About Morganton Day School

Founded in 1978, Morganton Day School is a nonprofit, independent, coeducational day school serving approximately 100 students from junior kindergarten through eighth grade. MDS is an authorized International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme school and has been an IB World School since 2007.

The mission of Morganton Day School is to inspire a community of learners through inquiry to achieve educational excellence. Students learn in a supportive environment that values intellectual curiosity, kindness, collaboration, service, and meaningful relationships. MDS combines inquiry-based learning with strong academic foundations and enrichment in art, music, Spanish, technology, physical education, and athletics.

Located in the foothills of western North Carolina, MDS serves families from Morganton, Burke County, and surrounding communities. The school is governed by a volunteer Board of Trustees, and the Head of School serves as an ex officio member of the Board.

Why Morganton Day School

Morganton Day School offers a distinctive leadership opportunity: the chance to lead a deeply relational independent school where the Head of School can have a meaningful and visible impact on students, faculty, families, and the broader community.

MDS is small enough for the Head of School to know students and families personally, remain highly visible in daily school life, and work closely with faculty and staff. At the same time, the school offers a strong foundation, nearly five decades of history, and a respected International Baccalaureate identity.

The next Head will have the opportunity to preserve the culture and traditions that make MDS special while helping shape its future through strong academics, faculty development, enrollment growth, financial sustainability, community engagement, and strategic leadership.

This is an opportunity for a leader who values the intimacy and relationships of a small school, welcomes the breadth of responsibility that comes with independent-school leadership, and wants to leave a lasting positive imprint on an institution and community.

The Role

The Head of School is MDS's chief executive and educational leader and reports to the Board of Trustees. The Head is responsible for the academic program, faculty and staff leadership, student and family experience, enrollment, finance, operations, advancement, community relations, and implementation of the strategic plan. Because MDS is a small independent school, the Head must be equally comfortable thinking strategically and engaging directly in the practical, day-to-day work of school leadership.

The next Head will preserve the relationships and community culture that distinguish MDS while strengthening the academic, operational, enrollment, and financial systems necessary for the school's future.

Leadership Priorities

• Champion the school's mission and inquiry-based educational philosophy.
• Maintain the quality and integrity of the IB Primary Years Programme and strengthen curricular alignment through eighth grade.
• Continue developing a distinctive and academically strong middle-school experience.
• Improve middle-school enrollment and retention.
• Pursue sustainable enrollment growth while preserving the small-school experience, individualized attention, and program quality that distinguish MDS.
• Recruit, support, develop, and retain outstanding faculty and staff.
• Support faculty in meeting the academic, behavioral, social, and emotional needs of students.
• Build a professional culture characterized by trust, collaboration, fairness, accountability, clarity, and care.
• Serve as a visible and accessible presence for students, employees, and families.
• Strengthen enrollment management, admissions, marketing, and communication of the MDS value proposition.
• Partner with the Board to implement the strategic plan and address long-range facilities needs.
• Ensure responsible financial planning and operational management.
• Lead annual giving, donor engagement, grant development, and future capital fundraising.
• Develop partnerships with alumni, businesses, nonprofit organizations, and the broader regional community.
• Build an effective, transparent, and appropriately structured partnership with the Board of Trustees.

Candidate Profile

The successful candidate will be a thoughtful, relational, and highly engaged leader who combines educational judgment with the practical leadership required in a small independent school. The Head should be visible and approachable, communicate clearly, listen well, make sound decisions, and build trust across the school community.

MDS seeks a leader who demonstrates integrity, emotional intelligence, a genuine love of children, respect for the school's traditions and culture, and the ability to lead thoughtful change while investing in MDS and the Morganton community for the long term.

Required Qualifications

• Master’s degree from an accredited college or university.
• Substantial professional experience in education, including progressively responsible leadership experience.
• Demonstrated experience leading and developing faculty and staff and managing organizational priorities.
• Strong understanding of teaching, learning, curriculum, assessment, and student development.
• Meaningful classroom teaching experience.
• Strong written and oral communication skills and the ability to build productive relationships across a school community.

Preferred Qualifications

• Doctoral degree in education, educational leadership, school administration, business/nonprofit leadership, or a related field.
• Substantial experience in education, including at least ten years of professional experience and five years of progressively responsible educational leadership experience.
• Independent-school or International Baccalaureate experience; PYP or MYP leadership, coordination, authorization, or evaluation experience is particularly desirable.
• Prior Head of School, principal, division head, assistant Head of School, or comparable senior educational leadership experience.
• Experience with enrollment management, advancement or fundraising, financial management, strategic planning, or Board governance.