Job Description

About THE SEASIDE SCHOOL:

Founded in 1996, THE SEASIDE SCHOOL™ is Florida’s oldest continuously operating public charter school and a nationally recognized model for innovative, student-centered education. Serving approximately 600 students in grades 5–12, the School operates across two campuses: Seaside Neighborhood School™ (grades 5– 8) in Seaside and Seacoast Collegiate High School (grades 9–12) in Santa Rosa Beach.

Originally created to meet a local need for middle school education, Seaside has evolved into a hgh performing, college-preparatory institution where students may earn up to 60 college credit hours prior to graduation—representing a tuition-free educational value exceeding $275,000.

A significant milestone in the School’s growth is the expanded South Walton Center, home to Seacoast Collegiate High School and Northwest Florida State College. This state-of-the-art campus reflects a powerful K–12 and higher education partnership, providing access to college-level instruction, workforce training, and advanced academic pathways for students across Walton County.

Consistently recognized for academic excellence, THE SEASIDE SCHOOL™ has earned an “A” rating for more than 20 consecutive years and ranks among the top 1% of public schools statewide in math and science. Its intentionally small, relationship-centered learning environment—supported by a mission-driven faculty— fosters strong academic outcomes alongside leadership, character, and personal growth.

From fifth grade through graduation, Seaside is committed to educating the whole child, preparing students to succeed in college, careers, and life as thoughtful, capable contributors in a rapidly changing world.

Mission, Vision, & Core Values:

Our Mission -

We seek to sustain an educational community where an emphasis on academic excellence is complemented by our concern for each learner’s personal growth and intellectual, aesthetic, and psychological development. The curriculum is developmentally responsive – actively engaging students in learning skills in context, integrative – directing students to connect learning to daily lives, and exploratory – enabling students to discover their abilities, interests, learning styles, and ways that they can make contributions to society.

Our Vision -

The vision of Seaside School is to maintain a small school with faculty knowledgeable about each student’s abilities and challenges so that they can offer increased support to each student to meet those challenges and increase their skills to perform successfully in all academic areas.

Our Core Values, The Seaside Way -

Support: I support my peers, my school, and my community.

Exploration: I explore possibilities and opportunities.

Accountability: I hold myself and others accountable.

Scholarship: I prioritize scholarship by being devoted to academic pursuits.

Independence: I exercise my independence by being trustworthy and brave.

Dreams: I pursue my dreams.

Effort: I put forth the effort to be the best I can be.

For more information about THE SEASIDE SCHOOL™, please visit: https://www.seasideschools.net/

Curriculum:

As stated in our mission, our curriculum is developmentally responsive, integrative, and exploratory. We teach to the Florida state standards, and all of our students are assessed using Florida state assessments. Each grade pair has a unique and developmentally appropriate approach to meeting students' needs. All teachers in all grades take a team approach to supporting students.

Technology:

The bedrock of our school’s technology are the Google Applications for Education and Chromebooks. All students and staff have a Google account; we use technology while being cognizant to encourage creation and minimize consumption when using all types of technology. Students are periodically monitored by GoGaurdian and Bark. Beginning in middle school, students receive direct instruction on how to use technology as learning tools. This instruction includes working towards Tosa’s Certification in Google Docs, Google Slides, and Google Sheets. As we continue to work towards students being responsible and safe digital citizens, we are expanding our tools to include Tosa’s CyberCitizen Jr Certification and Google’s Be Internet Awesome Curriculum. By the time student’s reach high school, they have the tools to integrate technology and learning. In fact, Seaside School is the only Cognia STEM Certification School in Walton County. This recognition is a result of our thoughtful and integrative approach to technology use for both students and staff.

College & Career:

At Seacoast Collegiate High School, college and career counseling is a student-centered process of exploration and guidance—not placement. Our role is to support each student as they take ownership of their journey, developing a deeper understanding of who they are, what they value, and how they hope to grow. With this foundation, students are empowered to make informed choices and pursue colleges and universities that align with their individual strengths, aspirations, and sense of “fit.” The Seacoast Collegiate High School counselors support students and families through high school and dual enrollment at Northwest Florida State College by fostering academic growth, leadership, and meaningful engagement in school opportunities.

