Presidio Knolls School (PKS) is seeking an innovative, experienced Founding Head of School with a strong entrepreneurial spirit to launch, build and lead this new independent school. This is an unprecedented opportunity for an exceptional educational leader to create a world-class progressive Mandarin immersion school based on PKS’s key Guiding Principles:

1. Academic Excellence. PKS believes that high academic achievement and a love of learning are essential foundations for preparing students to succeed in high school, college and beyond.

2. Exceptional Teachers. PKS takes great pride in its unparalleled teaching staff who participate in robust ongoing professional development to maintain the highest teaching standards.

3. Progressive Educational Best Practices. PKS students learn in a hands-on collaborative environment with their teachers and peers to master material, develop critical thinking, problem solving and communication skills, build technological literacy, and spark creativity and innovation.

4. Comprehensive Mandarin Immersion. PKS aims to develop highly proficient and confident bilingual communicators with a deep knowledge of Chinese culture.

5. Community Engagement and Global Perspective. PKS nurtures compassionate global citizens in a diverse multicultural environment, and fosters a strong ethic of social responsibility to the School community and the broader world.

6. Passionate School Community. PKS boasts a vibrant and highly engaged parent community that actively partners with teachers and staff to create a uniquely rich experience and supportive environment for the entire PKS community.

7. Continuous Improvement. PKS will continue to evolve to incorporate new research-based improvements and best practices, delivering a world-class educational experience now and in the future.

PRIMARY ROLES

The Founding Head of School reports directly to the Board of Trustees (“Board”) and will serve as a centralizing leadership figure within the school and the local community.

Developing a Culture of Achievement
• Leads the development of a world-class Mandarin immersion K-8 school based on Presidio Knolls School’s guiding principles,
• Aligns Presidio Knolls School’s mission and guiding principles with instructional strategies,
• Sets clear academic goals and strong accountability systems to measure student success,
• Recruits, trains and supports high performing staff,
• Designs and implements an employee evaluation system based on professional standards,
• Remains informed on education trends, research and legislation in general and specifically, Mandarin immersion and elementary education issues.

Building Relationships and Influencing Others
• Serves as public media and campus wide spokesperson for Presidio Knolls School,
• Represents Presidio Knolls School’s mission to all prospective partners (including families, funders, volunteers, local businesses & non-profit organizations, and the city),
• Cultivates and sustains long-term community relationships to achieve goals,
• Collaborates with Board as a primary resource for assessing growth and implementing new strategies and initiatives.

Managing Operations in a Growing Start-Up Environment
• Leads school grade per year expansion to encompass K through 8th grades,
• Designs effective, data driven operations and decision-making systems,
• Establishes specific direction aligned with Presidio Knolls School’s vision,
• Ensures adherence to all applicable federal, state, and local compliance laws and regulations,
• Executes the financial policy determined by the Board,
• Supports fundraising efforts and long term financial planning,
• Supervises day-to-day school operations.

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS
• High degree of maturity and self-awareness,
• Demonstrated flexibility,
• Demonstrated instructional leadership in developing a high performing school,
• Proven track record in achieving academic results,
• Expertise in Mandarin immersion program design strongly desired,
• Demonstrated ability to identify and implement progressive educational best practices,
• Entrepreneurial passion; the ability to thrive in the excitement and ambiguity of a start-up environment,
• Role model with the highest standards of honesty and ethics,
• Ability to attract, inspire and mentor a community of high quality teachers,
• Prior success managing relationships with potential partners, funders and families,
• Excellent verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills,
• Literacy in instructional multi-media technology to improve student learning,
• Strong operational and financial management capabilities with experience in fundraising,
• A minimum of an advanced degree,
• Bilingual (Mandarin/English) speaker preferred.

Salary and compensation competitive.

Presidio Knolls School’s mission is to educate and inspire its students to become confident, creative and responsible individuals engaged in the global community through an innovative Mandarin immersion program that combines academic excellence with social and emotional development to foster a lifelong passion for learning.

Presidio Knolls School (“PKS”) was founded in 2008 as a Reggio Emilia inspired preschool program, and has become a distinguished Mandarin immersion preschool in San Francisco. With the ever-increasing demand for PKS’s unique style of Mandarin education, and the backing of a passionate group of highly-committed parents, PKS will be launching a K-8 Mandarin immersion elementary and middle school program beginning Fall 2012.

TO APPLY

Interested and qualified candidates should submit a cover letter, resume, statement of educational philosophy statement and references (4) with contact information to: Judith R. Glickman, Educators’ Collaborative, LLC, jglickman@educatorscollaborative.com.

Candidates are encouraged to contact Judith Glickman (415-655-9974) with any questions. Presidio Knolls School offers equal opportunity to all and is non-discriminatory.