American Classical Academy Rutherford – Head of School

American Classical Academy Rutherford (ACAR) is a tuition-free public charter school in La Vergne, Tennessee, serving K–6 and growing to K–12. Chartered in 2023 and opened in 2024–25, ACAR is a Hillsdale College Member School committed to restoring the classical liberal arts tradition in public education. Guided by the Western heritage of wisdom, virtue, and self-government, ACAR seeks to form young men and women for lives of character and civic responsibility.

ACAR is seeking its next Head of School to begin as soon as a suitable candidate is identified. Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Head of School is entrusted with the education and well-being of students, the professional growth of faculty, and the operational excellence of the academy. This leader embodies the love of learning, models virtuous living, and builds a culture rooted in the classical tradition. This is not a conventional public-school principalship. It is a higher calling: to steward a growing institution, inspire teachers and families, and anchor a community in the enduring ideals of liberty and virtue. The Head of School will lead ACAR as it grows into a full K–12 institution, adding approximately 50 students per grade each year — a rare opportunity to shape a school from its earliest years into a lasting institution.