Great Commission Schools is a nondenominational, independent K-12 Christian school serving approximately 145 students in central Pennsylvania. Founded in 1996 with emphasis on Biblical authority and faith development, the school has maintained authentic Christ-centered education while remaining accessible to families across different Christian traditions and economic backgrounds. The school operates debt-free with a staff of 27 full-time and 5 part-time educators, an annual budget of approximately $1.1 million, and serves students from Blair and Cambria Counties.
The school is positioned at an exciting inflection point. With a strong mission foundation, committed faith community, engaged Board of Directors, and a fully-funded $28 million new campus launching in 2027, GCS is seeking an experienced Head of School to lead the organization through its most significant growth opportunity in its history. This is an opportunity to build on authentic mission alignment while positioning the school for sustainable expansion and impact.
THE OPPORTUNITY
The Head of School role at Great Commission Schools combines strategic visioning with hands-on operational leadership. You will serve as the chief executive officer providing direction, building systems, and stewarding the organization through a transformational season. The role requires both the ability to articulate a compelling vision for the school's future and the operational excellence to implement it effectively.
Your primary mandate is to strengthen organizational systems, enhance financial sustainability, and position the school for growth—all while preserving the authentic mission and relational culture that families value. This is not a rescue role but an expansion role. The spiritual and cultural foundation is solid; the opportunity is to build excellent operations and strategic growth upon it.
ABOUT THE SCHOOL
Great Commission Schools was founded in 1996 by families and educators committed to Christ-centered education that integrates biblical worldview with rigorous academics. For nearly 30 years, the school has maintained its commitment to serving families seeking Christian education while remaining independent and accessible across different Christian traditions and economic backgrounds. This dedication to accessibility and mission has created deep community loyalty and strong reputation as an authentically Christ-centered learning community.
The school's identity is characterized by genuine spiritual formation, relational community, and commitment to developing students as both scholars and servants. Teachers are all Christians committed to their faith, and the school environment reflects authentic living of Biblical values rather than merely teaching about Christianity. This has created what families describe as a "family atmosphere" where students are genuinely known, cared for, and developed holistically—spiritually, academically, socially, and emotionally.
WHAT THEY DO
Spiritual Formation at the Core
The defining characteristic of Great Commission Schools is that Christ is authentically central to the educational experience. Staff model genuine Christian faith, chapel services and spiritual formation are meaningful rather than obligatory, and Biblical worldview is integrated across curriculum and daily life. Teachers care deeply about students' spiritual growth, and the school environment creates space for authentic faith practice within a diverse denominational community. Families consistently identify the spiritual environment as the primary reason they choose GCS—it's where faith is genuinely lived, not merely taught.
Academic Preparation
Advanced Placement courses are offered, and students participate in competitive academic programs. Small class sizes (7:1-8:1 student-teacher ratio) enable personalized attention, allowing teachers to differentiate instruction and meet individual student needs. The curriculum emphasizes critical thinking, academic rigor, and college preparedness within a Biblical worldview framework.
Athletic Excellence Grounded in Character Development
Great Commission Schools offers competitive athletic programs in soccer, basketball, and track and field. These programs are intentionally structured to develop Christian character alongside athletic skill. Athletics serve as a venue for teaching biblical principles including teamwork, perseverance, humility, and servant leadership. The athletic program is competitive and well-coached while remaining aligned with the school's mission of developing character and leadership.
Award-Winning Fine Arts Programming
The school has developed an award-winning fine arts program that nurtures student creativity while integrating faith-based values. Students have opportunities in music, drama, and visual arts. The school produces high-quality theatrical productions that showcase student talent while providing meaningful artistic experiences. GCS competes in the Isaac Award competition with 18 other high schools in the area, earning one first place and runner up in 2025.
Teacher Quality and Commitment
Despite modest compensation, teachers at GCS demonstrate exceptional commitment to their students and the school's mission. The teaching staff includes educators who have chosen to remain at the school because they value spiritual formation and relational community over higher salaries. Teachers are known for going "above and beyond" in their commitment to students' academic and spiritual development. This committed faculty represents one of the school's greatest assets and a primary reason families choose GCS.
Small School Community with Family Feel
With 145 students, the school maintains the intimacy and relational depth that larger institutions cannot replicate. Students are genuinely known by name, teachers have meaningful relationships with each student, and the school operates with a "family feel" that families treasure. This small size creates opportunity for personalized attention, genuine community building, and authentic relationships that shape students' school experience and loyalty.
