Find & Apply For Elementary and Secondary School Administrator Jobs in Walnut Creek, California

What if your greatest strength is understanding the student behind the behavior? Tilden Preparatory School is looking for an emotionally intelligent, student-centered leader who understands that academic struggles are often connected to something much bigger. Our students are bright, capable adolescents who may have experienced anxiety, depression, ADHD, autism, learning differences, giftedness, school avoidance, executive-function challenges, or simply years of feeling that they don't fit into a traditional school environment. We don't believe those students need less. They need someone who understands how to help them access more. The Associate Head of School is a central member of our leadership team and works closely with students, families, teachers, and administrators to create an environment where students can regain confidence and succeed academically. This role is particularly well suited to someone with experience in counseling, psychology, social work, adolescent mental health, special education, student services, or secondary school administration. You do not need to have followed a traditional school-administration career path to be successful here. About Tilden Tilden is a small private college-preparatory school built around individualized education. We teach students one-to-one and use a Mastery Learning model. Rather than expecting every student to learn in the same way, at the same pace, and within the same schedule, we build the educational experience around the individual. Our students attend Tilden for many different reasons: They may have anxiety or depression that makes traditional school overwhelming. They may have ADHD or autism and need a more individualized environment. They may have experienced repeated academic failure and lost confidence. They may be twice-exceptional—highly gifted while also struggling with a learning or emotional difference. They may be recovering from school avoidance or a difficult school experience. They may simply learn dramatically better through individualized instruction. Or they may be highly successful students looking for acceleration and a more personalized academic experience. The common denominator? They are individuals—not labels. The Associate Head of School helps make that philosophy real.

You will:

Build authentic relationships with adolescents. Help students develop self-awareness, confidence, resilience, and self-advocacy. Work with families to understand student needs and concerns. Support students who are experiencing emotional, behavioral, social, or academic challenges. Help distinguish academic difficulties from underlying emotional, developmental, or executive-function needs. Partner with teachers to develop effective strategies for individual students. Support faculty with classroom and student-management challenges. Collaborate with outside therapists, clinicians, neuropsychologists, and other professionals when appropriate. Participate in student support and problem-solving meetings. Help oversee student schedules, attendance, progress, and school expectations. Support a positive and healthy school culture. Participate in admissions and help prospective families understand whether Tilden is the right fit. Work collaboratively with the Head of School and administrative team. Help create an environment where students and faculty feel respected, supported, and valued. We are especially interested in people who understand mental health.

Your background might be in:

Counseling Psychology Social Work Clinical Mental Health School Counseling Special Education Student Services Adolescent Development Therapeutic Education Educational Leadership You might be a former school counselor who discovered a passion for educational leadership. You might be a mental-health professional who wants to work more directly within an educational environment. You might be a special-education administrator who understands neurodivergent learners. You might be a Dean of Students, teacher leader, or assistant principal who has developed a particular strength in student support. Or you may come from another path entirely. What matters most is that you understand adolescents and can approach challenging situations with curiosity, empathy, sound judgment, and appropriate boundaries. We want someone who can say: "Something is going on here. Let's figure it out." Rather than: "This student is difficult." Someone who can see that avoidance may be anxiety. That anger may be overwhelm. That perfectionism may be fear. That a student who says "I don't care" may actually care deeply. And that sometimes the first step toward academic success is helping a student believe that success is possible. You will also need to be a leader. This isn't solely a counseling position. The Associate Head of School is an educational leader and an important part of the daily operation of the school. You will need to be comfortable making decisions, communicating clearly with families, supporting teachers, managing competing priorities, and holding appropriate boundaries. You should be able to balance: Compassion + Accountability Mental Health + Academic Rigor Individual Needs + School Expectations Student Advocacy + Professional Judgment Qualifications A Master's degree or higher in counseling, psychology, social work, education, special education, or a related field is strongly valued. Experience in one or more of the following is preferred: Adolescent mental health School counseling Anxiety and depression

ADHD/ASD

Learning differences Gifted and twice-exceptional students School avoidance/refusal Special education Student services Secondary education Educational administration Therapeutic or alternative education Upper-level school administration experience is preferred but not required for an exceptional candidate. Why work at Tilden? Because you will see the difference you make. Tilden is small enough that relationships matter. You won't be one administrator among hundreds of students. You'll have the opportunity to know students, know families, work closely with teachers, and see students change over time. You will watch students who arrived believing they couldn't succeed begin to succeed. You will watch confidence return. You will watch students discover that their learning differences don't define their potential. And you will help create the conditions that make those transformations possible. If you are passionate about adolescents, mental health, individualized education, and helping young people become the strongest versions of themselves, Tilden may be the place for you.

Pay:

From $90,000.00 per year

Benefits:

Dental insurance Employee assistance program Employee discount Flexible spending account Health insurance Health savings account Life insurance Paid time off Retirement plan Vision insurance

Education:

Master's (Required)

Work Location:

In person