Head of School Job Description
School leaders help to create the future
The appointment of a Head of School (Headteacher | Director | Principal) is arguable the most significant job of a schools' governing body. Head of School recruitment, however, is very varied depending on culture and context.
This page provides you with the following toolbox for this recruitment process:
- Principles underlying school leadership
- Standards: what a school leader should know, understand and be able to do
- Profile | Person Specification: qualities, capabilities, intelligences of a school leader
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The following sample recruitment 'blurb' and interview 'questions and activities' was kindly submitted by Kenya Hodges, Oak Park school district, USA.
My role: IB Coordinator and a part of the “Principal Search Team”
Role hiring for School Principal
Blurb:
Work with us to provide a high-quality educational experience for every student in every neighborhood in Oak Park. At Oak Park District 97, our vision is to create a positive learning environment for all District 97 students that is equitable, inclusive, and focused on the whole child. We need committed and effective Teachers, Leaders, and Staff to help us achieve this vision. If you are passionate about leveraging your skills to make a difference in the lives of Oak Park's children, we want to hear from you. Currently, we are looking for a proactive, results-producing education leader who desires an Instructional Leader position. Areas of expertise include;
- Creative and analytical problem-solver with a penchant for thinking outside of the box to achieve desired results.
- Excel in identifying needs and developing programs and resources to meet those needs.
- Committed to offering the tools and resources that develop the fullest potential of each student.
- Demonstrated ability to generate the support and collaborative, cross-functional teams necessary for the success of programs.
Interview Exercise:
Hello Applicant,
As a part of the selection process, we invite you to participate in the Instructional School Leader Obstacle Course that we conduct. Below are the pre-work exercises assigned as a part of this process.
You will participate in the below obstacle course exercises:
- Presence 1 (pre-work): We would like for you to create and share "your story" to tell to your staff on the first day of August training. The goal of this task is to assess your ability to construct important messages in a concise and thoughtful manner while making a genuine connection and inspiring a large audience. You will present your 10-minute presentation to the executive leadership team.
- Presence 2 (pre-work): We would like for you to create a presentation to be delivered to staff announcing a new tutoring program that schools are required to conduct five months prior to state testing. The goal of this task is to assess your ability to construct important messages in a concise and thoughtful manner while making a genuine connection and inspiring a large audience. You will present your 10-minute presentation to the executive leadership team.
- Time & Task Management: Review an instructional school leader's schedule for the day and prioritize each issue. Then share the rationale for the order chosen.
- Observation & Feedback: Review a classroom teaching video then complete an observation and feedback template. Please review and be familiar with the Danielson framework to provide feedback on the lesson. There is nothing to submit here. This exercise reviews the ability to observe and provide strong and effective feedback.
- Role Play: Scenarios relating to people management and are asked to respond to the scenarios in the capacity of a Principal.