Company Description

Virginia Chance School is a progressive preschool-elementary nestled in a historic stone schoolhouse on 26 acres in Louisville, KY. The school offers a dynamic, hands-on, and collaborative learning environment with an emphasis on outdoor integration, self-motivation, growth mindset, decision making, community building, and critical thinking. With two lead teachers in every classroom, the program incorporates social-emotional and outdoor learning throughout. Accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States (ISACS), the school develops each child through progressive education principles, adhering to age-appropriate milestones and best academic practices.

Role Description

This is a full-time on-site role as the Head of School, located in Louisville, KY. The Head of School will provide strategic leadership, ensuring the effective implementation of the progressive educational program. Responsibilities include overseeing the development and execution of the curriculum, facilitating a positive and motivating environment for staff and students, maintaining accreditation standards, and managing daily operations. The role also involves engaging with the community, parents, and stakeholders to promote the school's mission and values.

Qualifications, Professional Experience, and Leadership Attributes

The next Head of School at Virginia Chance will bring both the professional expertise and the personal qualities to lead a vibrant, progressive learning community with vision, authenticity, and care.

Education and Certification

Master’s degree in education or related field from an accredited institution.

Advanced study in early childhood development or a related field is strongly preferred.

Professional Experience

The successful candidate will demonstrate a record of accomplishment in school leadership and management, with particular strengths in:

• Early childhood and elementary education, including teaching experience and a deep understanding of child development.

• Recruitment, retention, and support of a talented and mission-driven faculty, fostering an environment where professionals are trusted to do their work while being guided by clear expectations and shared goals.

• School leadership and organizational management - including the effective oversight of people, processes, and systems - to advance institutional goals while allowing leaders to exercise responsibility in their respective domains.

• Developing and following through on proactive processes that engage staff in initiatives and operational changes, ensuring clarity, consistency, and trust in both the process and resulting decisions, all in alignment with the school’s progressive mission and whole-child philosophy

• Articulating and promoting a distinctive educational model, serving as a visible ambassador and advocate who can inspire enthusiasm for the mission and value of the school among current families, prospective families, faculty, and the broader community.

• Effective, transparent, and persuasive communication with all constituencies.

• Designing and stewarding compensation models that effectively honor relevant experience and credentials across all divisions of the school, ensuring fairness, sustainability, and alignment with mission.

• Student support, including the ability to provide consistent and sound counsel to families on developmental needs and appropriate plans for support, while coordinating across faculty and staff who carry out this work daily.

Leadership Attributes

The next Head of School will model a leadership style that inspires trust and confidence across the community. Beyond credentials and experience, the successful candidate will bring personal qualities and ways of leading that reflect the school’s values and strengthen its culture. Among the most important are:

• Honesty, integrity, and transparency in decision-making.

• Approachability, humility, and empathy—qualities that make the leader both accessible and relatable.

• A forward-thinking and visionary mindset, able to honor tradition while guiding innovation.

• Strong relational skills, with the ability to connect authentically with students, families, faculty, staff, and trustees.

• A collaborative, community-minded orientation, coupled with the judgment and courage to make difficult decisions in the best interest of the school.

• Charisma and commitment to mission, exuding genuine passion for the Chance model and serving as a “cheerleader” for its progressive philosophy—energizing others through inspiring communication, visible presence, and authentic enthusiasm.

• A leadership style that empowers others—trusting leaders to lead and faculty to teach—while providing thoughtful oversight, coordination, and strategic planning to align the whole community toward common goals.

• Compassionate and Respectful Leadership, demonstrating dignity and respect in all interactions, honoring the uniqueness of each individual and fostering a culture of inclusion and belonging where every member of the community feels valued, heard, and affirmed. Models the integrity and fairness that sustain trust across the school.

How to Apply

Candidates interested in the position must submit the following materials in a SINGLE merged PDF document in the exact order below by December 10, 2025.

• EC Candidate Summary Sheet (You’ll be asked to make a copy before completing)

• Cover Letter addressed to: Sarah Farmer, President, Board of Trustees; Chair, Search Committee

• Résumé

• Statement of Leadership Philosophy

• A list of five professional references: Name, email, phone contact, and relationship

• EC Disclosure Form https://docs.google.com/document/d/1GAa81oVJMtYKXw8WT8pm9sELpb811cpeQL2JIkJOE0g/copy?tab=t.0 (You’ll be asked to make a copy before completing)

Send applications via email to Educators Collaborative Partners:

Carol Santos Email: csantos@educatorscollaborative.com Phone: 860-839-5757 Chris Bright Email: cbright@educatorscollaborative.com Phone: 405-664-9803