Head of Upper School

Phoenix Country Day School
Head of Upper School
July 2026

The Opportunity

Phoenix Country Day School (PCDS) is looking for a charismatic and innovative leader to serve as the Head of Upper School. Building on a robust academic and co-curricular foundation, the ideal candidate will play a pivotal role in charting the course for what the next generation of college preparatory high schools will look like. In particular, school leadership is keen to find a teammate who can emphasize “Relevance over Routine” while carefully threading the needle of “Rigor without Ruin.”

In addition, the Head of the Upper School will be joining and leading a community dedicated to a “Triple H” culture: Happy, Healthy, and Hardworking. As noted in the PCDS Strategic Plan, “the real magic in the internal PCDS community derives from our deep commitment to people who are happy, healthy, and hardworking. In every employee we hire, every student we accept, every student we support, and every family with whom we partner, we must value and promote these critical traits.”

Attractive candidates will possess a demonstrated passion for working with high school-aged students; a strong ability to foster positive and meaningful interpersonal relationships with students, parents, and colleagues; and a commitment to nurturing an environment of intellectual engagement, independence, collaboration, creativity, and integrity. In sum, PCDS seeks a Head of Upper School who leads with a balanced approach – protecting what’s best about the school while advancing new initiatives that prepare students for a changing world.

Phoenix Country Day School is an independent, nonsectarian college-preparatory school serving 750 students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. Founded in 1961 by East Coast visionaries looking to create a dynamic educational setting out West, PCDS has long been recognized as the top independent school in Arizona and one of the premier schools in the Southwest.

Located on a beautifully maintained 40-acre campus nestled against the dramatic backdrop of Camelback Mountain, PCDS offers a rigorous liberal arts curriculum grounded in the values of intellectual engagement, independence, collaboration, creativity, and integrity. Students benefit from small class sizes and enjoy access to outstanding facilities, including a new state-of-the-art performing arts center, science labs, arts and music studios, two gymnasiums, swimming pools, athletic fields, and comprehensive technology infrastructure.

Quick Links of Interest 
Follow the links below for more specific information about Phoenix Country Day School and its programs.

PCDS Homepage                     PCDS Mission                        PCDS Strategic Plan

Portrait of a Graduate            College Counseling                Upper School Course Catalog

Contact

Phoenix Country Day School is partnering with Educational Directions on this search. Interested candidates should send a resume and a letter of interest to search consultant Highley Thompson at Highley.Thompson@edudx.com.

Please do not contact the school directly. The full position profile will be available soon.