The Head of School is responsible for overseeing the operations, programs, and execution of the strategic plan of Yellow Wood Academy. They are the spokesperson for the school with all internal and external constituencies, including students, parents/guardians, staff, alumni, donors, neighbors, business and local community, educational organizations, and accrediting agencies. Though work is delegated to staff as appropriate, the Head of School has ultimate and overall responsibility for the entire school, with particular attention to the following areas:

Educational Program Management: Maintenance of the YWA educational program, pedagogy, and curriculum that aligns with our student profile, mission, values, and educational philosophy. 

• Spearhead the building and growth of programs that reflect YWA’s commitment to problem-based learning.
• Collaborate with leadership and faculty in developing, shaping, and assessing curriculum and content delivery.
• Oversee professional development and training opportunities.
• Oversee annual curriculum review and prioritize resource allocation.
• Effectively guide leadership team, staff, and teachers through reflection and feedback with guidance on strategies to achieve goals.
• Conduct performance evaluations of YWA staff in collaboration with YWA senior leadership.
• Manage recruitment, hiring, and onboarding to ensure highly qualified staff are hired and retained.
• Oversee compliance related to Individualized Education Plans.

Board Relations: The Head of School reports to the Yellow Wood Academy Board of Directors and regularly engages with and informs the board on strategic plan implementation, financial and operational performance, and educational program results.

• Keep the board informed of all matters relating to the school through reports at board meetings and immediate communication following major school events or happenings.
• Participate in and help lead the strategic planning process; implement the strategic plan by executing against priorities and key annual action plans that are a part of the agreed upon multi-year strategic plan.
• Provides information as needed to assist the board in its work.
• Makes recommendations to the board for approval of the operating and capital budgets, including all categories of income and expenditures.
• Seeks direction from the board on new initiatives.
• Assists the board chair and/or executive committee in setting agendas for board and committee meetings and discussion topics.
• Staff the board’s strategic planning process.
• Jointly with the board, sets annual performance goals.
• Provides documentation materials for the board to use in performance evaluation.
• Assists the board in its work as requested.
• Partner with the board to recruit new board members and support the Board Chair in board position assignments and duties.
• Provide regular reports to the Board of Directors on school improvement progress, financial status, and enrollment.

Operations and financial oversight: The Head of School will ensure that business, financial, and plant management address the students’ best interests and Yellow Wood Academy’s needs.

• Development of an annual budget subject to board approval.
• Ensuring adherence to the board-approved budget and working with internal stakeholders and/or the board as appropriate to address any significant variances.
• Maintenance and updating of administrative infrastructure, including recruitment, invoicing, registrar, and communications.
• Implementation of creative and responsible resource allocations that allow Yellow Wood Academy to execute initiatives and meet the needs of its stakeholders.
• Data collection and aggregation to examine the cost-to-benefit ratio of expenditures relative to results.
• Ensuring sufficient resources are available to carry out the strategies and ensure business operations run efficiently daily. 
• Maintain accreditation and NPA status.
• Ensure the school’s facilities consistently meet health and safety requirements.
• Oversee the growth, redesign, and expansion of our facilities and grounds.
• Work closely with HR and Finance consultants to protect the school, employees, and board by verifying all prudent policies and procedures are sufficiently in place.
• Adhere to safety and risk management best practices (including volunteer risk management, cyber security, and all other building safety considerations), emergency preparedness plans, and emergency drill compliance.
• Appropriately address all risk areas, including compliance with local, state, and federal laws and regulations.

Community Engagement: The Head of School is the school’s key spokesperson and is responsible for messaging the adopted mission, vision, and strategic plan to all stakeholders:

• Represent Yellow Wood Academy positively in social, organizational, ceremonial, political, or other functions.
• Lead enrollment management and partner with the enrollment management team to ensure robust, mission-appropriate, and targeted enrollment.
• Foster a professional, trusting, collaborative, open, and positive atmosphere among staff.
• Establish community partnerships, cultivate donors, and secure charitable contributions to achieve fundraising goals.
• Provide regular communications with families and other stakeholders, including advisory councils.
• Maintain and deepen connections with public, charter, and independent schools and agencies.
• Implement fundraising and development efforts and cultivate alumni network.

Required Qualifications

• Master’s degree in educational administration or a related field Washington State Principal or School Administrator Credential.
• Thorough knowledge of effective leadership, curriculum, instruction, assessment issues, and practices, especially as applicable to neurodivergent learning profiles.
• Self-started with an unflappable, positive, can-do disposition.
• Proven experience improving and supporting teachers and school administrators.
• Proven successful experience in implementing and directing various large-scale instructional programs and/or operations in an educational setting.
• Experience in both public and independent schools is preferred.

Complete applications include:

• Letter of interest (cover letter)
• Resume or CV
• An educational or leadership philosophy statement
• Two writing samples of choice can include articles, community
• emails, etc.
• List of five professional references, including contact
• information, working relationship, and length of time working
• together, and answer for each “why should the search
• committee talk to this person?” References will not be
• contacted until the finalist stage of the process.

The deadline for receipt of complete application materials is

Saturday, November 30, 2024. Application packages should be

sent in a single PDF to boardchair@yellowwoodacademy.org. The

Yellow Wood Search Committee intends to interview semi-finalist

candidates remotely in December. Finalists will be invited to

campus for a two-day visit in January. For any questions or

further information about the position, please contact

boardchair@yellowwoodacademy.org.

About Yellow Wood Academy

We are an accredited independent school on Mercer Island, WA. YWA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization specializing in tailored one-on-one student teacher ratio and low small group education for all learners. Our personalized approach, supported by a dedicated team of teachers, is available for 4th-12th grade students seeking a dynamic and engaging education. Whether on campus or online, Yellow Wood Academy creates an inclusive space where all learners are seen, heard, valued, and given the opportunity to thrive in a collaborative, experiential, and learner-centered environment. Change is afoot at Yellow Wood! We are excited for the next chapter for the school after thirty years as a tutoring center, school, and community. We announced at the start of the 2024-25 school year that we would be moving in the summer of 2025 to our new location at Cascade Yards, which you can learn more about below. We are also hiring for a new leader of Yellow Wood. Yellow Wood Academy acknowledges that we gather on the traditional land of the Duwamish People past and present. We recognize the harmful realities of colonialism (past and present) and the erasure of their history and culture. We honor with gratitude the land itself and the Duwamish Tribe.

Connections working at Yellow Wood Academy