Head of School

Head of School

Position Type: Administration

Start: 07/01/2026

School Name: The Monteverde Friends School

City, State: Monteverde, Costa Rica

Application Deadline: November 24, 2025

The Monteverde Friends School is a small Quaker school located in the rural town of Monteverde, Costa Rica. Surrounded by nature, supported by love, we work and grow in community so that our lives may contribute to a more just, peace-filled and hopeful world. We are seeking an exceptional, loving and creative leader who can help us continue to achieve our mission.

The Head of School (HOS) is responsible for providing overall direction, leadership, and management of the school’s day-to-day operations and ensuring that the school’s mission is carried out. They report directly to the School Committee to implement its strategic plan and vision for the school’s future and lead the school in the realization of its mission and philosophy. As the chief administrator of the school, the HOS provides support for all teachers, staff, and students while executing decisions to ensure the best possible school program. Part of their role is to work with the Business Office and the School Committee to determine operational budgets and promote long-term financial sustainability. This leader supports the development and implementation of an educational program that meets the needs of its students, reflects the School’s values, and complies with the Costa Rican educational requirements as determined by Costa Rica’s Ministry of Education. The HOS communicates effectively with all facets of the school community, including the Friends Meeting, teachers, students, parents and the Monteverde community as a whole.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• • Sets a tone that reflects the School’s core Quaker values and serves as the model of those values in all actions and communications.
  • Ensures that the School’s mission and values inform all decisions about programming and hiring
  • Fosters a sense of community at the School by working as a team with staff, School Committee, and others involved in the school to maintain the long-term vision of the school.
  • Is responsible for the hiring, retention, evaluation, and dismissal of staff and faculty, including convening and clerking hiring committees for each open position.
  • Implements, reviews, and revises school policies, job descriptions, manuals, and procedures in conjunction with the School Committee.
  • Collaborates with the Finance Subcommittee and Business Manager to create an annual budget and is responsible for ensuring adherence to that budget and that it aligns with the school’s goals.
  • Builds the master schedule for grades 1-12.
  • Plans and organizes in-service programing and professional development for staff
  • Oversees and coordinates international exchange programs.
  • Ensures that the School’s mission an values are communicated effectively to students, parents, staff and the broader community through weekly newsletter, emails, reports and other written documents.
  • Collaborates with the administrative assistant to welcome volunteers and community interns.

Desired Qualifications

• • Bachelor’s Degree
  • Master’s degree in education, educational leadership, or related field preferred
  • Demonstrated success in faculty supervision, curriculum development and student support
  • Strong leadership, communication, and organizational skills
  • Commitment to fostering an inclusive and equitable school environment
  • Conversational fluency in English or Spanish is required. Bilingual is ideal.
  • Understanding and commitment to Quaker values
  • Understanding of Costa Rican culture and law is preferred

For more information, go to https://mfschool.org/head-of-school-opening/.

To apply, please submit an application from the website above, resume, and three references to the Search Committee at headofschoolsearch@mfschool.org by November 25, 2025.

Salary Range: $40,000-$45,000

The Monteverde Friends School covers the cost of immigration and national health insurance.

Conversational fluency in English or Spanish is required. Bilingual is preferred.