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Head of School

Rippowam Cisqua School
Bedford, NY Full Time
POSTED ON 4/16/2025
AVAILABLE BEFORE 5/15/2025

Position Summary

The Head of School at Rippowam Cisqua School (RCS) will be an authentic, ambitious, and inclusive leader eager to partner with the school’s talented and committed faculty and staff, active and engaged parents, and dedicated Board of Trustees to move a strong school forward. Building upon the 100 year history of excellence in Early Childhood, elementary, and middle school education, the next Head will inspire a tight-knit and deeply devoted community to build on its traditions and strengths while being mindful of the rapidly evolving world. The school’s next leader will inherit a supportive and nurturing community with a deep commitment to academic excellence, strong student-teacher connections, and experiential learning to develop students’ strong social, emotional, and intellectual skills.

Check below to see if you have what is needed for this opportunity, and if so, make an application asap.

The Head of School will work closely with the faculty, staff, and administration to actively and joyfully interact with the curious and deeply engaged students at RCS. The Head will embody the school’s mission of developing leaders who “dare to be true,” and are prepared to contribute meaningfully to a diverse and increasingly complex global society. The next Head of School will set high expectations for programmatic and pedagogical innovation and will provide the framework and support to continuously evolve the school’s program without losing commitment to the core values of RCS, which prides itself on matching academic excellence with personalization for every student.

The Head of School is appointed by the Board of Trustees and, in partnership with the Board, is responsible for setting and executing the strategic plans of the school. The Head is responsible for the school living its mission, stewarding its assets, and cultivating its profile and resources. As the chief ambassador for the RCS community, as well as the school’s executive leader, this individual must be an inspiring and clear communicator, an exceptional administrative leader, and be able to authentically connect with diverse audiences in all settings on campus, in the Bedford, New York community, and beyond. The Head of School must be able to understand and appreciate the cherished history and culture of RCS while leading the school to a place of purposeful evolution.

Compensation

400,000-$450,000 based on skills, experience abilities, and organizational needs. In addition to the annual salary, Rippowam Cisqua School offers a strong benefits package.

Search Process

Rippowam Cisqua School is being assisted in this recruitment by the leadership advisory firm Spencer Stuart and welcomes nominations or expressions of interest. To submit comments, nominations, or expressions of interest, please send an email with any supporting materials to the confidential email address : RippHOS@spencerstuart.com.

Rippowam Cisqua School has a longstanding policy of providing Equal Opportunities for all persons in employment. All qualified applicants for employment will be recruited, hired, and assigned on the basis of merit, without regard to race, religious beliefs, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other protected status under the law. The employment policies and practices of the school ensure that all qualified employees are treated equally and with no discrimination in compensation, opportunities for advancement (including promotions and transfers), training, and discipline.

Candidate Profile IDEAL EXPERIENCE

  • Experience as an educational leader with an authentic understanding and appreciation for the values and practice of Early Childhood, elementary, and middle schools.
  • A love of inspiring, teaching, coaching, and connecting with students.
  • Experience setting vision, leading other leaders, holding others accountable, building trust through collaboration, and implementing strategy.
  • An inspirational team builder and confident decision-maker who has experience identifying, attracting, and retaining top talent.
  • An understanding of the financial and operational underpinnings of a school, and the levers needed to ensure a fiscally sustainable institution.
  • A demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.
  • Track record of effective communication, encompassing tested and strong external relations skills, playing a role in admissions, fundraising, and community engagement.
  • Ability to partner and collaborate effectively with the Board of Trustees.

CRITICAL LEADERSHIP CAPABILITIES Educational Leadership and Vision

An open-minded and forward-looking leader with a clear vision for the future of education and an enduring appreciation for the school’s longstanding tradition of excellence in providing a well-rounded, rigorous education, the next Head of School will :

  • Guide the school in clearly articulating a broad academic vision and shaping a program designed to nurture the development needs of each child.
  • Inspire a culture of intentionality that continuously explores best practices in education for the youngest PreKindergarten learners through those in middle school, including social and emotional learning, community, and inclusion.
  • Be the lead advocate in the evolution of the school’s programs. Challenge and guide the community to continuous improvement and academic innovation.
  • Commit to the intentional professional development of the faculty and collaboration across the divisions, grade levels, and departments.
  • Ensure that all academic programs are challenging, advance a culture of excellence and accountability, and equip students to thrive in their secondary school environments and beyond.

    • Inspiring Community Builder

    Given the school’s deep commitment to a caring culture and community, the next Head of School will be a gifted and eager community builder with the ability to :

  • Be visible and accessible as a genuine presence in the life of the school and students. The Head will actively engage in daily conversations with students, faculty, staff, and parents — whether it be in the classroom, at lunch, on stage, or on the playing fields.
  • Promote trust and engagement across the school’s broad community and maintain a culture of unity, collaboration, and mutual respect.
  • Continue to advance the school’s commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in its community life across the extended community.
  • Be an inspiring and authentic leader who will welcome debate, value diverse perspectives, listen, and continue to encourage community participation in all forms to enhance and demonstrate the school’s core values.

    • Organizational Leadership

    In a school community with ambition for continued improvement, the Head of School will :

  • Provide critical leadership to empower and inspire a talented faculty, staff, and administrative team members who are committed to academic excellence, student wellness, curricular improvement, professional development, and enhancing the culture of the community.
  • Promote an organizational structure that supports the academic mission and operational needs of RCS, including teacher development and a robust evaluation system that supports continued improvement.
  • Be an exceptional team builder with experience identifying, attracting, retaining, and developing top talent.
  • Be a strategic, effective steward of the school’s assets, understanding smart fiscal management strategies, and the ability to set priorities and make difficult decisions.
  • Build and sustain strong relationships with the school’s Board of Trustees, ensuring that both governance and leadership are aligned on setting and achieving major strategic institutional priorities.
  • Steward a culture of ongoing philanthropic support from alumni, parents, and grandparents, and prioritize engagement with the extended RCS community, including within the local Bedford community.

    • OTHER PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS

  • A warm, engaging people person. Genuinely interested in the lives of students, faculty, staff, and parents.
  • Exceptional verbal and written communication skills — thoughtful, inspiring, authentic, and able to articulate decisions in a clear manner.
  • Active listener and decisive decision-maker.

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    Salary : $400,000 - $450,000

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