Mission Statement, King’s Academy
Organizational Leadership Experience developing, leading, supporting and empowering an effective leadership team. Experience in recruiting and retaining talented faculty and staff. Strategic Financial and Operational Leadership Understanding of the financial and operational underpinnings of a school and familiarity with the levers to secure a fiscally sustainable institution. Ability to develop and prioritize strategic opportunities to leverage King's Academy's unique academic and geographic assets.
King’s Academy develops and empowers young leaders from diverse backgrounds who will cherish one another and drive change towards a shared future of peace and opportunity.
HEAD OF SCHOOL
Effective Spokesperson Demonstrated experience engaging effectively with all stakeholders, communicating the vision and mission of the school, and reflecting the school’s values of excellence, access and global community.
Significant educational leadership experience, including the ability to inspire strong students and effectively guide a diverse faculty. Residential school experience is highly valued. Familiarity with the Region International experience, especially a personal or professional connection to the Middle East region, is highly desirable.
The next Head of School at King’s Academy will inherit a young school with a powerful global mission, a deep sense of purpose and a devoted community. King’s Academy provides a unique educational experience in Jordan that is founded on a commitment to academic excellence, a profound sense of community, and a desire to educate students prepared to change the world. The new Head will build upon the short but dynamic legacy of the school, striving to The Opportunity
Academic Leadership
Partnering with Board of Trustees Ability to collaborate effectively with the Board of Trustees and uphold practices of effective governance.
Continue to develop the aspirational vision of His Majesty King Abdullah II to build an academic community that welcomes students from different backgrounds, interests, perspectives and talents, and gives them the opportunity to live and learn from each other. Set the plan and parameters needed to achieve the next phase of this ambitious vision. Ensure that all academic, residential and co-curricular programs are challenging and enriching, and that they reflect the values of the school. Recruit and nurture a talented, committed and diverse faculty and staff excited to join this global, residential community. Build a culture that recognizes and honors its exceptional faculty, supports their well-being, invests in their professional development, and holds them accountable for the school’s high standards. In partnership with the faculty and leadership team, continue to develop a more cohesive and fully integrated experience for day and boarding students, and the adults on campus.
Advance and deepen the school’s commitment to access and expand the reach of the school, attracting strong students from throughout Jordan, the Middle East and the world. Promote trust and engagement across the school’s broad community. Recognize the importance of every conversation as an opportunity to build a culture of understanding and mutual respect. Serve as an inspiring, joyful and knowledgeable ambassador of the school for prospective families, potential new employees and alumni. Seek opportunities to raise the profile and reputation of the school.
Inspiring Community Builder
Be visible and accessible as a genuine presence on campus in the life of the school and students. The Head will find joy and inspiration in conversations with students, faculty and staff in the classroom, studios, athletic fields, or Head’s residence.
CRITICAL LEADERSHIP CAPABILITIES
Academic and Residential Life Leadership In a school with an enduring commitment to academic excellence, access and the well-rounded development of adolescents, the next Head will: Demonstrate a clear commitment to the mission that King’s “develops and empowers young leaders from diverse perspectives who will cherish one another and drive change towards a shared future of peace and opportunity.”
Given the school’s deep commitment to strengthening connections across students from diverse backgrounds, building a strong sense of community, and effectively guiding a diverse faculty, the next Head will:
Recruit, mentor and support a strong leadership team by delegating appropriately and ensuring that people feel motivated, empowered and inspired. Create a culture that values and expects excellence in the work of all faculty and staff.
Partner with the Board of Trustees to ensure the school fulfills its mission and strengthens its position as an exceptional school for students in Jordan and abroad.
The King’s Academy search committee is being assisted by Spencer Stuart in the search process. The committee welcomes comments, questions, nominations or expressions of interest.
Complex Organizational Leadership
Consistent with its mission and guiding principles, King's Academy is an equal opportunity employer. The Academy will recruit and employ the best qualified individuals on the basis of their ability to perform the required duties without regard to race, color, religion, creed, national origin, age, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, marital or parental status, genetic information, disability or veteran status. Equal employment opportunity applies to all personnel actions such as recruiting, hiring, compensation, benefits, promotions, transfers, terminations, training and opportunities for training, and other terms, conditions and privileges of employment.
Recognize and instill important norms related to the people and culture of the Jordanian community. Ensure that all programs reflect positively on the school and the country.
Recognizing the complexity of leading an institution with significant financial, physical, cultural and human resources, the next Head will: Bring strong business acumen and be a strategic steward of the school’s assets, ensuring that priorities reflect the values, ambitions and resources of the school and leverage its unique academic and geographic assets. Set clear and actionable plans, make critical choices to move the school forward, match resources with program goals, and measure impact to ensure success.
Foster a culture of philanthropic support from the extended King’s Academy community and communicate the mission and goals of the school in an inspiring way.
To contact the committee, please send an email with any supporting materials to the confidential email address here: KingsAcademyHOS@SpencerStuart.com.
An independent, coeducational boarding and day school blending American style, college-preparatory education rooted in the liberal arts and sciences with Middle Eastern history, traditions, language and cultural values.
Inspired by the vision of His Majesty King Abdullah II, King’s Academy was founded in 2007. As a graduate of Deerfield Academy, His Majesty wanted to provide youth of Jordan, the Middle East, and beyond, a comparable educational opportunity. The vision was to build an academic community that would welcome students from different backgrounds, interests, perspectives and talents, and give them the opportunity to live and learn from each other.
