Principal/Head of School

Job Posting: Sunrise Waldorf School Principal/Head of School

Sunrise Waldorf School is seeking an innovative, caring, and community-oriented Head of School who embraces both democratic and visionary leadership. We are looking for a strong candidate with knowledge of or interest in Waldorf Education to assume the position in March 2025.

The successful candidate will be service-oriented and possess well-developed communication and problem-solving skills. They will be responsible for ensuring compliance with Island Health’s Child Care Licensing requirements, the BC Ministry of Education and Child Care’s (MECC) standards for Independent Schools, and the Association of Waldorf Schools of North America’s (AWSNA) accreditation requirements. The Head of School champions initiatives in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Reconciliation, and Accessibility, ensuring the school is a Safe, Caring, and Orderly environment for all students, staff, and families. They uphold the Mission, Philosophy, and Values of Sunrise Waldorf School among the staff, parent body, and wider community.

The School

Set in the rural beauty of Vancouver Island, Sunrise Waldorf School is in its fifth decade in the Cowichan Valley, with a mission to educate and inspire students to reach their full potential through a rich and artistic Waldorf curriculum. Offering pre-K through Grade 8, Sunrise is a full-member AWSNA-accredited school and a Group 1 independent school under the BC MECC. The school enrolls approximately 150 children (K-8) and 30 preschoolers. The staff comprises over 30 employees in full-time, part-time, and casual positions, including administrative, faculty, assistants, and maintenance roles.

Interfaces With

The Head of School works closely with the Board of Directors, Education Director, administrative employees, Faculty Chair, and Director of Finance, representing the school by communicating its vision and policies to faculty, employees, students, parents, and the community. The Head of School reports to the Board of Directors, which reviews their performance within the probationary period, after one year, and every two years thereafter.

Preferred Qualifications

1. 5+ years of related leadership experience (Waldorf and/or BC independent school experience preferred)
2. Master’s in Education, preferably in Leadership
3. Holds or is eligible to hold a BC Teaching Certificate

Demonstrated Success In

1. Strategic Planning
2. Governance
3. Policy Implementation
4. Financial/Budget Oversight
5. Human Resources
6. Group Facilitation
7. Ensuring Compliance (e.g., WorkSafe, PIPA, etc.)

Key Responsibilities

The Head of School has responsibilities in five core areas: Educational Leadership; Governance and Internal Relations; Human Resources; Administration; and Budget and Development.

Educational Leadership

1. Ensures high standards of BC and Waldorf education are delivered across all programs.
2. Reviews ECE, primary grades, and middle school programming to ensure curriculum meets student needs, in coordination with the Education Director.
3. Responds to questions and concerns from parents and the community while adhering to communication and appeals policies to strengthen positive relations.
4. Promotes student-centered practices, fostering well-being in a climate of mutual respect and healthy relationships.
5. Collaborates with the Education Director to manage the school’s education program, including inclusive education initiatives.

Governance and Internal Relations

1. Promotes respectful and collaborative relations among faculty, staff, parents, board members, and the wider community.
2. Represents Sunrise Waldorf School to the community and regulatory bodies, including government.
3. Ensures compliance with policies and procedures, recommending revisions to the Board when necessary.
4. Attends all Board meetings as an ex-officio member and participates in Board committees as agreed upon.
5. Ensures the effective functioning of internal committees and forms ad hoc committees as needed.

Human Resources

1. Chairs the HR Committee.
2. Oversees faculty and staff performance reviews.
3. Holds faculty and staff accountable to school policies, procedures, agreements, and contractual obligations.
4. Supports faculty training to meet MECC and AWSNA requirements.
5. Leads hiring, discipline, and terminations, ensuring adherence to human resources policies.
6. Prepares an annual Human Resources Plan and accompanying budget.

Administration

1. Collaborates with administrative staff on communications, registration, enrollment, marketing, and health and safety.
2. Ensures the school operates efficiently and fosters a positive, collaborative environment.
3. Ensures compliance with MECC, Island Health, and AWSNA standards, including inspections, evaluations, and accreditation.

Budget and Development

1. Promotes the school and encourages enrollment.
2. Participates in the Finance Committee and develops and adheres to the annual budget.
3. Administers the Inclusive Education budget and completes all required Ministry of Education reporting.

All interested applicants should include a cover letter and resume.

We are committed to supporting a diverse and inclusive workforce by ensuring a barrier-free work environment. We welcome applications from all qualified job seekers, including applicants from historically underrepresented groups such as BIPOC (black, indigenous, and people of color), persons with disabilities, and 2SLGBTQ (persons of all sexual orientations and genders). If you are an applicant with a disability and require accommodation in either the recruitment process or on the job, we will work together with you to provide the reasonable workplace accommodation you need.