Head of School

ABOUT SAINT ANDREW SCHOOL
St. Andrew School, a classical school built on Catholic faith, academic excellence, and community, is seeking a Head of School to lead the school beginning summer 2023. St. Andrew School is a Pre-K through 12th grade independent Catholic school with 243 students enrolled currently. The school was founded in 1996 and is the only Catholic school in Helena, Montana. It continues to grow in its mission and influence in the community.
Helena, the Queen City of the Rockies and state capital, is nestled in the mountains 12 miles from the Continental Divide. With a population of 32,000, Helena has plenty to offer everyone. Our outdoor recreation is second to none with over 75 miles of hiking and biking trails originating from downtown, a variety of snowsports in our local mountains, and year-round fishing in our rivers and lakes. You can also visit one of our many museums and historical sites or cheer on the Carroll College Saints sports teams. With an abundance of local eateries, coffee houses, and breweries, you're sure to find your favorite place to relax with friends. Helena is also less than four hours to both Glacier and Yellowstone National Parks.

SUPPORTING THE SAINT ANDREW SCHOOL MISSION
The St. Andrew School Head of School faithfully promotes the school's distinctly Catholic and classical Mission and the related philosophy of classical education among all students and stakeholders. The Head of School articulates the benefits of St. Andrew educational and spiritual programs among all students, families, faculty and staff. The Head of School leads and serves the community of administrators, faculty, staff, volunteers, parents, students, benefactors, and friends of the school and is responsible for the daily operations of the school. The Head of School is accountable to and evaluated by the St. Andrew Board President and works in close collaboration with the Board in setting, enforcing, and maintaining policies that establish all governance aspects of the school.
The ideal Head of School for St. Andrew School desires to live a life dedicated to fostering the faith life of the community and advance the mission and values of the Catholic Church. The Head of School embodies virtuous and humble qualities and has the ability to establish and maintain a service-oriented culture for students and teachers, while cultivating quality interpersonal relationships in an atmosphere of Christian love.

HEAD OF SCHOOL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Curriculum and Instruction
The Head of School leads in developing, achieving, and maintaining the strongest possible educational programs and services which promote the goals and objectives of the school. The Head of School will:
•Thoroughly understand the Catholic and classical model of teaching;
•Carry forward all school educational goals and philosophy;
•Lead in curriculum assessment and development;
•Oversee curricular plan approval process as submitted by teachers to Assistant Head(s) of School, including the goals and objectives of each grade or course;
•Form and oversee the academic departments or special committees of the faculty in the development of the instructional program;
•Oversee the scheduling of all teachers and students into appropriate courses or classrooms; and
•Direct a program of teacher evaluation and improvement through classroom visitation, lesson observation, and self-evaluation of teaching methods, curriculum content, and classroom management.

Student Body
The Head of School supervises the welfare of the student body and its individual students in their spiritual and academic growth, the quality of their learning program, and their physical well-being. The Head of School will:
•Direct the student chapel program;
•Hold teachers accountable for implementing policies for student discipline;
•Administer strict student disciplinary measures when necessary and proper, such as probation, suspension, or expulsion;
•Ensure that a school-wide program of student evaluation is implemented, including achievement testing, and ensure that proper record keeping and reporting procedures are followed by teachers and staff;
•Oversee cumulative records for each student in accordance with the policies;
•Approve and oversee extracurricular activities and the personnel who supervise them; and
•Be present to the student body in hallways, classrooms and at in-school and extracurricular activities, in such a way as to provide a model for virtuous living and servant leadership.