KING’S ACADEMY AT A GLANCE Founded: GradesEnrollment:2007600served:7-12 (Grades 7-8 serve only day students) Boarding students: 72% residing in 9 different “houses” on campus International Students: 44% representing over 40 countries 50% of high school students receive financial aid
Average Class size: 12 Student to faculty ratio: 6:1 Faculty: 106 Courses offered: 147 Campus: 30 minutes outside of Amman on 144 acres; 35 buildings for teaching, learning and living
The Middle School program at King’s provides an innovative and foundational educational experience for students in grades 7 and 8. Based upon College Board’s new QUEST framework, the curriculum aims to develop young adolescents’ abilities to think critically and creatively; to read, write and communicate effectively; and to question assumptions, whether their own or those of others. The overarching goal is to prepare students in the Middle School for the ambitious course of study that awaits them in grades 9-12. About the School
KING’S ACADEMY MIDDLE SCHOOL: FOUNDED IN 2016
In a short time, King’s Academy has become the premier coeducational boarding and day school in the region, and it has continued to strive to live up to its mission to, “develop and empower young leaders from diverse backgrounds who will cherish one another and drive change towards a shared future of peace and opportunity.” While the campus is located about 30 minutes outside of Amman, home to about a quarter of the student body, students come from all over the world to King’s to learn and grow. There are countless offerings inside the classroom and throughout the community that provide a dynamic, vibrant secondary school experience that emphasizes growth and development for students intellectually, physically, socially and ethically. The faculty and staff participate fully in the life of the school, as over 60% live on campus and serve as teachers, coaches and dorm parents. They are deeply committed to the work of supporting and challenging adolescents, and these relationships are at the foundation of a transformative experience for students. Those same adults lead a robust academic and co-curricular program that offers opportunities for breadth, depth and engagement. Small classes aim to help students learn how to think, not what to think, and to that end, many classes have adopted the Harkness Method of teaching and learning. This approach is central to the ethos of the school community, as deep engagement and collaborative group work drive how students interact with the material and each other. King’s is a school community clear in its vision, yet still aware of its challenges and opportunities. The school is a dynamic, ambitious and purposeful place for students and faculty alike who aim to make a difference in the world.
Global
DISTINCTIVELY KING’S ACADEMY A Clear Purpose King’s Academy was founded by HM King Abdullah II in 2007, to be the flagship secondary school in the Middle East with a clear purpose in mind. The aim has been to, “help shape confident, well-rounded individuals and inspire them throughout their life paths as change-makers of a shared future of peace and opportunity.” The school attracts, supports and educates bright and talented students from the region and around the world. King’s provides an educational experience defined by a comprehensive focus on student development of all kinds, shaping young people ready to go make an impact on the world. To that end, there are five universal values that express what the school strives to impart on their students: Life Citizenship King’s Guiding Principles.
ResponsibilityLoveRespectofLearning An Integrated
Learn more about
While the school is deeply embedded as part of the community in Amman, the school is committed to equity, access and educational opportunity. King’s welcomes local students and families as day and boarding students and has continued to attract eager and talented students from countries all around the world and a range of socioeconomic backgrounds. In 2021-22 enrollment at King’s comprised students coming from over 40 different countries, and 50% of students received need-based financial aid. The same goes for the faculty and staff, who hail from the region, and those who have come from all over the world to live and work at King’s. The diversity of backgrounds, interests and talents on campus creates a unique community of learners and leaders. Additionally, the school runs the Arabic Year at King’s Academy program, a fully immersive experience for high school students and recent graduates from around the world to enroll in at the school to take specialized courses in Arabic language, history and culture. Learn more about Arabic Year at King’s Academy.
A School Community in and of the Middle East and The Most Diverse School in the Region
College
Acceptances
The academic program at King’s is defined by breadth, depth and choice. The “educational runway” for students involves a curriculum that is functional and innovative—there is no shortage of opportunity in the classroom, art studios, sports fields, science labs and more. In the classroom, the Harkness method is used in most disciplines, encouraging engagement with teachers and collaboration with peers. Teachers will commonly call on students to take a “portfolio” approach to their learning, in which students demonstrate their understanding through group projects and activities, not just through exams. There are over 140 courses for students to choose from across subject areas, including 28 AP courses, encouraging exploration and curiosity. King’s is also a founding member of the Global Online Academy, a network of people and resources from more than 60 independent schools around the world, providing opportunities for coursework and opportunity beyond what’s offered on campus
A Robust and Innovative Liberal Arts Education
Accreditations and Memberships New England Association of Schools and Colleges Jordanian Ministry of Education The Association of Boarding Schools Round Square Mastery Transcript Consortium Global Online Academy Enrollment Management Association
King’s is the only coeducational residential boarding and day school of its kind in Jordan and in the region.
Over the last decade, King’s graduates have gone on to attend the world’s finest colleges and universities, where they are equipped to thrive both in and outside of the classroom. In fact, many receive advanced standing upon matriculating at their universities due to the AP coursework they completed at King's. The college path is not predefined for students, however; those planning to attend a Jordanian university or gain certain professional licenses in Jordan can obtain a certificate of Tawjihi equivalency in lieu of taking the national Tawjihi examination.
