Posted: 30-May-25
Location: Worcester, Massachusetts
Type: Full Time
Categories:
Preferred Education:
The School
Located in Worcester, Massachusetts, Notre Dame Academy (NDA) is a dynamic, independent, Catholic school for girls in grades 7-12 sponsored by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur. Welcoming girls of all faiths, the Academy provides transformational experiences that “teach them what they need to know for life.” Graduates are confident women who are lifelong learners, spiritual seekers, and compassionate global citizens.
Notre Dame Academy's philosophy of education is built on the belief that education should prepare students for their roles as women in the world. We wish to provide our students with the opportunity to become more aware of what is happening in their lives and to assume responsibility for themselves and their community. In order to learn to make responsible choices, Notre Dame students have the freedom to learn in a school dedicated to high academic standards, and to involve themselves in the community, both utilizing its resources and serving its people.
To learn more about the school, please visit www.nda-worc.org
The Opportunity
The Head of School is the leader of the Academy and is responsible for all aspects of the organization and its wider community. Reporting to the Board of Trustees and serving as the President of the Notre Dame Academy Worcester corporation, the Head of School is the academic, administrative, and faith leader overseeing the school’s strategic direction, financial health, community relationships, and daily operations. This role includes guiding the school-family partnership, driving the fundraising effort, building the faculty culture of growth and learning, ensuring the effective recruitment and retention of new families, and overseeing the student experience. The Head of School attracts, retains, and manages a team of dedicated administrators and teachers to ensure high-quality development and implementation of curriculum and programming around a shared sense of academic excellence, faith, community, and purpose.
NDA strives to exemplify the distinct Hallmarks of a Notre Dame de Namur Learning Community, fostering a culture of collaboration, interactive teamwork, open and direct communication, and respect for the dignity and sacredness of each individual. The faculty and staff comprise a committed team who fully embrace the mission and core values of the school and its all-female profile, striving to create a nurturing and empowering environment for each young woman. Both high school (9-12) and St. Julie Division (7-8) students have access to distinctive programming aligned with the educational and developmental needs of these girls.
The faculty is dedicated to ensuring the success of their students. Rooted in a holistic and robust liberal arts and sciences tradition, the school’s rigorous academic program offers Honors and Advanced Honors, with Advanced Placement exams challenging each of the school’s 258 students to reach their full intellectual potential. The interaction between teacher and student at NDA is characterized by care and encouragement. The ideal candidate will inspire and build community, collegiality, and trust among the faculty.
Notre Dame Academy stands at a pivotal and inspiring moment in its history. As the school prepares to celebrate its 75th anniversary in 2026, it is actively engaged in a comprehensive strategic planning initiative. Concurrently, a visionary Campus Master Plan is underway, presenting a unique opportunity to reimagine the role of the historic 1910 Knollwood Mansion as a vibrant part of campus life. In partnership with a dynamic and dedicated Board of Directors, the next Head of School will be instrumental in advancing the Academy’s mission and vision. This leader will guide the development and execution of a strategy that honors and extends the legacy of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur and the enduring values of Notre Dame Academy.
The Candidate
As the face of the Academy, the Head of School will possess a genuine passion for educating girls and young women, supporting a mission of providing transformative educational experiences and leadership opportunities to recognize and develop each student’s unique individual talents and potential. The candidate will be comfortable and confident in being the spiritual leader of the community and exemplifying the school’s mission in its fullest form.
The successful candidate will be a highly perceptive educational leader and exceptional communicator who embraces the traditions and culture that make NDA a special place in the hearts and minds of its students, parents, faculty, staff, and alumnae. The Head of School will apply excellent management skills and a strategic mindset to foster a collegial professional learning environment characterized by joy and purpose. An active listener, kind and thoughtful, the Head of School will act as a relationship builder and positive role model for students and faculty alike, embodying the school’s values and mission.
Responsibilities
Leadership and Strategic Direction
- Embrace NDA’s mission and the school’s Catholic identity. Articulate a clear academic vision aligned with the mission and Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur Hallmarks.
- Steward the reputation of the school internally and among the wider community, passionately sharing the success of students who are committed to impacting the world in their own unique ways for the betterment of all people.
- Work with the Corporation Members and the Board of Trustees on mission integration and strategic planning.
Academic Excellence
- Ensure a rigorous, innovative, and mission-aligned academic program that prepares students for success in college and beyond, while nurturing intellectual curiosity, critical thinking, and a lifelong love of learning.
