Secondary Principal

Country Day School (CDS) in Costa Rica seeks a visionary, human-centered instructional leader to serve as Secondary School Principal (Grades 6–12). Rooted in The CDS Way and our vision for learning: Everyone Grows. Everyone Exceeds, this role is designed for an educator who leads with purpose, compassion, and courage. We are looking for someone who understands that great schools are built on relationships; someone who knows how to create systems that lift people up, open doors to equitable learning, and bring coherence to a vibrant, diverse, and inclusive community. As a key member of the Instructional and Schoolwide Leadership Team, the Secondary School Principal will work in close partnership with colleagues to ensure alignment, innovation, and sustained growth across the school. The ideal candidate brings a deep knowledge of evidence-based teaching and learning, a systems-oriented mindset, and a passion for developing the talents and capacities of others. This leader will model emotional intelligence, demonstrate unwavering integrity, and uphold CDS’s core values of Integrity, Safety, Humanity, and a Student-Centered Stance. This is a role for a relational leader—someone who believes in people, believes in possibilities, and believes that students thrive when adults work collectively with clarity, care, and purpose. The Secondary School Principal will be both strategist and connector: able to design, implement, and refine systems while inspiring a culture of joy, belonging, and excellence where every learner can grow and exceed. START DATE: JULY 2026 The CDS Way: A Journey Where Everyone Grows; Everyone Exceeds.Desired Qualifications & ExperienceThe ideal candidate holds a master’s degree (or higher) in Educational Leadership, Administration, or a related field, with at least five years of successful leadership experience in secondary education —international school experience preferred. They bring demonstrated expertise in instructional leadership, curriculum design, and teacher development, along with a proven commitment to advancing inclusion and supporting diverse learners. The candidate should possess strong intercultural competence and the ability to lead in a multilingual, multicultural environment. Deep knowledge of MTSS, UDL, and evidence-based pedagogical frameworks such as UbD, NGSS, and AERO is essential, as are exceptional interpersonal, organizational, and communication skills.