Head of School

Role Overview

Riverstone International School in Boise, Idaho is seeking a Head of School to start in June 2027. The school is Boise’s only independent IB World School and serves students from Early Childhood through Grade 12 across the full International Baccalaureate continuum: PYP, MYP, and DP. Riverstone combines academic rigor with outdoor learning, residential life, international exchange opportunities, and specialized academic pathways in engineering, business, arts, social science, and science.

The board is looking for an experienced, forward-thinking leader who can strengthen what is already in place and guide the school into its next phase of growth. The next Head of School will be expected to deepen academic excellence, grow enrollment, expand the school’s reputation, support faculty, and build long-term community trust in Boise and the Treasure Valley.

Leadership Priorities

The role calls for a leader who can advance Riverstone across multiple fronts, including academics, enrollment, philanthropy, faculty culture, and board partnership.

• Strengthen academic excellence across the elementary, middle, and high school divisions while supporting the full IB continuum.
• Use the elementary school as a key enrollment and retention driver through investment in leadership, curriculum, and culture.
• Develop the middle school as a strong preparation ground for the Diploma Programme.
• Position the high school as a leading college-preparatory pathway with exceptional university outcomes.
• Serve as the school’s main ambassador to families, donors, employers, and the wider Boise community.
• Lead strategic enrollment growth toward a sustainable student body of more than 400.
• Engage families connected to the region’s growing employer base and relocation community.
• Promote the school’s university placements and merit scholarship outcomes.
• Expand the visibility and reach of Outdoor Education and the Otter Exchange across grade levels.
• Lead fundraising, donor stewardship, endowment growth, corporate and foundation partnerships, and future capital planning.
• Recruit and retain strong faculty, support compensation and professional development, and help build a unified school culture.
• Maintain a transparent, collaborative relationship with the Board of Trustees and provide reliable reporting and institutional stewardship.

Required Background

The ideal candidate will bring substantial senior leadership experience in an independent or IB-authorized school, along with a record of strengthening programs, enrollment, and institutional stability. Deep familiarity with the International Baccalaureate philosophy and continuum is highly valued, and prior service as an IB coordinator or administrator is strongly preferred.

A successful candidate should also have strong fundraising ability, comfort with major donor cultivation, experience leading marketing and enrollment strategy, and the financial judgment needed to oversee budgets and operations. Experience working across multiple divisions is especially important, as is a genuine commitment to outdoor and experiential education as a core philosophy.

Personal Qualities

• Visionary, growth-minded, and able to inspire shared confidence in the school’s future.
• Warm, approachable, and well known across the school community.
• Steady and decisive when making difficult leadership choices.
• A strong communicator who can tell Riverstone’s story to a wide range of audiences.
• Deeply committed to Boise, the Treasure Valley, and long-term community engagement.
• Supportive of faculty and staff, with a consistent record of advocacy.
• Balanced in demeanor: humble, confident, and respectful of what has already been built.

Boise Context

Boise is a fast-growing and highly livable city with access to skiing, rafting, biking, hiking, and a vibrant downtown environment. The Treasure Valley attracts families seeking strong educational options, and Riverstone expects its next Head of School to become an active civic presence, develop authentic community relationships, and commit to the region for the long term.

Qualifications and Application Materials

• A master’s degree or doctorate in education, educational leadership, or a closely related field.
• Significant leadership experience in an independent school or IB setting.
• Strong background in enrollment growth and institutional advancement.
• Experience with fundraising, major gifts, and donor development.
• Solid financial and operational management skills.
• Ability to lead effectively across the PYP through DP continuum.
• Existing ties to Boise or the Intermountain West are helpful, though a long-term commitment to the region is equally important.
• Applicants are asked to provide a letter of interest, a current CV or résumé, a 2–3 page educational leadership philosophy statement, and contact details for five professional references. References will not be contacted without advance notice to the candidate.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Riverstone International School welcomes candidates from all backgrounds and is an equal opportunity employer. The school does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or any other legally protected characteristic.

About Riverstone International School

Riverstone is a private independent school in Boise offering day and boarding programs for approximately 425 students from preschool through high school. It is Idaho’s first IB World School and is known for academic challenge, service, leadership, international understanding, and outdoor education. The school also offers a collegial environment, small class sizes, strong community support, and opportunities for staff to extend learning beyond the classroom through mentoring, coaching, activities, and travel supervision.