Executive Director SURN

Executive Director SURN

Established in 1994 to create partnerships between William & Mary and Virginia School divisions that strengthen teaching, leading, and learning, the School-University Resource Network (SURN) serves as an essential outreach center in the School of Education. SURN partners with schools, school divisions and the university to bring quality professional learning to teachers and leaders. SURN supports schools, school divisions, and the university through partnerships and programming that bridge professional preparation and in-service learning, recognizing that academic excellence depends upon sustained collaboration across the educator development continuum.

The School of Education collective impact priorities of delivering programs that serve the Commonwealth and profession, providing opportunities for sustained, immersive experiences, and building strong and just institutions underpin the work of SURN. The Executive Director leads with a strong understanding of the vision, mission, and values of the School of Education, sets priorities for the center, advocates for students, teachers, and leaders, and engages in continuous improvement.

The Executive Director leads the collaborative work of center staff with faculty and school division partners in studying, developing, designing, implementing, and evaluating resources and programs. Reporting to and working with the Dean, the Executive Director establishes priorities of the center that elevate the School of Education's mission to be a model of excellence for solving complex educational problems through innovative and participatory teaching, scholarship, and community engagement.

The Executive Director must have the capacity to build relationships at the local, state, and national levels, to leverage research and development opportunities, to develop and direct staff, and to manage multiple concurrent funding streams and programming activities to ensure the needs of teachers and leaders are met with fidelity. The Executive Director understands the nature of education in Virginia and can balance competing needs, interests, and initiatives through skilled leadership and administrative acumen.

We will not sponsor applicants for work visas for this position.

• Master's degree or higher in education or a closely related field.
• Significant experience in educational leadership.
• Advanced understanding of education, instruction, and learning.
• Experience in designing, managing, and delivering professional learning.
• Expertise in assessing needs, setting direction, and building consensus.
• Extensive familiarity with K-12 schools in Virginia.
• Excellent oral/written communication.
• Proficiency in technology for both productivity and instruction.
• Successful grant writing history.
• Project management skills.
• Understanding of budget development & management.
• Research skills.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and to work independently in a fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrated innovation.
• Experience as a supervisor.

• Doctorate in education or closely related field.
• Several years' experience as a K-12 teacher and/or administrator.
• Higher education experience as an instructor or administrator.
• Record of six-figure grant award.
• Experience serving as a grant principal investigator.
• Experience directing a consortium or school-university partnership.
• Demonstrated entrepreneurial acumen.
• Record of scholarship as an author and/or presenter.

Occasional weekend work and evening work may be required to support program functions. This is a restrictive position dependent on external funding sources.

Salary range: $125,000 - $150,000, commensurate with experience and internal alignment.

For full consideration, please submit your CV, cover letter, and a minimum of three references with contact information by the priority review date of August 5, 2026.

40% - Strategic Leadership and Program Management:

• Provide proactive, insightful leadership that is responsive to the realities of the K-12 and university educational landscape.
• Lead strategic planning, prioritize the unit's activities, and work collaboratively with the SURN Advisory Board and other stakeholders to ensure activities align with, support, and enhance SURN's mission and goals.
• Facilitate the innovation, development, and creation of leadership and professional learning projects and events.
• Serve as a School of Education resource with leadership and instructional expertise for faculty, staff, and students.
• Collaborate with and support the efforts of the Associate Dean for Community Engagement, Partnerships, and Professional Learning and the centers in the William & Mary School of Education.
• Developing and leading the annual School Leadership Conference and other revenue-generating programs (e.g., the SURN Principal Academy).
• Providing operations support.
• Managing grant-related program activities.
• Developing and presenting materials, seminars, and sessions.
• Planning and leading SURN Advisory Board…