Vistamar School Assistant Head of School for Academics

Vistamar School, an independent and mission-driven high school in El Segundo, CA, is seeking a relational, collaborative, and innovative academic leader to serve as its next Assistant Head of School for Academics. As the School celebrates its 20th anniversary, the community finds itself at a pivotal and energizing moment marked by momentum, optimism, and a shared desire to shape the next era of teaching and learning. Vistamar is grounded in a culture of care, close relationships, and a belief in empowering students to take real ownership of their learning and their space; it is a place where young people feel seen and supported, and where adults can bring their full selves and souls to work each day. This human-centered foundation cultivates trust, belonging, and a learning environment where both students and adults can exist and grow in meaningful and authentic ways.

Under the leadership of the new Head of School, Erik Carlson, Vistamar is embracing this anniversary milestone as a natural inflection point. It is an opportunity to build on the School’s founding spirit of challenging the status quo and to imagine a revitalized academic vision that meets the needs of today’s students. With the strategic plan soon to be refreshed and a cohesive, committed Leadership Team in place, the School is poised to evolve its program, strengthen alignment, and continue to build on its commitment to student-centered learning. The Assistant Head of School for Academics (AHOSA) will play a central role in guiding this evolution and shaping the school’s next chapter.

This leadership opportunity is especially compelling for an educator who thrives on connection. The AHOSA will join a team that works exceptionally well together, supporting one another and the work through honest dialogue, shared purpose, and dedication to advancing the mission.  In recent years, the academic program has been guided by the Head of School, Dean of Faculty, Director of Teaching and Learning, and a Committee of Department Chairs. This new role clarifies the leadership and authority of the academic program. 

The AHOSA will be primarily responsible for academic policy, curriculum coherence and development, faculty recruitment, professional development and evaluation, and student support. In doing so, the AHOSA will oversee the Director of Teaching and Learning and the Department Chairs in order to bring greater clarity and coordination to the academic program and to the academic experience, all while nurturing the trust and professional growth of a talented faculty. In addition, the AHOSA will oversee the Director of Life Planning, Dean of Student Life, and Athletic Director, and will lead the Student Services Team to strategize on all levels of support and engagement for Vistamar students and their families.

Looking ahead, the work is rich with possibilities. As a small school with big aspirations, Vistamar is well-positioned to expand learning pathways, refine signature programs, and elevate the distinctiveness of its academic offerings. Strengthening and clarifying the academic program will play a vital role in differentiating the school and supporting enrollment momentum, an institutional priority grounded in Vistamar’s confidence in the quality of its program and the values that guide its work. The Assistant Head of School for Academics will help bring this vision to life by partnering with colleagues across the School to design, implement, and sustain a program that reflects the mission, values, and aspirations that will shape Vistamar’s next twenty years.

https://www.strategenius.org/opportunity-vistamar-assist-head-academics

https://www.vistamarschool.org/