Head of School

The Organization:Ambleside Colorado is a Christ-centered school community that provides a living education grounded in the philosophy and practical pedagogy of Charlotte Mason. We are committed to forming students who think deeply, love what is good and true, and grow in Christlikeness. Our guiding commitment, "for the children's sake," shapes everything we do, as we partner with our deeply relational community in the work of formation and discipleship. With campuses in Lone Tree and Englewood, Ambleside Colorado is entering an important season of growth, with a long-term vision to expand to three to five thriving, fully enrolled campuses, even greater financial sustainability, and becoming a flagship within the broader Ambleside Schools International community.The Position:The Head of School serves as the senior executive and educational leader of Ambleside Colorado, overseeing the educational, organizational, financial, cultural, and spiritual health of a growing multi-campus organization. We are seeking a leader who combines the heart of a pastor, the mind of an educator, and the organizational capability of an executive. The Head of School must be someone deeply committed to Christ and personally convinced by the Ambleside model of education, with the relational depth to shepherd a community and the organizational ability to develop leaders, steward resources, measure organizational health, and translate vision into execution.The Head of School reports to the Board of Directors and serves as a non-voting member, with the Board providing governance, strategic direction, and accountability while entrusting operational leadership to the Head of School.Responsibilities:Mission & Educational ExcellenceSteward Ambleside Colorado's Christ-centered mission, Charlotte Mason philosophy, and culture of deep communityKeep "for the children's sake" central to organizational decision-makingEnsure excellent and consistent implementation of Ambleside pedagogy across campusesStrengthen classroom excellence through teacher training, coaching, feedback, and accountabilityProtect Ambleside's distinctives while cultivating a culture of humility, growth, and continuous improvementOrganizational & Leadership DevelopmentProvide strategic and operational leadership across Ambleside Colorado's campusesBuild the leadership structure, systems, and shared services necessary for future growthRecruit, develop, and empower strong leaders, giving meaningful ownership with clear accountabilityEstablish meaningful measures of academic, financial, enrollment, and organizational health and use them to inform decisionsIdentify challenges early, empower the right people to solve them, and prepare the organization to grow with additional campusesCultivate a leadership culture of empowerment, equipping other leaders for autonomous, high-impact decision-makingFinancial, Enrollment & Community StewardshipOversee the financial health and sustainability of the organization and its individual campuses.Lead budgeting, forecasting, enrollment planning, staffing, and resource allocationPartner with the Board to strengthen long-term financial sustainability and steward resources wiselyStrengthen enrollment, community visibility, parent engagement, and alumni relationshipsRemain personally connected to students, families, faculty, and staff as the organization growsNavigate difficult conversations with wisdom, empathy, clarity, and convictionEngage with major donors to establish and pursue relationshipsBoard Partnership & Strategic GrowthPartner with the Board to translate long-term vision into priorities and executionProvide clear reporting on academics, enrollment, finances, staffing, and organizational healthMaintain a close working relationship with the Board Chair and surface significant issues earlyLead toward full enrollment, financial sustainability, and thoughtful multi-campus growthStrengthen Ambleside Colorado's role as a flagship and resource within the broader Ambleside Schools International communityQualifications:A mature and deeply personal relationship with Jesus Christ and full alignment with Ambleside's Statement of Faith and the Nicene CreedGenuine conviction that the Ambleside approach offers something distinctive and deeply valuable in the formation of childrenStrong resonance with Charlotte Mason's philosophy and a commitment to becoming deeply formed in the Ambleside MethodAbility to articulate why Ambleside educates differently and why those differences matterExceptional emotional intelligence, self-awareness, and relational maturityA genuine love for students, families, faculty, and staff and a shepherd's heart for the communityAbility to listen deeply, build trust, navigate difficult situations, and combine compassion with accountabilitySignificant senior leadership experience within a school, church, nonprofit, or similarly complex mission-driven organizationStrong organizational, operational, and financial literacy, with experience managing meaningful budgets, people, resources, and organizational prioritiesDemonstrated ability to recognize, develop, and empower other leaders rather than becoming the center of decision-makingExperience leading through growth, complexity, or organizational transition; multi-site or multi-department leadership experience strongly preferredMaster's degree preferred; degree in education, divinity, organizational leadership, business, or a related field strongly preferredTeaching, educational leadership, pastoral leadership, or other significant formation-focused experience strongly preferredSalary + BenefitsSalary: $125-135k+/year, BOEBenefitsHealth, dental, and retirement plan contributions