Upper School Head

Society for Classical Learning; Stevensville (MD); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

LCA is seeking a Head of School to serve as the chief spiritual, academic, and operational leader, accountable to the Board and dedicated to advancing the school’s mission. The role leads faculty, staff, and day-to-day operations while upholding a Christ-centered culture.

The ideal candidate will grow organizational systems, develop leaders and faculty, and position LCA for healthy, sustainable growth. They will listen well, build trust, and lead with humble confidence across the school and

Qualifications

• Faithful follower of Jesus Christ with integrity and mature faith.
• Aligned with LCA’s mission, Statement of Faith, biblical worldview.
• Deep commitment to classical Christian education and alignment with SCL philosophy.
• Demonstrated leadership with strong relational and organizational gifts.
• Humility, teachability, and coachability, with ability to listen, receive counsel, build trust, and lead.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and ability to build relationships with faculty, staff, students, parents, Board, churches, donors, and community.
• Ability to recruit, develop, mentor, evaluate, and retain excellent faculty and staff.
• Administrative and organizational competence to establish systems promoting clarity, accountability, and sustainability.
• Ability to partner with a governing Board while leading day-to-day school operations.

Responsibilities

• Provide overall leadership for spiritual, academic, and operational aspects of the school.
• Lead faculty and staff development, evaluation, and mentorship.
• Oversee budgeting, enrollment, HR, facilities, safety, and school administration.
• Collaborate with Board, families, and the community to advance the school’s mission.
• Ensure Scripture and gospel inform academic, relational, and organizational life.
• Plan for sustainable growth in enrollment, staffing, programming, and facilities.
• Lead development, fundraising, marketing, and community engagement efforts.
• Represent the school to churches, donors, and civic partners and build strong partnerships.

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Master’s degree or higher in education, theology, leadership, or related field

Job description

JOB DESCRIPTION

The Head of School serves as LCA’s chief spiritual, academic, and operational leader, accountable to the Board of Directors and responsible for advancing the school’s mission and stewarding its vision. The Head of School leads LCA’s faculty and staff, oversees the school’s classical Christian academic program and daily operations, partners with families and the Board, and represents the school within the broader community.

LCA is entering an important season of growth and development. The next Head of School will have the opportunity to build upon the school’s strong Christ-centered culture while strengthening organizational systems, developing faculty and leaders, and positioning LCA for healthy and sustainable growth. We seek a leader who combines conviction with humility—someone who listens well, builds trust, develops others, communicates clearly, and is willing to make sound decisions and lead with humble confidence.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• A faithful follower of Jesus Christ whose life and leadership are marked by integrity, humility, biblical wisdom, and a mature and growing faith
• Wholehearted alignment with LCA’s mission, Statement of Faith, and commitment to a biblical worldview
• Deep commitment to classical Christian education and alignment with the philosophy and standards of SCL
• Demonstrated leadership ability with strong relational and organizational gifts
• Humility, teachability, and coachability, with an ability to listen well, receive counsel, build trust, and lead with conviction
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and an ability to build healthy relationships with faculty, staff, students, parents, the Board, churches, donors, and the broader community
• Ability to recruit, develop, mentor, evaluate, and retain excellent faculty and staff
• Administrative and organizational competence, including the ability to establish systems that promote clarity, accountability, and sustainability
• Ability to partner effectively with a governing Board while assuming responsibility for the day-to-day leadership of the school

LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE

LCA seeks a leader with meaningful experience in education, demonstrated organizational leadership ability, and a strong understanding of the academic, operational, and relational dynamics of a school community. A demonstrated understanding of and deep commitment to the philosophy and practices of classical Christian education is expected, with direct experience in a classical Christian school strongly preferred. Leadership experience in ministry, business, or other mission‑driven organizations is also highly valued. The ideal candidate will have demonstrated the character, judgment, relational ability, and organizational leadership necessary to lead a thriving classical Christian school.

EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Bachelor’s degree required. Master’s degree or higher in education, theology, leadership, or a related field preferred.

SPIRITUAL & MISSION-DRIVEN LEADERSHIP

• Serve as a visible spiritual leader who models a mature, gospel-centered Christian faith and encourages faithful discipleship throughout the school community.
• Guard and advance LCA’s mission, classical Christian identity, and biblical worldview.
• Foster a school-wide culture characterized by joyful obedience to Christ, prayer, grace, wisdom, virtue, humility, and Christian community.
• Ensure that Scripture and the gospel shape the academic, relational, and organizational life of the school.
• Lead with humble confidence—listening well, receiving counsel, making sound decisions, and earning the trust of those he or she leads.

ACADEMIC & FACULTY DEVELOPMENT

• Provide leadership and accountability for LCA’s classical Christian academic program from Pre‑K through 8th grade.
• Recruit, retain, mentor, evaluate, and develop faculty and staff who are aligned with LCA’s theology, mission, and classical pedagogy.
• Promote academic excellence through curriculum leadership, classroom engagement, faculty coaching, professional development, and appropriate assessment.
• Partner with LCA’s academic leaders and deans to strengthen instruction, student formation, and classroom culture.
• Cultivate joyful rigor and a love of truth, goodness, and beauty throughout the academic program.
• Preserve what is distinctive and strong about LCA while thoughtfully identifying and leading opportunities for improvement.

OPERATIONAL & ORGANIZATIONAL LEADERSHIP

• Oversee the daily operations of the school, including budgeting, enrollment, human resources, compliance, facilities, safety, and school administration.
• Develop and manage the annual budget in partnership with the Board and appropriate staff, stewarding LCA’s resources responsibly and transparently.
• Establish and maintain systems, processes, roles, and accountability that promote organizational clarity, effectiveness, and sustainability.
• Lead and develop the school’s administrative team, fostering healthy collaboration and clear responsibility.
• Implement Board-approved strategy and policies while maintaining an appropriate distinction between Board governance and day‑to‑day school leadership.
• Plan thoughtfully for sustainable growth in enrollment, staffing, programming, and facilities.

COMMUNITY & ADVANCEMENT

• Serve as a visible and compelling representative of LCA to current and prospective families, donors, churches, and the broader community.
• Build strong relationships with parents and cultivate meaningful partnership between the school and families.
• Provide leadership for development, fundraising, marketing, enrollment, and community engagement in partnership with appropriate staff.
• Cultivate relationships with donors and supporters and help communicate a compelling vision for LCA’s future.
• Partner constructively with churches and Christian community partners while preserving appropriate school governance and leadership responsibilities.
• Help lead LCA into its next season of healthy, mission‑aligned growth.