Responsibilities

The head of the school reports to the board of trustees and is accountable for the academic quality and institutional strength of STNS. He or she is responsible for leading and binding together the multiple constituencies that make STNS a vital and compelling institution by preserving the school’s culture and traditions while embracing the future. Specific duties will include the following:

• Working closely with trustees and other key constituents on the school’s strategic direction, campus improvement plans and institutional advancement
• Continuing the school’s tradition of providing a student-centered and supportive atmosphere in which faculty and students act in partnership to achieve academic and individual successes
• Guiding educational policy and refining STNS’s academic, arts and athletic offerings in order to maintain and enhance the school’s high level of educational excellence
• Managing the school on a day to day basis by empowering faculty and staff through delegation of responsibility and authority while retaining ultimate admission accountability
• Recruiting, developing and retaining an outstanding faculty and staff who are committed to professional development for lifelong learning
• Maintaining fair, firm and consistently applied administrative and disciplinary policies and procedures
• Serving as a key advocate and leader in STNS’s continued efforts in the areas of diversity, equity, inclusion and cultural competence
• Creating and managing budgets and financial plans, and, in collaboration with the Finance Committee and business office manager, maintaining the short- and long-term fiscal health of the school
• Overseeing the Admission Department and ensuring  that the primary goal of increasing student enrollment is achieved each year
• Maintaining excellent working relationships with the private school community in Chattanooga and participating in local, regional or national educational leadership associations

Candidate Qualities

Leadership

A St. Nicholas Head of School is:

• A God-centered person who understands the Episcopal identity and leads by active involvement in the total life of STNS
• A leader whose vision, clarity of thought, and base of knowledge leads him or her to establish ambitious goals, to create passion for and inspire involvement with the school while maintaining approachability, humility and warmth
• A communicator with the ability to relate to and converse with both children and parents easily
• An advocate for STNS objectives, who has the ability to articulate compellingly STNS’s goals to the parents, alumnae, prospective families and donors
• An individual who leads through a balance of motivation and discipline, vision and practicality, and a sense of both urgency to meet our immediate needs and patience to develop long term goals of the school
• A role model who embodies and reflects a strong moral character, commitment to academic excellence, and respect for others in all aspects of his or her life
• A person who can anticipate potential challenges or problems the school community may face and calmly and effectively navigate those challenges, involving the board of trustees when appropriate
• An educator who is aware that the learning process is critical and has the ability to appreciate the different needs of early learning and elementary age children
• A facilitator in resolving issues with an ability to mediate problems and conflict and understand the views of others despite personal opinions or views
• A person who believes God is in all of us

Experience

• Prefer several years of experience as a senior administrator, ideally in an independent elementary school
• Prefer some classroom experience
• A background that demonstrates the ability to lead organizations through transformation and continuous improvement
• Experience with fiscal management, institutional advancement, and establishing school policies
• Experience and a strong interest in admission, if possible with a history of experience directly working with admission or educational training in best practices and creative strategies to achieve admission goals
• Background that demonstrates the ability to attract, empower and retain skilled individuals to contribute to the success of an organization)

Skills & Knowledge

• Total commitment to mission and Episcopal Identity
• A highly refined sense of organizational dynamics and how they must be deftly guided in order to accomplish the mission of the school
• Ability to set and affirm boundaries while championing a sense of community and mutual concern
• Strong public speaking and writing skills
• Exceptional communication skills to convey ideas effectively and efficiently to a wide range of constituents, primarily to current and prospective parents
• An affinity and appreciation for the people, culture and Chattanooga landscape
• An ability to balance embracing STNS traditions with thoughtful innovation as this binds generations of STNS graduates
• The business and management expertise necessary to develop strategic plans, to install and improve administrative infrastructures and to prepare school budgets and schedules

Personal Traits

• Comfortable and confident speaking about faith and God to young children
• Comfortable professionally and socially in an environment that values a high degree of both formal and informal communication and interaction between the head and the school’s many constituents
• A disciplined, patient and unflappable person who brings understanding and perspective to bear on difficult issues while exhibiting grace under pressure
• A culturally competent leader whose demonstrated commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive community serves as an inspiration to others
• A person open to various points of view while having the courage of conviction and decisiveness necessary to advocate on behalf of STNS’s mission and values
• Keen ability to listen and work collaboratively
• A person who genuinely likes school and its varied inhabitants and conveys a demeanor of optimism, positivity, humor and good will
• Balanced temperament with thoughtful judgement and sense of humor