Head of Upper School

Begins July 2027 Guided by its mission, “To learn our powers and be answerable for their use,” The Wheeler School is known as a place where students from nursery through grade 12 build empathy, knowledge, and skills needed to live lives of consequence and impact. Located in Providence, RI, Wheeler has, since its founding in 1889, built a reputation for excellence, balancing academic challenge, support, and enrichment in a dynamic learning environment where students thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

Begins July 2027 Guided by its mission, “To learn our powers and be answerable for their use,” The Wheeler School is known as a place where students from nursery through grade 12 build empathy, knowledge, and skills needed to live lives of consequence and impact. Located in Providence, RI, Wheeler has, since its founding in 1889, built a reputation for excellence, balancing academic challenge, support, and enrichment in a dynamic learning environment where students thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. The Wheeler School seeks a new Head of Upper School for July 2027 who has the vision and skill to lead a division committed to fostering curiosity, critical thinking, and a strong sense of community for 380 students. This is an extraordinary opportunity for an educational leader committed to a thoughtful and challenging curriculum complemented by personal attention and encouragement to help students reach their full potential. The Upper School curriculum is designed to be dynamic, engaging, and comprehensive. Along with our vibrant co-curricular program, it encourages students to deepen current talents and explore new interests. Wheeler’s Upper School faculty are dedicated mentors who provide inspiration for their students by sharing their passion, expertise, and creativity in their classrooms. An unwavering commitment to each student’s individual growth ensures that learners receive personalized attention and encouragement to achieve their academic and co‑curricular goals. A strong commitment to professional development at Wheeler means that faculty embrace their own continued learning as they inspire their students.

Signature aspects of Wheeler’s Upper School include the following:

• Curriculum: Engaging, student-centered curriculum designed to cultivate enduring learning and lifelong joy from intellectual discovery.
• Faculty: Faculty strive to balance rigor with support, and collaboration with independence, by focusing on productive struggle, deep inquiry, intellectual risk, creativity, curiosity, and inclusive excellence.
• College Counseling: Student and family-centered practices that center fit as the guiding principle.
• Academic Support: Wheeler supports students through both the Polaris Program and services that are available to all Upper School students.
• The Arts: Wheeler integrates visual and performing arts into its curriculum, giving students of all ages the opportunity to grow through self‑expression, to explore new genres and disciplines, to develop their artistic skills, and to explore questions about themselves and the world around them through art making.
• Athletics: Wheeler supports a robust Athletics program featuring 24 varsity teams that compete in the NEPSAC – EIL Conference.
• The Farm Campus: The 120-acre Wheeler Farm in Seekonk, MA (a 15-minute drive from Providence) is home to athletic facilities, The Nest Early Childhood Program, a summer camp, ropes course, and more. The Farm complements the city campus and is used virtually every day of the school year for activities ranging from athletics to curricular projects and outdoor education.
• Commitment to Equity, Community and Belonging: Embracing the importance of creating an environment that includes people and viewpoints from a variety of cultures, backgrounds, and ways of life, the Office of Equity, Community and Belonging supports the ongoing DEIB efforts at Wheeler. The Unity & Diversity curriculum in the Upper School uses texts and materials to give voice to people and perspectives previously unheard, and the faculty engages with one another, including U&D coordinators, and school leadership in ongoing learning about the lives and experiences of Wheeler students, families, and colleagues.
• The Aerie Enrichment Program: Aerie offers school-wide enrichment through an extensive set of curricular and extra-curricular offerings, allowing students to identify and develop individual interests and talents.
• Community and Student Life: By strengthening individual leadership skills and empowering our students to take on meaningful leadership, our students develop the fundamental skills to participate actively in the Wheeler community and grow as engaged citizens of the world.
• Restorative Justice: The Upper School utilizes Restorative practices to help students and the community

Visit Wheeler’s website to learn more about all aspects of the program.

Responsibilities, Opportunities, And Challenges

The next Head of Upper School should be prepared to collaborate with a forward-thinking and devoted school community to fulfill Wheeler’s mission and to lead the division wisely and confidently into the future by embracing current challenges and seizing new opportunities.

These Include But Are Not Limited To

• Leading a joyful, diverse, energetic, and purposeful Upper School where everyone, without exception, belongs.
• Building upon the culture of collaboration and professional growth in the division.
• Evaluating existing programs and making necessary changes to ensure Upper School students are developing the skills, competencies, and attitudes necessary to thrive in college and beyond.
• Balancing fierce advocacy for the Upper School within a N-12 context by working collaboratively with and across other division heads and administration through a high-functioning Senior Leadership team.
• Collaborating with and leading a supportive Upper School Leadership Team.
• Being a visible presence for students, faculty, staff, and parents/guardians.
• Fostering community and acting as chief Upper School ambassador.
• Proactively communicating with families, students, and staff.
• Recruiting, managing, inspiring, supporting, and retaining excellent, diverse, and representative faculty and staff.
• Partnering with the enrollment team to promote the Upper School to prospective parents.

Key Qualifications And Qualities

• An educator and learner who leads with expertise in student development, passion for teenage students and teachers, and openness to new ideas and best practices in curriculum and pedagogy.
• A collaborative leader with an understanding of and ability to work effectively within the complexity of a Nursery-12 school.
• A high-EQ leader who builds relationships, listens well, considers all viewpoints, can make difficult decisions, and can bring people together around a shared vision.
• Experience building consensus and leading and managing change in schools.
• Demonstrated commitment to and experience with supporting an equitable and inclusive school culture.
• An engaged, visible presence with students, faculty, parents, and guardians.
• An effective communicator, both in writing and through public speaking, with all constituencies.
• A joyful leader who is transparent, approachable, collaborative, empathetic, and humble.
• Ability to manage a divisional budget.
• Independent school leadership is preferred, and a Master’s degree is required.

Salary Range: $150,000 – $185,000; depending on experience.

Statement on Diversity

At Wheeler we actively seek students, faculty, and staff from diverse backgrounds in the belief that a broad range of experiences and viewpoints enhance learning, enrich life on campus, and better prepare us all for full participation in a pluralistic, democratic society. The Wheeler School is committed to a policy of nondiscrimination and equal opportunity for all employees and qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, or disability, and any other category protected by federal, state, or local law.