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Overview

University Cooperative School, a progressive school in Seattle, WA, is seeking an inspiring and visionary leader to become its next Head of School. With a foundation rooted in child-centered learning, arts, outdoor education, and community collaboration, U Co-op offers a unique and nurturing educational environment for students, families, and staff alike.

This is an exciting opportunity to lead a school known for its tight-knit community, innovative multi-age curriculum, and strong emphasis on social-emotional development. As the school transitions from a co-head to a single-leader model, the Head of School will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of U Co-op by building trust, fostering inclusivity, and maintaining its commitment to creativity and progressive education. The incoming Head will partner with an Assistant Head of School and benefit from the strong support of a Board of Trustees that has been committed to developing and sustaining healthy governance practices.

Key responsibilities include strategic leadership, operational management, financial stewardship, and strengthening relationships within a cooperative model that values collaboration and parent engagement. The ideal candidate will possess strong communication skills, financial acumen, and experience with progressive education. They must be adept at balancing tradition with innovation and championing diversity, equity, and inclusion. The next Head of U Co-op will be a strong advocate for a child-centered, holistic and nimble approach to education that prepares children to meet the uncertainties of the future with resilience and leadership.

Joining U Co-op means becoming part of a community that is deeply invested in the success and well-being of its children, educators, and families. This role offers a chance to make a lasting impact and guide U Co-op into its next chapter of growth and excellence.

Desired Qualities and Experiences

Visionary Leadership: A clear and compelling vision is foundational for guiding U Co-op through a leadership transition, addressing challenges like enrollment, and ensuring alignment with the school’s mission and values.
Strong Communication Skills: Effective communication is crucial in building trust, fostering collaboration, and navigating the cooperative structure. The HOS will inspire confidence while managing diverse stakeholder expectations.
Financial Acumen: Addressing enrollment and ensuring long-term financial health requires strong budgeting, fundraising, and strategic financial planning skills.
Experience in Progressive Education: A background in progressive, child- centered education will ensure the HOS has credibility with faculty and can maintain the school’s unique approach to learning. Experience with cooperative and/or outdoor education, as a student, parent or staff member, would be an asset.
Community-Oriented: Balancing the cooperative ethos with decisive leadership is essential. The HOS will preserve the school’s tight-knit culture while fostering inclusivity and creating a cohesive community.
Organizational and Operational Skills: Streamlining processes and clarifying roles will help maintain the balance between administrative efficiency and the school’s collaborative culture.
Cultural Sensitivity and DEI Commitment: Prioritizing diversity, equity, and inclusion is vital for fostering a welcoming environment and adapting to changing demographics in the city.
Fundraising and Donor Relations Experience: Securing resources to support U Co-op’s arts, outdoor education, and other unique programs will be critical for sustaining its distinct offerings.
Empathy and Open-Heartedness: Demonstrating care and understanding builds trust and connection, ensuring the school community feels valued and supported.
Compensation and Benefits:

The University Cooperative School community prioritizes equity, diversity, inclusion, and social justice in meaningful ways for our students and their families. University Cooperative School is an Equal Opportunity Employer that is actively seeking to diversify its workplace. This is a full- time, salaried in-person position. The salary range for this position is $160,000-$190,000 annually based on qualifications and experience. We expect most candidates to fall in the low to mid range with opportunities for increase. The generous benefits package includes

Health, dental and vision insurance
Generous amount of paid time off
Matching 403(b) retirement plan
Professional development assistance

To Apply:

Please submit the following materials to HOSsearch@ucoopschool.org as a single PDF document to express your interest in this position. Additional writing prompts will be sent to candidates upon receipt of their application.
A cover letter expressing your interest in this position
A current resume
An educational or leadership philosophy statement
A list of five professional references with name, relationship, phone number and

email address (candidates will be notified before references are contacted)