Head of School

Head of School

Durham, NC (in-person required)
Start Date: October 2025
Commitment: Part-time initially → Pathway to Full-Time Leadership + Potential Equity Partnership

At Purpose Schools
, we believe children thrive when education is rooted in agency, rigor, curiosity, independence, and joy
.

Our mission is to reimagine school as a place where every child’s unique potential is nurtured through:
Montessori principles
Strong relationships
A culture of purpose-driven learning

We are launching our first school in Durham, NC — and seeking a Head of School to lead this exciting journey.

This is not a typical school leadership role. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to:

• Build a school from the ground up
• Shape its culture and vision
• Lead a team of passionate educators
• Create something extraordinary for children and families

Part-time (design + launch phase) → move into full-time leadership after a successful 3-month trial
Potential equity ownership for the right long-term leader

We are looking for someone who is:

• Excited by the challenge of building a school from scratch
• Entrepreneurial and creative, with a love for designing learning experiences, culture, and community
• Ready to take on significant ownership and autonomy, while working closely with the founding team
• Experienced with Montessori philosophy and pedagogy, and confident coaching Montessori-trained teachers

Pre-Launch (Sept–Dec 2025)

• Partner in school design: shaping instructional philosophy, culture, and values
• Support family engagement: enrollment calls, events, community-building
• Participate in hiring + onboarding educators
• Support + coach teachers as we launch our first classroom

Post-Launch (Jan 2026 onward)

• Lead the daily rhythm (drop-off, pick-up, operations)
• Serve as instructional leader + coach (guidance, feedback, support)
• Step into classroom teaching as needed
• Manage substitutes + cover when necessary
• Foster a thriving Montessori school culture
• Lead family communications + relationships
• Collaborate on operations, safety, and protocols
• Shape the long-term vision + growth of Purpose Schools

Required

• 1+ year school leadership OR 5+ years classroom teaching
• Montessori certification (AMI, AMS, NAMC, or equivalent)
• First Aid/CPR (or ability to obtain before start date)
• Strong coaching + educator management skills
• Excellent communication + comfort with remote collaboration tools
• Self-directed, entrepreneurial, energized by autonomy
• Successful completion of background check + references

Preferred

• Education degree, teaching certification, or related field
• Bilingual abilities or experience with multilingual families
• Experience in school launch, microschools, or innovative models

Autonomy + Ownership: Shape the vision, culture, and design of a new school
Entrepreneurial Energy: Build something unique while leading day-to-day operations
Trial → Partnership: 3-month trial with pathway to equity partnership
Mission-Driven: Reimagine joyful, rigorous, purposeful school experiences for children, families, and educators

Competitive, experience-based compensation
Part-time stipend during pre-launch + trial period
Clear pathway to full-time leadership role
Potential for long-term partnership + equity

Send your CV/resume + a brief statement sharing:

• Why you’re excited about launching + leading a new school
• How your experience aligns with Montessori leadership + school design
• What autonomy + ownership in a school context mean to you