Assistant Headmaster

Meet Mars Hill Academy

Mars Hill Academy is a Pre-K through 12 co-educational, independent, parent-sponsored day school grounded in the historic Christian faith and the classical liberal arts tradition. Located on a beautiful 13-acre campus in Mason, Ohio—an affluent northern suburb of Cincinnati—Mars Hill serves approximately 350 students from more than 150 families. As one of just 75 accredited member schools nationwide of the Association of Classical and Christian Schools (ACCS), Mars Hill is recognized as a leader in classical Christian education.   

Our faculty and staff are exemplary Christian men and women who love their students and are deeply committed to the calling of classical Christian education. Through a fully integrated program of academics, arts, athletics, and service, students are equipped to think clearly, reason persuasively, and evaluate all of life through the lens of Scripture.   

Mars Hill graduates are exceptionally well prepared for future study and vocation. Alumni have pursued undergraduate degrees in fields ranging from engineering, mathematics, and biochemistry to literature, nursing, and business, and many have gone on to advanced studies in medicine, theology, physics, mathematics, music, and the humanities.   

Demonstrating the strength of our academic program, Mars Hill Academy students ranked first in the nation on the Classic Learning Test for five consecutive years (2019-2023). In 2026, Mars Hill Academy was named the top Christian school in Greater Cincinnati. Beyond the classroom, Mars Hill students have been recognized as National Merit Finalists, ACSI spelling bee champions, state championship athletes, accomplished performers, and servant leaders. Together, these achievements reflect the school’s commitment to both academic excellence and faithful Christian discipleship, equipping graduates to flourish in college, career, church, and community.   

WHO WE ARE

Mars Hill Academy is guided by a rich tradition of Christian faith and classical learning. Candidates are encouraged to become familiar with the following foundational resources:   

• Mars Hill Academy Educational Foundations   
• Westminster Confession of Faith   
• The Statement on Social Justice and the Gospel   
• Dorothy Sayers’ “The Lost Tools of Learning”   

30 YEARS OF GOD’S FAITHFULNESS

Mars Hill Academy began with a simple conviction: Christian education should be both unapologetically Christian and thoroughly classical.   

In the spring of 1995, homeschooling mother Linda Thistleton read Recovering the Lost Tools of Learning by Douglas Wilson and was captivated by the vision of classical Christian education. Shortly thereafter, her husband, Tom, attended an Association of Classical and Christian Schools conference in Moscow, Idaho. Convinced that Cincinnati needed a school committed to this model of education, the Thistletons and a small group of like-minded families set out to establish what would become Mars Hill Academy.   

In the fall of 1996, Mars Hill Academy opened its doors with 27 students and three full-time teachers. What began as a bold act of faith has grown into a thriving classical Christian school that serves families throughout the Greater Cincinnati region.   

Mars Hill Academy remains steadfast in its commitment to cultivating wise and virtuous young men and women who glorify and enjoy God and faithfully apply the Lordship of Christ throughout all of life. Known as the home of the Highlanders, Mars Hill seeks to develop students who love truth, beauty, and goodness and who are prepared to serve Christ in every calling He may place before them.  

The future of Mars Hill Academy is equally exciting. The school is currently engaged in an $11 million capital campaign designed to strengthen its campus and expand its ability to serve future generations of students and families. As Mars Hill enters its fourth decade, the school is positioned for continued growth and kingdom impact while remaining firmly rooted in the mission and vision that have guided it from the beginning.

About the Assistant Headmaster

Beginning with the 2027-28 school year, Mars Hill Academy seeks an Assistant Headmaster to serve alongside the Headmaster in the leadership, management, and strategic direction of the school. This is a senior leadership role within the institution.   

The Assistant Headmaster reports directly to the Headmaster and works closely with the Board of Directors, administrative leadership, faculty, staff, students, and parents to ensure that Mars Hill Academy continues to flourish as a distinctly classical and Christian school.   

The Board of Directors envisions this role as an intentional leadership transition designed to prepare the successful candidate to succeed the current Headmaster. Over the course of the transition, the Assistant Headmaster will assume progressively greater responsibility across the school as he demonstrates readiness. While succession to the Headmaster role is not guaranteed, the school is seeking a candidate with the character, conviction, experience, and leadership capacity to become Mars Hill Academy’s next Headmaster. This is not intended to be a permanent Assistant Headmaster position.

Strategic and Succession Leadership

The Assistant Headmaster shall:

• Assume progressively greater leadership and operational responsibility as readiness is demonstrated.
• Develop working knowledge and leadership capability across the major functions of the school.
• Participate meaningfully in long-range planning and strategic institutional development.
• Prepare intentionally for potential succession to the Headmaster role.
• Demonstrate the judgment, theological alignment, educational leadership, relational maturity, and administrative capability necessary to lead Mars Hill Academy.
• Educational Leadership: Demonstrated understanding of and commitment to the principles, philosophy, and practices of classical Christian education.
• Ability to understand and evaluate teaching and learning, develop faculty and school leaders, and articulate a coherent vision for K–12 classical Christian education
• NOT serve also as the Athletic Director. A separate Athletic Director will report to the Assistant Headmaster. 

