Northlake Christian School is a nondenominational, independent ELC through 12th grade Christian school founded in 1978 to advance Christ-centered education marked by spiritual maturity and academic excellence.
Serving about 1,050 students with a team of 200, the school draws families from Covington and the wider Northshore region. With a defining mission, a $13.4 million budget, strong community support, and an engaged Board, the school is seeking a Head of School to guide it through an exciting inflection point and refining it for its next season of growth.
THE OPPORTUNITY
The Head of School role at Northlake Christian School combines strategic visioning with hands-on operational leadership. You will serve as the chief executive officer providing direction, building communication processes, and stewarding the organization through a period of change. 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 deepen spiritual formation—all while refreshing the relational culture and academic rigor that families value.
ABOUT THE SCHOOL
Northlake Christian School was founded as a comprehensive Pre-K–12 Christian educational institution committed to integrating faith and learning in a loving, encouraging, and challenging environment. For decades, the school has maintained its commitment to serving families seeking Christ-centered 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 a 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 practical 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
Northlake Christian School integrates faith and learning to provide students with a college preparatory education grounded in biblical worldview.
They do this through faith integration across all curricula, spiritual discipleship and chapel programs, rigorous academics and college preparation, comprehensive athletics and fine arts, relational community and mentoring, tuition assistance programs, and strategic external partnerships.
Faith Integration Across Curricula
Biblical worldview is woven into every subject area, ensuring that academic learning is always contextualized within a Christ-centered perspective. This holistic approach equips students to think critically and apply faith principles to real-world challenges, fostering intellectual and spiritual growth from Pre-K through 12th grade.
Spiritual Discipleship and Chapel Programs
Weekly chapel programs create intentional spaces for students to explore their relationship with Christ, encouraging spiritual maturity and a lifelong commitment to biblical values within a supportive community.
Academics and College Preparation
The curriculum delivers high academic standards with advanced courses, including Advanced Placement, Honors and Dual Enrollment classes. Homeschool students also have the opportunity to participate in NCS life through the Homeschool Partnership program, while students needing additional interventions have support through various available therapy resources.
Comprehensive Athletics and Fine Arts
Students engage in a wide array of athletic teams and fine arts activities, from competitive sports to music, drama, and visual arts. These programs build skills, teamwork, and creativity while reinforcing character development through biblical principles, allowing students to excel and express themselves in a faith-affirming environment.
Relational Community and Mentoring
A relational community enables deep, individualized relationships where faculty serve as mentors, knowing students by name and supporting their holistic development. This "family feel" across the Early Learning Center, Elementary, and Secondary divisions cultivates a safe, nurturing space where students are challenged to lead courageously and serve faithfully.
Tuition Assistance and Accessibility
Through generous tuition assistance programs, NCS ensures that Christ-centered education is available to families from diverse economic backgrounds, lowering financial barriers and broadening the school's impact as the highest-rated Christian school on the Northshore.
POSITION DESCRIPTION
Job TItle: Head of School
Reports to: Board of Directors
Direct Reports: Administrative leadership team across all divisions and operational departments
Location: Covington, Louisiana (on-site at 70104 Wolverine Dr, Covington, LA)
Position Status: Full-time
POSITION PURPOSE
Serve as Northlake Christian School's 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 a season of refinement, 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 enrollment and growth plan · Establish clear organizational goals and success metrics · Ensure all decisions serve NCS's Christ-centered mission.
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 · Establish clear communication channels with stakeholders.
Academic Leadership
Provide oversight of academic programming and instructional quality · Ensure academic excellence and rigor across curricula · Support professional development and teacher effectiveness · Develop academic standards and assessment systems · Oversee biblical integration across all divisions.
Spiritual Leadership
Model transparent 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 · Protect and expand the relational "family feel" that defines NCS.
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 · Explore sustainable revenue strategies including tuition assistance · 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 · Ensure governance transparency and stakeholder voice.
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
Invest in professional development and retention.
Facility Management
Oversee current facility operations and maintenance · Plan for facility utilization and program enhancement · Ensure facilities support mission and learning environment · Address operational systems for efficiency and mission-alignment.
QUALIFICATIONS
Essential:
Seven to ten years professional experience in education or nonprofit leadership. Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree in Education, MBA, or related field preferred
Demonstrated financial management and budgeting capability
Proven ability to plan, implement, and lead organizational growth and change
Genuine, lived-out Christian faith with deep alignment with the school's biblical theology and mission informed by active church engagement.
