Head of School

Job Description

Job Description
Head of School (HOS) is an administrative and academic role operating under the policy direction of the Board of Directors, providing overall administrative oversight for the school with a primary focus on Instructional Leadership, demonstrating a pursuit of student academic achievement at the La Crescent Montessori and STEM School (LMSS) based upon the school’s mission and vision.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

General
Responsible for the overall administrative and educational success of La
Crescent Montessori and STEM School, academic staff, and students
Single point of contact and accountability for all activities and areas not
otherwise explicitly delegated elsewhere (ex., Leasor, MDE, Authorizer)
Work with standing and ad hoc committees to fulfill the needs of the school
Coordinate all internal and external communications as the primary representative
of LMSS (in conjunction with the Director of Operations, DO)
Coordinate with vendors and service providers in all ways necessary to ensure
the proper delivery of goods and services (in conjunction with DO)
Plans and maintains a yearly HOS professional development plan (in conjunction with the Board of Directors)
Other duties as assigned

Instructional Leadership
Promote and implement the Montessori educational philosophy
Promote and implement STEM pedagogy and curriculum
Work hands-on with teachers and support staff to oversee and implement a
formal approach to curriculum development and documentation
Plan and lead Professional Learning Community activities to promote collaboration among academic staff as a component of an overarching strategy to drive academic success
Collaborates with staff to achieve contractual goals
Contract for ancillary academic services as needed

Community Leadership
Cultivate effective relationships with members and organizations of the community
Attend and represent LMSS at school events and activities

Personnel
Manage, supervise, and discipline all academic and support personnel
Responsible for the hiring and/or dismissal of any employee who works for the school, other than the DO, following the Hiring Policy and “At Will” employment law
Will advertise open positions in accordance with the hiring and/or dismissal policy, conduct interviews, and fill staff positions
Continuously monitor and review academic staff performance and their professional development plans, and provide support and mentorship to ensure that LMSS strives to deliver the highest level of educational excellence
Coordinate evaluations of all other administrative team members
Coordinate substitute teaching by maintaining and continuously recruiting
available candidates and serving as a Substitute Teacher in emergency situations
Oversight of all Special Education activities within the school, including serving as District Representative at IEP meetings and supporting Special Education staff and classroom teachers to ensure timely and proper completion of all requirements

Enrollment
Represent LMSS as the primary point of contact for all prospective families
while overseeing and coordinating all enrollment activities (in conjunction with the DO)
Distribute and collect all parent and student satisfaction surveys (in conjunction with the DO)
Responsible for planning and implementing recruiting techniques and opportunities
Maintenance and assurance of security of all student records, including basic
contact information, as well as academic records (in conjunction with DO).
Manage and track individual student progress toward graduation. i.e., graduation credits, assessment results, etc.

Regulations
Ensure that the school is in compliance with all applicable governmental laws
and regulations
Submit all required reporting, including, without limitation, the annual report, reports to the Minnesota Department of Education and the charter authorizer in a timely manner
Coordinate School Crisis Management Plan (in conjunction with DO)

Finance
Operate within approved budgets while executing financial policies as set by
the Board of Directors
Assist the DO with financial planning, assessment,
and other areas, as requested
Apply for and maintain grants

Board
Serve as Ex Officio member of the board
Attend all scheduled board meetings and functions
Work with the board and the authorizer to create and implement contractual goals
Participate in and contribute to board committees as appropriate

Qualifications

Qualifications

An interest in the practice of the Montessori educational philosophy
Bachelor’s degree in education or relevant field of study
Preferred experience includes a master's degree in a related field or an administrative license
Active Montessori Certification or to be obtained within 4 years
Excellent organizational, communication, and leadership skills

Institution Description

LMSS is a longstanding high quality charter school in the heart of the Coulee Region. We support student achievement through rigorous academics, Montessori curriculum, STEM experiences, and environmental education. As the HOS at LMSS, you will guide strong, autonomous teachers through new adventures, successes, and challenges as we continue to grow and elevate our programs. Our families are advocates for our school and often volunteer and serve on committees. Our students are fun-loving, creative, adventurous, and independent.

LMSS is authorized by Osprey Wilds and is a member of the Minnesota Association of Charter Schools. Please see the school website for more information: http://www.lacrescentmontessori.com/

Mission and Vision:
The Vision of La Crescent Montessori & STEM School is to develop self-assured, lifelong learners who are compassionate, globally minded, and empowered to positively impact the world.

The mission of La Crescent Montessori & STEM School is to prepare outstanding Montessori environments with integrated STEM education and rigorous academics, which foster independence, self-assurance, collaboration, and connections to the global community and provide experiences that promote curiosity, inquiry and engagement. LMSS' approach is guided by the principles of AMS Montessori education.

Application Instructions/Comments

Please contact Jeff Newman at jeff@lacrescentmontessori.com