Athletics:

The athletic program at Seaside strives to assist each student to reach their athletic potential by building skills, training for a sport, and increasing confidence, self-esteem, and sportsmanship. This is accomplished through the participation of parents, coaches, and the community working together. The Florida High School Athletic Association guides our athletics program. Fifth graders are allowed to participate on the junior varsity teams only.

The Executive Director Role -

The Executive Director serves as the chief executive officer of THE SEASIDE SCHOOL™, providing strategic and operational leadership for a high-performing, dual-campus public charter school. Reporting to a nine to eleven member Board of Directors, the Executive Director is accountable for the academic, operational, financial, and legal performance of the organization, ensuring strong outcomes and long-term sustainability.

This leader sets the strategic direction of the School, aligning vision, mission, and execution while maintaining a strong focus on academic excellence, innovation, and continuous improvement. The Executive Director ensures compliance with Florida statutes and the School’s charter contract, while fostering a collaborative, high performing culture across approximately 55 faculty and staff.

THE SEASIDE SCHOOL™ is at a pivotal moment in its evolution, following the expansion of Seacoast Collegiate High School and the continued strength of its academic model. The Executive Director will build on this foundation to strengthen the School’s unique two-campus structure, deepen strategic partnerships, including with Northwest Florida State College and the Walton County School District, and expand access and opportunities for students across Walton County.

The ideal candidate will bring a balance of visionary leadership and operational discipline, with the ability to navigate complexity, build trust among diverse stakeholders and community leaders, and position THE SEASIDE SCHOOL™ for continued success in a dynamic and growing region.

Responsibilities and Opportunities for Leadership:

The ED will be expected to address the following priorities listed below in no particular order of importance.

1. Sustainable Growth, Facilities, and Community/External Partnerships

• Scale enrollment and programming to serve more students without negative effects on the School’s culture; preserve tradition while leading necessary changes during growth and campus expansion.
• Direct intentional growth (enrollment, programs, and facilities) through a clear long-term plan.
• Complete high school expansion to broaden offerings and increase impact for students and families.
• Leverage the school’s location and new facilities to expand student opportunities.
• Forge local business partnerships to create internships and workforce-connected learning.
• Elevate community impact by strengthening the school’s contribution to local culture, economic development, and quality of life.
• Translate vision into reasonable executable plans supported by funding from all sources, including practical growth and fundraising that seeks out governmental, community, foundation, and private partnerships.
• Address facilities needs at Seaside and finalize Seacoast campus improvements to support on-campus community and school events.
• Strengthen the middle-school-to-high-school enrollment pipeline to support sustained high school growth.
• Strengthen strategic partnerships with external constituents (e.g., NWFSC, SCDC, WCSD, and the broader community) and unify campuses around shared goals.
• Build donor confidence through strong stewardship, transparent communication, and demonstrated impact.

2. Governance, Compliance, and Organizational Sustainability

• Help strengthen board governance and stability by clarifying roles, improving continuity, and leading the Board to maintain focus on strategy and oversight.
• Execute the mission, strategic plan, and board policies; report regularly on progress, risks, and outcomes.
• Elevate compliance as an organizational standard through clear ownership, systems, and follow-through.
• Prepare for accreditation renewal (2027) and charter renewal (2029).
• Assist in aligning School Board–Foundation Board decision boundaries and collaboration to improve coordination, trust, and execution.
• Establish a multi-year financial sustainability plan that accounts for debt, deficits, and growth realities.
• Build trust with key external partners (e.g., district and higher-ed partners) through steady leadership and collaboration.
• Build leadership capacity and an executive team structure to support scale and consistent execution.

3. Academic Excellence, Innovation, and Differentiated Learning

• Champion forward-looking educational opportunities that expand higher-education access in Walton County.
• Foster the continued growth of strong academic achievement and outcomes.
• Ensure the curriculum meets the mission of the School and in keeping with the collaborative philosophy of Seaside, prepares all students to be successful in the dual enrollment setting.
• Expand programming, academic support, and exposure to differentiated learning experiences.
• Prepare students for college and workforce pathways, developing independent, productive learners while shaping engaged members of society.
• Expand electives to reflect competitive and varied student interests and pathways
• Lead the charge for innovative teaching practices that develop student leaders.
• Modernize academic offerings and strengthen competitive academic opportunities.
• Differentiate SCHS (promote the brand) to strengthen its value proposition relative to South Walton.
• Drive an environment that balances academic rigor with student readiness to support sustainable success for all students.

