Snapshot

Denomination: Interdenominational / Protestant Christian

Location: Clear Lake, IA

The Role: Headmaster

Meet Clear Lake Classical:

Clear Lake Classical seeks to educate the whole person. Our students are given a rich foundation that inspires them to ask big questions, to seek wisdom and eloquence for the sake of furthering the gospel, and to cultivate a lifelong love of learning.  Our hope is that long after they leave our doors our students will be known for their Christian character, depth of knowledge, wisdom in discernment, and excellence in communication.

At CLC, we desire to graduate culture-shaping young men and women, whose minds and hearts have been trained to love that which is worth loving. We believe this will happen as students are “transformed by the renewing of their minds” (Rom. 12:2). In order that we might strive together to this end, we submit the following as the goals of our educational and cultural endeavors. We know that “unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain” (Ps. 127) so we trust that God’s grace will bear fruit from our labors.

We desire that CLC graduates will be known for the following traits:

•  Christian Character 

•  Depth of Knowledge 

•  Wisdom in Discernment 

•  Excellence in Communication 

In their Christian Character, we desire that CLC graduates will:

• Love and serve God and neighbor

• Love all that which is worth loving as demonstrated by God’s Word

• Seek to bear nobly the image of Christ

• Demonstrate discipline, honor, and integrity in a well-balanced life 

• Respect proper authority, yet be capable and willing to lead, if called

• Pursue passionately the kingdom of God, not the kingdom of the world 

• Display humility and generosity of spirit

• Be willing to learn from errors

• Be able to gain satisfaction from hard work and a job well done

In their Depth of Knowledge, we desire that CLC graduates will:

• Understand that God is the author and fount of all truth, goodness, and beauty

• Recognize that all humans are created in God’s image and that our work is modeled after God’s work as we build, serve, steward and create with truth, goodness, and beauty in the community

• Understand that the gospel is the answer to all of life

• Master the primary academic disciplines of grammar, logic, and rhetoric, in the context of the history, literature, and philosophy of Western civilization

• Engage in the “great conversation” and in a lifelong pursuit of spiritual and academic growth 

• Understand the fundamentals of each of the liberal arts and intuitively recognize how to integrate these disciplines into work and thought

In their Discernment, we desire that CLC graduates display Wisdom as they:

• Demonstrate ability to see their sin and trust in Christ as Savior

• Recognize, appreciate, and pursue objective beauty and truth through both logical and poetic thought and observation

• Seek to understand God’s redemptive plan in the rich intricacies of history, current events, and the natural world

• Listen, evaluate, and reason through the filter of a coherent and Biblical worldview

• View every story as a reflection or a distortion of the True Story

• Choose leisure activities that are creative and restorative

• Desire and exercise wisdom for wisdom’s sake above any pragmatic end

• Exercise their training in analytical thought and apply that reason in various situations

In their Communication, we desire that CLC graduates will Excel by: 

• Presenting the truth of the gospel of Christ graciously through word and deed

• Engaging and redeeming culture, being recognized for their eloquence and grace as they do so 

• Employing clarity, logic, and style in both speech and composition

• Articulating respectfully and defending winsomely their positions with confidence, intelligence, and a humble demeanor

• Listening and understanding before passing judgment

• Being willing to present another’s viewpoint in its best construction with good intention (putting the best construction on everything – so as not to slander a neighbor)

• Communicating an appreciation of good in others

• Being able to give a defense for the hope that is in them with gentleness and respect

About the Headmaster:

The Clear Lake Classical Board of Directors is searching for a Headmaster to serve as the academic leader of the school. The Headmaster is the sole employee of the Board in keeping with the policy governance model. Clear Lake Classical is looking to fill this position in time for service in the 2025-26 school year.

The Headmaster serves many roles as outlined in the job description below. We recognize that one person cannot fulfill all of the duties included on his/her own, but that a candidate might lean into certain strength areas more while delegating in other areas. While not explicitly listed below as a responsibility, the culture of Clear Lake Classical encourages the administration to take opportunities to teach/lead a class as time and bandwidth allow.

