Founding Head of School

GREATHEARTS ARIZONA

Founding Head of School launching Great Hearts Academies’ classical K–4 charter school in Lake Charles. Leading instruction, staff, enrollment, budget, community engagement, and school culture.

Posted 8/5/2026full-timeLake Charles • Louisiana • 🇺🇸 United StatesLeadWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates strong instructional leadership and strategic planning capabilities, with a focus on community engagement, faculty development, and student success in alignment with Great Hearts Academies' values. Proven ability to manage budgets, coordinate projects, and foster a positive school culture.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Instructional Leadership ExperienceStrategic PlanningCommunity EngagementBudget ManagementFaculty Development

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Curriculum SelectionData InterpretationAssessment PlanningProject ManagementInstructional Planning

Soft Skills

Relationship-BuildingTeam CollaborationCommunication SkillsHumilityProfessional Integrity

Certifications & Qualifications

Louisiana Bureau of Criminal Investigation Background Check

Industry Keywords

Educational PhilosophyLiberal Arts EducationSpecial Needs SupportUrban EducationDiversity and Inclusion

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Launch a new Great Hearts Academy serving grades K–4 in its first year
Promote school enrollment and community support through events, networking, tours, communications, and family meetings
Select and procure curricula aligned with Great Hearts, including intervention programs
Hire mission-fit faculty and staff
Create plans for reading and math assessment and closing academic gaps
Design a school schedule supporting interventions, grade-level collaboration, and legislative requirements
Coordinate with project management teams across construction, marketing, enrollment, IT, academics, professional development, talent acquisition, and HR
Set goals with Executive Directors and the Superintendent and execute plans to meet them
Build, manage, and evaluate the school leadership team
Manage the school budget and enrollment process
Establish trust with students, parents, and colleagues
Ensure effective discipline, student safety, special-needs support, and school-wide procedures
Observe, coach, and develop teachers and staff
Interview and hire faculty and staff according to campus needs and budget
Oversee campus projects, events, instructional planning, assessment systems, and data-informed instruction
Implement teacher professional development
Build unified faculty, staff, student, and parent cultures aligned with liberal arts education
Meet regularly with parents and foster open communication and community support

Requirements

What you’ll need

A degree from an accredited university
Personal alignment with Great Hearts Academies’ educational philosophy, core values, and ethical standards
Dedication to lifelong learning, humility, hard work, and civil discourse
Demonstrated exceptional results with students and successful management of adults
Three to five years of instructional leadership experience, including two years in school administration, preferred
Strong personal communication and relationship-building skills
Ability to collaborate in a team-oriented environment
Ability to interpret student data
Ability to reflect on personal strengths and growth areas
Ability to receive frequent feedback with humility and desire to grow
Willingness to work in an evolving field and face challenges positively
Professional integrity
Clarity and prudence in people management
Ability to develop team members and leverage an existing leadership team
Exceptional strategic planning, prioritization, and execution skills
Ability to build relationships and community and engage families, staff, and students
Dedication to cultivating diverse school communities around dignity and respect
Experience with students with varied special needs and circumstantial challenges
Experience working in urban or underserved communities
Must pass a Louisiana Bureau of Criminal Investigation background check, including fingerprinting and signed authorization
Ability to perform standing, sitting, repetitive hand and body movements, bending, squatting, and reaching
May need to move or position equipment up to approximately 15 pounds
Willingness to travel locally for training and professional development

Benefits

Comp & perks

Professional development opportunities
Training opportunities
Local travel for training and professional development opportunities