Position Announcement: Head of School Head of School Scuola Italiana Enrico Fermi (SIEF) Chicago, Il

Chicago, Illinois, About Scuola Italiana Enrico Fermi Scuola Italiana Enrico Fermi (SIEF) is a bilingual Italian-English independent school located in Chicago's Wicker Park neighborhood. SIEF offers an immersive bilingual educational experience rooted in Italian language and culture and inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach to education. Over the past decade, SIEF has grown into a vibrant educational community and an important center for Italian language and culture in Chicago. The school is now entering an exciting new chapter, one that offers opportunities to deepen its educational program, expand its reach and impact, and build an increasingly strong and sustainable institution for the future. The Opportunity SIEF seeks a visionary, entrepreneurial, and experienced Head of School to serve as the school's chief educational and executive leader and guide SIEF into its next phase of development. This is a distinctive opportunity for a leader who is deeply committed to bilingual and bicultural education, inspired by the Reggio Emilia philosophy, and energized by the possibilities of leading a growing independent school. Working in close partnership with the Board of Trustees, the Head of School will provide educational, strategic, operational, and community leadership while articulating a compelling vision for SIEF's future. The successful candidate will combine the mindset of an educator with the perspective of an institution builder: someone who can nurture an exceptional educational experience for children today while thoughtfully developing the programs, people, partnerships, and organizational capacity needed for SIEF's future. Of particular importance will be the Head of School's ability to lead conversations about the continued development of SIEF's academic program across multiple grade levels, including the potential expansion of its elementary program. The Head of School reports to the Board of Trustees. Start date: July 1, 2027, or earlier if possible Key Responsibilities Educational Leadership and Program Development The Head of School will serve as SIEF's chief educational leader and will:

Ensure that the school's mission, values, and educational philosophy are put into practice in every aspect of school life.

Provide leadership for the continued development of a coherent, rigorous, and developmentally appropriate academic program across grade levels, including the implementation of a curriculum based on the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) framework in the elementary grades.

Uphold and deepen the Reggio Emilia approach as a defining element of SIEF's educational identity, ensuring that its principles inform curriculum, pedagogy, relationships, documentation, learning environments, and school culture.

Advance SIEF's distinctive approach to bilingual and bicultural education, maintaining Italian language and culture as central elements of the school's identity.

Lead thoughtful exploration of future educational programs and grade-level expansion.

Ensure that the school's activities reflect best practices in child development and that the school provides inclusive and developmentally appropriate learning experiences and activities.

Ensure that the school provides an environment that is physically and emotionally safe for children.

Remain current with research, best practices, and emerging opportunities in bilingual, international, and progressive education.

Faculty, Staff, and Organizational Leadership The Head of School will build and sustain a strong professional culture and will:

Recruit, hire, supervise, mentor, evaluate, and retain an outstanding faculty and staff, supporting their growth and development.

Seek teachers and staff with diverse experience and backgrounds whose style and values complement the school.

Provide for the effective integration and training of new teachers.

Establish and maintain standards of performance and support exemplary teaching.

Ensure ongoing professional development for teachers, strengthening their expertise in bilingual education, Reggio Emilia practice, curriculum development, and child development, while inspiring reflection and encouraging innovation.

Maintain positive, active relationships with staff and create an open, safe environment for peer-to-peer communication and conflict resolution.

Foster a professional culture characterized by collaboration, accountability, reflection, trust, and continuous growth.

Establish clear organizational structures, roles, expectations, and systems that support an increasingly complex institution.

Model transparent, thoughtful, and effective communication and decision-making.

Cultivate a workplace in which faculty and staff feel valued, supported, challenged, and connected to the school's mission.

Strategic and Institutional Leadership In partnership with the Board of Trustees, the Head of School will:

Articulate a compelling vision for SIEF’s future while honoring the school’s history, culture, and distinctive identity.

Lead the implementation of the school’s strategic priorities and translate long-term aspirations into achievable plans.

Assess opportunities for responsible programmatic and institutional growth.

Strengthen the systems, organizational capacity, and infrastructure necessary to support SIEF’s continued development.

Provide the Board with timely information and professional insight necessary for effective governance and long-range planning.

Maintain a clear distinction between Board governance and the Head of School’s responsibility for school operations and educational leadership.

Enrollment, Advancement, and Community Engagement As SIEF's principal ambassador and institutional leader, the Head of School will:

Develop and implement strategies that support sustainable enrollment, retention, and institutional visibility.

