Morning Star Academy
Headmaster
Morning Star Academy is seeking its next Headmaster. The Headmaster’s primary duties are to uphold the vision, implement the mission, enforce the
Snapshot
The Role: Headmaster
Accreditation: Christian Schools International (CSI)
Appointment Year: 2024-2025
Location: Bettendorf, IA
Meet Morning Star Academy:
Founded in 1994, Morning Star Academy is an independent, non-denominational, classical Christian school led by a parent-elected Board of Directors. The school offers preschool through 12th grade. Morning Star Academy heralds the arrival of a new day. In Revelation 22:16, Jesus is described as the "morning star." It is a fitting title since Jesus has indeed ushered in a new day. The age to come has pierced the present age.
At Morning Star, we strive to help students see all of life under the illuminating glow of Christ's Kingdom. Equipping students with a Christian worldview (or better, a Christian consciousness) requires relentless prayer, work, and resolve. This is not an easy task, but the effort is worth it, for there is no loftier aim than building disciples. We believe that Morning Star, working alongside parents, is strategically situated to build disciples capable of thoughtfully engaging the world for Christ.
Mission
Morning Star Academy’s mission is to provide a classical Christian education that teaches truth, trains disciples and equips students to transform their communities for God’s glory.
Vision
The vision of Morning Star Academy is to shape lives beyond a living to serve everywhere and lead anywhere.
Philosophy & Education
Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” This section of Proverbs underscores just how formative childhood is. We believe it is the responsibility of parents to “train up” their children in the faith. Morning Star Academy’s goal is to assist and support parents in the critical task of raising their children in the faith.
Morning Star Academy’s primary authority is God’s revelation found in the Bible. The Bible directs our pedagogy, helping us to understand our students, our subjects, and the telos (goal) toward which we strive.
Students
The student is created in the imago dei (image of God). As such, he/she is naturally curious and seeks to rationally order his/her world. A good education should both satisfy and intensify this curious nature and train a student’s reason to bring him/her in harmony with the created order.
In addition to being created in the image of God, students are also fallen creatures. The impact of sin extends to all facets of the student, including the student’s mind. As a result, a good education must not only impart knowledge, it must also heal. It is not in a school’s power to restore sinners to spiritual health which is why the school must lean on the Spirit’s work.
Morning Star Academy believes the bulk of this healing takes place in the heart, which is the “causal core” of the student (Luke 6.43-45). In order to see students transformed into the image of Christ, we must give special attention to the heart.
Subjects
The triune God has created all things. Moreover, he is redeeming all things through his son, Jesus. Colossians explains that all things are held together by Jesus (1:17). As a result of God’s creative and redemptive work, there is a connectedness to all truth and knowledge. Therefore, we seek to see all subjects as interrelated, being part of a larger whole.
Telos
We believe a good education should stir in students a love for God and neighbor. By studying the Bible and other subjects students learn about God and his creation, which by the power of the Spirit will produce a deeper love for the one “in whom all things are held together,” Jesus Christ (Colossians 1:17). As students grow in their love for God, they will also grow to humbly love their neighbors and will think strategically about how best to serve and engage their communities.
Goals
Our goals as a Christian school:
Morning Star Academy will support parents in their God-given responsibility to educate their children. “These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children.” Deuteronomy 6:6-7a
Students will discover that all subjects are part of a unified body of truth with Christ at the center. “And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.” Colossians 1:17
Students will demonstrate a deepening love for both the triune God and their neighbor. “Jesus replied, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it,‘Love your neighbor as yourself’.” Matthew 22:37-39
The faculty, board, and administration will provide a clear model of biblical Christian living for students to imitate. “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.” 1 Corinthians 11:1
Our goals as a classical school:
Students will develop a love of learning.
Students will acquire the necessary language and thinking skills (i.e. grammar, logic, and rhetoric) that will enable them to become life-long learners. “The sole true end of education is simply this: to teach men how to learn for themselves; and whatever instruction fails to do this is effort spent in vain.” Dorothy Sayers
Morning Star Academy will provide an orderly atmosphere that is conducive to learning and aligned with the order of God’s creation.
Morning Star Academy will utilize quality, time-tested materials and methods in harmony with God’s truth.
Grammar: Grammar consists of the fundamental facts and rules of a subject; these are the building blocks of any field of study. The goal of the grammar stage is to master the basic elements or language of a subject and develop a general framework of knowledge. One of Morning Star’s distinctives is that our Grammar students study Latin as part of the core curriculum.
Logic: Logic emphasizes the order and relationship of the building blocks acquired in the grammar stage. The goal of the logic stage is to equip the student with the reasoning skills required to draw conclusions and support them with facts.
Rhetoric: Rhetoric, the third stage, is concerned with the clear and persuasive expression of ideas and knowledge acquired in the grammar and logic stages. Another of Morning Star’s distinctives is that every senior writes and presents a thesis as the capstone to the Rhetoric stage.
