Head of School

ISEEN: Independent Schools Experiential Education Network; Mount Pleasant (SC); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Retirement benefits

Disability and life insurance

Professional development support

Relocation assistance

Job summary

University School of the Lowcountry in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina is seeking a visionary Head of School to lead three divisions with rigorous academics and an experiential learning focus, while fostering a close-knit, mission-driven community.

The role emphasizes recruiting and developing faculty, sustaining enrollment, guiding strategic planning, and partnering with families, trustees, and the broader Lowcountry community.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in education or related field; doctorate preferred; senior leadership in independent schools.
• Strong understanding of teaching and learning with curriculum oversight; experiential or progressive‑rigorous models a plus.
• High emotional intelligence, excellent communication, and ability to build trust across families, faculty, students, and community.
• Experience with enrollment management, financial oversight, and/or fundraising; Lowcountry/Charleston ties a plus.

Responsibilities

• Serve as chief academic and executive leader, upholding standards for teaching quality across three divisions.
• Recruit, develop, and retain outstanding faculty, ensuring personalized, whole-child attention for every student.
• Champion and evolve signature experiential programs, civics initiatives, and global leadership opportunities.
• Nurture a warm, close-knit culture and build authentic partnerships with families, faculty and alumni.
• Elevate the school's visibility and reputation in the Mount Pleasant/Charleston area and beyond.
• Lead enrollment strategy, financial operations and sustainability, and advancement efforts.
• Partner transparently with the Board of Directors on strategic planning and long-range vision.

Skills

Emotional intelligence

Communication skills

Faculty leadership

Curriculum oversight

Enrollment management

Education

Master's degree in education or related field

Job description

HEAD OF SCHOOL

University School of the Lowcountry | Mount Pleasant, South Carolina

Grades 3–12

• Independent, Non-Sectarian Day School
• Full-Time, On-Site

About The School

University School of the Lowcountry (USL) is an independent, non-sectarian day school in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, serving approximately 70 high-achieving students in grades 3–12. Founded in 2007, USL has grown from six students into a close-knit three-division community (Discover Intermediate, Middle, and Upper School) known for pairing rigorous academics with intensive experiential learning. With a 6:1 student-teacher ratio, an award-winning faculty (including three South Carolina Teachers of the Year), and signature programs — Learning Outside the Classroom, Civics and Citizenship, Exploration of Faiths, and dual-language studies — USL was named the #1 private high school in the Charleston area by Niche for 2026. The school is SCISA-accredited and holds NAIS and PAIS membership.

The Opportunity

The Board of Directors seeks a new Head of School to preserve and deepen USL's academically excellent, experiential, and deeply personal approach to education, while providing steady, inspiring leadership for the school's next chapter. This search follows a community-wide survey of parents, alumni, and faculty — their clear message: sustain USL's excellent teaching above all, within the intimate, mission-driven community that defines the school.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as chief academic and executive leader, holding uncompromising standards for teaching quality across all three divisions.
• Recruit, develop, and retain outstanding faculty, and ensure personalized, whole-child attention for every student.
• Champion and evolve USL's signature experiential programs, civics initiatives, and global/leadership opportunities for students.
• Nurture USL's warm, tight-knit “second family” culture, and build trust and authentic partnership across families, faculty, and alumni.
• Elevate USL's visibility and reputation in the Mount Pleasant/Charleston community and beyond.
• Lead enrollment strategy, financial operations and sustainability, and advancement/development efforts.
• Partner transparently with the Board of Directors on strategic planning, governance, and long‑range vision.

Qualifications

• A genuine, demonstrated appreciation for USL's mission, traditions, and culture.
• Master's degree in education or related field (doctorate preferred); significant senior leadership experience in an independent school (Head of School, Assistant/Associate Head, or Division Head), ideally in a small or mission-driven school.
• Strong understanding of teaching and learning, with a track record of faculty leadership and curriculum oversight — experiential or progressive‑yet‑rigorous models a plus.
• High emotional intelligence, excellent communication skills, and a proven ability to build trust across parents, faculty, students, and community.
• Experience with enrollment management, financial oversight, and/or fundraising strongly preferred; Lowcountry/Charleston ties a plus.

Compensation & Benefits

USL offers a competitive salary commensurate with experience, retirement benefits, disability and life insurance, professional development support, and the opportunity to lead a distinctive, mission-driven school in a desirable coastal community. (Health insurance is not currently included in the benefits package.) Relocation assistance may be available.

USL is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from candidates of all backgrounds who share our mission and values.

Learn more: www.uslowcountry.org

Job Information

Job Category

Education

Education

Master's Degree

Experience

10 - 20 years

Position Type

Full Time