Snapshot

Denomination: Non-Denominational

Student Enrollment:  343

Location: Tempe, AZ

The Role: Head of School

Meet Grace Christian Academy:

Grace Christian Academy (GCA) is a ministry of Grace Community Church.  GCA was founded in 1974 and has been an academic pillar in the Tempe, AZ community for 50 years. Our mission is to partner with families in growing students who live Christ-honoring lives and flourish academically.

Grace Christian Academy’s Mission & Vision is: 

• Motto: Education in Christ, Preparation for Life

• The mission of Grace Christian Academy is to partner with families in growing students who live Christ-honoring lives and flourish academically.

• Our vision of GCA is to educate and equip students through a Biblical worldview, to succeed in a competitive academic environment, use their unique skills for God’s glory, and live a Christ-centered life.

Expected Student Outcomes

Educate and equip students to live a Christ-centered life, students will:

• Learn the story of God and his reconciliation of man to Himself through Jesus Christ

• Recognize their own personal worth as a special creation of God and a recipient of his love

• Be encouraged to come into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, honoring him as Lord and Savior

• Learn how to live a life that glorifies God

Educate and equip students to succeed in a competitive academic environment, we will:

• Provide an exemplary educational program

• Provide an emphasis on core subject areas

• Stimulate creative and critical thinking and responsiveness to beauty in the arts and sciences

• Aid students to recognize in every area of study the revelation of God in creation

• Prepare students for the high school of their choice

Educate and equip students to use their unique skills for God’s glory, students will be provided:

• Comprehensive curricular and co-curricular programs

• Elective opportunities that explore students’ God-given talents

  

About the Head of School:

The Head of School is responsible for the management, day-to-day operations, and success of the school. The Administrator reports to the School Board and is a member of the staff of Grace Community Church. The Administrator serves as the administrative and spiritual leader of the school and has the authority to carry out his or her responsibilities, under the board-established mission and vision. In partnership with the Board, the Administrator provides direction for developing the school’s vision, mission, and strategy; provides leadership for establishing and implementing its annual goals and objectives; reports on the financial health, spiritual climate, academic standards, development, and community relationships of the school, provides leadership to faculty and works with the Board and church senior leadership to direct and oversee the operation of the ministry.

The Head of School Responsibilities Include: 

Spiritual Development

• Set the spiritual tone and expectation for the school by modeling the Christian life to faculty, staff, and students, and partnering with families in growing students to live Christ-honoring lives.

• Challenge the staff to establish and accomplish academic and spiritual goals that are consistent and supportive of the mission statement.

• Evaluate, develop, supervise, and ensure that the standards of Christian maturity and commitment as stated in the Constitution and Bylaws are evident in the life of those employed.

• Establish, lead, and direct daily staff devotions for prayer, fellowship, support, spiritual growth, and development.

• Establish and direct weekly student chapels to grow in Christ and with one another in worship, prayer, songs, and fellowship. Encourage parents and family members to attend and participate in these age-appropriate weekly chapels.

• Act as liaison between church and school in all matters related to the education and spiritual development of the students including but not limited to Sunday School, Summer Blast program, middle school camps, mid-week gatherings, service projects, etc.

Academic Leadership

• Curriculum: Knowledgeable of the school’s curriculum, standards, and mission. Ensures that all instructional staff design effective and rigorous standards-based units of instruction consisting of well-structured lessons with measurable outcomes.

• Instruction: Ensures that practices in all settings reflect high expectations regarding content and quality of effort and work, engage all students, and are personalized to accommodate diverse learning styles, needs, interests, and levels of readiness. Ensures the school classrooms reflect a professional and Christian environment.

• Assessment: Ensures that all administrators facilitate practices that propel personnel to use a variety of formal and informal methods and assessments to measure student learning, growth, and understanding and make necessary adjustments to their practice when students are not learning.

• Evaluation: Provides effective and timely supervision and evaluation of all staff in alignment with job descriptions and contracts.

• Data-Informed Decision Making: Uses multiple sources of evidence related to student learning, including school assessment results and growth data, to inform staff and Board of goals and improve organizational performance, educator effectiveness, and student learning.

• Certificates and Licenses: Follows the requirements and procedures for accreditation, and provides leadership for obtaining and maintaining school accreditation. Monitors the certification and licensure status of staff.

Management and Operations

• Act as a liaison between church and school in all matters related to the facilities management and operations including working with the GCC leadership staff for the physical needs of the school.