The Headmaster Responsibilities Include: 

Leadership of the Clear Lake Classical Administrative team (Deans, Education Council, Administrative Staff)

• Directs the daily operations of CLC by providing direct oversight of the Administrative Team through regular meetings, informal touchpoints, and annual evaluations

• Provides strategic leadership for the Administrative Team, including strategy development, execution support, and accountability

• Fosters a culture of collaboration among the Administrative Team, providing a venue for a healthy exchange of ideas

• Empowers the Administrative Team to implement changes, solve problems, and overcome challenges in their sphere of leadership by applying principles of CLC’s philosophy of education (contained in our manuals and handbooks)

• Provides Administrative Team personnel with support, encouragement, accountability, and constructive feedback

• Helps with student discipline at Lower and Upper School as needed

Staff Leadership

• Identifies needs for hiring of personnel and collaborates with other staff and Board to recruit and retain faculty members that can fulfill the vision and purpose of CLC

• Creates an atmosphere to assimilate faculty and staff members in order to minimize turnover and to ensure that new teachers are trained and ready on day 1

• Extends contacts to new and renewing staff, balancing the available budget with the need for high-quality faculty and staff

• Sets and promotes clear standards of excellence including cultural and behavioral expectations for all staff; models them personally; and empowers the Administrative Team to implement expectations within respective programs

• Leads in the professional development of staff throughout the year and encourages faculty to pursue training in classical Christian pedagogy via leadership emphasis, time allocation, budget support

• Oversees the culture and atmosphere of CLC, ensuring an ordered and loving environment with an aesthetic that distinguishes and differentiates CLC from other schools.

• Monitors cultural trends in and out of classrooms, making small course corrections as needed in collaboration with the Administrative team, and supports the faculty through classroom visits, observations, and annual evaluations

• Establishes and communicates clear lines of responsibility within the CLC’s organizational structure

Parent Community Leadership

• Represents Clear Lake Classical at numerous parent and community functions, including but not limited to open houses, back-to-school nights, evening programs, etc

• Host initial parent interviews for new families and overseas placement testing to be administered by staff. Final say on admissions decisions (in collaboration with the Ed Council)

• Maintains an open line of communication and displays a willingness to meet with parents in a timely manner when requested/needed

• Addresses parent concerns quickly and wisely according to our policies and procedures

• Communicates with the board, staff, and parents in the case of serious student misbehavior or danger

• Addresses significant issues from parents as elevated by the Administrative Team

• Engages with the parent community to foster parental partnership and to promote an increased understanding of the classical Christian model of education

Board Liaison

• The Headmaster is the sole employee of the Board of directors

• Monitors and ensures the execution of the strategic initiatives set by the CLC Board of Directors

• Writes a monthly board report and attends all board meetings

• Informs the board of significant school concerns, problems, and successes

Curriculum and Academic Progress

• Oversees curriculum development and usage in collaboration with the Administrative Team to foresee needs and improvements. Protects the school from significant changes in curriculum that have not been carefully considered and wisely rolled out

• As needed, researches and develops academic programs and curricula through attendance at educational conferences, scholarly research, and developing relationships with other classical Christian schools

• Ensures administration of standardized tests. These are to be limited in number (so as not to distract from academic programs) but those that will maximize impact for our school and students. Current testing programs include: ERB(1st- 8th grades); ISASP (related to ESA eligibility); CLT (10th and 11th grades)

• Reviews schoolwide testing results with the Academic Dean, discerns academic weaknesses and strengths and makes recommendations based on patterns of data

• Ensures compliance with accreditation standards, including execution of yearly progress updates and preparation for site visits every 5 years

Administration

• Head of the Education Council

• Ensures compliance and execution of the Students First initiative in Iowa including Administration of the Education Savings Account funding from parents