The Assistant Headmaster’s responsibilities include:

The Assistant Headmaster shall:

• Assist the Headmaster in the overall management and operation of Mars Hill Academy, including budgeting.
• Support the implementation and preservation of the school’s mission, vision, and classical Christian distinctives.
• Help provide strategic leadership for faculty, staff, students, and families.
• Serve as a trusted advisor and partner to the Headmaster in institutional planning and decision-making.
• Help ensure operational excellence across academic, student life, and school culture.
• Participate in school leadership meetings and administrative planning.
• Assist in policy development, implementation, and institutional accountability.
• Support faculty and staff hiring, supervision, development, and evaluation as assigned.
• Help cultivate a strong Christian culture among faculty, staff, students, and families.
• Represent the school well with parents, donors, churches, and the broader community.
• Carry out special projects and leadership initiatives as assigned by the Headmaster.

LEADERSHIP AND INSTITUTIONAL STEWARDSHIP

• The candidate must possess demonstrated leadership ability in Christian school administration, ministry, or a comparable leadership setting. He should be capable of providing strategic leadership while also attending faithfully to the details required for organizational excellence.   
• The successful candidate will have the ability to:  
•  Lead and motivate faculty, staff, and students.   
• Support institutional planning and school improvement initiatives.   
• Strengthen school culture and organizational health.   
• Exercise sound judgment in decision-making and conflict resolution.   
• Build trust and credibility with parents, faculty, students, and community stakeholders.   
• Cultivate strong partnerships with families while representing Mars Hill Academy with professionalism, warmth, and conviction.   
• Mars Hill seeks a leader who is both pastoral and decisive—strong enough to lead and humble enough to serve.

ADMINISTRATIVE AND OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE

• The candidate should demonstrate strong organizational, administrative, and management skills. He should have experience overseeing programs, managing personnel, implementing systems, and executing plans with excellence.   
• Experience in budgeting, planning, faculty supervision, operational leadership, or institutional management is highly valued. The successful candidate will possess the ability to move effectively between strategic leadership and day-to-day execution.   

LIFELONG LEARNER AND COMMUNITY BUILDER

• The candidate should demonstrate a lifelong love of learning and a genuine delight in the education and formation of young people. He should be intellectually curious, relationally engaging, and committed to personal and professional growth.   
• The successful candidate will be a visible and active member of the school community who values strong partnerships with parents, invests in the development of faculty and staff, and contributes positively to the life and culture of Mars Hill Academy.

What you bring

The following describes many of the characteristics of the ideal candidate for the Assistant Headmaster:

Education and Experience

• Experience in Christian school administration, ministry, or a comparable leadership setting.
• Demonstrated experience in budgeting, institutional planning, and operational leadership.
• Proven track record in managing personnel, faculty supervision, and implementing organizational systems.
• Experience supporting school improvement initiatives and policy development.
• Background with classical Christian education principles, philosophy, and practices.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Classical Christian Education: Ability to enthusiastically articulate and preserve the school’s mission, vision, and classical Christian distinctives.
• Administrative & Operational Skills: Strong organizational, administrative, and strategic management skills with the capacity to balance long-range planning with day-to-day execution.
• Leadership & Supervision: Ability to lead, motivate, supervise, and evaluate faculty and staff effectively.
• Communication & Relationship Building: Strong relational skills to build trust, resolve conflict, and partner effectively with parents, faculty, donors, and community stakeholders.
• Strategic & Succession Capability: Ability to act as a trusted advisor to the Headmaster and readiness to grow into increasing institutional leadership responsibilities.

Personal Characteristics and Qualifications

• Christian Maturity: Exhibits a vibrant, mature Christian faith aligned with historic Christian orthodoxy, the school’s Statement of Faith, and Foundational Documents.
• Leadership Virtues: Marked by wisdom, humility, integrity, teachability, and a pastoral yet decisive leadership style.
• Heart for Discipleship: Holds a sincere desire to disciple students, encourage staff, and serve school families.
• Lifelong Learner: Intellectually curious, delights in the formation of young people, and committed to ongoing personal and professional growth.
• Community Engagement: Relationally engaging with a desire to maintain a visible and active presence across all aspects of school life.

What it’s like to live in Mason, Ohio

Situated just north of Cincinnati with convenient access to major highways, Mason offers an exceptional quality of life, combining the warmth of a family-friendly community with the amenities of a thriving metropolitan area. Known for its safe neighborhoods, strong local economy, and abundant recreational opportunities, Mason consistently ranks among the best places to live in Ohio. The city and surrounding communities feature beautiful parks, extensive trail systems, outstanding healthcare, diverse dining options, and a wide variety of shopping and entertainment destinations.   

The Greater Cincinnati region is home to a vibrant arts, cultural, and business community. Residents enjoy world-class museums, professional theater, symphony performances, and a nationally recognized zoo and botanical garden. Families can also explore nearby attractions such as the Creation Museum, Ark Encounter, Kings Island amusement park, and hundreds of parks and outdoor recreation areas throughout Southwest Ohio and Northern Kentucky. The area is also rich in American history, with numerous sites connected to the Civil War and the Underground Railroad; the nearby National Museum of the U.S. Air Force offers one of the nation’s premier collections of aviation and military history.   

Greater Cincinnati is home to a strong and growing network of churches and Christian ministries. Families who relocate to the area will find a welcoming community, rich cultural opportunities, and an exceptional place to live, work, worship, and raise children.