• Environment: Develops and executes effective plans, procedures, routines, and operational systems to address a full range of safety, health, transportation, and emotional and social needs.

• Development: Provides oversight for development programs and activities in areas of constituency relations, fundraising, and student recruitment and retention. Prepares a formal annual published report that includes the statistics and accomplishments of the school and its plans for the future.

• Human Resources Management and Development: Implements a cohesive approach to recruitment and selection, onboarding, development, and career growth that promotes high-quality and effective practice. Provides objective recommendations, with supporting data, to the Board regarding staff assignments, transfers, promotions, demotions, non-renewals of contracts, or dismissal. Develops and trains a pool of competent substitute teachers and volunteers to ensure the continuity of GCA programs.

• Laws, Ethics, and Policies: Understands and complies with state and federal laws and mandates, school committee policies, and ethical guidelines. Files all legal and regulatory documents on time. Ensures that all records—business, personnel, and student—are adequate, accurate, administered legally, and properly stored.

• Works with the School Finance Committee and GCC Leadership in developing the annual budget and managing the monthly finances within the budgetary limits.

Family and Community Engagement

• Engagement: Actively ensures that all families are welcomed as members of the classroom and GCA community and can contribute to the effectiveness of the classroom, school, and community. Available for conferences with parents. Represent the school at parent, church, and community groups. Maintains a physical presence with the students by attending and participating in school chapels, assemblies, athletics events, and other presentations.

• Sharing Responsibility: Continuously collaborates with families and community to support student learning and development at home, school, and in the community.

• Communication: Engages in regular, two-way, culturally proficient communication with families and community about student learning and performance.

• Family Concerns: Addresses family and community concerns in an equitable, effective, and efficient manner.

• Commitment to High Standards: Fosters a shared commitment to high standards of service, teaching, and learning with high expectations for achievement for all.

• Cultural Proficiency: Ensures that policies and practices enable staff members and students to interact effectively in a culturally diverse environment in which students’ backgrounds, identities, strengths, and challenges are respected.

• Communications: Demonstrates strong interpersonal written and verbal communication skills.

• Continuous Learning: Develops and nurtures a culture in which staff members are reflective about their practice and use student data, current research, best practices, and theory to continuously adapt practice and achieve improved results. Models these behaviors in the Administrator’s practice.

• Shared Vision: Continuously engages all stakeholders in the creation of a shared educational vision in which every student is prepared to succeed in post-middle school education and become a responsible citizen and global contributor.

• Managing Conflict: Employs strategies for responding to disagreement and dissent, constructively resolving conflict, and building consensus throughout the school community.

School Board

• Communication: Offer regular updates, timely escalations, and professional advice to the Board on items requiring board action, with appropriate recommendations based on thorough study and analysis. Serves as liaison between the Board and personnel, working toward a high degree of understanding and respect between staff and Board.

• Budget and Finances: Provides ongoing analysis and reports detailing monthly and yearly performance, actual to budget comparisons, end-of-year projections, and other relevant details that support.

• Meetings: Attends Board meetings. Assist the Board President in planning the agenda for meetings. Serve as an ex-officio member of all committees of the school board.

(This role description is intended to represent key areas of responsibilities; specific assignments may vary from time to time, and other duties may be assigned.)

What You Bring: 

The following describes many of the characteristics of the ideal candidate for the Head of School:

Education & Experience

Required:

• Strong personal Christian testimony

• Master’s degree in Education

• Valid Principal’s and Teacher’s certificates with the State Department of Education

• Five years of certified classroom teaching experience

• Three years of school and district leadership experience

• New or pending member of Grace Community Church – Tempe, AZ

Preferred:

• Valid Principal’s Certification with ACSI (Association of Christian Schools International)

• Ten or more years of successful certified teaching experience

• Five or more years of proven Principalship experience

• Prior ACSI Accreditation experience and involvement

  

What it's Like to Live in Tempe, AZ: 

Living in Tempe, AZ offers a dynamic, energetic lifestyle with a unique blend of urban and desert beauty. As home to Arizona State University, the city has a vibrant, lively atmosphere, with plenty of cultural events, entertainment, and a bustling downtown filled with restaurants and shops. Tempe Town Lake and the surrounding parks provide opportunities for outdoor activities like kayaking, biking, and hiking, all while enjoying the picturesque desert scenery. With a warm climate year-round and easy access to nearby Phoenix, Tempe is a hub for education, innovation, and recreation, making it an exciting place for professionals, students, and families.

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