The Association of Independent Maryland & DC Schools (AIMS) is seeking an inspiring and strategic Executive Director to begin their tenure on July 1, 2027. This is a critical leadership role guiding a dynamic association that serves 125 member schools across Maryland and Washington, DC, each with its own unique mission and community. The Executive Director works in close partnership with the AIMS Board of Trustees to shape the future of independent education in the region.

AIMS is committed to strengthening the sustainability, diversity, and inter-dependence of its member schools through a comprehensive suite of services. 

Accreditation: Providing rigorous and meaningful accreditation services, overseen by the Commission on Accreditation. 

Professional Learning & Collaboration: Offering extensive professional development for school leaders, educators, and trustees. 

Advocacy & Public Voice: Serving as the key advocate and public spokesperson for independent schools in Maryland and Washington, DC. 

Collective Resources: 

Providing high-quality, competitive health insurance benefits to employees of AIMS member schools through AIMS-owned Educators Benefit Services (EBS) 

Offering retirement education, planning, and investment services through its 403(b) Multiple Employer Plan (MEP) 

Providing access to property and casualty coverage through the Cherry Blossom Consortium, in partnership with the Association of Independent Schools of Greater Washington (AISGW) 

Research & Analysis: Conducting research, collecting data, and providing analysis to inform member school strategy. 

Career Center: Maintaining a robust platform for job search and listing positions within AIMS member schools. 

AIMS Core Values and Purposes 

Advocacy & Independence: To support, advocate for, and promote independent schools and independent education in the region. 

Collaboration & Affiliation: To facilitate communication and peer networking among schools, and to engage and affiliate with regional and national educational organizations. 

Responsiveness & Service: To design and provide professional programming, offer advice/consultation on operations and governance, and oversee the health benefits and MEP consortia. 

Innovation & Improvement: To plan for the organizational evolution of AIMS, provide rigorous accreditation, and envision the future directions of independent schools. 

Efficiency, Flexibility & Professionalism: To ensure internal operations and support for members are responsive, nimble, transparent, efficient, and school-centered.

Opportunities and Challenges for the Next Executive Director 

Accreditation Leadership 

Continue to strongly support AIMS’s meaningful and robust accreditation framework, ensuring its long-term relevance and effectiveness as a tool that maximizes school performance, credibility and responsive support for all member institutions in an evolving educational landscape. 

Strategic Financial and Benefits Oversight 

Strategically oversee and optimize member benefits programs, including effective management of the Multiple Employer Plan (MEP) and complex health care administration (EBS), with a focus on assertively negotiating favorable EBS rates for member schools. 

Cultivating High-Impact Staff 

Supporting and cultivating a high-performing culture within the AIMS staff by committing to regular, structured evaluation and feedback for staff, grounded in coaching, growth, and professional development to maximize organizational impact. 

Proactive Advocacy and Risk Management 

Serve as a powerful and nimble advocate for member schools by proactively engaging with relevant federal and state education bodies (e.g. Maryland State Department of Education) and expertly navigating an evolving and complex policy landscape. Actively promote the value of independent schools, AIMS membership, and rigorous accreditation across the region. 

Dynamic and Innovative Professional Development 

Champion the expansion and delivery of high-impact professional development programs that meet the diverse needs of all member schools— large and small, urban and rural—driving systemic improvement across the association. 

Elevating External Relations 

Forge and deepen collaborative partnerships with peer association leaders and key stakeholders at the local and national levels to amplify AIMS’s influence and impact within the broader educational ecosystem.

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Candidate Experiences and Attributes 

The Board of Trustees and member schools seek a leader who will enthusiastically embrace and promote AIMS’s mission and collaborative community culture. 

• Deep Credibility in Independent School Leadership
  • Possesses a profound understanding of and love for the independent school model.
  • Has prior experience as a Head of School or extensive senior leadership experience, providing the wisdom to credibly guide Heads and schools in difficult situations.
  • Brings practical wisdom regarding core challenges facing independent schools, including enrollment, finance, DEI, governance, compensation, technology, and accreditation/compliance. 
    
    
• Trusted Relationship Builder and Listener
  • Highly relational, approachable, and visible leader with active, discerning listening skills who can connect and build trust with diverse constituents.
  • Serves as a resourceful and calming influence during moments of stress or conflict; possesses high emotional intelligence.
  • Demonstrates patience and a collaborative style 
    
    
• Compelling Communicator and Public Voice
  • A visible, confident, and inspiring communicator, comfortable speaking to both large and small audiences.
  • Skill in serving as the public face and spokesperson for independent schools, communicating strategically with boards, school leaders, schools, and the general public.
  • Possesses excellent written and oral communication skills 
    
    
• Strategic and Forward-Thinking Leadership
  • Functions as a proactive thought leader who can "see around the corner," spot trends, and keep schools' attention on emerging issues.
  • Has a strong vision for the future of independent schools, combining strategic acumen with practical and informed risk-management judgment.
  • Uses data, trend analysis, and thought leadership to help schools understand and respond to shifts in the educational, political, economic and technology landscape, including the impact of AI in education. 
    
    
• Operational and Financial Acumen
  • Applies business, financial, and technical competence to oversee complex systems, including the annual budget, Multiple Employer Retirement Program, and Educators Benefit Services. 
    
    
• Organizational and Team Leadership
  • A proven leader adept at guiding organizational processes and empowering a professional team. 
    
    
• Unwavering person of character
  • Operates with integrity, humility, empathy, warmth, and inclusion 
    
    
• Commitment to ongoing professional development and growth
  • Possesses a growth mindset toward professional development and promotes the same with colleagues in the AIMS office and across member schools 
    
    
• Strong technological proficiency and comfort troubleshooting and managing one’s own day-to-day technology needs 

Required Qualifications 

• Previous Head of School, Senior Leadership, or Similar Experience
• An advanced degree
• Commitment to living in Maryland or DC 

About AIMS

AISGW was founded in 1951 as The Association of Independent Schools of Greater Washington, an organization supporting independent schools in Washington, D.C. and its environs. Since then, we’ve grown to a community of 78 schools educating over 30,000 students from early childhood through high school in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. Our schools are non-profit, governed by lay boards of directors, independently financed, and have non-discrimination admissions and employment policies. They serve many different types of students using many different educational strategies, providing families with a wide range of educational options, and helping to make greater Washington one of the most vibrant educational landscapes in the nation.

Connections working at AIMS