Head of School

HOLSTON ACADEMY

At Stanza Education Corporation, our mission is to empower organizations to create small learning communities that cultivate future-ready students by providing personalized curriculum and instruction, streamlined processes, and innovative systems. Our transformative educational experience equips students with the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to excel in an ever-changing world.

Holston Academy is a virtual school designed to provide students with an education that is centered around them, from the learning experience, to the flexibility of the schedule, to the courses they take. Students can enroll part-time to supplement their education, or full-time to pursue their interests and prepare for what’s ahead.

How You Will Make an Impact

The Head of School will serve as the instructional leader and administrator, overseeing the direction of the instructional program, school operations, and staff supervision with a focus on fostering excellence in virtual and hybrid learning environments. This position ensures that instructional practices and school operations align with applicable accreditation standards, institutional policies, and educational regulations while fostering a student-centered learning environment. The Head of School will report to the Senior Vice President, Strategy and Innovation or the designee.

RESPONSIBILITIES/DUTIES
This job description is intended to accurately reflect the duties, responsibilities, and requirements of the position. It is not intended to be and should not be construed as an all-inclusive list of all the responsibilities, skills, or working conditions associated with this classification. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

Primary/Essential Responsibilities:

• Develop and implement the strategic plan for the school’s educational programming.
• Design positions, structures, and processes to support academics as the school grows.
• Instill institutional and educational practices, ensuring the application of innovative pedagogies that will advance student learning.
• Articulate the school’s mission and goals to parents, students, faculty, and the outside community; be comfortable being the “face” of the school.
• Provide leadership to all staff in promoting the vision and mission of the school, leveraging data analytics to assess instructional effectiveness and drive continuous improvement in online education.
• Provide effective professional development and training for all stakeholders to improve student achievement and build the capacity of teachers to improve teaching services to students.
• Plan, organize, supervise, and direct all school-sponsored activities, functions, and events.
• Develop data-driven decision-making processes to support students and the school.
• Create and implement structured communication plans for all stakeholders, ensuring seamless engagement and support in a virtual learning environment.
• Support the re-accreditation process in partnership with the operations team. Provide intentional professional development and evaluate faculty and staff.
• Partner with admissions and marketing to recruit and retain new students.
• Collaborate with other Heads of School in our brick-and-mortar microschools to provide a seamless experience for our hybrid students.
• Hold open houses and attend school events.
• Oversee the effective implementation of learning management systems (LMS) and digital assessment tools.
• Perform administrative duties, responsibilities, and activities as assigned. These may be changed or modified from time to time.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Manage, coordinate, supervise, coach, and direct the hiring, training, and timely performance evaluations of school personnel, oversee their daily activities, and oversee the daily workflow of the school.
• Ensure effective supervision, coaching, and performance evaluation of remote and hybrid faculty and staff.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES

• Knowledge and understanding of distance and hybrid learning education models, including instructional design and curriculum adaptation for virtual settings to support competency-based education. Knowledge of online/virtual learning platforms.
• Ability to use technology and software applications for data collection and analysis.
• Strong problem-solving and conflict resolutions skills and use logic and reason to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
• Ability to work effectively with all racial, ethnic, linguistic, disability, socioeconomic, and multicultural groups.
• Ability to remain tactful, calm, and persuasive in controversial and confrontational situations.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Strong autonomy, reliability, responsible, dependability, and focus on excellent customer service.
• Demonstrated ability to leverage data analytics and reporting tools to improve instructional effectiveness and operational efficiency.
• Experience in developing inclusive and engaging virtual learning environments.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Master’s degree in education or higher is required.
• 5 years of leadership experience at an educational institution is required.
• Experience leading hybrid learning environments emphasizing competency-based learning is required.
• Proven ability to lead in a virtual school environment and implement best practices in online education.
• Demonstrated flexibility in thinking with a growth mindset is required.
• Strong leadership, organizational, time management, and project management skills with the ability to oversee virtual faculty teams are required.
• Graduate work in educational leadership is preferred.
• Leadership experience in an Independent School is preferred.
• History of thoughtful innovation implementation is preferred.
• Strong understanding of the latest trends and educational best practices preferred.
• Experience with leading accreditation is preferred.
• Ability to travel in the performance of job duties is required.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Vision: Ability to read small print and view a computer screen for prolong periods, prepare, or inspect documents and operate office equipment.
• Hearing: Ability to hear average or typical conversations and receive ordinary information.
• Speech: Ability to be understood in face-to-face communication, in person or remote, to speak with a level of proficiency and volume to be understood over a telephone or computer.
• Mental Demands: Ability to read, write, understand, interpret, and apply information at a moderately complex level essential for successful job performance; math skills at a high school proficiency level; judgement and the ability to process information quickly; learn quickly and follow verbal procedures and standards; give verbal instruction; rank tasks in order of importance; copy, compare, compile and coordinate information and records. Frequent multi-tasking, changing of task priorities, repetitious exacting work. Understand how to manage stress. High workflow management, project coordination, and people engagement.
• Upper Body Mobility: Ability to use fingers to make small movements such as typing, picking up small objects, or pinching fingers together, use hands to grasp, and manipulate small objects; twist and bend at wrist and elbow; extend arms to reach outward and upward; use hands and arms to lift objects; turn, raise, and lower head.
• Strength: Ability to lift, carry, push, and pull objects weighing up to 25 lbs.
• Environmental Requirements: Ability to encounter constant work interruptions; work cooperatively with others; work independently; work indoors. Prolonged period sitting at a desk and working on a computer. Work in a medium to high noise environment with frequent deadline pressures.