Head of School

Job Overview

THE OPPORTUNITY AHEAD

Kalamazoo Country Day School is poised for its next chapter—one that expands its handcrafted model, deepens its neuroscience‑aligned practices, and strengthens its position as the region’s premier independent school.

The next Head of School will inherit:

• A thriving academic program with elite proficiency outcomes
• A deeply committed faculty
• A relationally rich culture
• A compelling and differentiated educational philosophy
• A community hungry for growth, innovation, and long‑term stability

This is a rare opportunity to lead a school that is not merely teaching children but building human potential.

HEAD OF SCHOOL

Kalamazoo Country Day School — Portage, Michigan

About Kalamazoo Country Day School

Kalamazoo Country Day School (KCDS) is an independent, PreK–8 school delivering a handcrafted, neuroscience‑aligned education designed to give every child the Human Advantage in an automated world. Our Mastery Model is built on six pillars: Relational Security, High‑Resolution Visibility, Academic Rigor & ZPD Precision, Handcrafted Curriculum, Highly Effective Teachers, and Cognitive Restoration. With class sizes under 15 and elite academic outcomes, KCDS is a place where children are deeply known, challenged, and inspired.

The Opportunity

The Board of Trustees seeks a visionary, relational, and instructionally expert Head of School to lead KCDS into its next chapter. The Head serves as the school’s chief executive and educational leader, responsible for mission alignment, academic excellence, faculty culture, financial sustainability, and community engagement.

Key Responsibilities

Educational Leadership

• Advance the KCDS Mastery Model and neuroscience‑aligned philosophy
• Ensure high‑resolution, rigorous teaching and learning
• Oversee curriculum, assessment, and faculty development
• Maintain small class sizes and relational security

Strategic Leadership

• Partner with the Board on long‑term strategy and vision
• Use data, research, and market insights to guide decision‑making
• Anticipate trends in education, technology, and child development

Faculty & Culture

• Recruit, support, and retain highly effective “Learning Architects”
• Foster a culture of relational competence, high expectations, and continuous improvement
• Lead professional learning aligned with mastery and inquiry‑based instruction

Student Experience

• Ensure every child is known, supported, and challenged
• Protect the joy, humanity, and cognitive well‑being of students
• Oversee programs that promote belonging, character, and leadership

Operations & Finance

• Oversee budgeting, operations, compliance, and campus safety
• Support enrollment strategy, retention, and market positioning
• Ensure long‑term financial sustainability

Advancement & Community Engagement

• Serve as the chief ambassador and storyteller of KCDS
• Build strong relationships with families, donors, and community partners
• Support fundraising, stewardship, and major gift cultivation

Governance Partnership

• Serve as the primary liaison to the Board of Trustees
• Provide transparent communication and strategic reporting
• Support effective governance and committee work

Qualifications & Attributes

The ideal candidate will be:

• An experienced independent school leader or equivalent educational executive
• Deeply knowledgeable about child development, neuroscience, and mastery‑based learning
• A relational, emotionally intelligent leader who builds trust and community
• A strategic thinker with strong operational and financial acumen
• A champion of teachers and instructional excellence
• An exceptional communicator and mission‑driven storyteller
• Calm, clear, and decisive in moments of complexity

Why Lead KCDS?

KCDS is a rare environment where a Head of School can steward a deeply human, research‑driven model of education that produces extraordinary academic and developmental outcomes. The next Head will inherit a thriving program, a committed faculty, and a community ready for growth, innovation, and long‑term stability.

Pay: $90,000.00 - $110,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Professional development assistance
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person

Salary : $90,000 - $110,000