Head of School

Emmanuel Christian School

Head of School

Hartsville, SC

Accreditations and Affiliations: American Association of Christian Schools (AACS) and the South Carolina Association of Christian Schools (SCACS). for 2026-2027 school year, we are moving to SCISA (South Carolina Independent School Association).

Denomination: Baptist

Student Body: 225

Meet Emmanuel Christian School

Emmanuel Christian School is a K2 – 12 Christian day school located in Hartsville, SC, halfway between Charlotte, NC, and Myrtle Beach, SC, about 10 minutes from Darlington and 25 minutes from Florence. Founded in 1963 as a ministry of Emmanuel Baptist Church, it continues its mission—to partner with parents and the local church in pursuing educational excellence that is integrated with biblical truth.

Emmanuel Christian School is accredited by the American Association of Christian Schools (AACS) and the South Carolina Association of Christian Schools (SCACS). For 2026-2027 school year, we are moving to SCISA (South Carolina Independent School Association).

About the Head of School

The Head of School (HOS) is responsible to work with the Lead Pastor and School Committee to assure and maintain the mission, purpose, philosophy, and standards as established by the School Board (Deacons) of Emmanuel Christian School (ECS).

The HOS will be responsible for overseeing effective and efficient day-to-day management of the school in an academically challenging, socially aware, and nurturing environment.

The Head of School will also be responsible to implement the strategic plan of ECS, which will include, but is not limited to: the responsibility for the numerical growth, financial integrity, staffing, recruiting, development, promotion, and future sustainability of ECS.

The Head of School’s responsibilities include:

Faculty and Staff

• Determines the annual teaching assignments, based on enrollment needs and employee’s strengths and abilities. Handles all hiring and firing of school employees.
• Plans and administers teacher and staff orientation.
• Enforces policies as laid out in EBC/ECS Policy Manual and Employee Handbook.

Academics

• Implements the academic program as required by our accrediting agency.

• Works with the School Committee to develop any changes or additions to the school’s policies and procedures. Those recommendations are then communicated to the deacons as information.

• Maintains, or causes to be maintained, accurate school records.

• Confers with parents, faculty, staff members, and any others as necessary regarding student progress; and in keeping with all confidentiality requirements.

• Approves placing students on Academic probation.

• Oversees the determination of student awards and honors.

• Supervises annual assessments (i.e. – Teacher evaluations, student testing, etc.)

• Uses data where appropriate to target students, faculty or areas of curriculum in need of improvement.

Parents

• Develop, maintain, and supervise the work of the Parent/Teacher Fellowship.

• Responsible for school’s response to parental concerns.

• Conducts constructive parent conferences.

Discipline and Safety

• Directs principals / area supervisors in the execution of their responsibilities.

• Supervises the school disciplinary program in keeping with school policies.

• Confers with parents, faculty, staff members, and any others as necessary regarding student discipline, and in keeping with all confidentiality requirements.

• Approves students to be put on probation, suspension or expelled.

• Creates and maintains a safe environment in all areas of the school. (i.e. – Car line, furnishings, facilities, food services, procedures, etc.).

Finances

• Works with the Campus Administrator, School Committee, and Deacons in the preparation of the annual school budget.

• Works with Campus Administrator and School Committee Chairman to determine salaries for staff.

• Oversees spending to ensure it aligns with and does not exceed the annual budget.

• Works with ECS Financial Secretary to submit a monthly financial report to the School Committee and Deacons. (Includes: income, expenses, budget percentages YTD, and a list of families 45 days delinquent on their accounts.) .

• Engages in community fundraising for advancement and endowment efforts.

Recruitment and Community Networking

• Articulates clearly and forcefully the school’s Christian philosophy, mission, and goals.

• Is responsible for public relations and recruitment.

• Serves as official representative of ECS in all contacts with the public.

• Presides at formal assemblies and commencement exercises.

• Oversees enrollment and placement process in accordance with policies of ECS.

