Head-Royce School (HRS), a vibrant and diverse all-gender, independent K-12 community of about 900 students in Oakland, CA, seeks a visionary and collaborative leader to serve as Middle School Director. Guiding nearly 250 students through a critical developmental period, the Middle School Director will bring expertise in middle school education, a deep commitment to student growth, and the ability to inspire transformative change. This role is key to the school's strategic shift toward a more integrated K-8 model, emphasizing academic excellence, personal growth, and meaningful learning experiences.

Situated on 22 acres in the Oakland hills, Head-Royce offers a rigorous academic curriculum that inspires a lifelong love of learning, fosters a commitment to service, and builds meaningful connections. The program emphasizes choice, creativity, real-world problem-solving, and intellectual engagement while supporting students’ social-emotional growth and foundational knowledge. Guided by its core values—students first, academic excellence, diversity, belonging, and civic engagement—HRS is a community rooted in purpose and connection. The Middle School Director will play a pivotal role in advancing this mission, helping to foster a cohesive K-8 experience that empowers students to explore, discover, and grow.

The Position

As the Lower and Middle Schools at HRS enter an exciting phase of organizational transformation, the Middle School Director will be a key leader in helping to shape the future of K-8. Reporting to the inaugural Head of Lower and Middle Schools and working closely with the K-8 Divisional Leadership Team—including the Lower School Director, K-8 Director of Teaching and Learning, and K-8 Director of Equity and Community—the Middle School Director will oversee divisional administration, student support, and culture-building. This role requires a leader who excels at building authentic relationships within diverse communities and with cultural competency, balancing administrative responsibilities with a commitment to student well-being, academic growth, and community engagement. The ideal candidate will find joy in working with middle school students and educators, embodying the school’s mission to nurture "character, intellect, and creativity."

Strategic Priorities

The Middle School Director will play a critical role in advancing the following strategic priorities for the Middle School:

• Partner to Build a Cohesive K-8 Experience: Partner with the K-8 Divisional Leadership Team to develop a unified vision for K-8, bridging the Lower and Middle School experiences while maintaining a focus on the unique developmental needs of Middle School students.
• Foster a Strong School Culture: Create a positive and inclusive learning environment that supports the social-emotional well-being of all students.
• Enhance Academic Excellence: Oversee the development and implementation of a rigorous and engaging curriculum that prepares students for success while attending to the challenges and pressures that adolescents face. Utilizing current research about the importance of social-emotional skill development to build even greater capacity among faculty to provide systematic support across programs and individual interactions will be an important priority. Expertise in the instruction of high-level writing and reading will be key to fostering critical thinking and communication skills.
• Support Faculty and Staff Excellence Recruit, develop, and retain a talented and dedicated faculty. Provide feedback and coaching to teachers, support professional development, and inspire alignment with school priorities.
• Build Strong Partnerships: Foster strong relationships with parents, alumni, and the broader community.
• Embrace Equity and Inclusion: Support and expand equity and belonging efforts throughout all aspects of school life in alignment with Head-Royce’s values.
• Change Management: With the reorganization in the structure of the Lower and Middle Schools, enact changes that will improve upon and be responsive to the needs of the division.

Essential Functions

Leadership and Operational Management

• In partnership with the Head of Lower and Middle Schools, provide visionary and strategic leadership to the middle school division.
• Oversee the daily operations of the middle school, ensuring a safe and productive learning environment.
• Collaborate with other school leaders to align middle school goals with the overall mission and vision of the K-12 institution.
• Develop and manage the middle school budget, resources, and facilities efficiently.
• Ensure compliance with school policies, procedures, and accreditation standards.
• In partnership with the K-8 Dean of Equity and Community and the Middle School Deans, address and resolve disciplinary and behavioral issues in a fair and consistent manner.
• Represent the middle school at school-wide events and functions, promoting a sense of community and engagement.

Curriculum and Instruction

• Direct middle school curriculum development with the Head of Lower and Middle Schools and middle school academic leaders.
• Support and guide teachers in implementing a challenging, engaging, and dynamic curriculum by supervising their instructional practice and evaluation.
• Work with the K-8 Dean of Teaching and Learning to promote and schedule professional development opportunities for faculty to enhance teaching skills and instructional strategies.
• Administer ERB assessments and other standardized tests on a consistent basis each year and analyze longitudinal data to inform the academic program and pedagogy.
• Utilize relevant K-8 research to inform curricular change.
• Direct scheduling of middle school classes.