Job Requirements
School Profile
About the Headmaster:
Morning Star Academy is seeking its next Headmaster. The Headmaster’s primary duties are to uphold the vision, implement the mission, enforce the policies, embrace the values, and achieve the goals of Morning Star Academy. The Headmaster reports to the Board of Directors for all academic, personnel, business, and fundraising matters according to the policies and procedures established by the Board. This person is expected to pursue the best possible academic and spiritual training for the students of Morning Star Academy.
The Headmaster's Responsibilities Include:
Academic
- Oversee curriculum development, collaborating with the administration team; ensure that an appropriate scope and sequence of curriculum is in place.
- Oversee annual and college entrance standardized testing with the administration team.
- Conduct enrollment conferences and oversee the admission of new students.
- Responsible, with administrative staff, for maintaining current and accurate student files and records for all students; develop college transcripts with ACT/SAT scores and respond to student application material for colleges and universities.
- Oversee re-accreditation with Christian Schools International on a five-year basis.
Staff Development
- Ensure classroom instruction is supervised, regular teacher evaluations occur, and feedback is documented to record teaching performance.
- Focus on the development of passion for teaching which leads to passion for learning.
- Ensure that the staff uniformly enforces the school’s academic and student conduct policies.
- Hire new staff and execute the yearly contract process.
- Recruit and retain experienced faculty and staff.
- Facilitate staff and faculty development through mentoring and connection to development opportunities.
- Plan and conduct staff meetings and in-services.
Community Relations
- Proactively represent Morning Star Academy to the local community and local churches.
- Serve as the spokesperson of Morning Star Academy to the news media as needed.
- Foster a strong and vibrant community of staff, students, and families.
- Engage in co-curricular and other school events.
Operations
- Oversee the day-to-day operations of Morning Star Academy and implement the policies of the Board of Directors.
- Keep school handbooks, employee manuals, and all printed documents up to date.
- Enforce school conduct policies in a fair and consistent manner.
- Oversee the development of the academic calendar and maintain and communicate the scheduling of school events.
- Oversee the management of school facilities, equipment, and property.
Financial / Legal
- Undertake specific fundraising tasks to meet the goals of the strategic plan.
- Develop and maintain annual fundraising opportunities.
- Develop a culture of giving that cultivates people and resources and promotes lifelong community engagement at Morning Star Academy.
- Provide financial management by helping establish an annual budget, and ensure that expenses and income are tracked and managed.
- Oversee financial aid program and, with the Board of Directors, set annual tuition schedule.
- Ensure that school policies and practices are compliant with federal, state, and local laws.
Board of Directors Interaction
- Maintain a proactive and collaborative relationship with the Board, participating in all regular and special Board meetings as an ex officio member.
- Work with the Board on its long-term strategic plan, and set short-term objectives that reflect the school’s strategic plan.
This role description is intended to represent key areas of responsibilities; specific assignments may vary from time to time, and other duties may be assigned.
What You Bring:
The following describes many of the characteristics of the ideal candidate for the Headmaster:
Education & Experience
- Master’s degree required, preferably from a Christian institution.
- Five years’ leadership experience in an educational setting, preferably in a classical Christian school.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Demonstrated ability to build teams, enhance their performance and lead through change.
- Demonstrated understanding of the distinctive elements of the classical Christian model of education preferred, or demonstrated ability to learn and engage with various teaching methods.
Personal Qualifications
- The Headmaster’s personal faith in Jesus Christ and love for God’s Word will permeate all aspects of his or her life.
- He or she will maintain a high standard of personal and professional integrity, pursuing excellence at Morning Star Academy through stewardship and service.
- The Headmaster will be a person of prayer, and the fruit of the Holy Spirit will be evident as the Headmaster confidently seeks God’s will.
- He or she will commit to pray for the school and lead others in prayer.
Process & Timeline
Interested candidates should begin the process through the link provided in the job posting.
Priority will be given to materials submitted prior to May 31, 2024, however, candidates will be reviewed until the position is filled.
Morning Star Academy would like to name their next Headmaster in the summer of 2024.
What it's Like to Live in Bettendorf, IA:
Bettendorf is a vibrant, growing community. It is one of the four cities, called the Quad Cities, that makes up our greater metropolitan area, spanning both Iowa and Illinois. Since 2020, Bettendorf has grown in population 8.6%. It is experiencing significant growth and the population of families with school-aged children is a significant portion of that growth. Situated along the Mississippi River, Bettendorf offers a small town feel with all of the amenities of a large city. Academically, the Quad Cities is home to several colleges and universities, including Augustana College, St. Ambrose University, and Palmer College of Chiropractics. Morning Star Academy is the only classical Christian School in over 150 miles. The Quad Cities is also home to a wide variety of churches, with rich opportunities for Christian fellowship and discipleships. Morning Star Academy serves families from 38 different churches, highlighting the diversity of churches in our area. Culturally, the Quad City area has plenty to offer, including its own symphony. Museums, such as the Figge Museum of Art and the Putnam Museum host rotating exhibits, and music and art festivals are hosted annually. Walking paths, bike paths, parks, and recreation areas allow many opportunities to enjoy all four seasons outdoors. While the shopping and dining offerings are varied and the ease of traffic is refreshing in the Quad Cities, we are also only three hours from the larger metropolitan areas of Chicago, IL, and Des Moines, IA.