Head of School Job Description

Maharishi School, an innovative college preparatory independent school in Iowa, is seeking a dynamic Head of School to lead our pioneering institution beginning with the 2025-26 school year. 

About the school and the role:

When the school was founded in 1981, it was the first to adopt the use of yoga and Transcendental Meditation twice a day to dissolve stress, optimize brain coherence, and unleash creativity. We invest in rest and that pays dividends in every aspect of school life: mental and physical health (for students and teachers alike), academic and extracurricular achievement, and a positive, harmonious, nurturing school environment. This Consciousness-Based Education (CBE) model has been adopted by schools around the world. We are a small school with a big impact on the field of education. 

From preschool through twelfth grade, you’ll find talented, dedicated teachers in student-centered, project-based, engaging classrooms, with an outstanding support staff, all committed to our mission of inner development and outer success. This is a diverse community where our Monday assemblies will feature student presentations on Women's or Black History months, Ramadan or the Lunar New Year, Azerbaijan or climate change. We utilize the principles and practices of Positive Discipline and Restorative Justice to address issues and resolve conflicts. 

Our academic program and learning environment ranges from our Preschool’s Nature Explore Classroom to the Upper School’s Advanced Placement courses and greenhouse, edible courtyard, and demonstration kitchen for our seed-to-table program.

We have a rich legacy of success in extracurricular activities, especially tennis, science research, drama, robotics, rocketry, and Destination Imagination.

We’re located on the campus of Maharishi International University (MIU) and our multicultural boarding students reside in a separate section of a university dormitory across the street from the school.

MIU has the nation’s second largest Master’s degree in Computer Science, the top rated Bachelor’s and Master’s in Sustainable and Regenerative Living, and includes students from more than 80 countries. The city of Fairfield is one of the most unique and interesting small towns in the US, featuring a host of international restaurants, art galleries, entrepreneurial businesses, and parks— a community dedicated to a sustainable and progressive future.

As Head of our school, you will serve a broader purpose and population than just one school; you are the primary voice of a new, truly holistic model of education that is sorely needed in our stress-ridden world. We believe Maharishi School is uniquely positioned for expansion of both domestic and international students, as a source of online CBE programming, and as an example that taking time to transcend yields deep and abiding benefits on all levels of life. 

What we envision in our Head of School:

• You value the unique mission of Maharishi School and commit to sustain the integrity of Consciousness-Based Education. 
• You listen to and hear all members of the Maharishi School community as we navigate a transitional year.
• You are a passionate advocate for students and engaging learning experiences.
• Your experience as a teacher provides empathy and insight into teaching strategies as you model lifelong learning yourself. 
• You inspire and build trust, projecting your appreciation for every constituent group, your confidence in our future, and your competence in all styles of communication.
• You set an example of our core values (Respect, Responsibility, Solutions, Service, Transcendence) in your speech and actions, using restorative justice and positive discipline principles to promote a growth mindset in our students, staff, and families. 
• You draw on your experience as an effective, collaborative educational leader to balance multiple demands, analyze and solve problems, solicit diverse perspectives, and maintain an even keel in the midst of the challenges that inevitably present themselves.
• You seek opportunities to represent and promote the school locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally, and welcome your key role in fundraising efforts and budget oversight. 

 We welcome your interest. More details are available upon request.

Although Fairfield is a charming, affordable, safe, and healthy community, it is a challenge to operate a high achieving college preparatory independent school in a small rural city. Our compensation package and benefits are below industry standards but are supplemented by the uncommon intangible benefits derived from this extraordinary setting. 

Does this opportunity intrigue you? If so, please contact our Board of Directors’ Governance and Search Committee, HOSsearch@MaharishiSchool.org

Thank you very much for your interest in Maharishi School.

About Maharishi School

KNOW YOURSELF. THINK DEEPLY. UNLEASH YOUR CREATIVITY. SUCCEED. Imagine an acclaimed college preparatory school where students take time for yoga and meditation so they are primed for success in academics and in life. Imagine a school where every topic is linked to a deeper set of natural principles, where students see connections and relevance between what they study and who they are becoming. Imagine being a part of an innovative system of education that is changing the way people think about human potential and the nature of learning. For more than 40 years Maharishi School has been pioneering that approach, called Consciousness-Based Education, in one of America’s most unique small towns. Our day and boarding school serves approximately 160 students grade K-12, with more than 95% of our graduates accepted at accredited colleges and universities. Our student body is comprised of students from more than 20 countries. We’re located in a thriving town in southeast Iowa, on the campus of Maharishi International University. Our programs for inner development enhance our students’ outer success, especially in drama, science, Destination ImagiNation, and tennis. All of our st...udents and teachers learn and practice the Transcendental Meditation technique twice daily. The local environment supports holistic growth as one of the nation’s most green, sustainable communities. We strive to make this approach available to any family who wants something more from their child’s education, so we serve a broad socio-economic range, with a majority of our families receiving financial aid. Please view our website for more information: http://MaharishiSchool.org

Show more

Show less

Connections working at Maharishi School