Personnel Administration
The Head of School is the leader of the teachers and is responsible for the overall spiritual, personal and professional growth of the school's faculty and staff. The Head of School leads in the area of personnel relations to maximize the educational benefits for each student. The Head of School will:
•Recruit, interview, and hire all teaching and non-teaching staff positions;
•Collaborate with the Board to create and implement staff retention incentives;
•Plan and oversee staff meetings and faculty prayer times;
•Guide and account for the decisions and actions of the Assistant Head(s) of School;
•Administer supervisory duties for the Assistant Head(s) of School, Advancement Director, and non-teaching staff; Teaching staff supervisory duties are delegated to respective Assistant Head(s) of School with oversight to the Head of School;
•Conduct appropriate administrative, faculty, or staff meetings as necessary;
•Direct and approve the practices and procedures of teacher in-service training, conference and seminar participation, and continuing education, especially those which have direct impact on the application of the Trivium to the teaching methods used within the school;
•Make recommendations to the Board for the continuance of employment or the re-issuance of teacher contracts. When necessary, initiate disciplinary procedures involving teachers or staff;
•Administer all other Board personnel policies in such areas as salary, placement, leave, fringe benefits, and grievance procedures;
•Resolve appropriately escalated problems which may arise between parents and teachers, teachers and students, or staff members, applying biblical principles of problem solving and established school policies; and
•Maintain and keep current all personnel files and records for the school.

General Administration
The Head of School serves as the chief administrative officer for all operations of the school and is charged with the responsibility for assisting the Board in developing workable and effective budgets and policies and for implementing policies ultimately set by the Board. The Head of School leads efforts to establish and maintain good relations with the school families, personnel, constituents, and business contacts of the school. The Head of School will:

•Effectively and openly communicate the school's mission, values, needs, efforts, and accomplishments to the community;
•Administer the school in conformity with Board policy and in accordance with the laws of the state, provided those laws do not violate the magisterial tenets upon which the school is founded;
•Make administrative decisions for the proper functioning of academic programs and all other operations of the school;
•In collaboration with the Board, develop and apply administrative regulations and lead the staff in implementing school programs and approved curriculums;
•Operate as a Board member ex officio and assist in the preparation of the agenda for each Board meeting;
•Provide a written status report in advance of each Board meeting and deliver the report to the Board during each meeting;
•Attend all Board meetings and participates in deliberations of the Board;
•Collect and compile required school operational performance data and perform such studies as may be required to assure continual academic accreditation of the school;
•Collaborate with the Board in developing the annual financial budget;
•Implement the approved annual budget with keen fiduciary responsibility;
•Actively participate in the long-range planning for the school;
•Oversee the acquisition of new technologies and resources to be integrated into the program and operations of the school; and
•Oversee facility management of buildings and real property.

The above statements describe the general nature and level of work for the position. They are not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
Education
Master's degree in education administration or equivalent.

Experience
Minimum of three years teaching experience.

Required
Certified to teach in Montana (or equivalent for out of state applicants) or ability to attain Montana licensure. Completion of background checks and fingerprinting, Virtus Training, Catechist Certification. Practicing Roman Catholic.
The successful Head of School ideally meets the following qualifications:
•A faith-filled Roman Catholic who will inspire a shared vision of the value of a Catholic education across all constituencies: faculty, students, parents and the greater Faith community;
•Experience with Classical Curriculum;
•Minimum of two years administrative experience;
•Significant experience with the formation of children and youth;
•Experience with curriculum development;
•Demonstrated management and organizational skills;
•Great leadership, team building, and staff management capabilities;
•Excellent written and verbal communication skills;
•Excellent social qualities, with a discreet, firm and kind character;
•A rich level of culture;
•Energetic and positive approach to responsibilities;
•Demonstrated ability to listen to teachers and staff with a compassionate and objective capacity to understand their perspective;
•Must be able and willing to participate in the many after-hours school events that occur throughout the academic year; and
•Demonstrates a willingness to continue his/her own professional development through reading, workshops, etc.

COMPENSATION
Salary Starting at: $80,000 depending on qualifications and experience
Benefits include: Paid Time Off, Health Insurance Allowance, Professional Development, Tuition Benefit for Dependents
Qualified individuals may submit the completed online application along with a Letter of Interest, current Curriculum Vitae or Resume, and reference letters (2 Professional, 2 Personal, plus a letter from current pastor) to [email protected]