Being a Head of School is a unique privilege, blending strategic vision, day-to-day decision-making, and the building of trusted personal connections. The joy in this role lies in its dual nature. On one hand, it involves big-picture thinking: being resourceful to achieve ambitious goals, fostering innovation, and continually seeking ways to deepen our understanding of how students learn best—never settling for "good enough." On the other hand, it’s about those ordinary human moments: listening to a teacher’s breakthrough idea, supporting a student through challenges, and collaborating with families who entrust us with their child’s future.
Embracing complexity is key to this role. It’s not just about operational tasks but about nurturing a culture where confidence and humility coexist, collaboration thrives, and innovation emerges through experimentation. It’s about having the courage to ask the right questions, even the hard ones, and finding joy in discovering solutions alongside your team.
Students bring immense joy to this work. Whether it’s watching young learners take ownership of their growth or witnessing their curiosity spark over simple discoveries — like finding a spider on the playground and rushing to share the moment — it’s endlessly rewarding. Joy is also found in guiding students through conflicts and seeing them exceed expectations in resolving issues, or hearing them proudly share how their individual contributions elevate a project beyond curricular goals. Even the everyday smiles, greetings, and small acts of kindness bring immense delight.
Community adds another layer of fulfillment. Working closely with colleagues, students, and families to navigate challenges and celebrate successes fosters connection and purpose. Crafting letters that reflect values of inclusion and global citizenship or facilitating conversations on complex topics offers powerful opportunities to inspire and engage.
Learning is another source of joy—for students and for oneself. Whether it’s reading books that challenge conventional thinking or leading workshops where new ideas emerge and connections form, the experience provides constant intellectual stimulation and growth.
Above all, being a Head of School is about impact: supporting teachers in their professional journeys, watching students take ownership of their learning, and creating an environment that balances autonomy with accountability. It is a role that challenges, stretches, and ultimately rewards in ways few others can.
The joy lies in knowing that every conversation, decision, and effort contributes to something greater—a community of learners prepared academically, emotionally, socially, and ethically to shape the world.
Read more about The Complexities of Head of School Leadership, Shaping Lives and Building Legacy, The 200 Percent Dilemma, The Headship Paradox, and Leadership at the Intersection of Complexity and Vision.
Anne Taffin d'Heursel Baldisseri is the Head of School at Avenues São Paulo in Brazil.
