"Executive Director"

Executive Director

Company: Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts

Job Location: Natchitoches, Louisiana

Category: Presidents and Chancellors

Type: Full-Time

Email: employment@lsmsa.edu

The Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts (LSMSA) seeks an Executive Director, with the position effective July 1, 2026.

LSMSA is seeking a dynamic and visionary leader who possesses cultural competence, pedagogical innovation, and entrepreneurial spirit in support of its mission. The Executive Director is a 12-month position and is supervised by the Board of Directors created under La.R.S. 17:1964.

Located in Natchitoches, Louisiana, LSMSA is the preeminent State-supported residential high school with competitive admissions for Louisiana's and the nation’s high-achieving, highly motivated students. Students apply during either their freshman or sophomore year for the opportunity to attend LSMSA for their final two or three years of high school.

Nationally, Niche’s 2025 Best Public High Schools in America names LSMSA as the top public school as well as the top magnet school in Louisiana, and second in the United States for the best public school high school teachers. LSMSA also received high rankings for studies in STEM and college prep. For all of LSMSA’s rankings in Niche, please visit https://www.niche.com/k12/louisiana-school-for-math-science-and-the-arts-natchitochesla/rankings/

Established by the Louisiana State Legislature in 1982, LSMSA is a public school, and there is no tuition for students to attend. Assistance from the LSMSA Foundation ensures the program is available to all qualifying students regardless of family financial need. LSMSA belongs to an expanding group of state-supported, residential high schools founded to serve the academic, artistic, and creative needs of many of Louisiana’s and the nation’s best students. Over 70% of the faculty have terminal degrees. The curriculum includes college-level courses in a multitude of content areas. In addition to rigorous coursework, students also have access to competitive sports and special interest clubs

The mission of LSMSA is to foster its young scholars’ lifelong growth toward reaching individual potentialities and toward finding places of work and service in a global society through the examination and exchange of ideas in a community of learners.

The qualified candidate must hold an advanced degree and have five (5) years of experience in administration; a terminal degree is preferred. As the chief executive officer of the School, the Executive Director will administer the rules, regulations, and policies adopted by the School’s Board of Directors as provided by State statute. The preeminent goal of the Executive Director is to provide educational and administrative leadership in LSMSA’s academic programs and business affairs.

Professional Practices and Responsibilities for the Position include:

1. Professional Development - show initiative in increasing present skills and learning new ones.
2. Dependability - on time and on task throughout the day, and complete tasks in a timely manner.
3. Cooperativeness - positive attitude with others; cooperative and helpful with co-workers; foster an open and trusting work environment.
4. Professionalism - maintain appropriate boundaries with students, faculty, and staff; dress appropriately; maintain confidentiality; use appropriate channels of communication to express concerns; accept responsibility.
5. Adaptability - accept and apply constructive feedback; demonstrate flexibility to meet new needs or challenges, and to incorporate new ideas; suggest better ways to do things.
6. Communication - respond in a timely manner to phone and email messages; communicate effectively with staff, students, and parents; listen carefully and ask questions when needed; clear and accurate verbal and written communication.
7. Decision making/problem solving - make sound and timely decisions by analyzing facts; reach logical conclusions by use of foresight and planning; independent but seek assistance from appropriate resources; prompt response to safety and security concerns.
8. Service to LSMSA - act as an ambassador in any setting, supporting both the School’s mission, handbook, and LSMSA Board Policies; supporting students in both the context of the job and involvement in their extra-curricular and co-curricular activities.

Essential functions of the job include:

1. Serve as the Chief Executive Officer
2. Supervision of direct reports
3. Strategic planning and reporting
4. Supervision of the Living and Learning Community Environment
5. Build and develop a network of individuals to support and promote the mission of LSMSA
6. Collaborate with the LSMSA Foundation in fundraising priorities and initiatives
7. Internal and External Operations including providing accurate testimony and timely responses to requests for information from legislators, committees, the Division of Administration, Department of Education, and other federal and/or state agencies, and serve as an ex-officio member of the LSMSA Foundation board and as a conduit between the needs of the School and available support from the Foundation.

Applications:

All applications and inquiries must be submitted to employment@lsmsa.edu

The position is open until filled; review of applications will begin on January 1, 2026.

The successful applicant will start duties on July 1, 2026.

Only complete applications will be reviewed, and must include the following:

1. Letter of application
2. Educational Leadership Philosophy (1,000 word maximum)
3. Vitae
4. Official transcripts from each institution attended
5. Five professional references with full contact information and a note indicating the nature of your professional working relationship with each