AN INVITATION TO APPLY FOR THE POSITION OF

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

PHI DELTA KAPPA INTERNATIONAL

ARLINGTON, VA

“Growing and connecting leaders in education”

THE SEARCH

Phi Delta Kappa International (PDK), a professional association for educators, is seeking a dynamic and entrepreneurial Chief Executive Officer to lead the organization. Founded in 1906, Phi Delta Kappa International has always been committed to excellence in public education. By providing professional learning opportunities, targeted networking, and relevant research, PDK helps researchers and practitioners deepen their expertise, elevate their careers, and ultimately experience better work results throughout their careers. The next Chief Executive Officer will join the organization at a critical moment, providing strategic leadership and charting a path forward for PDK in a changing educational landscape.

In the 2018 PDK Poll on the Public’s Attitudes Towards Public Education, more teachers were looking to leave the profession for the first time than those willing to stay. In 2019, for the first time in almost 50 years, most parents could no longer recommend teaching as a profession to their children. Today, many states face a crisis of not having enough classroom teachers.

PDK International is deeply invested in growing and developing the next generation of educators through Educators Rising, Grow the Teaching Profession programs, and Grow Your Own (GYO). PDK International is also the publisher of Kappan magazine, an influential publication featuring articles about classroom practice, policy, research, professional issues, and innovations in education. PDK is also known for the PDK/Gallup poll, which has for 46 years been a reliable resource for families, education professionals, researchers, and policymakers. 

The Chief Executive Officer also oversees the PDK International family of education associations, including the original member and namesake, Phi Delta Kappa, and Pi Lambda Theta (PLT). Together, these two associations support the full spectrum of the education profession, beginning with PLT for collegiate pre-service and practicing teachers and concluding with PDK, serving the professional needs of career educators. 

The next Chief Executive Officer, working closely with PDK’s staff and Board Members, will forge a clear identity and focus for the organization, setting a strategic direction that can adapt to the competitive landscape. The Chief Executive Officer will champion an entrepreneurial culture characterized by innovation and data-driven risk-taking. They will develop partnerships with other education-focused organizations, seeking to understand and respond to the key needs of the marketplace and determining how PDK can realize its greatest impact. Harnessing the organization’s core assets — Educators Rising, Kappan magazine, and the PDK Gallup Poll — the new Chief Executive Officer will establish a clear identity for PDK by defining what it does, why, and for whom. This will require fostering a culture that is innovative, nimble, and entrepreneurial.

PDK has retained Isaacson, Miller, a national executive search firm, to assist in this search. All applications, inquiries, and nominations should be directed in confidence to the search firm as indicated at the end of this document.

TO APPLY

Phi Delta Kappa International has engaged Isaacson, Miller, a national executive search firm, to assist with this search. Inquiries, nominations, and applications should be directed in confidence to the firm as directed below.

Please send a resume with a cover letter, or contact, preferably electronically, in strict confidence to:

Sean Farrell or Sokeng Cleary

Isaacson, Miller

1300 19th St. NW, Suite 700

Washington, DC 20036

Phone: (202) 682-1504

To apply:

https://www.imsearch.com/open-searches/phi-delta-kappa-international/chief-executive-officer

Phi Delta Kappa International is an equal-opportunity employer.