The Interim Head of School (iHOS) position is a short-term role from December 1, 2022 – June 30, 2023. The iHOS will be tasked with providing leadership to the staff and community, strengthening the school’s assets, while maintaining operations within Giddens during the absence of a permanent Head of School. The iHOS embodies the mission and vision of the school in conjunction with the Giddens Board of Trustees, Leadership Team, Faculty/Staff, and families. The iHOS is responsible for the school’s daily operations while providing administrative and professional leadership.

As Giddens School moves toward celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2022, our unyielding commitment to social justice and equity is a central guide to our work with children. This 50-year commitment, along with our country’s painful reckoning with the long history of anti-Blackness and the recent increase in bias incidents facing others in marginalized communities, has galvanized these efforts. As a school community, we have the foundation to push ourselves forward and engage justice and equity within and beyond the school walls. The years ahead present Giddens School with interesting and challenging strategic initiatives.

Giddens School nurtures and develops academically and emotionally confident children who advocate for themselves and others through joy and discovery. To accomplish this goal, Giddens recruits and mentors all faculty to employ purposeful, standards, and inquiry-based curricula in their classrooms, with equity and social justice at the center of both content and teaching practice. Giddens faculty are known for possessing collaborative and growth-oriented mindsets and appreciate the ability to adjust curricula to best address questions of educational importance flexibly.

The duties include but are not limited to the following:

Leadership

• Maintains a strong culture that reflects the organization’s mission and values. Respects and nurtures a team environment that is warm, benevolent, and collaborative.
• Communicate effectively and responsively with all constituents within the Giddens community, external contractors, and partners.
• Demonstrates integrity, trustworthiness, and strong ethical values in all duties and models this behavior for the Giddens community. Exhibits strong work ethic and positive, cooperative team attitude.
• Assures that the school meets all regulatory and reporting requirements and delivers quality education as defined by recognized benchmarks. Provides leadership and assumes responsibility for the day-to-day operation of the school and activities that affect operations and delivery of quality, effective education.
• Collaborates with the Assistant Heads of School to support the implementation of the educational program
• Provides administrative and professional leadership for and management of faculty and staff by supporting, developing, and guiding staff as needed.
• Builds relationships with prospective and current families supporting the admission and retention of students in the school.
• Represents the school to the community and serves as the spokesperson for the school.
• Maintains strong relationships with students, families, alums, alum families, and faculty/staff.
• Attends all board meetings and provides reports to the board. Maintains robust information exchange with committees regularly and assists as needed. Keeps the board informed on critical aspects of school operation.
• Participates in the selecting and hiring of qualified persons. The creation of new positions or removal of existing staff members must have prior board approval.

Finance

• Oversees business operations and services of the school.
• Oversees financial performance and school stability. Maintains a net positive cash flow and net positive change in assets.
• Works with the staff to develop current and future budgets
• Carries out the broad educational policies established by the board and within the limits of the operating and capital budgets adopted by the board.

Admission and Financial Aid

• Supervises and assists the admissions functions of the school, including recruitment programs, internal marketing, external outreach, information dissemination, and the applicant and interviewing.
• Supervises the admissions decision-making process, including administration of the school’s financial aid program

Advancement and Fund-Raising

• Works with the Director of Communications and Advancement to support the school’s fund-raising programs, such as the annual fund and major events.
• Supervises the school’s development efforts in identifying, cultivating, thanking, and communicating with past and prospective donors.
• Supports the Assistant Head of Justice, Equity, and Inclusion to oversee volunteer efforts.

Supervision

• Supervised by the Executive Committee and accountable to the Board of Trustees.
• Performs other duties as assigned by the Board of Trustees.
• There is an opportunity to be considered for a permanent HOS through an application process.

Qualifications

• BS Degree or higher from an accredited institution. Master in Education preferred.
• 10+ years of experience as a school administrator preferred.
  Proficiency in fiscal and operating leadership and project management preferred.
• Solid and versatile written and verbal communication skills.
• Must be computer literate in Google Suite. Familiarity and/or experience with more advanced education management applications preferred.

Compensation
Salaried, Full-Time, Exempt. Benefits include:

• Health, vision, and dental insurance plan
• Contribution to a retirement fund
• Flexible spending account
• Paid time off and holiday pay

Application Process

The committee will begin reviewing applications on September 2, 2022. Please submit a cover letter and resume to employment@giddensschool.org to be considered for the role.

Equal Opportunity Statement
Giddens School believes that each individual is entitled to equal employment opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability, or honorably discharged veteran or military status or any other characteristic protected under federal, state, or local anti-discrimination laws. The school’s equal employment opportunity practices extend to recruitment, hiring, selection, compensation, benefits, transfer, promotion, training, discipline, and all other employment terms, conditions, and privileges.

Giddens School actively seeks to diversify its workplace. It does not discriminate based on race, ethnicity, age, disability, religious affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other status protected by law.