Founding Head of School

Founding Head of School

Department: Learning Academy of Northwest Georgia

Job Summary:

The Learning Foundation of Georgia is seeking a dynamic, entrepreneurial, and visionary leader to serve as our Founding Head of School. This is a unique and exciting opportunity to build a new PK-12 charter lab school from the ground up, establishing its foundational culture, academic rigor, and long-term success. Our charter school will integrate the timeless principles of classical education alongside a dual-immersion (English & Spanish) and "Finnish" or outdoor-focused curriculum.

Uniquely, the school will partner with the Dalton State College School of Education (DSC SOE) to provide learning opportunities for their students and faculty. The DSC SOE is working to integrate this model into their own teacher preparation curriculum while supporting curriculum development for the charter.

Initially, this individual will play a pivotal role in the design and launch of the new charter lab school. Upon the school's opening, this position will transition to Head of School, fully responsible for all operational management, curriculum development, student success, faculty leadership, and parent engagement. We are looking for someone with a forward-thinking, self-reflective, and team-oriented mindset, deeply committed to continuous assessment, iterative improvement, and driving innovative solutions to ensure the school's enduring impact.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Strategic Vision & Growth

• Champion and articulate a compelling, long-range vision for the lab school's academic excellence, sustainable growth, and unique identity as a charter institution.
• Lead the strategic planning and implementation for the school's design, launch, and ongoing operations, ensuring alignment with the initial vision and future aspirations.
• Propose to the Board for approval all study programs, curriculum guides, and significant changes to textbooks and scheduling, ensuring these align with the school's evolving vision and pedagogical innovation.
• Proactively identify and address potential challenges, presenting well-researched recommendations to the Board for informed decision-making that supports long-term stability and success.
• Cultivate and manage the annual operating budget with an entrepreneurial lens, identifying efficiencies and opportunities for investment that propel the school's mission forward.
• Provide the Board with clear explanations of proposed procedures, especially those that deviate from current policy or require significant financial expenditure, ensuring strategic resource allocation for future growth.

Community & Stakeholder Engagement

• Attend all Board and committee meetings, providing insightful input on policies and ensuring their effective implementation for the school's sustained benefit.
• Engage strategically with all stakeholders, including the Board, parents, and community members, to garner support, build partnerships, and communicate the school's unique educational methods, achievements, and future directions.
• Offer recommendations to the Board regarding student transportation, ensuring compliance with legal requirements and safety standards while supporting the school's accessibility and reach.

Collaboration with Dalton State College (DSC) School of Education (SoE)

• Collaborate with SoE faculty to design and facilitate meaningful application activities and research projects that advance educational innovation within both the lab school and the broader SoE.
• Host teacher candidates and student teachers, actively shaping the next generation of educators through practical, vision-driven mentorship.
• Available to teach / co-teach at least one course per year/semester in the School of Education, contributing to the academic community and integrating real-world lab school insights; expectations during school design and launch will be determined in consultation with the Board.

Talent & Culture Development

• Recruit, onboard, and inspire a team of highly qualified and passionate teachers and staff who are committed to the school's entrepreneurial spirit and long-term vision.
• Collaborate with staff to continuously update curriculum guides…