Laboratory Schools: Director of Schools

University of Chicago•Hyde Park, IL

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The University of Chicago Laboratory Schools is a nursery through grade 12 institution that has stood as the pioneer and vanguard of pedagogical innovation since its founding in 1896. Professor John Dewey, considered by many to be the father of progressive education, advanced a philosophy of experiential learning that encourages students to think critically, work cooperatively, and engage fully in the learning process. Today, as one of the nation’s finest private schools, Lab serves over 2,200 students and their families, of whom more than half are affiliated with the University of Chicago. Lab’s intellectually curious and deeply engaged students learn in an environment that questions conventional assumptions, cultivates critical thinking, and prepares them to participate thoughtfully in a dynamic democratic society. Lab students benefit from the Schools’ more than 300 outstanding teaching faculty (80 percent with advanced degrees), more than 100 staff members, approximately $104 million annual operating budget, and connection to the academic and cultural resources of a world-class research university. Students have access to engage with distinguished University faculty and are taught to and can use the University’s vast resources, including its rich library system. For over a century, Lab’s pillars of academic excellence have guided the Schools’ work. These four pillars include: Scholarship cultivates a culture of rigorous inquiry and sustained intellectual curiosity. Through scholarly engagement, students encounter diverse perspectives, interrogate assumptions, and extend the boundaries of knowledge within a vibrant academic community. Creativity inspires students to explore original approaches and engage thoughtfully with complex problems. In cultivating creative capacity, the Schools foster the adaptability, ingenuity, and intellectual agility essential for success in an ever-evolving academic landscape. Curiosity allows students to question, explore, and pursue deeper understanding. By fostering a spirit of inquiry, the Schools encourage sustained engagement with ideas and the habits of mind that support thoughtful, self-directed learning. Confidence enables students to boldly express themselves, pursue intellectual challenge with courage, and approach uncertainty with resilience. In cultivating this confidence, the Schools foster independence, thoughtful risk-taking, and purposeful engagement. The University of Chicago Laboratory School is accredited by the Independent Schools Association of Central States (ISACS). For more information about Lab, please visit: https://www.ucls.uchicago.edu/. Job Summary: The Director of the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools is the chief academic, strategic, and administrative leader, responsible for advancing the Schools’ educational vision and stewarding its role as an integral part of the University of Chicago community. Reporting to the President of the University, the Director oversees a nursery through grade 12 institution renowned for academic excellence, progressive philosophy, and pedagogical innovation. This leader collaboratively aligns Lab’s policies, operations, and curriculum with the University, fosters a vibrant and inclusive community, and ensures the Schools’ ongoing sustainability through strategic financial stewardship. The Director engages regularly with faculty, staff, families, University officials, and advisory boards to champion student-centered leadership, uphold the values of free expression and diversity, and elevate Lab’s profile within and beyond the University. The successful candidate is a seasoned educational leader with a proven track record in complex school environments, adept at navigating governance and labor relations, and capable of inspiring an intellectually curious community committed to lifelong learning.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree required.
Advanced degree preferred (80% of teaching faculty at Lab have advanced degrees).
Distinguished senior leadership experience in education, typically requiring advanced educational credentials preferred.
Senior leadership experience in private or public N-12 education, higher education, or comparably complex institutions preferred.
Demonstrated success leading across interconnected academic and administrative environments preferred.
Experience engaging in collective bargaining and managing contractual obligations preferred.
Demonstrated success in strategic donor stewardship, including securing philanthropic support preferred.
Track record of partnering with advisory boards and engaging in transparent communication preferred.
Experience working within governance structures, collaborating on policy, curriculum, operations, and institutional alignment preferred.
Experience fostering inclusive school culture and engaging differing perspectives respectfully preferred.
Exceptional communication and listening skills; ability to articulate a compelling vision.
Emotional intelligence, integrity, empathy, and clarity in leadership.
Strong relational capacity to build trust, collaboration, and shared purpose across a diverse community.
Deep commitment to free expression, diversity, inclusion, and intellectual curiosity.
Constructive engagement with faculty, staff, students, families, and University leadership.
Strong financial acumen, including strategic budgeting and resource allocation.
Capacity to work within shared governance structures and collective bargaining environments.
Ability to inspire, strengthen cohesion, lead organizational change, and advance institutional alignment.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree preferred (80% of teaching faculty at Lab have advanced degrees).
Distinguished senior leadership experience in education, typically requiring advanced educational credentials preferred.
Senior leadership experience in private or public N-12 education, higher education, or comparably complex institutions preferred.
Demonstrated success leading across interconnected academic and administrative environments preferred.
Experience engaging in collective bargaining and managing contractual obligations preferred.
Demonstrated success in strategic donor stewardship, including securing philanthropic support preferred.
Track record of partnering with advisory boards and engaging in transparent communication preferred.
Experience working within governance structures, collaborating on policy, curriculum, operations, and institutional alignment preferred.
Experience fostering inclusive school culture and engaging differing perspectives respectfully preferred.

Responsibilities

Serve as chief academic, strategic, and administrative leader of the Laboratory Schools.
Advance the Schools’ educational vision and steward Lab’s role within the University of Chicago community.
Strengthen alignment with University values, policy, operations, and priorities through regular collaboration with senior leadership.
Cultivate a culture of intellectual vitality, pedagogical innovation, consistent curriculum, and academic excellence.
Support and participate in governance, including collective bargaining processes with the teachers’ union.
Deepen integration and alignment with the University of Chicago, engaging with academic departments and administrative units.
Champion an inclusive, respectful community aligned with the School's core values.
Develop and elevate institutional communications and public voice.
Oversee strategic and sustainable financial planning and resource allocation.
Represent the Schools in University leadership and to external audiences.
Provide visible, student-centered leadership while advancing progressive educational roots.
Performs other duties as assigned.