Founding Head of School

Department: Learning Academy of Northwest Georgia

About the role

The Learning Foundation of Georgia is seeking a dynamic, entrepreneurial, and visionary leader to serve as the Founding Head of School. This is a unique opportunity to build a new PK-12 charter lab school from the ground up, establishing its foundational culture, academic rigor, and long-term success. The school will integrate classical education principles with a dual-immersion (English & Spanish) and outdoor-focused "Finnish" curriculum. It will partner with Dalton State College School of Education (DSC SOE) to provide learning opportunities for their students and faculty, integrating this model into their teacher preparation curriculum.

Initially, this role focuses on designing and launching the school. Upon opening, the position transitions to Head of School, responsible for operational management, curriculum development, student success, faculty leadership, and parent engagement. The ideal candidate is forward-thinking, self-reflective, and team-oriented, committed to continuous assessment, iterative improvement, and innovative solutions.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Vision & Growth
  • Champion and articulate a compelling, long-range vision for the lab school’s academic excellence, sustainable growth, and unique identity.
  • Lead strategic planning and implementation for the school’s design, launch, and ongoing operations.
  • Propose study programs, curriculum guides, and significant changes to textbooks and scheduling to the Board for approval.
  • Identify and address potential challenges, presenting well-researched recommendations to the Board.
  • Manage the annual operating budget with an entrepreneurial lens, identifying efficiencies and investment opportunities.
  • Provide clear explanations of proposed procedures, especially those requiring significant financial expenditure.
• Community & Stakeholder Engagement
  • Attend all Board and committee meetings, providing insightful input on policies and their implementation.
  • Engage strategically with stakeholders, including the Board, parents, and community members, to build support and communicate the school’s methods and achievements.
  • Recommend student transportation policies to the Board, ensuring compliance and safety.
• Collaboration with Dalton State College (DSC) School of Education (SoE)
  • Collaborate with SoE faculty to design and facilitate research projects and application activities.
  • Host and mentor teacher candidates and student teachers.
  • Teach or co-teach at least one course per year/semester in the School of Education (expectations during the design and launch phase will be determined in consultation with the Board).
• Talent & Culture Development
  • Recruit, onboard, and inspire a team of highly qualified and passionate teachers and staff.
  • Collaborate with staff to update curriculum guides and courses of study, fostering innovation.
  • Provide timely, constructive feedback and personalized professional development opportunities.
  • Monitor and assess performance, proposing strategic actions to the Board as needed.
  • Provide professional development to enable teachers to serve as mentor teachers for teacher candidates.
• Operational Leadership & Innovation
  • Lead the school’s executive team to ensure high-quality, day-to-day management of all operations, including transportation, bookkeeping, and custodial services.
  • Assign responsibilities while fostering a culture of ownership and strategic delegation.
• Strategic Resource Development
  • Collaborate with the Board to pursue fundraising and "friend-raising" opportunities.
  • Partner with stakeholders to write grants and secure funding for programs and research initiatives.
  • Maintain comprehensive records, including financial accounts, personnel, and scholastic records.
  • Act as custodian of all records, contracts, securities, and important documents.
  • Provide regulations governing the use and care of school properties.

Requirements

• EdS degree or equivalent education and experience.
• Extensive teaching experience across various grades.
• At least five years of increasing administrative responsibility, ideally in new initiatives or program growth.
• Visionary, reflective, collaborative, and entrepreneurial mindset.
• Ability to collaborate with multiple stakeholders and navigate diverse expectations.
• Ability to pass an extensive background check.

Preferred Qualifications

• Teaching experience in multiple grade levels or ability levels.
• Bi-literate (proficient in speaking, reading, and writing in both English and Spanish).
• Terminal degree or equivalent work experience.
• Experience with charter schools, particularly in a startup or growth phase.
• Ability to qualify for a Georgia certificate in Leadership (L-6 or L-7 level).
• Familiarity with lab schools and their unique models.
• Experience with Classical and/or bilingual curriculum.
• Successful fundraising and grant writing experience.

Skills

• Entrepreneurial acumen: ability to launch and scale new initiatives within resource constraints.
• Visionary leadership: capacity to define, articulate, and implement a long-range vision.
• Expertise in teaching, multiple pedagogies, and best practices in Classical, bilingual, and/or Finnish education.
• Proficiency in computer systems and job-related software.
• Superior strategic decision-making and problem-solving skills.
• Exceptional oral and written communication skills.
• Knowledge of school system administration, especially within a charter school context.
• Strong understanding of supervision and management best practices.
• Ability to interact courteously and diplomatically with diverse stakeholders.
• Ability to develop, organize, and maintain cutting-edge educational programs.
• Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills.
• Ability to establish and implement clear policies while remaining flexible for innovation.

Supervisory & Management Responsibility

This position will supervise and manage all lab school personnel, fostering a collaborative and high-performing team dedicated to the school’s mission. The Head of School reports to the Dean of the School of Education and is responsible for adherence to:

• GA Standards of Excellence and concurrent curriculum.
• GaPSC policies for certification and ethics.
• Georgia Charter School policies.
• DoE policies for Georgia public charter schools.
• Dalton Public Schools policies governing charter schools.

Work Environment

Work involves a mix of sitting at a computer, attending meetings, and walking around the school. The role requires occasional bending and standing for presentations.

Pay

$107,760 to $134,160 per year.

Schedule

Full-time, 12-month position.