• Networks with local businesses, industry, and civic groups for public exposure of ECS.

Non-Academic Supervision and Administration

• Approves all official school reports and documents bearing ECS logo and/or letterhead and/or signed by ECS employees or anyone acting as ECS representatives (i.e. – coaches, booster club members, etc.) .

• Oversees the School Secretaries, Principals, Guidance Counselor, Athletic Director and Coaches, Cafeteria Personnel, teachers, aides and any other school employees. Handles all hiring and firing of all school employees. There is a collaborative management effort for dual role employees between the school (HOS) and the church (Campus Admin.).

• Maintains compliance with Federal, State, and Board laws, policies, rules, and regulations regarding school administration.

• Works with the School Committee Chairman to develop agenda for monthly School Committee meetings. Attends all School Committee Meetings.

• Keeps the School Committee in-the-loop, in order to maintain a close working relationship and to protect against those who would seek to divide the leadership.

Development

• Cooperates with the development staff, and compliance with all required Certified Education Unit’s and certifications required by the State of South Carolina and our accrediting agency.

• Is actively involved in public relations, advertising, and fund‐raising for the school.

• Will actively be identifying and recruiting staff as needed to maintain and grow ECS.

What you bring

The following describes many of the characteristics of the ideal candidate for the Head of School:

Education and Experience

• Bachelors Degree.
• Masters required.
• Minimum of five years’ experience in education, including classroom leadership.
• Minimum of three years’ experience as a Principal or Head of School.

Personal Characteristics and Qualification

The Head of School shall …

• Have received Jesus Christ as his/her personal Savior.

• Be in wholehearted agreement with the school’s Statement of Faith and biblically integrated Christian philosophy of education. Believe that the Bible is God’s standard for faith and daily living. Evidence of a desire to study Scripture personally.

• Be a Christian role model in attitude, speech and actions toward others, above reproach and committed to biblical standards for all matters of conduct.

• Recognize the role of parents as primarily responsible before God for their children’s education and be prepared to assist them in that task.

• Have the gift of listening and responding appropriately to the counsel of others.

• Be actively involved and faithful in attendance, ministry, and stewardship at a church of like-minded faith as that of Emmanuel Baptist Church.

Professional Requirements

The following will characterize the Head of School:

• Have completed a minimum of a Master’s Degree Educational Leadership/Administration.

• Ability to articulate a Christian philosophy of education consistent with Scripture.

• Broad experience as a Christian school teacher / administrator.

• Understanding of concepts and ideas found in effective schools research.

• Understanding of effective instructional strategies for students of varied abilities.

• Understanding of pertinent federal, state, and Board laws, policies, rules, and regulations pertaining to the operation of a school.

• Demonstrate organizational and management practice as applied to the analysis and evaluation of school programs, policies, and operational needs.

• Demonstrated ability to organize and administer personnel.

• Understanding of principles, practices, rules and regulations pertaining to student discipline.

• Demonstrated experience in supervision, training, and performance evaluation.

• Understanding of public relations programs and techniques related to school activities.

• Understanding of principles and practices of budget preparation and administration.

• Understanding of principles of management associated with maintaining the school’s financial records. Work with the Campus Administrator concerning the school’s finances and campus needs.

What it’s like to live in Hartsville, SC

Hartsville, South Carolina, is an engaging and growing community that perfectly balances Southern hospitality with a commitment to progress. Anchored by major employers like the global company Sonoco and the respected Coker University, the city maintains a stable and promising economic outlook, all while offering an attractive low cost of living. Hartsville’s historic downtown is a lively hub, featuring unique local shopping and dining, and the community benefits from beautiful green spaces like the lush Kalmia Gardens and fun recreational spots like Neptune Island Waterpark. Residents enjoy a warm, family-friendly atmosphere where civic engagement is common, and numerous community events, such as the weekly Farmer’s Market, foster strong neighborhood bonds and make it a genuinely inviting and comfortable place to call home.