Head of School
Situated on an idyllic campus at the base of Mt. Diablo, The Athenian School is a college preparatory day and boarding school for grades 6-12, located in Danville, California, in the San Francisco Bay Area. Since its founding in 1965, The Athenian School has been both a pioneer and leader in experiential education and seeks to continue and build upon this legacy. The Board of Trustees and the school community invites nominations and applications for a highly relational, thoughtful, and visionary leader to serve as its next Head of School beginning July 1, 2026.
ABOUT THE ATHENIAN SCHOOL
Athenian is a close-knit, thriving community of learners. The school enrolls 525 students across all grades with 170 middle school students and 355 upper school students. While day students make up most of the student body, Athenian’s 60 Upper School boarding students hail from 11 home countries, enriching the school’s vibrant culture. The 75 acre campus is home to more than 140 people, including students, faculty, staff, and children.
The Athenian School is situated 32 miles east of San Francisco and nestled among the Danville, Diablo, and Blackhawk communities. Danville is known for its small-town atmosphere and quality of life, including highly rated public elementary schools. Athenian’s land opens up to wild space on Mt. Diablo for outdoor adventure in students’ backyard. A massive solar array provides nearly 50% percent of the school’s power and is just one of many ways Athenian strives to be a green campus. Proximity to Berkeley, Oakland, Silicon Valley, and San Francisco provides endless opportunities for dining, cultural, and social experiences. For more information on Athenian, please visit the “Fast Facts” page on the school’s website.
THE ROLE OF THE HEAD OF SCHOOL
Athenian’s Head of School serves as chief executive officer overseeing all aspects of Athenian’s programs and operational functions. The Head of School is appointed by and reports to the Board of Trustees. The Head of School leads a senior administrative leadership team of nine: Assistant Head of School/Head of Upper School; Head of Middle School; Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Social Justice; Director of Educational Technology; Director of Philanthropy (active search); Director of Enrollment Management; Chief Operating Officer; Director of People & Culture; and, Director of Marketing & Communications.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND CHARACTERISTICS
The ideal candidate for Athenian’s next Head of School will be a highly engaged and collaborative, student-centered leader with a deep understanding and appreciation for independent school education, experiential learning, and a commitment to cultivating an inclusive community. This position requires a leader with a high level of emotional intelligence; a person who is confident and competent, with strong skills in management and leadership; and, one who understands the subtleties of motivating and directing a diverse group of individuals. The next Head of School will prioritize Athenian's pillars - internationalism, democracy, environmentalism, adventure, leadership, and service. Additionally, they will display the highest level of integrity, confidence, courage, and conviction in leading Athenian.
The anticipated salary range for this role is $525,000 – $575,000 with a generous benefits package. The school provides housing for the Head of School. Community members also enjoy meals on campus, the use of athletic facilities, and much more.
APPLICATION PROCESS
The search committee for Athenian’s next Head of School is now accepting applications and nominations and will begin reviewing materials immediately. Requested application materials include a letter of interest and current resume. We have retained Storbeck Search to partner with us on this search; kindly review the position overview and apply directly through Storbeck.
NON DISCRIMINATION COMMITMENT
The Athenian School is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to basing judgments concerning the employment of individuals upon their qualifications and abilities. The School is firmly committed to equal employment and advancement opportunities for all employees and applicants in all areas of employment. The School does not discriminate on the basis of an individual’s sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, race, color, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, military or veteran status, genetic characteristic or genetic information, physical or mental disability, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.