Oversight and refinement of the admissions process to include creative recruiting and retention strategies ● Fostering a school culture that provides the best possible educational experience for our students and staff ● Serving as the main point of contact/face of the school to internal and external audiences ● Working closely with staff to evolve Montessori curriculum at MSA, and to educate our parents about Montessori philosophy ● Consistent, clear communication with all internal and external stakeholders ● Representing the school to all relevant audiences ● Curating staff development opportunities ● Development/fundraising activity ● Oversight of facilities to include vendor management and management of repair requests

In conjunction with the Board, staff, and parent community, our Head of School will also be active in further crafting and refining our proposed multi-year strategic planning process, adding their own vision and expertise to help us leverage the strength of our legacy as we look toward our next fifty years.

Contact Information for Applicants
If you're excited to join us on this journey, please submit your résumé to LLandis@montessorischoolofalexandria.com