- Recruit, support, and retain exceptional faculty and academic leaders, fostering a collaborative culture of professional growth, instructional excellence, and accountability.
- Promote a culture of continuous improvement and academic achievement, using data and best practices to assess program effectiveness and drive curricular development.
Sustainable Fundraising and Financial Oversight
- Lead the school’s fundraising effort, engaging volunteers and board members to foster and secure the community’s support for the organization through gifts and grants in alignment with the school’s priorities.
- In coordination with the Director of Finance and Administration and the board of directors, develop a continuous process for generating multi-year financial plans and projections tied to enrollment strategies, endowment growth, philanthropic support, and the strategic objectives of the school.
- Develop, present, and adhere to the financial budget for operations and infrastructure investments to reflect the priorities and mission of the school.
Community Engagement
- Foster strong relationships within and beyond the school community, serving as a visible and engaged leader who embodies the Catholic mission and values of the school. Cultivate partnerships with alumnae, families, students and community organizations to strengthen support for the school's vision, enhance student experiences and promote the empowerment of young women grounded in faith, service and leadership.
- Communicate effectively and in a timely manner with stakeholders: students, parents, faculty, and staff.
Organizational Management and Development
- Establish high standards and best practices and foster a culture of accountability and excellence across the school for faculty and staff alike.
- Oversee and manage the senior administrative team, including the Director of Academics, Director of Finance & Administration, Chief Advancement Officer, Director of Enrollment, and the Director of Athletics.
- Hire, manage, develop, empower, and support the leadership team, and work closely with academic leaders to steward the faculty culture.
- Oversee all human resources activities including effective and timely hiring, professional growth, performance review, and retention of educators and administrators.
- Ensure the appropriate design, implementation, and maintenance of systems and procedures necessary to the successful functioning of the school. Monitor the effectiveness of daily school operations.
- Oversee the gathering and use of data - including faculty and staff input - to assess and enhance teaching and learning.
Notre Dame Academy is an equal opportunity employer. Guided by the mission of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, we celebrate the inherent dignity and value in each person as central to the work of creating justice and peace for all through education. We adhere to all mandates prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, disability or handicap, sex, age, marital status, sexual orientation, or military veteran’s status. Notre Dame Academy invites candidates to join in this process who bring a substantive and varied combination of educational pursuits and lived experiences that demonstrate the capacity to make a meaningful contribution as the leader of its community.
Candidates will ultimately submit the following materials:
- A cover letter expressing their interest in this leadership opportunity
- A current résumé and CV
- Statement of Educational Philosophy
- Academic Transcripts
Qualifications
- A leader who understands, appreciates, and effectively articulates and models the mission of Notre Dame Academy and the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur.
- A collaborative partner who will work closely with the Members of the Corporation, the East-West Province Sponsorship Office, the Board of Trustees, and other stakeholders to fulfill and advance NDA’s mission.
- A team player who values relationship building and has the desire and ability to work collaboratively with a variety of stakeholders, including members of the leadership team, students, faculty, staff, alumnae, and parents.
- Experienced in developing and managing educators including hiring, training, developing, supervising, and evaluating personnel.
- Demonstrates compassion, curiosity, approachability, and kindness toward students, colleagues, parents, and all members of the wider school community.
- Demonstrates ability to strategize, implement, and build constituency programs and activities, along with a talent for motivating staff.
- Demonstrates flexibility and initiative, as well as the ability to work independently, combined with the skills for thriving in a team environment.
- Possesses strong creative, strategic, analytical, and organizational skills.
- A creative problem-solver who is decisive and takes ownership.
- An articulate and effective communicator who can inspire others to rally around vision and shared goals
- Holds high professional and ethical standards for handling confidential information.
- Ability to consistently maintain a visible, involved, and approachable presence.
- Experience overseeing the financial and admissions functions in a school environment preferred.
- Excellent written, oral, and interpersonal skills.
- Strong computer skills and knowledge of technologies and tools relevant to current best practices in school administration and curriculum implementation.
- Master’s degree in educational leadership or related field.
- Five years of teaching experience, preferably in a Catholic school setting or all-girls school.
- Organizational leadership experience that reflects increasing levels of responsibility over the coordination and accountability for the work of others, managing stakeholders and building community, and stewarding an educational mission.