Overview

The Head of School is Chief Executive and Educational Officer of the School, and the “Face of Schechter” to the community.  The position carries four main areas of responsibility, all with equal weight:
  • Reporting to the school’s Board of Trustees (“the Board”), the Head of School has ultimate responsibility for ensuring the articulation, implementation and advancement of Schechter’s vision and mission, upholding Schechter’s four pillars, and providing an outstanding education to the school’s students.  The Head of School plays a large role in shaping and maintaining the overall culture and tone of the school.
  • The Head of School has primary responsibility for all operations of the School, including curriculum and instruction, business affairs, student life, advancement of its financial resource development, enrollment, Board relations, and the building and maintaining of communal relationships and partnerships.  The Head of School has ultimate responsibility for the hiring and firing of faculty and staff.
  • The Head of School is expected to advance the school’s commitment to the highest educational standards in general studies, Judaic studies, Hebrew language learning, and Israel education, and to provide a dynamic and innovative learning environment for students and teachers. The Head of School is responsible for attracting and retaining world-class faculty and will lead efforts to define strategic priorities and to establish systems that respond to today’s educational challenges and opportunities and to ensure the school’s and its students’ future success.
  • The Head of School will be a charismatic and compassionate leader and educator who will motivate, empower and collaborate with the entire school community to set the course for sustained growth. This position will require a dedicated student-centered educator who will demonstrate a genuine passion and appreciation for each student and his or her well-being. The Head of School will serve as an advocate for our school and community, which is welcoming and respectful of students and their families. The Head of School must also have exemplary communication skills and a high emotional quotient.
Work Remotely: no
Qualifications:
For this critical role, the leadership seeks a Head of School with an ability to communicate and articulate the vision, mission, values and ideas of Schechter in an inspiring, thoughtful and consensus-building manner to all constituencies. This position requires an innovative and data-driven leader who engenders confidence and approaches the job with curiosity and a willingness to try new things.
The successful Head of School will also be or possess the following:
  • Dynamic relationship builder who displays a sincere interest in each student and engages each with the values and ethos of the school.
  • Proven track record as an innovative organizational leader and/or educational administrator.
  • Experience in creating, improving and maintaining an excellent general academic institution or general academic program in a Jewish environment.
  • Excellent communication skills, in writing and in public speaking before groups of different sizes and constituencies.
  • Facility with Hebrew and knowledge of Jewish culture and practice.
  • Open and collaborative management and leadership style. Comfort with soliciting input from others while still being decisive and independent in the decision-making process. Strong ability to delegate and transfer authority and responsibility for work to others.
  • Ability to see the “big picture” and maintain a strategic overview in addressing issues and planning solutions in a results-oriented manner. Vision to develop and advocate for new, imaginative and unique solutions.
  • Demonstrated track record of identifying, attracting and developing top talent.
  • Visionary leader who sets an expectation of excellence in every facet of the school.
  • Successful track record with the development and implementation of an advancement strategy, and experience with donor cultivation.
  • Ability to set clear priorities from amongst a number of diverse tasks and needs, meeting predetermined schedules and laying out a timely course of action to address issues and concerns.
  • Excellent people skills. Warm, honest and fair approach in dealing with others. Ability to interact and engage comfortably with a wide variety of key constituents, including students, parents, Board members, major donors and community leaders.
  • Advanced degree.
This position description is based upon material provided by Solomon Schechter Day School of Bergen County, an equal opportunity employer.
Send resumes and cover letter to:

https://drgsearch.com/current-searches/

Choose Location, Milford, NJ

About

Solomon Schechter Day School of Bergen County (“Schechter”) is a nationally accredited premier Jewish day school dedicated to academic excellence in both general and Judaic studies. A rich dual curriculum and experienced teachers challenge our students to become active independent learners and encourage each child’s curiosity and creativity. Our open and inclusive community welcomes students of all levels of Jewish background and religious observance and fosters respect for others and a commitment to Jewish values, practices, texts and Tikkun Olam (repairing the world). We develop our students’ fluency in the Hebrew language, and inspire Ahavat Yisrael, a love of the State of Israel. Our goal is to build the foundation on which our children will grow into confident, intellectually inquisitive and compassionate adults who will contribute to both the Jewish and world communities, and we do so by focusing on Schechter’s “Four Pillars” – World-Class Academics, Joyful Judaism, Strong Moral Compass, and Warm Inclusive Community.
Schechter has an enrollment of over 400 students, and approximately 100 faculty, administration and staff members.  Upon graduation, Schechter’s students attend elite Jewish and private high schools and public schools in New Jersey and New York.
Schechter is the third Jewish Day School in North America to become an International Baccalaureate (“IB”) school, and the first to integrate the IB framework across its General and Judaic Studies programs. In addition, Schechter is the only Jewish Day School in Bergen County to have earned the New Jersey Association of Independent Schools accreditation.  A state-of-the-art Innovation Lab, currently under construction, buttresses the school’s commitment to STEAM subject areas.