St. Johns Classical Academy (SJCA) first opened in 2017, as a K-8 school, adding a grade level each year until reaching its first graduating class in the 2021/2022 school year. SJCA is currently in its ninth year with its fifth graduating class of 33 scholars for the 2025/2026 school year; and enrollment just under 1,000 K-12 scholars at the Fleming Island Campus. During the 2024/2025 school year, almost a half-million scholarship dollars were offered to its 27 seniors with a 100% graduation rate. SJCA has been a proud Hillsdale College K-12 Education Member School since 2021 and Cognia accredited since January 2022, with an annual budget of $10,000,000. The vision of St. Johns Classical Academy is to offer a unique option that provides students with classical education. Scholars will receive a cohesive Classical education, which builds upon itself year after year, creating a successful foundation for learning. Scholars will be intentionally taught the benefits of a virtuous character and will be challenged through the lessons taught within the curriculum to develop and strengthen their character. Our teachers will provide the support and attention scholars require in order to meet the high expectations of a Classical education.
The mission of St. Johns Classical Academy is to develop graduates in mind and character through a classical, content-rich curriculum that emphasizes the principles of virtuous living, traditional learning, and civic responsibility. We are building intelligent, virtuous American citizens.
Head of School:
A classical school leader is an important figure in a school and its surrounding community. He or she is entrusted with the education and well-being of its students and the academic reputation of that community, acting as a steward of substantial public or private funds and, ultimately, a contributor to the future viability of the nation through the passing on of wisdom and virtue to its future citizens. The leader of a classical school knows that he or she is shaping young men and women for lives of virtue, and that a classical education is a training for both the mind and the heart. The leader is equally attentive to the school's curriculum, pedagogy, and culture, because he or she knows that ethical and intellectual living is practiced in and outside of the classroom. The school leader is an example of virtuous living and the love of learning for its own sake to the students and his or her community. He or she understands the value of a liberal arts education and can articulate that clearly and effectively. As a proponent of American classical education informed by the Western tradition, the school leader builds a culture focused on principled self-government and civic responsibility.
Essential Qualities and Characteristics
●Natural Leader: Specifically, the ability to discern the ends that fulfill the nature and purpose of the organization, and to chart a course to reach those ends. The ability to inform and inspirepeople to follow, to commit, to take responsibility, to perform, and to cooperate in an effectivemanner. The ability to raise up leaders in an organization.
● Transformational Quality: Committed to school reform, energized with courage and governed by prudence. A generator of trust and confidence from others within his or her leadership by his or her own character.
● Intellectual Depth: A serious understanding of the life of the mind befitting of the leader of an academic institution. A love of learning demonstrated by the ongoing personal pursuit of knowledge and the desire to share that knowledge with others.
● Character: Exhibits moral excellence through unwavering personal integrity, honesty, humility, decisiveness, and industriousness.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Provides general management of all school operations, including academic, financial, personnel, regulatory, and facility areas. Observes teachers at defined intervals, documents results, and provides feedback as mentor and supervisor. Reports at regular school board meetings on the status of operations and plans for upcoming activities. Represents the school as the senior executive leader in interactions with the public, the school constituencies, the authorizer or accreditor, and other government agencies. Teaches one class per year which models school leaders as master teachers, emphasizes interaction with students, and provides internal perspective for correct decision-making.
The current Head of School will be retiring after completion of the 2026/2027 school year. The new Head of School will work side-by-side during the 2026/2027 school year, ensuring a smooth transition and then start as the new Head of School on July 1, 2027.
Our Vision
The vision of St. Johns Classical Academy is to offer a unique option that provides scholars with classical education. Scholars receive a cohesive Classical education, which builds upon itself year after year, creating a successful foundation for learning. Scholars are intentionally taught the benefits of a virtuous character and will be challenged through the lessons taught within the curriculum to develop and strengthen their character. Teachers provide the support and attention scholars require in order to meet the high expectations of a Classical education.
St. Johns Classical Academy Fleming Island Campus exists to restore the classical liberal arts tradition in public education. Guided by the Western heritage of wisdom, virtue, and self-government, seeking to form young men and women for lives of character and civic responsibility.
St. Johns Classical Academy scholars, parents, and teachers are held accountable to the nine Standards of Virtue: Citizenship, Courage, Honesty, Humility, Integrity, Perseverance, Respect, Responsibility, and Wisdom, all while learning the true, doing the good, and loving the beautiful.
The Opportunity
The Head of School is entrusted with the education and well-being of scholars, the professional growth of faculty, and the operational excellence of St. Johns Classical Academy. This individual is a leader who embodies the love of learning, models virtuous living, and builds a culture rooted in the classical tradition. This is not a conventional public school principal position. It is a higher calling: to steward a growing institution, inspiring teachers and families, and anchoring a community in the enduring ideals of liberty and virtue.
Key Responsibilities
Champion the mission of St. Johns Classical Academy, ensuring that every decision, policy, and practice advances the school’s founding vision of classical education.
- Lead with excellence to oversee academics, operations, finance, personnel, and compliance.
- Mentor and coach teachers, ensuring excellence in classroom instruction and culture.
- Represents the school to parents, community members, authorizers, and civic partners.
- Builds and sustains a strong administrative team aligned with the school’s mission.
- Report regularly to the Governing Board of Directors on school progress and plans.
- Teach one class annually, modeling master teaching and direct engagement with scholars.
Desired Qualities
- Visionary Leadership: Ability to inspire, delegate, and develop future leaders.
- Intellectual Depth: A demonstrated love of learning and the liberal arts in the classical tradition.
- Moral Character: Integrity, courage and humility that generates trust.
- Cultural Builder: Capacity to foster a disciplined, joyful, mission-aligned school culture.
Engaging Presence: Excellent communication skills with parents, faculty, and civic partners.
Knowledge & Skills
- A growing expertise of the Hillsdale K-12 classical model, with commitment to immersing oneself and the faculty in its principles.
- Ability to ensure curriculum fidelity and uphold the cultural standards of classical education.
- Broad grasp of the liberal arts and their role in American education.
- Strong organizational and personnel management skills.
- Financial acumen: budgeting, auditing, and fiscal controls.
- Familiarity with state accountancy and State Performance Review requirements.
St. Johns Classical Academy is seeking a leader with the following minimum required qualifications:
Teacher Certification: Valid professional teaching certificate, if certificate is out of Florida, ability to obtain such professional certificate with the Florida Department of Education before July 1, 2027
Education: Master’s degree or higher in educational leadership
Experience: Five years as a highly effective lead administrator
License: Principal Certification
Salary: Commensurate with experience
EEO Statement
St. Johns Classical Academy provides equal employment opportunity to all individuals regardless of their race, color, creed, religion, gender, age, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by state, federal, or local law ensures that all applicants and employees are treated without regard to any of these characteristics. Discrimination will not be tolerated.
Other Duties
Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
The Governing Board of Directors seeks a leader of character and vision who embodies the mission and inspires others. Called to steward a community of learning, you will form teachers and scholars alike and build a legacy of classical education that endures for generations. If you are ready to lead with courage and conviction, we invite you to send in your curriculum vitae, cover letter, and statement of philosophy to [email protected].
Job Types: Full-time, Contract
Pay: From $80,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Application Question(s):
- All employees are required to complete a background screening and drug screening, are you able to successfully pass both?
- What is your experience with Classical education?
- As a member school of Hillsdale College K-12 Education, what is your level of knowledge of their curriculum?
Education:
License/Certification:
- Principal Certification (Preferred)
- Teaching Certificate (Preferred)
Work Location: In person