• Review all school-wide communications before dissemination

• Maintains accurate personnel records in conjunction with the Administrative team

• Approves purchase requests by faculty and staff

• Oversees the development of the all-school calendar

• Oversight of transportation needs for CLC

• Ultimately responsible for regular school events

• Approves the development of extra-curricular activities and partnerships that support the vision and purpose of CLC

Financial

• Ultimately responsible for developing and maintaining annual budget and long-term planning for financial sustainability of operations. Exercises fiscal responsibility by staying within appropriate budgetary guidelines set by the Board

• Promote CLC and, in collaboration with the Board, be responsible for fundraising initiatives as needed

• Grow the understanding and excitement for the vision and mission of Clear Lake Classical, resulting in investment from the community at large

• Develop and implement plans for facility improvement to meet the needs of the school to facilitate our enrollment and offerings

• Oversee fundraising and financial sustainability efforts to ensure long-term viability and relative independence from funding sources (i.e. ESA’s) that are not within our control

• Focus on the growth and improvement of the CLC’s compensation plans to retain and attract faculty and staff

• Oversee (in collaboration with the Board Treasurer) third-party preparation of reviewed or audited financial statements biennially

Executive Leadership

• Be a vigilant steward that makes sure Clear Lake Classical does not drift from its core vision and purpose

• Be an excellent team builder, team leader, and motivator; this person must inspire enthusiasm, cast the school’s vision, and be open to ideas for continuous improvement, growth, and development

• Be a key promoter of the school, responsible for enrollment, retention, and fundraising success

Be a natural community leader, both on campus and off. Create further understanding, excitement, and engagement in the vision of CLC resulting in the investment of time and resources of the total community

• Oversight of maintaining CLC facilities

• Be a developer and implementer of future plans regarding facility improvement, and maintain healthy enrollment and offerings

What You Bring: 

The following describes many of the characteristics of the ideal candidate for the Headmaster:

Education & Experience

• Undergraduate Degree Required

• Advanced Degree Preferred

• 5+ years in classical Christian education

• 3+ years of leadership experience

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Enjoys and manages a diverse set of responsibilities in a fast-paced environment

• Servant leader who demonstrates the ability to seek advice and counsel as needed

• Demonstrated success with managing and leading people. Able to recognize strengths and weaknesses in staff building on and capitalizing on the former while gracefully helping them to improve on the latter

• Excellent written and oral communication and presentation skills

Personal Characteristics & Qualifications 

• Demonstrates dependability and a teachable spirit

• Demonstrates self-awareness, thirst for learning, and openness to professional growth

• Spiritual Leader

• Spiritually vibrant Christian displaying Christ-centered servant leadership that integrates faith and work in a spirit of humility

• Conversant in classical Christian pedagogy

• Articulates a Christian worldview to students, faculty, staff, parents, and the community

•  Demonstrates a life of impeccable character, is respected as trustworthy, and lives the values of integrity, service, and respect for others

What it's Like to Live in Clear Lake, IA: 

Clear Lake, Iowa, offers a vibrant mix of small-town charm and seasonal energy, making it an appealing place to live. The community is rich in culture, with a variety of art shows, music festivals, antique events, and a bustling farmers market. The population grows significantly in the summer, thanks to seasonal residents and visitors, yet the area remains stable and deeply rooted in agriculture and manufacturing. Clear Lake is a family-friendly town with excellent after-school programs and athletic opportunities, making it an ideal place to raise children. While housing prices near the lake can be high—especially for properties with lake views—living just outside Clear Lake in nearby communities like Mason City, Thornton, or Garner offers access to all the area's amenities at a more affordable price. The town is socio-economically diverse, safe, and not transient, with a solid sense of community. Whether you're enjoying the local shops, attending one of the many festivals, or relaxing by the lake, Clear Lake offers a welcoming, well-rounded lifestyle for those who appreciate both convenience and charm. 

Think you're a great fit for this role? Become a candidate below.