Dean and Director

the client seeks a strategic, mission-aligned, and engaged leader to serve as the next Dean and Director (Dean/Director). this role leads an academic unit that cultivates a dynamic, student-centered learning environment grounded in experiential learning, kindness, and honoring diversity. the Dean/Director will advance this distinctive institution by building on its educational foundation and ensuring its enduring strength and broad influence for future generations of students, families, and educators. today, the schools educate approximately 2,200 students from early childhood through grade 12, serving families from within the broader Chicago area and nearby suburbs. the Dean/Director will lead a complex, high-performing educational organization characterized by exceptional teaching, an interdisciplinary and experiential curriculum, and a deeply collaborative culture. responsibilities will include providing clear strategic leadership, sustaining engagement with a broad community of stakeholders, and stewarding the institution’s progressive education roots while strengthening organizational capacity and maintaining a vibrant partnership within the wider university community. the client seeks a seasoned educational leader with sound judgment, integrity, and strong relational capacity to cultivate trust and connection across the schools and the university community. the ideal candidate will embody visible student-centered leadership, guide the organization through its next chapter, and demonstrate the ability to align stakeholders around shared values. an executive search process is underway to support recruitment, with applications and inquiries managed through the search team. Confidential