The Puzzle: Blog

You love your work in schools and get great satisfaction from positively impacting the lives of students. Have you thought about taking the step and considering leading a community and being a head of school?

Independent schools need great leaders to successfully confront all the challenges that exist in today’s complex world; never has the need been greater. To make the situation even more pressing is the number of recent retirements of heads and the actions by some schools that have led to “abrupt” departures from schools; schools need strong and stable leadership.

Talent is at a premium and it is crucial that educators step up and explore this role for independent schools to remain vital and viable. Is it possible for an individual to get a head of school job with no experience in that role? The answer is yes, and we see it happen more and more. There are schools that are willing to invest in new leaders and support their growth.  You are encouraged to take a fresh look at the work you have done in schools and see if a convincing case can be made for your readiness to be a head of school.

When boards and search committees meet candidates, they will be looking for experience in critically important areas, all of which can be obtained in a wide variety of school positions, and maybe already in your repertoire.

The head of school job requires a specific and special set of skills, schools will want to see all or most of the following:

1) Managed budgets

Doesn’t need to be a $5 million dollar budget or even a $50K budget, where have you displayed financial discipline?

2) Worked with boards and board committees

Have you served on the board of an area non-profit? Have you asked to sit in and observe the workings of a board committee at your school?

3) Substantive DEI work

You have attended workshops, conferences and affinity groups, what have you put into action?

4) Implemented a program

Have you revised teacher evaluation systems, improved parent/teacher communication, or reworked your advisor program?

5) Fostered an innovation

Where have you brought something new to your school? Could be as dramatic as changing the master schedule or as helpful as improving drop off and pick up.

6) Participated in strategic planning

Perhaps as a committee member or on the administrative team?

7) Hired, supervised, and retained teachers/staff

Think of all the ways that you have supported and mentored great teaching. This is the center of the life of school and explain the role you have played. 

8) Fundraising experience

Maybe you haven’t made a seven figure ask but have you been part of the storytelling of success at your school? When have you worked to make the case for financial support for great ideas?

In making their case to the search committee, candidates will need to go back over their time in schools and identify where they have gained insight into these eight domains. It can work to have served on a board committee, been part of a strategic planning group, managed a division budget, put a new program in place, and to have been part of a team that has solicited funds.

Qualified educators, when reflecting on successful tenures at a school, will see that over time they have accumulated those leadership skills that will serve schools well. Applying for a head of school job is the perfect opportunity to bring together all that a person has learned and, in doing so, position themselves to be of great help to their next school.

Never been a head of school?  Interested in impacting students and families in a transformational  manner?  Consider all the good work you have accomplished, and you may have already met the test.

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