Midland School, a distinctive co-educational boarding school for grades 9-12, is located on a 2,860-acre ranch at the edge of the Los Padres National Forest. Midland has been a leader of place-based and experiential college preparatory education since 1932. Everything we do—from the courses we choose to teach, to how we maintain our campus, to the way we feed ourselves— originates from an intentional curriculum that focuses not only on academics, but also on leadership, community, and stewardship. Our students live a cell-phone-free high school experience, close to nature.

Our campus residential community is filled with outdoor enthusiasts, farmers, animal lovers, artists and, of course, friendly and talented faculty and staff. If you would like to be a part of a team dedicated to teaching the value of a lifetime of learning, self-reliance, simplicity and a responsibility to community, we invite you to apply.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities:

• Oversee Midland’s academic program (including faculty support and professional development) around competency-based curriculum development, instructional quality, assessment practices, and academic reporting.
• Supervise and support the Learning Support team; oversee academic accommodations, learning plans, and student academic support systems.
• Serve as primary liaison among parents, students, and teachers, including communication, conflict resolution, and academic guidance.
• Coordinate and advance DEIJ integration across the curriculum and academic programming (e.g., film fests, DEIJ Summit, Experiential Saturdays).
• Manage key academic, administrative, and registrar tasks such as course change requests, transcript management, grade reporting, Curriculum Guide updates, UC A–G course approval, placement testing, honors/regular course approvals,
• Teach 1-2 courses (or equivalent) as part of a full-time faculty role
• Full participant in student life at a boarding school (e.g. faculty on duty, sports/activities coach, 6-day work week, etc)

• Boarding school setting
• Grades 9 to 12 students
• Full-time/academic year role
• On-campus housing* & meals
• Position starts July 2026

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree in education or a related field strongly preferred
• Significant classroom teaching experience at the secondary level
• Proven leadership experience in an academic or school administrative role 
• Strong understanding of competency-based education, curriculum design, academic standards, student support systems, and inclusive pedagogical practices
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to navigate complex conversations, mediate conflict, and partner effectively with students, families, and faculty
• Demonstrated commitment to equity, inclusion, and belonging in academic and curricular contexts
• Ability to manage multiple programs and priorities with organization, clarity, and follow-through
• Experience coaching, supporting, or evaluating faculty, or a clear readiness to step into that work.
• Comfort and enthusiasm for the full scope of boarding school life, including a six-day weekly schedule and regular engagement with students and colleagues outside the classroom.
• Successful completion of a criminal background check, driving clearance, and TB screening

Additional Desired Experience:

• Wilderness Medical experience (e.g.  Wilderness First Aid or Wilderness First Responder)
• Related academic degree (Masters in Teaching or Education preferred)
• Experience in boarding or residential education environments
• Other skills and interests to share with our community - coaching athletics & activities, elective classes, performing arts (please share specifics via cover letter)

This position is open until filled. The start date is July 2026.

Applicants should first carefully review the minimum qualifications and the Midland School website to learn more about our school. If interested, submit the following as a single PDF file titled "lastname_firstname_Academic_dean_2026" to Karrie Glines, Assistant to the Head of School, at kglines@midland-school.org. Only complete applications will be considered. 

• Short cover letter that addresses the alignment of your experience and interests with the qualifications outlined above and Midland School’s mission
• Current resume
• Midland Employment Application form
• List of 3-5 references

About Midland School

Founded in 1932 in the midst of the Great Depression, Midland has always been an “alternative to the regular thing.” Our founding mission and values have guided us through economic recessions, world wars, cultural shifts and, most recently, a global pandemic. Our focus remains steady: to provide a rustic college preparatory education to students of all backgrounds, to create lifelong thinkers and learners and to teach students to live simply and connect deeply with the natural world. Across Midland’s nine decades, much has changed. Every so often, our community reevaluates our shared values and mission to ensure they remain reflective of the school and community we desire to be. Today, these beliefs remain the strong foundation beneath our academic and residential program.

Connections working at Midland School