Executive Assistant to the Head of School and Director of Special Projects 

Reports to Head of School 

Administration  

The Executive Assistant to the Head of School provides administrative support for the Head of School and works closely with trustees, administrators, staff, faculty, parents, alumni, and students in a variety of roles with professional judgment, discretion, diplomacy, and confidentiality.  This position's start date is July 1, 2026, with the opportunity to shadow the current Executive Assistant starting in May or June. 

LFCDS, founded in 1888 and located on a 30-acre campus about 30 miles north of Chicago, Illinois, is a co-educational, independent day school serving 420 students from age 2 through eighth grade. The School has a long tradition of producing thoughtful, confident, and successful students. Children are known, loved, and challenged at LFCDS, and a state-of-the-art facility provides a remarkable setting for inspired teaching, personal growth, and nurturing a love of learning. 

Key Responsibilities: 

Communication 

• Oversees the Main Office and Receptionist 

• Manages calls, emails, and messages for the Head of School, including follow-ups as needed. 

• Prepares, updates, edits, prints, files, and distributes correspondence, communications, and other information by hard copy or email to parents, Trustees, administrative staff, faculty, alumni, students, and other constituents. 

• Coordinates with the Leadership Team and other administrators related to school-wide events and information. 

Calendar and Events 

• Coordinates and schedules calendar appointments for the Head of School with Board members, parents, faculty and staff, students, other community members, and constituents. 

• Creates and edits itineraries for visitors, reserves facilities and conference rooms, coordinates catering, confirms schedules, reviews all meetings and event activities weekly, prioritizes and resolves any conflicts, and works in conjunction with all other administrators to coordinate schedules. 

• Maintains and communicates all current and upcoming events to the head of school. 

• As a member of the Calendar Committee, supports the maintenance of the master calendar for all school events. 

• Responsible for special events as assigned, including Holiday Party, Convocation, the Grade 8 Graduation Reception, faculty and staff gatherings, and Speaker Series Events. 

Board of Trustees 

• Interfaces with and provides support for the Board of Trustees, especially the President of the Board. 

• Prepares Board meeting reminders, agendas, minutes, special mailings, and other necessary board documents. 

• Maintains address/contact information for all Board members and board committee members. 

• Maintains and updates the Trustee Portal. 

• Coordinates all logistics for Board meetings, Board committee meetings, new Trustee orientation, and the Board of Trustees Faculty and Staff Appreciation Event, including meeting materials, room reservations, event setup orders, and catering as needed. 

General 

• Prepares membership updates (NAIS and ISACS) and provides annual state-required student enrollment and health information data. 

• Reconcile the Head of School's monthly credit card statement. 

• Makes memorial contributions, orders flowers, sends sympathy cards, and purchases gifts as needed or requested for various occasions. 

• Tracks, orders, and maintains inventory of the school and head of school stationery, office supplies. 

• Monitors the Head of School’s office equipment.?Operate the A/V equipment installed in the conference rooms. 

• Support annual updates of school-wide policies, procedures, organizational charts, floor plans, etc. 

• Attends Board meetings, various committee meetings, school functions, and other events as deemed important by the Head of School. 

• Manages other special projects and duties as assigned. 

Salary Range 

• $65,000-$85,000 with a comprehensive benefits package including tuition remission for dependents of the employee. This is a full-time, 12-month position, occasionally requiring evening and weekend work. 

Skills:  

• Strong organizational skills 

• Clear, precise, and friendly communication skills 

• High-level attention to detail 

• Discretion and confidentiality 

• Excellent writing skills 

• Ability to plan long-term 

• Experience with event planning 

Qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s Degree or Higher 

• Previous administrative experience 

• Previous experience in Independent schools preferred 

Interested applicants should email a letter of interest and resume in PDF format to the attention of Annie Johnson, Executive Assistant to the Head of School and Director of Special Projects annie.johnson@lfcds.org with the subject line "Executive Assistant to the Head of School”.    

Mission Statement: Through inspired teaching and partnership with families, Lake Forest Country Day School nurtures a love of learning and builds a foundation of strong character, preparing students to navigate their path with purpose. 

Core Beliefs 

Childhood is championed: We center all we do on what is best for our students, protecting and building upon the magic of these precious years. 

Community is our core: Honest and respectful relationships, formed through conversation and collaboration, build trust and a sense of belonging – honoring the dignity of every person. 

Curiosity is a gift: Wonder is an animating force that resides in every person and should be modeled and nurtured to stimulate self-discovery, spark innovation, and drive creativity. 

We aim high: Raising expectations activates the great potential we see in every person and elicits efforts that result in individual growth and the collective success of our community. 

Professional Association Memberships: NAIS, ISACS, LMAIS & INDEX 

Lake Forest Country Day School seeks and embraces diversity among our faculty, staff, and student body. LFCDS is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and it does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, religion, marital status, disability, sex, gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, military or veteran status, order of protection status, genetic information, or any other category protected by applicable law.  

About Lake Forest Country Day School

LFCDS, founded in 1888 and located on a 30-acre campus about 30 miles north of Chicago, Illinois, is a co-educational, independent day school serving 420 students from age 2 through eighth grade. The School has a long tradition of producing thoughtful, confident, and successful students. Children are known, loved, and challenged at LFCDS, and a state-of-the-art facility provides a remarkable setting for inspired teaching, personal growth and nurturing a love of learning.

Connections working at Lake Forest Country Day School