Experience leading through stakeholder engagement and transparent communication
Preferred:
Head of School experience in mission-driven school
Experience managing significant organizational transitions or growth
Experience in school size 500-1000 students
Fundraising and donor relations experience
Facility or campus management experience
Personal Qualities:
Visionary and optimistic yet grounded and realistic
Decisive and action-oriented
Comfortable embracing challenges and complexity
Confident humility, committed to continuous learning and growth, willing to listen and learn.
Hardworking and driven with appropriate boundaries
Grace-filled, relational and warm with ability to maintain high standards and leadership boundaries
COMPENSATION & BENEFITS
Salary: Competitive salary commensurate with experience and comparable independent school leadership positions
Benefits: Comprehensive health insurance (medical, dental, vision), retirement benefits, and additional coverage options
Vacation/PTO: Generous paid time off plus school holidays
Professional Development: Allocation for conferences and continuing education
OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES
OPPORTUNITIES
Exceptional Spiritual & Relational Foundation with Enthusiastic Community Support
The defining opportunity for the incoming Head of School is stewardship of a rare asset: a community unified by authentic faith, genuine relational depth, and strong advocacy. Stakeholders view NCS as a spiritual home and are eager to support capable stewardship of these core strengths. The Head enters a mission-aligned, resilient community primed for confident, transparent leadership. This represents a significant organizational asset that many schools struggle for years to achieve. The opportunity is to preserve this defining mission and relational culture while implementing excellent operations and strategic systems.
Clear Mandate for Growth & Operational Excellence
Northlake Christian School is positioned for meaningful refinement and growth. Comprehensive stakeholder feedback reveals strong alignment on priorities: operational excellence, people-oriented relational skills, and financial stewardship. The Head inherits clarity about community expectations and a unique opportunity to elevate NCS by implementing transparent systems, strengthening financial discipline, and deepening communication. Strategic work, enhanced community visibility, and leadership investment create genuine opportunity for a leader with growth experience.
Deepening Spiritual Formation & School Culture
The school has successfully built something genuinely valuable—a Biblically-based Christ-centered educational community where families belong and students experience holistic formation. Rather than building mission from scratch, the leader will steward an existing genuine spiritual community while enhancing its spiritual depth and community connection. This creates an opportunity to lead initiatives that strengthen discipleship and protect the relational "family feel."
CHALLENGES
Communication & Transparency Gaps
The organization faces the challenge of addressing inconsistent communication. This includes establishing clear channels, assisting in board transparency, and creating mechanisms for stakeholder voice and feedback. The incoming Head of School must both align with the Southern Louisiana culture and prioritize communication through a systematic approach and relational leadership. This is significant work requiring clear communication skills but is solvable through transparent processes.
Financial Sustainability and Teacher Retention
The organization faces the challenge of developing sustainable financial models that support its mission and growth aspirations amid growing tuition pressures and teacher retention concerns. The incoming Head of School will partner with the Board to develop a long-term financial sustainability strategy that ensures the school remains accessible to families and supports faculty well-being. This work requires business acumen and strategic thinking and is solvable through a systematic approach and operational excellence.
Operational Systems Development
The organization presents opportunities 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 the opportunity to implement modern systems and processes. Strong operational systems will enhance organizational effectiveness, staff satisfaction, and family communication.
ABOUT COVINGTON, LOUISIANA
Location Overview
Covington is a growing, family-friendly community (population ~83,000 in the greater area) on the Northshore of the New Orleans metropolitan area, located approximately 30 minutes northeast of New Orleans. The Northshore is one of Louisiana's fastest-growing regions, known for excellent schools, family-oriented amenities, and vibrant community culture. The region is located at the edge of Lake Pontchartrain, placing it at the crossroads of suburban tranquility and metropolitan access.
Community Character & Recreation
The Northshore is known for its scenic beauty, outdoor recreation, and family-friendly culture. The area offers exceptional outdoor recreation including parks, river activities, hiking, boating, and exploring historic sites. The region features a developing arts and entertainment scene with local restaurants, museums, theaters, and live music opportunities. Weekend access to New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and the Gulf Coast is within 30–90 minutes, offering cultural and recreational variety.
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 a strong quality of life. The Northshore has a significant concentration of evangelical and Bible-believing churches, creating natural partnership opportunities. 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 Covington region and greater Northshore have seen significant growth, making it one of Louisiana's fastest-growing areas. For families seeking Christian education in an affordable, faith-oriented community with outdoor recreation access and quality of life, the region presents genuine appeal.
Northlake Christian School has built something unique on the Northshore—an evangelical 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 buttons at the top.