McGehee School; Orleans, LA Head of Middle School

McGehee School (New Orleans, LA) Head of Middle School

Recruitment began on September 29, 2025

and the job listing Expires on January 5, 2026

The Head of Middle School is a student- and family-centered leader responsible for guiding all aspects of the Middle School student program. Reporting directly to the Head of School, the Head of Middle School ensures that the division fosters intellectual curiosity, academic rigor, student independence, and a deep sense of community.

The successful candidate will be an accomplished educator who is passionate about and expert on the middle school years, committed to innovation in teaching and learning, and eager to elevate the academic profile of the school. The candidate should have strong leadership and management capabilities, a clear vision for what characterizes excellence in learning, the ability to inspire, mobilize and develop educators, the ability to provide direct, constructive feedback, and the ability to delegate with clear direction.

Experience in and expertise on all-girls education is critical. This individual will embrace the opportunity to understand the McGehee community and its history and culture. A successful candidate will also seek to appreciate the unique cultural richness of New Orleans and integrate that awareness into the life of the Middle School.

The effective Head of Middle School will embrace an enterprise leadership approach, taking into account the strategic vision for and operating conditions of the school when making decisions.

McGehee is a PreK-12 school that is committed to a coherent instructional philosophy across divisions. The Head of Middle School will work closely with the Head of Lower School and the Head of Upper School to strengthen the transition to and from the Middle School, and on many other cross-cutting student programming decisions.

• Provide strategic direction for the Middle School program, ensuring it is academically challenging, mission-aligned, and responsive to students’ developmental needs.
• Guide, with clear expectations, and support faculty and academic leaders to identify, design, evaluate, and enhance curriculum that promotes critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, and a love of learning.
• Ensure that faculty are developed and supported in the use of innovative and research-based pedagogies that promote deep critical thinking and that prepare students for future academic success.
• Collaborate with division heads to drive alignment across Lower, Middle, and Upper School programs to create a seamless and coherent educational path from PreK-12.

• Build and oversee effective systems for the holistic development of Middle School students with a focus on academic success and student well-being.
• Review, develop and oversee implementation of a strategy for advisory and student support programs that help students feel known, valued, and connected.
• Partner with counselors, learning specialists, and other support staff to monitor student progress and address individual academic and behavioral needs.
• Build meaningful relationships with students by being a visible and approachable presence in classrooms, hallways, and student activities.

• Develop a leadership structure and team with the capacity and skills to develop and maintain a strong, coherent student program.
• Recruit, hire, develop, retain and assess instructionally expert, mission-aligned Middle School faculty and staff.
• Design and align systems for effective talent management and development with the Interim Head of School and division leaders.
• Develop a clear sense of teachers’ strengths and challenges and provide aligned feedback, mentorship, and professional development opportunities.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, reflection, and continuous improvement among faculty.

• Deeply value and understand the McGehee community and foster its culture of high expectations, joy, and independence.
• Serve as the primary liaison to Middle School families, ensuring clear, and supportive communication and proactive efforts to retain…