P ORTUNIT

Ies A Nd Ch Allenges For Th E N Ext Head Of School

Opportunities And Challenges For The Next Head Of School

Oldfields School has been through a period of instability over the last decade due to leadership turnover and the effect of the pandemic on enrollment, and is positioned for a Head of School who is committed to leading a small, all-girls, college preparatory boarding and day school well into the next decade. The new Head will want to prioritize:

Oldfields School has been through a period of instability over the last decade due to leadership turnover and the effect of the pandemic on enrollment, and is positioned for a Head of School who is committed to leading a small, all-girls, college preparatory boarding and day school well into the next decade. The new Head will want to prioritize:

• Engage in the daily life of the School to fully understand the culture, climate, and unique nature of the School. The head will want to develop strong relationships with the administration, faculty, and most importantly, the students;

• Align the mission, philosophy, and values with practices in admissions to ensure optimal enrollment. Develop an ideal student profile to clearly articulate mission-appropriate students;

• Clarify that the overall program (academic, arts, athletic, co-curricular, residential, community/social, and character development) aligns with the mission, philosophy and values of the School while balancing the importance of tradition with innovation, best practices, and brain-based learning research;

• Imbue a culture of kindness, courage, humility, and largeness of heart in supporting each girl to be her best self, using her strengths, and providing inspiration in her areas of growth through a program that is both challenging and supportive of each individual;

• Recruit, develop, and retain an exceptional faculty, staff, and administrative team with an eye to cultivating the next cohort of long-term faculty who are committed to the growth and development of each Oldfields girl and the Oldfields experience;

• Develop a distributed leadership model that appropriately includes members of the Oldfields community while working with the faculty, staff, and administration to clarify the roles, responsibilities, and expectations for each member of the Oldfields community. Develop a climate of collaboration, fairness, inclusion, and responsibility;

• Institute a dynamic institutional planning process resulting in a shared vision and strategic plan that will ensure Oldfields School as an exceptional small boarding and day school for young women;

• Partner with the Development Office and the Board of Trustees to develop a robust alumni program and strong culture of philanthropic support;

• Develop expertise to position Oldfields as the acknowledged experts in the personalization of a holistic education for girls.

Ideal Candidate A T Tributes And Experiences

The new Head of School will be an energetic educator with accomplished leadership experiences and skills. The successful candidate will have a steadfast resolve to hold Oldfields School’s mission, philosophy, culture, and values at the forefront of all their work.

Ideal Candidate Attributes And Experiences

The new Head of School will be an energetic educator with accomplished leadership experiences and skills. The successful candidate will have a steadfast resolve to hold Oldfields School’s mission, philosophy, culture, and values at the forefront of all their work.

Candidates will be prepared to address a broad range of School matters and be able to demonstrate successful experience in many, if not all, of the following:

• Leading a student-centered academic program, which includes recruiting and developing a talented faculty and staff;

• Possessing a clear ability to develop and deliver on a clear educational vision;

• Clarifying and speaking clearly about school identity;

• Being actively engaged in admissions, building the enrollment;

• Having had experience with, or a deep understanding of, boarding school culture;

• Forging relationships with multiple constituencies;

• Demonstrated skills and success in building highperforming teams of teachers and administrators.

Candidates will possess a broad range of executive leadership and management abilities, including:

• Excellent organizational and interpersonal skills with reliable follow up;

• Exceptional oral and written communication skills in a variety of settings with an array of constituent groups;

• An established culture of good communication and accountability in building teams;

• Demonstrated ability to be a positive leader that is able to foster a sense of community and family among the faculty/staff, students, and families;

• An aptitude for prudent financial management and fundraising;

• A strong commitment to diversity, inclusion, equity and multiculturalism;

• An advanced degree(s).

Personal qualities of the Head of School at Oldfields School are important, and the Head must be an:

• Unrelenting believer in the growth, development, and learning of young women;

• Engaged, visible, and accessible. The head may want to be a guest teacher frequently;

• Passionate about an all-girls education and boarding school life;

• Intelligent, innovative, inspiring, and empathetic;

• Wise and must consistently exercise sound educational, social, and business judgment;

• An active listener with compassion, empathy, and exceptional emotional intelligence;

• Someone eager to embrace the distinct culture of Oldfields School.