Careers at SJK

The St. John’s-Kilmarnock School (SJK, the School) Board of Governors is seeking an inspiring and dynamic leader for our Head of School.

Our next Head of School will join our community at an exciting time as we mark the end of our current, successful Strategic Plan, and begin to envision the next chapter for SJK.

St. John’s-Kilmarnock School is the only accredited IB World Continuum School in Southwestern Ontario, offering enriched educational programming for students from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12 on our picturesque 36-acre rural campus. Having just marked our 50th anniversary, the spirit of our School continues to exemplify our motto to Go Beyond. We honour our roots as a small rural school that grew out of a community’s passion for education and arts, and the spirit of connection and togetherness that has helped us grow into a leading Canadian independent school.

The History of St. John’s-Kilmarnock School
Founded in 1972 in Elora, Ontario, St. John’s School for Boys grew from an evening choir program at St. John’s Church. St. Margaret’s School opened in 1976 as a sister school to St. John’s, focused on providing a similar educational opportunity for girls. In 1985, St. John’s and St. Margaret’s amalgamated, forming St. John’s-Kilmarnock School as it is known today.

SJK is committed to academic excellence, rigour, high-quality teaching and student-centred learning where we nurture students to reach their full potential. Personalized opportunities are created for each student with high priority placed on experiential learning that cultivates students’ natural curiosity through curricular and co-curricular programming offered on our rural campus. SJK graduates leave the School as citizens and leaders with a capacity for and commitment to global action.

Going Beyond – Strategic Plan for SJK School 2022-2027
After comprehensive community consultation, SJK introduced “Going Beyond – Strategic Plan for SJK School 2022-2027”.

As we near the end of this strategic plan, the remaining time will be spent reflecting on the progress made, with an eye on the work that will continue as we plan for beyond 2027.

Undoubtedly, future work at the School will continue to be rooted in our core mission, vision, and values that guide who we are as a community.

Our Mission: To discover the unique talents of each student, ignite their love of learning, and build their capacity for global action.

Our Vision: Is to be a leading IB Continuum school.

Our Values
Community – we value the deep and broad connections in our diverse community, including the
importance of relationships, kindness and respect for others. We are committed to fostering an inclusive and caring community where everyone is welcomed and feel a strong sense of belonging.
Citizenship – We believe we have a responsibility to be active citizens, making a difference in the world around us locally and globally.
Commitment – We believe in responsibility and rigour, challenging ourselves to go beyond our comfort
zone to reach our potential.
Creativity – We believe that original thinking, self-expression and innovation are vital and are
increasingly needed in our everchanging world.
Curiosity – We believe in helping students develop their intellectual curiosity, broadening their
knowledge and developing their own unique perspective on the world around them.

Strategic Theme and Objectives
Going Beyond!
Going beyond at SJK is doing more than is expected or required. It is overcoming limiting beliefs to
surpass our own expectations of what we thought was possible.
• Beyond the classroom to enriched and personalized student experiences,
• Beyond the standard to excellence and innovation in teaching and learning.
• Beyond the present to strength and permanence for future generations.

For more information, please visit: https://www.sjkschool.org/.

The Position
The Head of School at St. John’s Kilmarnock will be an inspiring and engaged leader who will lead ourSchool into the next chapter of its story. The Head of School will cultivate and nurture a thriving SJK
community that engages faculty, staff, students, alum, families and community partners. Leading the Executive Leadership Team and reporting to the Board of Governors, the Head of School will be an
excellent communicator and a credible and supportive leader who connects with all members of the school community, fosters an environment of collaboration and innovation, and operates with integrity, respecting the history and unique culture of SJK.

The role of Head of School is dynamic, requiring expertise in identifying, setting and executing on long-term strategy, building and maintaining an engaged and inclusive community, managing the long-term financial health of the school, and leading day-to-day operations.

The Head of School is the leader of our community and acts as an ambassador and role model, whose actions reflect SJK’s values in their engagement with faculty, staff, students, families, alumni and the broader community.

Key Responsibilities
Visionary Leadership
• Articulate an exciting future for SJK that continues to honour the School’s history and values,
while continuing to provide academic excellence and an exceptional and personalized student experience.
• Embody the spirit to Go Beyond in creating an environment for curiosity, exploration and innovation in visioning the School’s future.
• Engage the community in creating our next Strategic Plan for 2028 and beyond.

Operational Leadership
• Ensure the long-term financial stability of the School through solid financial management.
• Embed and sustain efficient operational procedures.
• Revitalize and enhance the international/boarding program comprised of mission appropriate students.
• Deliver a comprehensive academic and cocurricular program that enables SJK graduates to maximize their potential and become well-rounded and engaged global citizens.

Talent Strategy and Management
• Attract, retain and engage outstanding faculty and staff, making SJK a premier educational employer in our region and the independent school sector.
• Cultivate a supportive workplace culture where faculty and staff are engaged, committed and motivated to work to their fullest potential.
• Demonstrate a commitment to staff well-being, professional development and succession planning.

Community Relations
• Continue to cultivate and nurture a thriving SJK community which includes students, families, alumni, faculty, staff, and community partners.
• Work cooperatively and collaboratively with the Board of Governors and Foundation.
• Build a thriving culture of philanthropy embedded in the values of the School, with a high degree of community engagement.
• Demonstrate an enduring personal commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging.

Experience & Qualifications:
• A minimum of five years of experience working in a senior/executive leadership capacity at an independent school. Previous Head of School experience is an asset.
• A minimum of ten years working experience in education or within the education sector.
• Post-secondary education in a relevant field.
• A member in good standing with the Ontario College of Teachers (OCT) is preferred.
• A demonstrated commitment and capacity for strategic thinking that fosters innovation and inclusion.
• A proven track record of leadership and experience working in elementary and secondary education, demonstrating a commitment to excellence in education.
• Strong knowledge of the International Baccalaureate program is an asset.
• Experience working in boarding schools and with international students is an asset.
• A proven track record of leading large multidisciplinary teams.
• Strong knowledge of human resources management and practice.
• A demonstrated commitment to staff well-being, professional development, and succession planning.
• Demonstrated excellence in communication and relationship building with a wide and diverse community.
• Depth of experience in and knowledge of advancement, including alumni relations, fundraising, and public relations.
• Demonstrated track record of cultivating a culture of engagement, innovation and excellence in student learning and overall school experience.
• Deep experience building strong, trust-based relationships with all members of the school community.

• Well-versed in governance practices, with a strong understanding of how to work effectively with Boards. Previous board experience is an asset.
• Proven business and operational leadership, including sound financial stewardship, resource allocation and strategic budget oversight.
• Exceptional relationship-builder and communicator, with the ability to engage diverse stakeholder groups with clarity, diplomacy and influence.

Applications:
St. John’s-Kilmarnock School is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion in its policies, practices, and teaching, learning and work environments. In accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act 2005, accommodation will be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request.

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply and express their interest in confidence via email to Monika Mrowinski-MacKay at mmrowinski@bedfordgroup.com.