Palm Valley School
No longer accepting applications
Interim Head of School
Start Date: July 1, 2025
Coed, Preschool (24 months)-12th grade
Enrollment: 300 Students
Rancho Mirage, California
Educators Collaborative is assisting Palm Valley School (PVS) in its search for an Interim Head of School to begin July 1, 2025. This is a fantastic opportunity for a leader who finds purpose in Pre-school -12th grade education at a well-established independent school in one of the most beautiful parts of the country.
The School
Since its founding in 1952, Palm Valley School remains the only non-religious college prep independent school in the Coachella Valley of California. As an accredited institution by the California Association of Independent Schools and member of the National Association of Independent Schools, Palm Valley School has built a strong reputation by emphasizing small class size, community service, a well-balanced comprehensive program spanning academics, athletics and the arts, and exemplary college counseling. The school is committed to nurturing a diverse community of learners, and inspires lifelong learning through a balanced and differentiated curriculum. The school prides itself on employing remarkable faculty and staff who care deeply about their students and are invested in their success.
As the mission states, Palm Valley School is an exceptional learning community that educates, nurtures, and challenges each student to achieve excellence and contribute to our global society. Through a clearly articulated set of values, the school strives to live its mission in all its programming and interactions. Their six core values: Individual Attention to Students; Inspiring, Passionate, and Innovative Teaching; Inquiry and Exploration; Academic, Artistic and Athletic Growth; Trust, Respect and Partnership; Diversity and Responsibility to Self and Others, drive the program and interactions on campus.
The Program
Pre-School: (Ages 24 months – 5 years) Palm Valley Preschool serves students from 24 months through Pre-kindergarten. The Preschool provides a safe and supportive environment that fosters academic success while supporting the social and emotional development of students. Through individual instruction, the teachers develop deep and meaningful relationships with their students and families.
The dedicated teachers have designed a dynamic curriculum that engages students in meaningful learning experiences. From hands-on projects to thought-provoking discussions, the school is committed to nurturing curiosity and fostering a love for learning in each child.
Lower School: (Kindergarten – Grade 5) The years spent in Kindergarten through Fifth Grade are some of the most important, as they establish a strong foundation in academics, global citizenship, character, and social-emotional intelligence. Palm Valley’s Elementary School offers a program that develops students in these areas through a safe, nurturing environment that seeks to encourage students to become active, lifelong learners.
Middle School: (Grades 6-8) Palm Valley’s Middle School years are a defining period for students as they transition from childhood into adolescence. Middle school students experience an engaging balance of joyful and rigorous learning in a challenging and supportive educational environment that nurtures autonomy and competence and promotes academic, personal, and social-emotional development.
The school’s ability to focus on individualized attention, offer robust advisory, arts, and athletics programs, and provide a variety of course electives, clubs, outdoor education, and service-learning experiences enable the students to grow in understanding who they are and where they want to go.
With Palm Valley School’s mission and values in mind, the whole of every middle school student is embraced in positive and purposeful ways to advance their academic and personal potential and celebrate their uniqueness.
Upper School: (Grades 9-12) In the Upper School, students become part of an exceptional learning community where they are nurtured and challenged to develop the habits of mindful scholars to reach their academic and personal potential. To this end, Palm Valley School’s core values guide all of its curriculum and programming in the upper school.
Small classes and the teachers’ ability to design challenging classroom experiences foster student curiosity and breadth of interest, self-expression, joy, and ingenuity. All upper school students are encouraged by their advisors and teachers to engage actively in discussion, collaborate creatively to solve problems, to communicate their ideas effectively, and to learn from each other.
The culture of the upper school is demanding, joyful, supportive, and rewarding. Students build close personal relationships with their advisors, teachers, and each other to create a vibrant climate of cooperation and continuous commitment to the pursuit of learning and growth.
The Campus
Palm Valley School occupies 34 acres in Rancho Mirage, CA in the middle of the Coachella Valley east of Los Angeles and north of San Diego. The stunning mountain views are ever present on campus. The campus features sub-campuses and buildings for each of the four divisions – Preschool, Elementary, Middle School, and High School, along with a full-size gymnasium, and several play and athletic fields.
Nestled between the mesmerizing San Jacinto and Santa Rosa mountains and Joshua Tree National Park on either side, the Coachella Valley is like no other place on earth. Some might even say it’s magical. Health-seekers, adventurers, artists, and more have flocked here since the early 1900s in search of inspiration and serenity. The Valley includes towns such as Palm Springs, Cathedral City, Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert, Indian Wells, and La Quinta. With its great weather, it is home for readily accessible hiking and biking trails, tennis and pickleball, golf as well as a robust theater and fantastic restaurant scene. The Valley is also within easy driving distance to skiing in the mountains and surfing in the Pacific Ocean.
Nondiscrimination Policy
It is the policy at PVS to provide equal employment opportunity for all applicants and employees. PVS does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, (all aspects of religious beliefs, observance or practice, including religious dress or grooming practices), sex (including pregnancy, perceived pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), gender (including gender identity and gender expression), national origin or ancestry, citizenship, age, physical or mental disability, legally protected medical condition or information, genetic information, family care status, military caregiver status, veteran status, marital status, registered domestic partner status, sexual orientation, or any other consideration made unlawful by local, state, or federal laws.
Search Calendar
Applications are due by January 21st, 2025.
Semi-Finalist Interviews: January 31, 7:00 AM – 12:00 PM PT
Finalist Campus Visit (2 Finalists): February 10 and 12
Application Materials Requested
We encourage a preliminary conversation with Joan Beauregard and/or Eric Temple (see below) to learn more about this exceptional opportunity. Those interested are asked to submit these materials, in the order listed, in a Single Merged Document:
- EC Candidate Summary Sheet (contact consultants Joan or Eric for the document)
- Letter of Interest addressed to the Search Committee
- Current résumé
- Statement of Educational Leadership philosophy
- A list of five or more references with contact information (including phone numbers and email addresses)
- EC Disclosure Form (contact consultants for this document)
If interested, please contact:
Joan Beauregard, Partner, Educators Collaborative,
jbeauregard@educatorscollaborative.com
(206) 851-6616
Listing Date: January 9, 2025
Compensation and benefits are competitive, with an anticipated salary range of $200,000 to $240,000. Furnished housing will be provided if needed.
EXPERTS IN SEARCH, TRANSITION & STRATEGY
©2024 Educators Collaborative. All rights reserved. | Privacy Policy
