Head of School

Head of School

Eastern Mennonite School | Harrisonburg, Virginia

Position Type: Full-time, Exempt, 12-month position with benefits
Start Date: July 1, 2027
Reports to: Board of Directors
Salary Range: $80,000- $100,000 annually, commensurate with the candidate’s experience, credentials, and qualifications.

Established in 1917, Eastern Mennonite School (EMS) is a K-12 learning community. EMS is grounded in the Mennonite-Anabaptist expression of Christian faith and is a conference ministry of Virginia Mennonite Conference of Mennonite Church USA.

Our mission: Eastern Mennonite School, with home and church, invites students to faith in Jesus Christ, academic excellence, personal integrity, and compassionate service.

Our vision: Eastern Mennonite School aspires to embody the love of Jesus as a learning community where every student belongs, thrives, and joins God’s work in the world.

Belonging Statement: At Eastern Mennonite School, our commitment to faith compels us to create spaces that are inclusive, that treat all members of our community with respect, and that value each individual’s voice, conscience, identities, lived experiences, and perspectives. We celebrate differences, welcome open and meaningful dialogue, and cultivate critical thinking. Together, we dedicate our actions to working towards peace, equity, and justice in the world around us.

Position Description

The Head of School serves as the chief administrator of Eastern Mennonite School, providing strategic, spiritual, and organizational leadership in support of the school's mission, vision, and values. Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Head of School oversees the school's academic programs, business affairs, advancement, and human resources.

The Head of School works collaboratively with school leaders, faculty, staff, families, churches, and community partners to strengthen the school, promote academic excellence, and cultivate a thriving, mission-centered learning community.

Required Qualifications

• A personal commitment to following Jesus, active involvement in an Anabaptist-affiliated faith community, and wholehearted support for the mission of Eastern Mennonite School.
• A bachelor's degree, preferably in education or a related field, and a master's degree in school administration, curriculum development, and/or education, with supervisory experience.
• At least five years of experience in teaching and educational leadership, or an equivalent combination of relevant professional experience.
• Current Virginia Administration and Supervision PreK–12 Endorsement, or the ability to obtain it.
• Strong communication, organizational, management, and supervisory skills.
• Proficiency with common workplace technology, including Google Workspace and Microsoft Office.
• Flexibility to participate in and provide oversight for school events outside regular working hours.

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Chief Administrator and Board Leadership

• Partner with the Board of Directors in strategic planning, policy development, governance, and institutional priorities.
• Serve as the Board's chief advisor and maintain effective communication between the Board and school community.
• Model the school's Christian values and foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, and shared ownership of the school's success.
• Provide leadership, direction, and support to the school's administrative team.

2. Business Affairs and Financial Leadership

• Collaborate with the Director of Business Affairs to ensure responsible financial management and long-term institutional sustainability.
• Provide leadership in annual budgeting, financial planning, tuition recommendations, employee compensation, and benefits.
• Support planning for campus facilities, capital improvements, and a safe, welcoming learning environment.

3. Advancement and Community Relations

• Collaborate with the Director of Advancement to strengthen fundraising, donor relationships, enrollment, and community engagement.
• Support annual giving, major gifts, planned giving, and capital campaigns.
• Represent EMS to churches, alumni, families, educational partners, and the broader community.
• Support admissions, marketing, and scholarship strategies that advance the school's mission.

4. Academic Leadership

• Collaborate with divisional principals to promote academic excellence, effective instruction, and student development.
• Support high expectations for student learning, behavior, and achievement, including restorative approaches to discipline.
• Guide academic and institutional improvement through strategic planning, evaluation, and data-informed decision-making.
• Encourage professional growth, educational innovation, and continuous improvement.

5. Human Resource Management

• Foster a healthy, collaborative, and mission-centered workplace culture.
• Oversee employee recruitment, hiring, onboarding, evaluation, and professional development.
• Support school leaders in effective supervision, employee coaching, conflict resolution, and accountability.
• Provide leadership in employee retention, compensation, benefits, employment policies, and risk management.
• Ensure that human resource practices support the school's mission, strategic priorities, and applicable requirements.

Employment and Hiring Practices

This position description is not a complete statement of all duties and responsibilities comprising this position; rather, it contains the facts necessary to evaluate the position fairly.

Eastern Mennonite School is committed to providing equal opportunity without regard to an individual's race, color, national or ethnic origin, sex, age, disability, or any other category protected by applicable law. As a faith-based Christian school, EMS reserves the right to consider an applicant's adherence to and support of the school's religious mission, beliefs, and values in employment decisions, as permitted by applicable law. Any form of harassment is strictly prohibited.