American Montessori Society

Mountaintop Montessori School seeks a dedicated, collaborative, and inspiring Head of School to lead the community and build upon the successes of the former Head of School, who was a deeply committed Montessorian who modeled the Montessori philosophy in every aspect of school management. This position is scheduled to begin in July 2026.

Mountaintop is an independent school that has educated children for over 40 years. The school is situated on a beautiful 9-acre garden campus in the Pantops area of Charlottesville, VA, where an authentic Montessori education is offered for children from 18 months through the eighth grade.

For complete information about Mountaintop and this position, you can view the Head of School search brochure here: https://mountaintopmontessori.org/Mountaintop_Montessori_IFC_(1).pdf

The next leader must possess professional experience and personal qualities that align with the school culture and must demonstrate the following:

Qualifications and Attributes

• Experience in and deep understanding of Montessori education
• A commitment to building leadership capacity and delegating responsibility throughout the school community
• Experience in identifying and recruiting high-quality faculty and staff and investing in their personal and professional growth
• Modeling of high professional standards and the ability to hold others accountable
• The ability to work with the Board in strategically considering the long-term future of the school
• Experience in enrollment management focused on the recruitment and retention of students
• Deep commitment to adhering to Mountaintop’s non-discrimination policy and fostering an inclusive environment for all
• An understanding of the value of engaging parents as partners in the education of their children
• Financial acumen and experience in fundraising
• An understanding of the value of data-informed decision making

Personal Attributes and Leadership Style

• Honest and trustworthy with strong personal integrity
• Present, approachable, and responsive
• A deep interest in investing in the growth of others
• An active listener
• A relationship builder
• Strong oral and written communication skills
• A collaborative leadership style
• The ability to work productively through conflict and build consensus

Mountaintop offers a comprehensive compensation and benefits package, which includes the following:

• Competitive compensation to be based on qualifications, educational background and experience
• Health insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Short-term and long-term disability insurance
• Life insurance
• Employee Assistance Plan
• 403(b) retirement plan
• 403(b) matching contributions
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance

Summary of the Search Process

Candidates interested in this position are asked to submit the following materials in a single merged PDF file to Mary Seppala or Debbie Millon as soon as possible. Dossiers will be reviewed upon receipt.

• EC Summary Sheet (Contact Mary Seppala or Debbie Millon for this document)
• Letter of Interest addressed to the Search Committee
• Current Résumé
• Statement of Educational Leadership Philosophy
• A list of five or more professional references with contact information (name, relationship to candidate, phone, and email address)
• Disclosure Statement (Contact Mary Seppala or Debbie Millon for this document)

Send application materials via email to:

Debbie Millon, Educators Collaborative, Email: dmillon@educatorscollaborative.com

Mary Seppala, Educators Collaborative, Email: mseppala@educatorscollaborative.com

Mountaintop is committed to offering equal opportunities in all of its enrollment and employment practices. Mountaintop does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, family makeup, marital status, age, socio-economic level, disability, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical condition, national origin, ancestry, genetic information, learning style, or any other protected category. Mountaintop is committed to ensuring that non-discrimination applies to all areas of enrollment and employment.