What is a Head of School, anyway?

We often hear comments from stakeholders that suggest that there is some confusion about the nature and role of the Head of School. This is hardly surprising, since the job of a Head of School is somewhat amorphous. To quote Potter Stewart, we all know it when we see it, but nonetheless, it is useful to to clarify certain basic principles (and not principals) regarding the issue.

First, the Head of School is not a principal. The school principal develops curriculum, supervises teachers, visits classrooms, works with students, meets with parents, and monitors all aspects of the school's educational program. Because the principal reports to the Head, the Head needs some amount of background in education in order to supervise the principal. However, it is the principal, and not the Head of School, that is most directly involved in developing, managing and supervising the school's educational program. The principal must be the educational expert. For example, when parents have an issue with a teacher (hopefully that never happens at Kadima), the parents should, at least in the first instance, go to the principal, and not to the Head of School. Similarly, if a student has an issue at school the first stop after the teacher is to go to the principal, and not to the Head of School. One of Kadima's challenges in recent years has been the blurring of this role, and the Board is intent upon correcting this in the future. We hope to have both a Head of School and principal on board in the future.

Second, the Head is not a business manager or Director of Finance. Throughout this process, several people have expressed that what Kadima really needs is a person who will "run the school more like a business." But this misses the point. The school has a Director of Finance--Arnold Rudnick--and he's capable of handling the business aspects of the school. While the Head must understand basic financial issues and be able to understand a balance sheet and income statement, as well as managing a budget, the Head need not be a financial wizard in order to be successful.

If the Head is not a principal and not a financial person what is the Head of School?

Most importantly, the Head of School serves as the school's public face. The Head of School must be charismatic and inspirational; the best Head of School succeeds by effectively convincing parents that they should entrust their children's educations to the school and also similarly convincing the community that they should financially support the school. Ultimately, it boils down to leadership: the Head--and the school--will only succeed if the Head is an effective, charismatic and compelling leader who can build community commitment to the school.

But leadership alone is not enough. To build commitment to a school, the Head of School must also deliver results. Hence, the Head of School must also be the guarantor of the school's educational product. It is not enough for the Head simply to sell the school and make the case for the school. The Head and the school will both fail unless the Head also ensures that the school is, in fact, fulfilling the goals promised to the parents and community. In this capacity, the Head must be an effective manager; the Head must hire the right people and properly supervise them (but not do their jobs for them) in order to ensure that the school is operating effectively.

It is a hard job. But it is absolutely critical to the school's success. And that's why the Committee, along with the Board, is working so hard to get this right.

Shabbat Shalom.