POSITION DESCRIPTION
Job Title: Head of School
Reports to: Board of Directors (9-member governance board)
Direct Reports: Principal, Development Director, Administrative Secretary, Business Manager
Location: Altoona, PA (current); Hollidaysburg, PA (2027)
Position Status: Full-time
Ideal Start Date: Spring or Summer 2026
JOB PURPOSE
Serve as Great Commission Schools' chief executive leader, providing strategic vision, operational leadership, and mission-centered stewardship for the organization. The Head of School will advance the school's mission of Christ-centered education, lead the organization through its transition to new facilities, strengthen operational and financial systems, and position the school for sustainable growth and impact.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Strategic Leadership & Vision
Articulate compelling vision for the school's 5-7 year future
Lead strategic planning aligned with mission and market realities
Develop facility transition plan and campus utilization strategy
Create strategic enrollment and growth plan
Establish clear organizational goals and success metrics
Operational Leadership
Oversee day-to-day operations and administrative systems
Implement processes and structures supporting organizational effectiveness
Manage school budget, financial planning, and resource allocation
Provide visible leadership presence throughout school community
Coordinate facility transition and new campus implementation
Academic Leadership
Provide oversight of academic programming and instructional quality
Ensure academic excellence and rigor across curriculum
Support professional development and teacher effectiveness
Develop academic standards and assessment systems
Plan for program expansion and course offering enhancement
Spiritual Leadership
Model authentic Christian faith and biblical values
Champion biblical worldview integration across school operations
Lead spiritual formation and discipleship initiatives
Provide spiritual leadership to staff and community
Financial Stewardship
Develop and manage annual budgets with appropriate margin
Make strategic decisions regarding tuition, enrollment, and budget allocation
Build long-term financial planning and sustainability models
Partner with Development Director on fundraising and revenue growth
Ensure financial health and accountability
Enrollment & Community Building
Develop and execute strategic enrollment initiatives
Build and maintain strong family and community relationships
Serve as primary spokesperson for school in community
Cultivate partnerships with local churches and organizations
Support family retention and satisfaction
Board Partnership
Provide regular reporting and communication to Board
Partner with Board on strategic planning and major decisions
Operate within Board governance policies
Cultivate Board engagement and support
Staff Leadership
Recruit, hire, and develop exceptional educators
Provide leadership development and professional growth opportunities
Communicate expectations and accountability with care
Build collaborative, mission-aligned team culture
Facility Management
Oversee current facility operations and maintenance
Manage transition to new campus in 2027
Plan for facility utilization and program expansion
Ensure facilities support mission and learning environment
QUALIFICATIONS
Essential
3-5 years professional experience in education or nonprofit leadership
Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree in Education, MBA, or related field preferred
1-3 years in leadership role with operational responsibility
Head of School, Principal, or equivalent leadership experience strongly preferred
Demonstrated financial management and budgeting capability
Track record managing organizational change and growth
Strategic planning and implementation experience
Genuine, lived-out Christian faith with active church engagement
Deep alignment with school's biblical theology and mission
Preferred
Head of School experience in mission-driven school
Experience managing significant organizational transitions or growth
Experience in school size 150-300 students
Fundraising and donor relations experience
Facility transition or campus development experience
Personal Qualities
Visionary and optimistic yet grounded and realistic
Comfortable embracing challenges and complexity
Committed to continuous learning and growth
Hardworking and driven with appropriate boundaries
Confident yet humble; willing to listen and learn
Relational and warm with ability to maintain leadership boundaries
Grace-filled while maintaining high standards
Decisive and action-oriented
COMPENSATION & BENEFITS
To be discussed in interview
OPPORTUNITIES & CHALLENGES
OPPORTUNITIES
Fully-Funded New Campus (2027)
The defining opportunity for the incoming Head of School is leadership of the organization through its transition to a brand new, fully-funded $28 million campus in Hollidaysburg launching in 2027. This represents extraordinary opportunity because the capital campaign is complete with all funding secured—eliminating ongoing capital fundraising burden. The new state-of-the-art facilities will dramatically enhance recruitment positioning, enable program expansion, and support operational improvements. Leadership of this transition includes strategic planning for facility utilization, new systems implementation, enrollment growth strategy, and stakeholder communication. For a Head of School with experience managing organizational transitions, this is a significant opportunity to shape the school's future during a pivotal growth season.
Preserve and Strengthen Authentic Mission Culture
Great Commission Schools has successfully built something genuinely valuable—an authentically Christ-centered educational community where families belong and students experience holistic formation. This represents a significant organizational asset that many schools struggle for years to achieve. The opportunity for the incoming Head of School is to preserve this authentic mission and relational culture while implementing excellent operations and strategic systems. Rather than building mission from scratch, the leader will steward an existing genuine spiritual community while enhancing its operational excellence and strategic effectiveness.