Tell a compelling and authentic story about SIEF, communicating its philosophy, objectives, and distinctive educational experience to students, teachers, families, alumni, and the wider community.

Build strong relationships with current and prospective families, alumni, donors, community partners, and other friends of the school.

Lead and support fundraising and advancement efforts, including the cultivation of individual donors, foundations, and institutional partners.

Strengthen SIEF's relationships within Chicago's educational, civic, Italian, and Italian American communities.

Identify partnerships and collaborations that can extend the school's educational opportunities, visibility, and impact.

Financial and Operational Stewardship The Head of School will ensure the responsible stewardship of SIEF's resources and will:

Supervise and direct the ongoing operation of the school.

Supervise administrative staff responsibilities, including student records, program supply maintenance, tuition payments, payroll, and payables and receivables.

Oversee the school's budget, financial planning, and overall financial sustainability.

Work with the Board and appropriate staff to develop annual budgets aligned with strategic priorities, and present them for the Board's approval.

Ensure that staffing, facilities, technology, and other resources effectively support the educational program.

Establish and maintain effective operational policies, procedures, and systems.

Ensure compliance with applicable legal, regulatory, employment, health and safety, and educational requirements.

Balance aspirations for growth with responsible financial and organizational planning.

School Culture and Family Partnership The Head of School will serve as a highly visible presence within the life of the school and will:

Foster a warm, inclusive, joyful, and intellectually engaging school culture.

Build trusting relationships with students, families, faculty, and staff.

Encourage meaningful family engagement and partnership in support of children's learning and development.

Act as a resource to parents for concerns or collaboration about their child.

Communicate openly and effectively, including during moments of challenge or change.

Preserve the close-knit character of SIEF while helping the community navigate the opportunities and complexities that accompany institutional growth.

Ensure that belonging, respect, curiosity, and relationships remain central to the experience of children and adults.

Qualifications Required

Master's degree in education, educational leadership, school administration, or a related field.

Significant experience in education, with demonstrated capacity for leadership, organizational development, and collaboration.

Knowledge of and meaningful experience with the Reggio Emilia approach and its application to teaching, learning, curriculum, relationships, and school culture.

Demonstrated commitment to child-centered, inquiry-based education.

Strong strategic and entrepreneurial mindset, including the ability to lead thoughtfully through growth and change.

Excellent interpersonal, communication, organizational, and community-building skills.

Demonstrated ability to build trust and work effectively with multiple constituencies.

Preferred

Significant school leadership or administrative experience, particularly within an independent, bilingual, and international school.

Experience in bilingual or immersion education.

Experience developing or overseeing elementary-level curriculum and educational programs.

Experience with curriculum development, program design, and educational planning across multiple grade levels.

Familiarity with the International Baccalaureate (IB) framework; experience with IB program development, implementation, or authorization is a significant asset.

Experience in nonprofit governance, advancement, fundraising, or donor relations.

Knowledge of or established relationships within Chicago's educational, Italian, or Italian American communities.

Proficiency in Italian is strongly preferred and will be considered an important asset for the position.

Leadership Qualities SIEF seeks an inspiring, collaborative, and forward-looking leader who:

Is deeply committed to bilingual and bicultural education rooted in Italian language and culture.

Understands and embraces the Reggio Emilia approach as a philosophy of education: a way of thinking about children, learning, relationships, environment, and community.

Brings entrepreneurial energy and the ability to build an institution with creativity, vision, discipline, and purpose.

Leads with integrity, warmth, curiosity, and a genuine passion for children, families, and educators.

Is comfortable being both a strategic leader and a hands-on presence in the daily life of a growing school.

Thrives in a dynamic, community-centered environment and sees growth and change as opportunities for thoughtful institutional development.

Communicates clearly and effectively, both verbally and in writing.

Maintains confidentiality and handles sensitive matters with discretion.

Builds trust, invites collaboration, and develops effective relationships with the Board, faculty, staff, families, and broader community.

Appreciates the richness of Italian language, culture, and educational traditions while bringing an open, contemporary, and forward-looking perspective to the school's future.

Can honor what makes SIEF distinctive today while helping the community imagine what the school can become tomorrow.

Compensation SIEF offers a competitive compensation package commensurate with experience and qualifications. Additional details will be shared with candidates selected to advance in the search process.