Stockdale Christian Head of School Opportunity Profile

OPPORTUNITY PROFILE
HEAD OF SCHOOL
Stockdale Christian School
Bakersfield, CA

GREETINGS
Dear Prospective Head of School Candidate,
Thank you for your interest in the Head of School position at Stockdale
Christian School. This profile is meant to provide a brief overview of our
school’s mission and vision, as well as highlight the characteristics we are
seeking in our next Head of School.
Since our founding in 1977, Stockdale Christian School has sought to
provide excellence in Christian education. Our motto is “Educating for
Eternity”. We believe in integrating the Word of God in all subjects for all
ages. Our desire is that each child learns that God loves them and has a
plan for their lives, while also equipping them with the tools and education
needed for that plan to come to pass.
Stockdale Christian has a strong legacy. We are blessed to have a loving
team of teachers and staff who daily model God’s love and Christian values
to our students. We currently have teachers and staff who attended
Stockdale Christian as children and have chosen to return to invest in the
next generation.
Stockdale Christian has had a rich history and we are expecting an even
greater future. We are searching for a Head of School who will build on
this legacy and help us educate more children in a way that honors God in this new era. We believe that God will
bring us the right person at the right time. We trust that the next Head of School He has for us will provide the
leadership to make the potential of Stockdale Christian a reality.
Thank you for your interest. While this is a vitally important decision for us, we also understand this would also be a
major decision for you and your family to join our community. We encourage you to read through this Opportunity
Profile and to further explore our website stockdalechristian.com to learn more about SCS.
If you are interested in pursuing this opportunity, please reference the Process of Candidacy page at the end of this
document to begin the application process. If you have any questions, please contact Laura Coverstone or Ed Poff
(615) 261-4623, the JobfitMatters Consultants who are assisting Stockdale Christian School in our Head of School
search.
Sincerely,
Brian Self
SCS Search Committee Chair

OVERVIEW
Since 1977, Stockdale Christian School has provided quality Christian education for preschool through 8th grade
students. Currently serving 370 students, SCS is a ministry of Bakersfield First Assembly of God church, providing a
comprehensive program which integrates principles of Christian faith in every subject area.
Stockdale Christian has traditionally placed an emphasis on the arts and has developed a music program that is widely
recognized for excellence, even at the national level. SCS music students have performed twice at Carnegie Hall in
New York City. In recent years, SCS’s technology has been enhanced with Chromebooks provided for each student
in 3rd – 8th grade. The recent addition of STEM classes, Hydroponics, Robotics, and coding classes helps prepare
SCS students with 21st Century Skills.
As SCS launches this search for the next Head of School, the community is thoughtful and prayerful about the future
of the school. Across all constituent groups at SCS, there is significant unity about the criteria needed in the next
leader. Parents, faculty, board members, and administration all agree that the ability to build a team and work
collaboratively, demonstrated ability as a Head of School, and capacity to provide decisive leadership are most
important moving forward. The next leader will guide and shape an experienced team toward improving each of
these areas: 1) the overall academic program, 2) the internal morale and climate of the school, 3) communication
across all constituents, 4) the spiritual development of students and 5) the financial sustainability of the school through
fundraising and finding additional sources of revenue.
Above all, Stockdale Christian School is praying for the next leader who will humbly and joyfully guide the school in
its Kingdom work for the long term.

MISSION & VISION
MISSION
Stockdale Christian School exists to educate students from Christian families, leading students to believe in Jesus
Christ as their Savior, achieve excellence, and serve others.
VISION
Stockdale Christian School’s vision is to educate students for eternity.
With the spiritual and academic foundation that students receive at SCS, our aim is to produce students that:
• know Christ as their personal savior and can defend their faith
• are academically ready for the challenges of high school
• know how to impact their world for Christ through service
Our students will enjoy a pleasant learning environment that enables high quality and relevant educational
experiences that prepare them for the future. Our prayer is that as adults, they will impact their sphere of influence in
the workplace, community, churches, and their families.