4. Student Experience, Culture, Traditions, and Co-Curriculars

• Cultivate a cohesive, mission-aligned culture that strengthens student experience, identity, and traditions; strengthen community, school spirit, parent involvement, and pride.
• Continue to grow traditional school experiences and broaden extracurricular options; expand clubs and sports to support well-rounded development and college competitiveness.
• Build a strong athletic department through aligned leadership, investment, and program direction to help develop school pride and retain students into high school.
• Expand enrichment offerings, e.g., opportunities in the arts, a student leadership development program, etc., to broaden student engagement and pathways.
• Strengthen alumni engagement to build long-term connections and future giving.

5. Recruiting, Developing, and Supporting Great Educators

• Empower and develop exceptional educators through strong partnership, support, and clear expectations.
• Position the school as a “destination workplace” for high-quality educators.
• Establish clear teacher development pathways; strengthen leadership pipelines and succession planning; elevate morale, recognition, and support systems.
• Recruit and retain proven school leaders with the experience to advance a collegiate high school model and a high performing middle school.
• Lead decisively and implement necessary/appropriate changes (including staffing decisions) to improve stability and execution.
• Support, motivate, and lead staff; set clear expectations and hold individuals accountable.
• Maintain a visible, engaged leadership presence across campuses to build trust and alignment.

6. Operations, Systems, and Consistency

• Align internal systems to support scale, consistency, and efficiency; standardize expectations and discipline across campuses to ensure rules are applied uniformly.
• Strengthen budgeting, staffing, communication, and execution to create consistency and reduce friction for staff and families.
• Enhance campus safety and access control through appropriate procedures and improved school-zone traffic safety.
• Align leadership, community, and operations to operate as one coherent system.

Attributes and Qualifications:

The ideal candidate will be a visible, relationship-centered leader who can strengthen systems, develop talent, and partner effectively with the Board and broader Seaside community as the School advances into its next phase of growth.

Experience

• Preference for successful experience as a Principal and or successful experience in an executive school leadership role (e.g., Superintendent, Head of School, Executive Director, Chief Academic Officer, or similar senior supervisory role); charter school leadership experience strongly preferred.
• Understanding of, or the ability to quickly gain an understanding of, the charter school context, including the unique and nuanced strategic, financial, and operational elements of leading an independently operated public school.
• Preference for experience with enrollment strategy and retention (e.g., recruitment, communications, and data-informed planning) in an enrollment-driven funding environment.

Vision, Mission, and Strategic Leadership

• Possess mission alignment with Seaside’s history and tradition.
• Ability to set and advance a clear vision, translate strategy into priorities, and drive disciplined execution across a complex, multi-campus environment.
  
• Adaptable with the capacity to lead through growth and change while maintaining mission fidelity and a strong student-centered focus.
• Creative and innovative; willing to entertain and try new ideas that might advance the mission and operation of the School.

Leadership Presence, Culture, and Community Trust

• Visible, relationship-first leadership style that builds trust with students, families, faculty/staff, and community partners; a unifier who leads with compassion and humility.
• Strong judgment and listening skills; able to discern and navigate competing viewpoints, make timely decisions, and communicate these decisions with clarity and care.
• Ability to unify teams and campuses around shared expectations while honoring Seaside’s culture, traditions, and the uniqueness of both schools.

Team Leadership and Talent Development

• Proven ability to attract, mentor/develop/coach, and retain a high-performing leadership team and strong educators; create accountability while supporting professional development and let talent flourish.
• Ability to establish role clarity, communicate clear expectations, make decisions, and support competent distributed leadership (with accountability).

Academic Excellence and the Collegiate High School Mode

• Commitment to academic outcomes and continuous improvement, with an ability to support effective instructional leadership and program quality.
• Understanding of dual enrollment/collegiate models or the ability to quickly gain an understanding of the same; willingness to strengthen partnerships, advising systems, and student supports that enable varied pathways to success.

