Inspired Teaching Demonstration School 

HEAD OF SCHOOL

Washington, DC

Inspired Teaching Demonstration School (ITDS), a progressive public charter school in Washington, DC, serving just over 500 students in preschool through eighth grade, seeks a mission-driven, strategic, and innovative Head of School to join ITDS in the summer of 2021. Building on the school’s strong first decade, the next Head of School has the opportunity to reinforce and advance ITDS’ distinctive educational philosophy and its impact on students in the years to come.

Established in 2011, ITDS was built on the principles of Center for Inspired Teaching, a DC-based educational nonprofit focused on ensuring that teachers make the most of every child’s innate desire to learn and on shifting the school experience for students away from compliance towards authentic engagement. A core goal of the school has always been to demonstrate that progressive, inquiry-based education benefits all students and can be accomplished without the extra resources often found in private school settings. There is a deep-rooted culture of continuous improvement at ITDS, grounded in a commitment to and confidence in its pedagogical approach; the school seeks to measure its success not only through test scores and other conventional methods, but also through indicators of real, long-term learning; student engagement; and continued development. Notably, ITDS has been designated a Tier One school by the DC Public Charter School Board (DC PCSB) for the last three years.

To effectively lead ITDS into its second decade, the incoming Head must persuasively communicate the school’s mission and ambitions, develop and garner support for strategic priorities, build a welcoming and cohesive sense of community among all ITDS stakeholders, and deepen partnerships across the greater DC area, including with the DC Council and the DC PCSB. The Head of School will also need to establish clear and effective internal systems and policies, including transparent and consistent accountability and assessment practices, and affirm and fortify the school’s progressive philosophy in a way that is responsive to evolving family and student needs. The Head must also champion ITDS’ continued efforts to be an equitable, accessible, and inclusive place for all of its community members.

The successful candidate will be a dynamic, flexible, and transparent leader with a proven track record in and deep understanding of early childhood, elementary, and middle school education. In addition, the next Head should bring substantial experience with organizational leadership, including strategic planning and systems development; experience working with a board of directors; sound fiscal management; leadership in equity, access, diversity, and inclusion, with a demonstrated record in closing the achievement gap; and an authentic connection to the mission and philosophy of ITDS.

Inspired Teaching Demonstration School has retained Isaacson, Miller, a national executive search firm, to assist in this search. All inquiries, nominations, referrals, and applications should be submitted electronically to:

Katie Rockman, Partner

Carrie Alexander

Caitlin Barrett, Senior Associate

www.imsearch.com/7699

The Inspired Teaching Demonstration School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability in admission or access to, or treatment or employment in, its programs and activities.