Morris Plains, New Jersey
Morris Plains, New Jersey
New Canaan, Connecticut
Posted: 07-Mar-25
Location: San Francisco, California
Type: Full Time
Salary: $450,000 - $580,000
Categories:
Salary Details:
Leadership Profile:
The Board of Trustees of The International of San Francisco is conducting a national and international search to identify its next Head of School. To that end, and to assist them in clarifying the opportunities and challenges, Mary Seppala and Eric Temple of Educators
Collaborative received input from individuals during their site visit and by means of an electronic survey. Those interviewed and surveyed included faculty, administrators, staff, parents/guardians, trustees, alumni and students. Based on this input and the impressions of the consultants, as well as input from the search committee, the following represents a summary of The International School of San Francisco’s strengths and the challenges and opportunities it faces in the next three to five years, as well as the qualifications and attributes of the next Head of School.
Strengths:
As San Francisco’s premier International School, The International School of San Francisco is deeply committed to the value of bilingual education, and the development of global citizens who will contribute in meaningful ways to an equitable and just society. The dynamic environment offers significant opportunities in academics, the arts, athletics, and extensive global travel experiences. Other strengths include:
- A strategic board that plans for the school’s future while supporting its current mission and programs.
- A dedicated faculty, staff and administration committed to the school’s bilingualism and international ethos.
- Strong financial planning and reserves, as well as sound strategic and fiduciary stewardship of the school’s resources.
- An academically motivated and fully participatory student body.
- Strong connections to the City of San Francisco and partnerships with surrounding art and music institutions.
- Generous financial and institutional support for continual professional development and growth.
- A purposefully designed campus for its two through four year old students that supports a dynamic pre-school program.
- Mission aligned families who embrace and contribute to the school’s commitment to an international education.
Challenges:
The next leader of The International School of San Francisco must preserve and further
strengthen the position of the school as a highly sought after, life-changing opportunity
for students, in the face of a decline in the school-aged population of students in San
Francisco, and be a passionate and highly effective advocate of the value of international
education. Some of the challenges facing the school in the next three to five years include:
- In a market with healthy competition as well as unique demographic shifts, ensuring
robust enrollment while navigating the benefits and challenges of a fully bilingual
Age 2 through Grade 8 program, and a 9-12 International Baccalaureate or French
Baccalaureate tracked high school will be a high priority. - Making full use of the school’s campus, and integrating the improvements completed
during the campus redevelopment project into the school program in order to best
meet its mission and the needs of students, faculty and staff. - Navigating the school’s identity as a French-English bilingual school with its identity as
an expansive international organization. - Nurturing the school’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, including global
cross cultural understanding. - Retaining and recruiting highly qualified faculty and staff.
Qualification and Attributes:
The Board of Trustees seeks as the School’s next leader an individual whose personal
and professional attributes match The International School of San Francisco’s culture and
who will provide effective leadership in the coming years. To best serve The International
School of San Francisco, the next Head of School will be someone with the following skills
and dispositions:
Leadership & Strategic Vision
- Experienced in independent school leadership and management.
- A strategic systems thinker who understands how change influences and reverberates
across a school community. - Innovative and forward-thinking with an entrepreneurial mindset.
- Resilient and capable of making difficult decisions.
- Committed to working productively with Union leadership to advance the mission of
the school.
Cultural & Educational Philosophy
- Deeply values and understands French culture and international education. A fluent French speaker is preferred.
- Deep knowledge about child and adolescent development that spans Pre-K Grade 12, combined with a strong understanding of best practices in bilingual pedagogy that
foster a rigorous academic experience rooted in critical thinking. - Experienced in leading an environment committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging within the context of an international school.
People & Talent Management
- Committed to building leadership capacity and delegating to others throughout the school community
- Maintaining a strong relationship between the administration and the faculty, including the leadership of the Teachers Union.
Financial & Operational Acumen
- Has strong financial and budgeting acumen accompanied by a proven track record of successful fundraising.
- Skilled in enrollment management.
Personal Attributes & Leadership Style
- Honest and trustworthy with strong personal integrity. Evidences an abundance of characteristics typically found in successful school leaders: present, approachable and
responsive, courage with kindness, character above reproach, excellent verbal and written communication skills, an active listener, relationship builder, data-informed decision-maker, lifelong learner, humility, a sense of humor, and the ability to work collaboratively and productively with stakeholders to work through conflict and build consensus
SUMMARY OF THE SEARCH PROCESS:
Candidates interested in this position are asked to submit the following materials in a single
merged pdf file to Mary Seppala and Eric Temple as soon as possible. Dossiers will be reviewed
upon receipt.
Applications due April 13, 2025. Semi-finalist interviews: May 3 and 4, 2025.
• EC Summary Sheet (Contact Mary Seppala or Eric Temple for this document)
• Letter of Interest addressed to the Search Committee
• Current Résumé
• Statement of Educational Leadership Philosophy
• A list of five or more references with contact information (name, relationship to candidate,
phone and email address)
• Disclosure Statement (Contact Mary Seppala or Eric Temple for this document)
Send application materials via email to:
Mary Seppala, Partner, Educators Collaborative
Email: mseppala@educatorscollaborative.com
Eric Temple, Partner, Educators Collaborative
Email: etemple@educatorscollaborative.com