Head of Upper School

The Spence School; Village of Valley Stream (NY); On-site; USD 320,000 - 360,000; Full time

Job summary

The Spence School seeks a Head of Upper School who loves adolescents and learning, bringing depth and organizational skill to lead a high‑achieving division. The ideal candidate will have classroom teaching experience, administrative leadership, and a deep commitment to equity and girls’ education.

Collaboration with faculty, parents, and college partners will be central to the role. The ideal candidate will also navigate the NYC independent school landscape with calm, warmth, and a data‑driven

Qualifications

• Experience leading a high school division.
• Ability to mentor and evaluate faculty.
• Familiarity with the NYC independent school landscape.
• Commitment to equity and belonging.

Responsibilities

• Lead Upper School, collaborating with faculty and students to sustain a joyful, rigorous environment.
• Oversee curriculum development, student support, and college counseling partnerships.
• Engage with families and broader school community to ensure transparent communication.
• Manage complex projects from research through implementation and assessment.

Skills

Administrative leadership

Girls’ education advocacy

Data-driven decision making

Public speaking

Education

Advanced degree in education administration

Tools

Educational technology

Job description

Job Details: Job Location: 91 - New York, NY, Salary Range: $320000.00 - $360000.00Salary, The Spence School seeks a Head of Upper School who loves adolescents and learning and who brings the academic depth and organizational skill to lead a high-achieving division. The ideal candidate will also have the warmth and steadiness to sustain the division’s joy.

Please review the full prospectus for the role here: Head of Upper School

The ideal candidate will bring:

• Classroom teaching experience and a desire to continue teaching, as this is an expectation of most Spence administrators
• Administrative experience leading, supervising, and giving feedback to a high-quality faculty
• Deep expertise in the adolescent development of girls and student support Intellectual depth and respect for every discipline, with a clear vision of what academic rigor looks like
• Strong commitment to supporting girls’ education and leadership development
• Familiarity with the New York City independent school landscape
• A proven ability to manage complex projects from research through execution, in partnership with colleagues Skill in navigating challenging parent conversations Current knowledge of the college admission landscape
• A commitment to supporting and deepening the School’s work around equity, belonging and dignity
• Comfort with technology and AI, including using data to support students

Professional Qualifications

Spence hopes its next Head of Upper School will be:

• Warm, kind, and enthusiastic, with a sense of humor and an appreciation for a joyful school
• Calm and non-reactive while remaining responsive, especially in difficult moments Intellectually curious, open-minded, and eager to keep learning
• A collaborative team player with humility, for whom no job is too small
• Visible, approachable, and relational with students, and a good listener
• Decisive, with strong follow-through and the courage and integrity to say no when needed
• Organized, a clear communicator, and skilled in public speaking
• Comfortable giving feedback and holding accountability as a form of care

The full-time salary range for this position is $320,000 - $360,000. The starting salary is based upon, but not limited to, several factors which include years of experience, education background, and expertise.