Associate Head of School

Please download the opportunity statement, which contains information about Westmark School and the position, as well as required application materials to prepare in advance.  All applications must be submitted online. Please review the How to Apply section below for further application instructions.

SUMMARY

Westmark School is a creative and supportive college preparatory school dedicated to educating, empowering, and celebrating students with distinct learning styles, providing the tools necessary to achieve successful and fulfilling futures. Over the past forty years, the school has earned acclaim for transforming the lives of Grades 2–12 students with dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, and other diagnosed language-based learning differences (LBLD). Situated in Encino, California, about ten miles north of UCLA, it currently serves approximately 250 students. A new facility for its Lower School, scheduled to open in fall 2023, will make it possible to expand enrollment in Grades 2–5 and deepen the school’s commitment to early intervention.

The associate head of school will oversee broad segments of the academic program during this exciting time in Westmark’s history. Building upon the potential of the new Lower School, Westmark will be embarking on an extended period of pivotal growth that will evolve the school into an organization that supports research-to-practice and teacher training—all in service of elevating how students with LBLD are educated, at Westmark and beyond. To that end, the head of school has been laying the foundation for groundbreaking external partnerships with universities, K-12 school districts, research institutes, and organizations across the country.

As these complex endeavors require more of the head of school’s attention, Westmark is now in need of an associate head of school to run day-to-day academic operations. The position requires a deep interest and willingness to learn and embrace current and emerging research-based approaches to developing teachers, supporting administrators, and engaging with families. The associate head of school’s first year will encompass extensive mentorship and carefully planned leadership handoffs from Westmark’s head of school, Claudia Koochek, a recognized leader in the field of educating students with LBLD.

Important Information

Applications Accepted Starting: March 8, 2023
Priority Deadline: April 8, 2023
On-Site Final Round: Late April
Start Date: July 1, 2023 OR July 1, 2024
Reports To: Head of School
Salary Range: $170,000 to $185,000

Additional information about the start date: Westmark School is pleased to consider candidates who can start on July 1, 2023 OR July 1, 2024. Because the role of associate head of school (AHoS) comes at an inflection point for the school, the priority is to find a candidate who aligns best with the mission, vision, and culture of Westmark. If the AHoS is able to start this year, the school will prepare to onboard a new leader. If the AHoS is unable to leave their current position until July 2024, the school will await the right partnership and adapt its schedule accordingly.