Administration

• Supervise the middle school faculty and staff, Class Deans, Counselor, and Division Coordinator.
• Represent the middle school program through a series of dynamic events for prospective students and families; participate in the middle school admissions process to evaluate and select new students.
• Represent the middle school at various Board meetings as requested.
• Represent the middle school in the greater community.

Professional Community

• Program and lead middle school division meetings to discuss school initiatives, updates, and concerns.
• Hire, supervise, evaluate, and nurture the teachers and staff.
• Plan and arrange in-service activities to help foster a sense of middle school identity.
• Visit middle school classrooms often.

Student Support and Development

• Foster a positive school climate that supports the academic, social, and emotional development of all students.
• Work with counselors, learning specialists, and other support staff to provide comprehensive support services.
• Appropriately manage and oversee student discipline.
• Manage closely the onboarding and orientation of students entering the middle school and their families.

Parents/Guardians

• Serves as a responsive guide and expert for parents and guardians of middle school students.
• Maintain open and effective communication with parents and guardians about the academic and social-emotional program in the middle school.
• Work with the Family Association’s Grade Level Coordinators to promote the welfare of the School.
• Solicit, assemble, and prepare suitable materials for the periodic communications and School newsletters.
• Coordinate parent/guardian evenings, and, with other divisions, 5th to 6th and 8th to 9th transitions.

QUALITIES AND ATTRIBUTES

The ideal candidate for the Middle School Director at Head-Royce must be energized by middle school and identify as a middle school educator. They must be a fierce advocate for their students and faculty, finding fulfillment in the joys and challenges, experiences, and interactions in middle school. In the likely learning opportunities that middle school students face with developmental adolescents, the Director will model a growth mindset and a restorative approach to discipline when harm has occurred. The Middle School Director deeply understands the broad range of developmental stages in students in grades 6-8 and shares the dedication of faculty to that age group. They must be skilled in collaborating with diverse colleagues who care deeply about their students as evidenced by previous successful experience. Educators at Head-Royce hold each other to high expectations and expect their Director to do the same while fostering mutual trust. The Director must be at once confident and competent and bring humility to their role. Additionally, they will demonstrate:

• A Student-Centered Approach: Deep understanding of 6-8 students’ developmental needs, and a commitment to building trust and fostering strong relationships with students, families, and colleagues. Skilled at empowering faculty to support students through inclusive and asset-based approaches.
• Strong Leadership Skills: Proven ability to lead and inspire a team of educators.
• Educational Expertise: A deep understanding of middle school education and adolescent development.
• Interpersonal Skills: Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build strong relationships with students, faculty, parents, and colleagues.
• Data-Informed Decision Making: The ability to use data to inform instructional decisions and improve student outcomes.
• Equity and Inclusion: Successful experience in working with a diverse, equitable, and inclusive learning environment.
• Change Management: The ability to navigate change effectively and implement new initiatives.

QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor’s degree required, Master’s degree preferred.
• A minimum of 5 years of teaching experience, preferably with Middle School students within a DEI space.
• A background in curriculum construction and teacher coaching.
• Minimum 3 years of experience in a leadership role within a school setting.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.

About Head-Royce School

Head-Royce School Overview: Located on a 22-acre campus in Oakland, California, Head-Royce (HRS) is a pre-eminent, co-educational, independent, K-12 day school with a 137-year history. Our mission is to inspire in our students a lifelong love of learning and pursuit of academic excellence, to promote understanding of and respect for diversity that makes our society strong and to encourage active and responsible global citizenship. Head-Royce enrolls 900 students in the three separate divisions—Lower, Middle and Upper—and provides a dynamic, whole-child education to every student. Please note - HRS is unable to provide immigration sponsorships such as H1B Visas. Head Royce is an equal opportunity employer and makes employment decisions including but not limited to employment, training, promotion, demotion, transfer, leaves of absence and termination based on qualifications and without regard to protected status. We will not discriminate based on age, color, creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding or related medical conditions), gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, national origin or ancestry, race (including ...traits historically associated with race, such as hair texture and protective hairstyles), religion, registered domestic partner status, physical or mental disability, a medical condition including genetic characteristics, military or veteran status, reproductive health decision making or any other consideration made unlawful by federal, state or local laws Head-Royce School seeks to be a community in which every individual is treated with sensitivity, courtesy and respect.

Show more

Show less

Connections working at Head-Royce School