Operational Execution and Organizational Effectiveness

• Strong operational leader who strengthens systems, processes, and follow-through, including prioritization, project management, and cross-functional coordination across both schools.
• Ability to standardize core practices and expectations across campuses to improve consistency, service, and stakeholder confidence.
• Comfort addressing practical campus needs (e.g., safety, access control, etc.) through appropriate channels and with urgency and pragmatism.

Financial Stewardship and Sustainability

• Ability to build and manage complex and nuanced budgets, establish internal controls, oversee audits, and use data to guide decisions.
• Preference for experience navigating enrollment-driven funding and multi-year planning to maintain stability while investing in growth.
• Ability to pursue and steward diversified resources (e.g., grants, philanthropy, sponsorships, public funding opportunities) aligned with charter school realities.
• Experience supporting fundraising and resource development (e.g., grants, philanthropy, sponsorships), including donor stewardship and partnership-building.

Governance, Compliance, and Integrity

• Preference for fluency with charter-school governance and compliance expectations; disciplined approach to risk management, reporting, and accountability.
• Strong, constructive board partnership—clarifies roles, supports effective oversight, and maintains appropriate governance boundaries.
• Ethical leadership marked by transparency, credibility, and sound judgment.

Communication, Partnerships, and External Relations

• Exceptional interpersonal, communication, and listening skills; provide steady, transparent, and clear messaging and represent Seaside with warmth and professionalism.
• Serve as Seaside’s ambassador with donors, legislators, authorizers, higher-ed partners, and civic/business leaders; be the ambassador for the School and its brand.
• Ability to strengthen partnerships, i.e., function as a collaborative partner, that expands student opportunities (e.g., dual enrollment, internships, community-based programming) while advocating effectively for Seaside’s priorities.

About the Community:

Located along Florida’s Emerald Coast in the Florida Panhandle, Walton County is one of the state’s fastest growing and most distinctive communities, known for its natural beauty, strong quality of life, and commitment to thoughtful growth. The county spans 26 miles of sugar-white sand beaches along the Gulf and extends north into more rural and agricultural areas, creating a unique blend of coastal vitality and small-town character. The region is conveniently situated near Destin and Panama City, offering access to additional cultural, commercial, and transportation amenities.

This geographic diversity is central to Walton County’s identity. South Walton is internationally recognized for its tourism economy, master-planned communities, and vibrant coastal lifestyle, while North Walton reflects the county’s agricultural roots, generational families, and close-knit rural communities. Together, these regions shape a dynamic and evolving county with shared priorities around opportunity, access, and long-term sustainability.

Walton County is widely recognized for its emphasis on “quality of place,” with a focus on access to healthcare, infrastructure investment, and a high-performing education system. The Walton County School District consistently ranks among the top-performing districts in Florida, reflecting a community-wide commitment to educational excellence and student success.

The region’s economy is driven by tourism, small business, and a growing professional workforce, supported by strong civic leadership and engaged stakeholders. As Walton County continues to experience significant growth, there is an increasing focus on ensuring that infrastructure, workforce development, and educational opportunities evolve to meet the needs of both its coastal and inland communities.

THE SEASIDE SCHOOL™ serves students from across Walton County, drawing from both South and North Walton and reflecting the diversity, aspirations, and future of the community it supports. The School plays a critical role in expanding access to high-quality academic and early college opportunities, helping to strengthen the region’s talent pipeline and long-term economic vitality

Application Process:

Confidential inquiries, nominations, and applications are invited. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. For fullest consideration, application materials should be received as soon as possible. Candidates should provide a resume or CV and a letter of application.

Nominations and application materials should be sent electronically via email to: SeasideED@buffkinbaker.com

Buffkin / Baker

Ken Carrick, Partner 980-296-5401

Sharon Hansen, Senior Associate 615-547-3318

To view the full and complete profile, please click the following link below:

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/highered-practice_the-seaside-school-executive-director-activity-7457517207456018432-GWfZ-utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAADehb8BTYZk8vhjCY-i0AWtoAW0-dX_qtA

THE SEASIDE SCHOOL™, Inc. is committed to equal opportunity for all qualified persons without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status, or genetic information. This applies to all employment practices including, but not limited to hiring, promotion, training, transfers, job assignments, terminations, recalls, wage and salary administration, and application of all School policies, procedures, and benefits.