In Pursuit of Discovery

“At Morganton Day School we inspire a community of learners through inquiry to achieve educational excellence.”

About Morganton Day School

A Close-Knit School Community with a Distinctive Educational Mission

Founded in 1978, Morganton Day School (MDS) is a nonprofit, independent school serving students in Junior Kindergarten 3 through 8th grade. As an International Baccalaureate World School offering the Primary Years Programme since 2007, MDS provides a supportive and engaging learning environment where intellectual curiosity, kindness, collaboration, service, and meaningful relationships are at the heart of the educational experience.

MDS combines inquiry-based learning with strong academic foundations and a rich range of enrichment opportunities, including Art, Music, Spanish, STEAM, technology, physical education, and athletics. Small class sizes allow teachers to know their students deeply, creating an educational experience that is rigorous, personal, and responsive to each child’s individual strengths, interests, and needs.

What truly distinguishes MDS is the strength of the relationships that define the school community. Faculty and staff are deeply invested in their students, families are engaged and supportive, and students are encouraged to grow as confident, compassionate, and curious learners. This close-knit culture allows MDS to balance academic excellence with the personal attention and sense of belonging that are essential to a child’s development.

Located within walking distance of downtown Morganton, MDS is deeply connected to the community it serves. The next Head of School will have the opportunity to lead a school with nearly five decades of history, a dedicated faculty and staff, engaged families, and a distinctive culture grounded in curiosity, kindness, collaboration, service, and meaningful relationships.

Why Morganton Day School

The Chance to Lead a Deeply Relational Independent School

MDS offers a distinctive leadership opportunity where the Head of School can have a meaningful and visible impact on students, faculty, families, and the broader community. We are small enough for the Head of School to know students and families personally, remain highly visible in daily school life, and work closely with faculty and staff. At the same time, the school offers a strong foundation, nearly five decades of history, and a respected International Baccalaureate identity.

The next Head will have the opportunity to preserve the culture and traditions that make MDS special while helping shape its future through strong academics, faculty development, enrollment growth, financial sustainability, community engagement, and strategic leadership.

This is an opportunity for a leader who values the intimacy and relationships of a small school, welcomes the breadth of responsibility that comes with independent-school leadership, and wants to leave a lasting positive imprint on an institution and community.

Morganton, North Carolina

Live Where Others Come to Explore

Our beautiful city of Morganton sits along the Catawba River in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains and serves as the county seat of Burke County. The city describes itself as “Nature’s Playground,” an appropriate name for a community surrounded by some of Western North Carolina’s most remarkable outdoor resources. Outdoor recreation is part of everyday life here. Linville Gorge Wilderness, part of Pisgah National Forest, offers rugged hiking, backpacking, rock climbing, and some of the region’s most dramatic mountain scenery. Lake James State Park provides opportunities for paddling, boating, swimming, fishing, camping, hiking, and mountain biking. Nearby South Mountains State Park adds miles of trails, waterfalls, mountain biking, fishing, and backcountry recreation. Closer to home, Morganton’s Catawba River Greenway provides paved trails for walking, running, and biking along the river just minutes from downtown. The city maintains an extensive parks and recreation system, while downtown Morganton offers locally owned restaurants, coffee shops, breweries, shops, arts, and community events.

  • Morganton offers the character and accessibility of a smaller community without being isolated from the larger region. Interstate 40 runs directly through the city, providing convenient access to:

    • Hickory: 25 minutes

    • Asheville: 1 hour

    • Charlotte: 1 hour 20 minutes

    • Charlotte Douglas International Airport: 1 hour 15 

    For a school leader and family considering a move to Western North Carolina, Morganton offers an appealing combination: a welcoming community, exceptional access to the outdoors, a vibrant and walkable downtown, and convenient connections to the cultural and professional resources of Asheville, Hickory, and Charlotte.

  • MORGANTON & BURKE COUNTY
    Discover Burke County
    City of Morganton

    EXPLORE LAKE JAMES STATE PARK
    Lake James State Park

Morganton Topographic Map

Click on the map for further exploration of elevation.

