Montessori School of Durham, Head of School

Core Responsibilities

• Partner with the Board of Trustees to refine, articulate, and advance the school’s mission, ensuring alignment across all constituencies including students, families, faculty, staff, alumni, and the broader community.
• Lead the development and execution of a forward-looking strategic vision, translating long-range plans into actionable priorities and measurable outcomes, particularly as the school considers its next phase of growth and sustainability.
• Ensure effective governance practices by supporting Board operations, serving as a non-voting ex officio member, and maintaining consistent, transparent communication on school performance and key issues.
• Provide leadership across the organization, establishing clear decision-making structures while honoring the school’s highly relational, faculty-centered culture and commitment to shared responsibility.
• Represent the school within the broader educational and Montessori communities, maintaining strong external relationships and contributing to the advancement of Montessori education.

Leadership and Vision

• Ensure the delivery of a high-quality Montessori education that reflects the school’s mission and adheres to AMS accreditation standards.
• Protect and strengthen the school’s deeply rooted Montessori identity, ensuring that programmatic decisions remain grounded in core principles while remaining responsive to evolving student and societal needs.
• Oversee ongoing evaluation and refinement of curriculum and programs to ensure consistency, coherence, and excellence across all levels.
• Support faculty in maintaining strong student outcomes, including appropriate processes for monitoring academic social-emotional development.

Academic Excellence and Program Oversight

• Lead enrollment strategy to attract, enroll, and retain a mission-aligned and increasingly diverse student body.
• Strengthen the school’s value proposition and market positioning within the competitive Triangle independent school landscape.
• Ensure enrollment targets are met while maintaining alignment with the school’s philosophy, program capacity, and individualized approach to education.
• Promote strong retention through a positive student and family experience, ensuring that student needs are met and outcomes are regularly assessed.
• Partner with the Board and leadership team to explore long-term growth opportunities, including potential program expansion or additional campus development.

Staff and Organizational Management

• Recruit, develop, and retain a highly qualified and diverse faculty and staff aligned with the school’s mission and educational philosophy.
• Foster a culture of trust, respect, and professional autonomy, recognizing that “teachers are the heart of school” and central to MSD’s success.
• Provide ongoing evaluation, support, and professional development opportunities for all employees, with particular attention to retention, compensation, and engagement.
• Establish and evolve leadership structures and systems that support clarity, accountability, and organizational effectiveness as the school grows.

Family and Community Relationships

• Foster a welcoming, inclusive, and responsive environment for students and their families.
• Maintain a visible and accessible presence within the school community, building trust and strong relationships through authenticity, consistency, and engagement.
• Oversee systems for gathering and responding to family feedback, ensuring that families feel heard and valued.
• Support families in key transition points, including student progression and placement beyond the school.
• Guide and support effective, thoughtful conflict resolution processes when needed.

Communications

• Establish and maintain clear, consistent, and high-quality communication with all stakeholders, including faculty, staff, families, Board members, and alumni.
• Strengthen internal communication practices to support transparency, alignment and trust across the organization.
• Ensure that all communications reflect the school’s mission, professionalism, and standards of excellence.
• Promote the school within the broader community, strengthening understanding of and appreciation for Montessori education.

Financial Management and Resource Development

• Partner with the Finance Committee and Director of Finance to develop and manage annual and long-term financial plans, including operating and capital budgets.
• Ensure sound fiscal management and stewardship of school resources, building on the school’s strong financial foundation.
• Lead and support the continued development of fundraising strategies and initiatives to enhance the school’s financial stability and growth.