STATEMENT OF FAITH
SCS is a ministry of First Assembly of God. Both the church and the school stand firmly on the changeless Word of God
as expressed in the following statement of historic evangelical Christianity.
1. The Bible is the ONLY inspired, infallible, authoritative
Word of God, and is considered to be the guideline for
daily Christian living.
2. There is only one God, eternally existent in three persons;
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
3. We affirm faith in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in
His virgin birth, in His sinless
life, in His miracles, in
His vicarious and atoning
death through His shed
blood, in His bodily resurrection,
His ascension to
the right hand of the Father
and His ultimate personal
return to this world
in power and glory to rule
over the nations.
4. Salvation is received
through repentance of
sin, regeneration by the
Holy Spirit, and through personal faith in the Lord Jesus
Christ (Romans 3:23, John 3:16, Titus 3:5-7). Regeneration
is absolutely essential for personal salvation.
5. We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit by
whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a Godly
life.
6. We believe the scriptures teach a life of holiness.
7. There will be a resurrection of those who have fallen asleep
in Christ together with those who are alive and remain.
This is the imminent and blessed hope of the church (I
Thess. 4:16-17, Romans 8:23, Titus 2:13, I Corinthians
15:51-52).
8. We believe that Christ’s death on the cross provides
healing for the human body in answer to believing
prayer (Isaiah 53:4-5, Matthew 8:16-17, James 5:14.16).
9. We believe the second coming of Christ includes
the rapture of the saints, which is our blessed hope,
followed by the visible return of Christ with His saints
to rule on the earth for a thousand years. This millennial
reign will bring the salvation of national Israel and
establish universal peace (Rev. 1:7, Zech. 14:5, Matt.
24:27, Rev. 19:20, 20:11-
16, 21:8).
10. We believe there will be
a final judgment in which
the wicked will be raised
and judged according
to their works. Whoever
is not found written in
the Book of Life will be
consigned to everlasting
punishment, which is
the second death (Matt.
25:46, Mark 9:34-48, Rev.
19:20, 20:11-15, 21:8).
11. Everlasting life through Jesus Christ is the promise to
all who believe in Him. The wicked dead together with
the devil and his angels, will be consigned to everlasting
punishment, which is the second death (Matt. 25:46,
Mark 9:43-48, Rev. 19:20, 20:15-18).
12. We affirm faith in the spiritual unity of believers in Jesus
Christ. The Church is the Body of Christ, the habitation
of God through the Spirit, with divine appointment for the
fulfillment of her great commission. Each believer, born
of the Spirit, is an integral part of the General Assembly
and Church of the Firstborn, which are written in heaven
(Ephesians 1:22-23, 2:22, Hebrews 12:23).

AT-A-GLANCE
ENROLLMENT 2020-2021
TOTAL
370
35
Pre-School
335
K-8 Students
FACULTY
10
PRESCHOOL
HOLD
ADVANCED
DEGREES
12%
50
ELEMENTARY
9
MIDDLE SCHOOL
FACULTY/STUDENT RATIO
1:15
40%
DIVERSITY IN THE
STUDENT BODY
$FINANCIAL
ANNUAL BUDGET 2019-2020: $3.5M
GIVING FOR 2019-2020: $125K
TOTAL DEBT: $0
TUITION
70 CHURCHES REPRESENTED
IN THE STUDENT BODY
K-6TH: $7,680
7TH-8TH: $8,119
5 YEAR ENROLLMENT GROWTH
800
700
600
FINANCIAL AID
More than $90K in financial aid was
awarded last year, representing around
10% of school families receiving aid..
500
400
300
2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20 2020-21*
*projected, heavy COVID impact
ACCREDITATION & MEMBERSHIPS:
Accredited by Western Association of Schools and
Colleges (WASC)
Association of Christian Schools International (ASCI)

POSITION PROFILE
The Head of School reports to the Board of Stockdale Christian School and is responsible for all day-to-day
management of the school via the administrative team. The school board is under the governance of the church
Board of Directors. The Head is ultimately the key spiritual, academic, and financial leader of the school, shaping
and nurturing the staff, the administrative team, and the school community. The current direct reports to the Head of
School include: Principal (K-8), Preschool Director, Facilities Manager, Bookkeeper, International Program, Security,
and the Office Personnel.
CHURCH BOARD
OF DIRECTORS
SCHOOL BOARD
HEAD OF
SCHOOL
PRINCIPAL
BOOKKEEPING
INTERNATIONAL
PROGRAMS
PRESCHOOL
DIRECTOR
FACILITIES
MANAGER
SECURITY
OFFICE
STAFF
K-8 TEACHERS DEPARTMENTAL
LEADERS
PRESCHOOL
STAFF

CHARACTERISTICS
LEADERSHIP CHARACTERISTICS OF THE IDEAL HEAD OF SCHOOL
1. Vibrant Faith – This leader will have a true heart for God and desire to walk with integrity in all situations. He or
she is biblically-minded and holy-spirit driven with a deep, genuine love for the Lord. This will be evidenced by
active participation in a church body and a commitment to personal growth.
2. Ability to Develop and Communicate Fresh Vision – This person will have the ability to understand who Stockdale
Christian is and can be, and further define how SCS can offer distinct value and excellence to the Bakersfield
community. Casting this fresh vision widely will impact enrollment and fundraising in a positive direction. This
leader will bring a balance of internal focus (leading the team toward academic and spiritual improvements in
the school, leading long-term financial planning) and external focus (cultivating relationships and investments in
the school).
3. Relational Communication Skills – This leader will bring an exceptional gift of communication focused on inspiring,
informing, and unifying the faculty, parents, and board.
4. Decisive School Leadership – This person will bring leadership experience and passion for private Christian education.
The next Head will demonstrate past success taking an established school to the next level and shaping
and building a team. Covering all decisions in prayer, this person will wisely ensure that all faculty and staff are
flourishing in their roles, even if that means that some change is needed.
5. Humble Servant Leadership– Even the most experienced and capable educational leader should come to SCS
with a spirit of genuine humility and loving, servant leadership. This person should have the gift of maximizing
the strengths of others.
6. Academic and Financial Acumen – This person will have a track record of academic and financial management
success with a school of a similar size as Stockdale Christian. The right leader will bring a passion for continuous
improvement and best practices.