The Role

The Head of School is MDS’s chief executive and educational leader and reports to the Board of Trustees. The Head is responsible for the academic program, faculty and staff leadership, student and family experience, enrollment, finance, operations, advancement, community relations, and implementation of the strategic plan. Because MDS is a small independent school, the Head must be equally comfortable thinking strategically and engaging directly in the practical, day-to-day work of school leadership.

The next Head will preserve the relationships and community culture that distinguish MDS while strengthening the academic, operational, enrollment, and financial systems necessary for the school’s future.

Candidate Profile

The successful candidate will be a thoughtful, relational, and highly engaged leader who combines educational judgment with the practical leadership required in a small independent school. The Head should be visible and approachable, communicate clearly, listen well, make sound decisions, and build trust across the school community.

MDS seeks a leader who demonstrates integrity, emotional intelligence, a genuine love of children, respect for the school’s traditions and culture, and the ability to lead thoughtful change while investing in MDS and the Morganton community for the long term. The next Head will preserve the relationships and community culture that distinguish MDS while strengthening the academic, operational, enrollment, and financial systems necessary for the school’s future.

Compensation

The anticipated salary range for this 12-month position is $85,000-$110,000, commensurate with experience and qualifications.

Relocation assistance of up to $5,000 may be available for an eligible candidate.

Priorities & Qualifications

  • Champion the school’s mission and inquiry-based educational philosophy.

    • Maintain the quality and integrity of the IB Primary Years Programme and strengthen curricular alignment through eighth grade.

    • Continue developing a distinctive and academically strong middle-school experience.

    • Improve middle-school enrollment and retention.

    • Pursue sustainable enrollment growth while preserving the small-school experience, individualized attention, and program quality that distinguish MDS.

    • Recruit, support, develop, and retain outstanding faculty and staff.

    • Support faculty in meeting the academic, behavioral, social, and emotional needs of students.

    • Build a professional culture characterized by trust, collaboration, fairness, accountability, clarity, and care.

    • Serve as a visible and accessible presence for students, employees, and families.

    • Strengthen enrollment management, admissions, marketing, and communication of the MDS value proposition.

    • Partner with the Board to implement the strategic plan and address long-range facilities needs.

    • Ensure responsible financial planning and operational management.

    • Lead annual giving, donor engagement, grant development, and future capital fundraising.

    • Develop partnerships with alumni, businesses, non-profit organizations, and the broader regional community.

    • Build an effective, transparent, and appropriately structured partnership with the Board of Trustees.

    • Master’s degree from an accredited college or university.

    • Substantial professional experience in education, including progressively responsible leadership experience.

    • Demonstrated experience leading and developing faculty and staff and managing organizational priorities.

    • Strong understanding of teaching, learning, curriculum, assessment, and student development.

    • Meaningful classroom teaching experience.

    • Strong written and oral communication skills and the ability to build productive relationships across a school community.

    • Doctoral degree in education, educational leadership, school administration, business/non-profit leadership, or a related field.

    • Substantial experience in education, including at least ten years of professional experience and five years of progressively responsible educational leadership experience.

    • Independent-school or International Baccalaureate experience; PYP or MYP leadership, coordination, authorization, or evaluation experience is particularly desirable.

    • Prior Head of School, principal, division head, assistant Head of School, or comparable senior educational leadership experience.

    • Experience with enrollment management, advancement or fundraising, financial management, strategic planning, or Board governance.

Become a Titan!

To apply, candidates should submit the following as separate PDF documents:

  1. A cover letter explaining their interest in Morganton Day School and the Head of School position.

  2. A current resume.

  3. A one- to two-page statement describing their educational and leadership philosophy.

  4. The names, titles, email addresses, and telephone numbers of three to five professional references.

    • References will not be contacted without the candidate’s permission.

Application materials should be submitted to:

Morganton Day School Head of School Search Committee
hossearch@morgantondayschool.com


Priority application deadline: October 30, 2026

Applications received after the priority deadline may be considered until the position is filled. Employment will be contingent upon satisfactory reference checks, criminal background screening, verification of credentials, and execution of an employment agreement.

Morganton Day School is an equal opportunity employer. The school considers qualified applicants without unlawful discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law.