Associate Head of School

Mar 4

Anticipated Start Date: June 15, 2026

Description

Saint Ann’s School seeks an Associate Head of School (AHoS) to serve as the School’s chief academic and operating officer and a trusted advisor to the Head of School. By centering the individual student experience and social-emotional learning in every leadership decision, the AHoS will work collaboratively to realize our vision — aligning structures and resources with our mission to ensure Saint Ann’s remains a creative, equitable, and student-centered learning community.

The Role of the Associate Head of School

Reporting to the Head of School, the Associate Head works in close partnership with the Head to advance the School’s mission through strategic planning, oversight, and community leadership. This role implements the vision into practice, strengthens leadership systems, and supports division and department leaders to ensure that every student thrives academically and socio-emotionally, that every teacher is supported, and that students remain the central priority.

The Associate Head plays a vital role in supporting our commitment to systemic equity and anti-racism, fostering an inclusive environment that not only acknowledges diversity but also celebrates it.

Reporting to the Associate Head are the six Division Heads (Preschool, Kindergarten, Lower School, Lower Middle School, Upper Middle School, High School), Director of Student Support, Dean of Faculty, Director of College Counseling, and the three Department Chair Coordinators. Working collaboratively with Core administrators, faculty, staff, families, and the Board of Trustees, the Associate Head ensures an equitable, robust program in academics and the arts, grounded in a sustained commitment to the social-emotional health and creative vitality of our entire community.

Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Institutional Planning

Partner with the Head of School to develop, implement, and monitor multi-year strategic priorities and institutional plans.
Serve as a thought partner to the Head of School and help realize the strategic vision into sustainable systems and practices.
Direct cross-departmental operational initiatives that align resources with long-term goals including program advancement, capital planning, enrollment strategy, and risk management.
Coordinate the work of Core administrators to strengthen communication and school-wide collaboration.

Equity and Inclusion

Partner with school leadership, faculty, and community stakeholders to develop and revise policies that promote anti-racism, equity, and belonging.
Collaborate with the Director of Institutional Diversity and Belonging, department chairs, faculty, and school leadership to address systemic issues that may contribute to bias in curriculum reviews and classrooms.

Academic & Programmatic Leadership

Support and collaborate with the Dean of Faculty, Division Heads, and Department Chairs on curriculum, report writing and assessment, and faculty development across Preschool-12th grade.
Oversee processes for program review and curricular continuity between divisions including the integration of student well-being into the academic thread.
Lead the strategic design of faculty development and growth opportunities to ensure unparalleled pedagogical achievement remains central to our mission.
Oversee the evaluation of academic programs through the lens of student intellectual engagement, ensuring the curriculum remains responsive to the needs of the individual student.
Partner and collaborate with the Director of College Counseling to ensure that our College Office continues to provide a highly individualized, student-centered approach that prioritizes inclusive, equitable, college-admission practices.

Student-Centered School-Wide Alignment

Ensure that all administrative structures are refined to provide students with a robust and exceptional academic experience.
Partner with Division Heads and Department Chairs to ensure that all academic schedules and structures prioritize the continuity of the student experience.
Honor the creative lives of the faculty while ensuring that the educational needs of the student remain the central focus.
In collaboration with the Director of People and Organizational Development, establish standards that ensure faculty engagement and growth across all divisions and departments.

Community Culture & Professional Growth

Partner with administrative department directors to integrate operational and academic functions, fostering school-wide alignment and streamlined communication.
Provide high-level support and organizational development for Division Heads, the Dean of Faculty, and senior leadership to build a consistent culture of care, transparency, and growth.
Collaborate with the Director of People and Organizational Development to ensure hiring and retention strategies are rooted in the School's mission, commitment to equity, and philosophy.
Partner with the Dean of Faculty and Director of People and Organizational Development to set the direction for professional development and creative expertise.

Financial Stewardship

Work closely with the Head of School, Chief Financial Officer and Finance Committee of the Board to lead budget planning and multi-year forecasting.
Collaborate with the Head of School and the Director of Advancement on financial and strategic implications of advancement initiatives and capital planning.

Board and External Relations

Serve as a thought partner to the Head of School in Board relations, communications, and committee work as needed.
Represent the School to external constituencies (NYSAIS, NAIS, ISAAGNY, peer schools, municipal partners, vendors, donors, etc.) as appropriate.

Crisis Management and Institutional Compliance

Participate in crisis planning and response; ensure compliance with relevant laws, regulations, and accreditation standards.
Partner with the Director of Communications on crisis communications.

Additional Roles and Responsibilities

Serve as acting Head of School when designated.
Lead or assist with special projects that advance institutional goals or address emerging priorities.
Other initiatives as assigned by the Head of School.

Requirements

To ensure we identify a leader who resonates with the specific intellectual and relational culture of Saint Ann's, the ideal candidate will possess a blend of the scholarly depth, operational fluency, and a demonstrated commitment to our non-graded, student-centered mission.

Creative and Lived Experience: We prioritize candidates who bring diverse lived experiences and a creative approach to leadership. An advanced degree that reflects a nuanced understanding of how culture, identity, and institutional structure shape the learning environment is a plus.
Mission Advocacy: A deep, intuitive commitment to Saint Ann’s mission of education for its own sake, with an expert command of how narrative-based evaluation fosters the intellectual and creative development of the individual student and the ability to articulate this mission to diverse stakeholders.
Strategic and Organizational Experience: 10+ years of professional impact within complex educational, mission-driven environments, specifically including experience in organizational leadership, senior administrative leadership, high-level institutional advocacy or service on a non-profit Board of Trustees. Proven ability to lead large, multidisciplinary teams across an organization.
Socio-Emotional and Relational Intelligence: Exceptional emotional intelligence and a proven ability to mentor a diverse, highly autonomous faculty and staff, leading through a collaborative stewardship model rooted in empathy and equity.
Programmatic Reliability: Demonstrated success in aligning institutional resources and professional structures with the daily academic and socio-emotional needs of the student body to ensure a robust, and reliable educational experience throughout the academic journey.
Systemic Equity and Leadership: A distinguished track record of implementing structural change to center anti-racism and social justice within a school community, including the ability to lead high stakes cultural conversations with clarity and grace.
Adaptability and Flexibility: The ability to translate a broad vision into sustainable, inclusive systems that prioritize the student experience while maintaining the flexibility to adapt to new situations and navigate the complexities of a selective urban school.

Salary Range and Employee Benefits

The estimated salary range for this position is $295,000–$325,000. The School offers a robust benefits package.

How to Apply for this Job

Evaluation of candidate materials will begin immediately and continue until a new Associate Head of School is named. Candidates are urged to submit their application materials, consisting of a cover letter and resume, no later than March 23.

Apply Now

About the Organization

Since its founding in 1965, Saint Ann’s has embraced a commitment to education for its own sake, oriented to the capacities of each individual student and free of the encumbrances of formal grading, prizes, and rankings. At the same time, we are unabashedly committed to excellence in all that we do.

With a faculty and staff numbering close to 400, and nearly 1100 students, Saint Ann’s is among the largest and most selective independent schools in New York City. The lives of our graduates speak powerfully to the potential of an education based on these principles to ignite a love of learning and sustain creative energy in every field of endeavor.

We accomplish this by bringing together talented teachers with creative and motivated students. Saint Ann’s is committed to centering anti-racism in the life of the school. Seeking to create a community rooted in trust and equity, we invite each other to take risks, pursue knowledge, and celebrate growth.

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