QUALIFICATIONS &
EXPECTATIONS
QUALIFICATIONS
• Master’s degree preferred
• Administrative credentials preferred
• Successful track record in educational leadership and management
• Prior experience working with a non-profit board highly preferred
• Development and fundraising experience preferred
• Previous experience as a classroom educator preferred
EXPECTATIONS
Successful leadership in any educational institution is judged by
how well its leader meets the expectations of its governing body,
meets the needs of its students, and responds to the input of its
faculty, administration, parents, and other constituent groups.
As the current board works with the new Head of School to develop
a new Five-year Strategic Plan, these items will likely be
included:
• Increase enrollment by 15% within the first 3-5 years
• Bring new and up-to-date best practices to the academic
program, building on areas of strength (e.g. music, arts)
and improving areas of weakness (e.g. STEM and writing).
• Improve the consistency of communication to and between
all constituents of Stockdale Christian, unifying and
inspiring the faculty, parents, and board.
• Increase fundraising to fund financial aid, capital improvements
(refresh and update the facilities and campus), and
faculty compensation.
• As the school is a ministry of Bakersfield First Assembly and shares the campus, nurture a healthy relationship
with the church governing body and pastors.

IDEAL CANDIDATE
WHERE IS THE IDEAL CANDIDATE TODAY?
The ideal candidate will likely come from a Christian school, but the right leader may approximate one of these
descriptions. This list is not meant to be exhaustive but rather to encourage potential candidates to understand the
breadth of experiences that may fit well in this position:
• A successful Christian school leader who has led schools of at least 200 students
• A successful secular private or public-school administrator who has a strong and active personal walk and
faith journey with Christ, believes strongly in Christian education, has a solid education background, and has a
significant understanding of non-profits, boards, and fundraising
• A successful Christian school leader who has been an assistant Head or an administrator for at least 4 years with
significant K-8 leadership responsibilities.

BAKERSFIELD, CA
THE LOCATION
Strategically located in one of the world’s largest economies, and
within four hours of 90% of California’s population, Bakersfield is
a place where cutting-edge technological development is blended
with a rich history of agriculture and oil production. Bakersfield
is a regional hub that boasts a number of highly-recognized
employers like Nestlé, Aera Energy, Chevron, and Occidental Oil
and Gas. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Bakersfield
Metro is one of the top three major metros for job growth in the
state.
Bakersfield offers an oasis of friendly people that feels like
coming home. The city is culturally and politically quite
conservative and family-oriented. It may be in California, but
Bakersfield feels more like Kansas or Nebraska than San Francisco or Los Angeles!
Located at the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley, Bakersfield is partially surrounded by three mountain ranges:
The Temblor to the west, the Tehachapis to the south and the Sierra Nevadas to the east. Within the city limits alone
are 54 city parks, including the Park at Riverwalk, a 32-acre oasis adjacent to the Kern River.
From families to college students to business professionals, Bakersfield has much to offer anyone looking for an
affordable and attractive place to live their dreams. Cultural and outdoor activities abound, various minor league
professional sports teams offer entertainment, and housing prices are more reasonable than anywhere else in
California. Bakersfield’s combination of large community opportunity and small-town appeal is just right.
Kern County’s cost of living is comparable to
the U.S. average, compared to San Francisco
at 167%. For a cost of living calculator, click
here.
Over the course of a year, the summers are hot
and the winters are mild. (No snow shoveling!)
Temperatures typically range from 39º F to 98º
F. With 191 sunny days a year, Bakersfield is a
premiere location to get out and explore.

PROCESS OF CANDIDACY
If, after reading this Opportunity Profile, you sense that the gifts and experience God has given you are an initially
good match for Stockdale Christian School, we invite you to begin the inquiry process. We handle all candidate information
and conversations confidentially. You may contact Laura Coverstone at any stage of the process for more
information and to ask questions (see contact information below).
Please provide the following for review:
• A current resume
• Responses to the following essay questions:
1. Please share your Christian Testimony
2. Using what you have learned about Stockdale Christian School from the SCS website, this Opportunity
Profile, and any other research you have conducted, describe how your life and career have prepared you
to lead and grow SCS.
• Provide the names and contact information (telephone numbers and email addresses) for four references
who know you and your career well enough to comment on your suitability for the Head of School position
at Stockdale Christian School. (References will only be contacted after we have requested and received your
permission to do so.)
Submit this information in one document or .pdf to:
Laura Coverstone
JobfitMatters
resumes@jobfitmatters.com
Phone: 615-261-4623
In the subject line of the email, please write “Stockdale Head of School”