Enrollment Growth and Market Expansion
The school is positioned for meaningful enrollment growth. Located in a region where families actively seek Christian education options, current enrollment of 145 students is below facility capacity. The new campus, combined with strategic enrollment initiatives and leadership investment, creates opportunity to grow toward 200+ students within five years. This growth would strengthen financial sustainability while expanding the school's spiritual and academic impact. Strategic enrollment work, enhanced community visibility, and new facility positioning create genuine market opportunity for a leader with growth experience.
CHALLENGES
Financial Sustainability and Strategic Planning
The organization faces the challenge of developing sustainable financial models that support its mission and growth aspirations. Current revenue structures require strategic attention and proactive planning to create margin for operations, staff development, and mission advancement. This includes strategic decisions regarding tuition structure, enrollment growth, fundraising capability, and budget allocation. The incoming Head of School will partner with the Board to develop long-term financial sustainability strategy while ensuring the school remains accessible to families across economic spectrum. This is significant work requiring business acumen and strategic thinking but is solvable through systematic approach and operational excellence.
Facility Transition Management
Managing the transition from current facility to new campus in 2027 presents operational complexity requiring careful planning and stakeholder communication. This includes timeline management, facility preparation in current location, new facility preparation, systems implementation, and community engagement throughout the process. Additionally, facility infrastructure and maintenance systems require strengthening in the current location while simultaneously planning for new systems in new campus. The Head of School will coordinate this significant organizational transition while maintaining school operations, staff morale, and family satisfaction.
Operational Systems Development
The organization presents opportunity for development of stronger operational and administrative systems including communication infrastructure, financial management systems, academic standards documentation, enrollment processes, and data-driven decision-making capability. These represent growth opportunities rather than crises, but require leadership attention and systematic development. The incoming Head of School has opportunity to implement modern systems and processes—potentially taking advantage of the fresh-start opportunity presented by new campus transition. Strong operational systems will enhance organizational effectiveness, staff satisfaction, and family communication.
ABOUT CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA
LOCATION OVERVIEW
Altoona is a historic small city (population ~43,000) in Blair County, central Pennsylvania, located in the scenic Allegheny Mountains. Founded in 1849 by the Pennsylvania Railroad, the city maintains strong railroad heritage while working toward community revitalization and development. The region is located 83 miles east of Pittsburgh and 175 miles west of Philadelphia, placing it at the crossroads of central Pennsylvania. The new GCS campus will be in Hollidaysburg, approximately 20 minutes from Altoona, offering more suburban/rural character while remaining accessible to the greater region.
COMMUNITY CHARACTER & RECREATION
Central Pennsylvania is known for its scenic beauty, mountainous environment, outdoor recreation, and family-friendly culture. The region offers 45 miles of hiking trails, multiple state parks, and recreational opportunities including boating, fishing, hunting, and skiing–both downhill and cross-country. The Horseshoe Curve National Historic Landmark is a world-famous railroad engineering site attracting history enthusiasts and tourists. The Altoona Curve (so named after the historic railroad site) is the local minor league baseball team that offers approximately 70 home games every year, often featuring theme nights, giveaways, and fireworks. DelGrosso’s Amusement Park is a regional attraction, featuring a water park, midway rides, and an array of food options. Canoe Creek State Park features a 155-acre lake with hiking trails and water recreation. Lakemont Park offers family recreation including the world's oldest wooden roller coaster.
ECONOMIC & COMMUNITY CONTEXT
The area maintains an affordable cost of living compared to state and national averages. Housing is accessible. The community is family-oriented with median age of 39.8 years. Central Pennsylvania has a significant concentration of evangelical and Bible-believing churches, creating natural partnership opportunities for a Christian school. Local churches are actively engaged in community, education, and spiritual development. The region offers quality of life for education-focused families, with good schools, safe neighborhoods, and community values emphasizing faith and family.
REGIONAL GROWTH & OPPORTUNITY
The Blair County region and greater central Pennsylvania have seen modest revitalization efforts and growing interest in the area as families seek communities offering quality of life, affordability, and faith-centered values. For families seeking Christian education in an affordable, faith-oriented community with outdoor recreation access and quality of life, the region presents genuine appeal.
FINAL THOUGHT
Great Commission Schools has built something genuine—a school where mission is lived out, where families belong, where teachers serve with conviction, and where students experience holistic spiritual and academic formation. Now comes the opportunity to strengthen that foundation with excellent operations, sustainable finances, and strategic growth. If you're an experienced school leader looking for your next chapter, this is worth exploring.
The Board is thoughtful, engaged, and ready to partner with an exceptional leader for this season.
If, after prayerfully reviewing this information, you sense this role and organization could be a good fit for you, please click on the APPLY NOW button below. If you know someone who may have an interest, please use the social media share and email
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