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About Tempe Preparatory Academy

The mission of Tempe Preparatory Academy is to educate students for the lifelong pursuit of truth, goodness and beauty. TPA Graduates have a foundation in the liberal arts of grammar and rhetoric, logic and mathematics, history, natural science, and philosophy. Graduates will also have practiced the fine arts of music, poetry, drawing and painting, and drama. TPA Graduates are thus prepared for every career, every course of advanced or specialized study, and every kind of leisure. Founded in 1996, TPA is a traditional liberal arts school with small classes, a student/teacher ratio of 10 to 1, and an advanced liberal arts core curriculum designed for college-bound students.

 

Position Overview

Tempe Preparatory Academy seeks a Headmaster to lead TPA into its fourth decade. The Headmaster serves as chief administrator and academic leader, overseeing all dimensions of education, administration, operations, and fiscal oversight.  The Headmaster serves under the authority of the Board of Directors and serve in the roles of both Superintendent, with responsibility for overseeing the day-to-day business functions, and Headmaster, with responsible for overseeing the day-to-day academic operations of the school. The Headmaster is the direct supervisor of each faculty member. The Headmaster oversees the implementation of the Academy’s curriculum, and the hiring, training, and evaluation of teachers. The Headmaster is responsible for creating a positive school environment and culture to maintain the school’s mission, vision and values, and sustain the school’s academic rigor and depth. The Headmaster supervises the administrative staff and is responsible for the preparation of budgets and the administration of all financial and compliance matters, and executing fundraising and other support for the school. 

TPA seeks a headmaster with strong leadership skills; dedication to TPA’s classical liberal arts curriculum; a strong track record of experience in classroom teaching and expertise in fostering excellent pedagogy through teacher mentoring; excellent organizational and administrative skills, including fiscal management; excellent communication and community-building skills; and a commitment to the values and goals of the TPA mission. 

 

Key Responsibilities

  • Champion TPA’s curriculum and ensure alignment with the school’s mission across instruction, grading, and classroom culture.
  • Approach school culture-building in a systematic and strategic way, ensuring that every aspect of student experience reflects the joy, beauty, and seriousness of the TPA mission.
  • Provide mentorship and professional development for faculty through a structured feedback and coaching cycle, elevating instructional quality and morale.
  • Cultivate a culture of mutual respect, open communication, and shared intellectual purpose among teachers and staff.
  • Build trust and transparency with families; strengthen parent-school partnership through clear, regular, and substantive communication.
  • Serve as a visible and compelling advocate for TPA’s mission with prospective families, donors, and community partners.
  • Collaborate closely with operations staff and the board to maintain clear policies, effective systems, and sustainable growth.
     

Essential Competencies

  • Strong leadership, project management, operational, and communication skills.
  • Deep commitment to TPA’s classical liberal arts mission and experience implementing its principles in a school setting.
  • Entrepreneurial spirit with a track record of leading successful initiatives.
  • Skilled in hiring, faculty development, evaluation, and conflict resolution.
  • High-level communication: articulate, attentive listener, and effective public representative.
  • Operational fluency and financial acumen, especially within a charter school context.
  • Able to lead through change, build buy-in, and unite a diverse school community.

 

Key Character Traits

  • Gravitas and moral clarity balanced by warmth, humility, and joy.
  • High emotional intelligence; able to navigate complex community dynamics with diplomacy.
  • Resilient, adaptable, and willing to address challenges directly and constructively.
  • Relational and approachable; inspires trust and goodwill.
  • Strategic and intentional in culture-building and school leadership.

 

Required Qualifications

  • At least 5 years of experience in education, including multiple years in leadership roles. 
  • Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field.
  • Working knowledge management of classical liberal arts curriculum and pedagogy.
  • Experience in faculty development, curriculum leadership, and school administration.
  • Strong leadership, project, operational, and communication skills.

 

To Apply:

Please submit a cover letter detailing your qualifications and reasons for seeking the position, Curriculum Vitae, and list of at least three references to DeAnna Magana, at dmagana@tempeprep.org.

Tempe Preparatory Academy (TPA) is an equal opportunity employer. As a 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit, non-sectarian, publicly–funded charter school, TPA does not discriminate in its enrollment or hiring practices on the basis of gender, race, religion, national origin or disability.  Tax id #86-0824869.  Tempe Preparatory Academy School District #078761000.