McGehee School, Head of School

The Opportunity 

The next Head of School at McGehee will step into a community that is deeply proud of its mission, committed to the education and empowerment of girls, and united in its desire for strong, steady, values-based leadership. The 2025 community survey reveals a school that treasures its traditions and sense of belonging, yet is also asking for a transformative leader, someone who can honor McGehee’s strengths and traditions while guiding the school confidently into its next chapter. 

Above all, the community seeks a Head of School who understands and embraces both the promise and the complexity of educating girls in New Orleans today. This leader must be mission-anchored, academically focused, and relationally present, with the ability to inspire students, support faculty, and partner authentically with both current and prospective families. 

A Commitment to Academic Excellence 

The next Head must be an instructional leader, someone who can champion excellent teaching, elevate expectations, and strengthen outcomes in ways that align with McGehee’s mission and values. 

A Clear Vision for Value and Enrollment 

The next Head will need to bring both strategic clarity and financial acumen—ensuring that McGehee remains accessible, competitive, and attractive to families seeking a high-quality girls’ school experience. Strengthening the Upper and Middle School’s profiles and bolstering retention and recruitment of students are particularly important priorities. 

A Visible, Engaged, and Relational Presence 

The community wants a Head who is present, approachable, and deeply invested in the day-to-day life of the school. This is someone who knows students by name, visits classrooms, embraces traditions, and is a positive, stabilizing presence for girls at every stage. A leader who listens carefully, communicates openly, and fosters trust will be well-positioned to continue to strengthen internal cohesion and community confidence. 

A Champion of Faculty and a Builder of Strong Systems 

Dedicated faculty and staff remain central to the McGehee experience, and the next Head must prioritize their recruitment, retention, and professional development. The school seeks a leader who can set expectations, clarify roles, build strong teams, and create the kind of operational coherence that allows the mission to flourish. 

A Respect for Tradition and a Love of New Orleans 

McGehee’s identity is rooted in its history, its traditions, and its distinctive New Orleans spirit. The next Head must appreciate, and genuinely enjoy, these defining elements. A leader who honors the school’s heritage, embraces its rituals, and understands the culture of the city will help reinforce the warmth, pride, and continuity that families value so deeply. 

Building on the legacy of the Honor Code and the motto “Leading Women,” the next leader will ensure McGehee remains a premier school for girls’ education in the South and beyond.

LOUISE S. MCGEHEE SCHOOL

Founded in 1912 and located on a one-of-a-kind campus in the Garden District of New Orleans, McGehee is a secular, private, independent, all-girls pre-K, kindergarten, elementary, middle, and high school.  Educating and inspiring students from communities across the area, from Metairie to the Westbank, Gentilly to Uptown, River Ridge and beyond, McGehee is a diverse and inclusive prep school welcoming all qualified girls regardless of race, religion, nationality, or ethnic origin.

Apply 

Interested candidates should provide a résumé, cover letter highlighting their interest in and fit for the position, a statement of leadership philosophy, and a list of five (5) professional references with contact information, as a single PDF attachment, by March 1, 2026. These materials should be sent to the consultants for this search listed below. 

Candidates will be evaluated as materials are received. 

Search Consultants 

Katherine Moncure Stuart;  katherine@educationgroup.com 

Laura Fuller;  lfuller@educationgroup.com

Opportunity Statement

McGehee School