Interim Executive Director

ABOUT THE SCHOOL

The Helix School is a Cognia-accredited nonpublic school (NPS) specializing in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and related neurodivergent profiles, serving students from kindergarten through age 22 across the San Francisco Bay Area. Guided by the mission to “guide autistic children to lead fulfilling and connected lives,” The Helix School has grown from two students at its founding in 2014 to a thriving learning community of over 60 students, the majority of whom are funded by their local public school districts. Partnering with families and districts across the Bay Area, the School navigates the full complexity of the NPS landscape, including IEPs, district contracts, and the regulatory framework that governs publicly funded special education placements.

What makes The Helix School distinctive is its interdisciplinary model: clinical services, including occupational therapy and speech-language pathology, are embedded directly alongside teaching faculty, creating an integrated team that works in concert around each student. The integrated curriculum is tailored to each student's developmental level, sensory processing differences, and emotional-regulatory needs, with an emphasis on motivation, kinesthetic, and sensory-based learning. The Helix School partners with families and school districts to deliver educational programming that is responsive, relationship-driven, and rooted in the belief that every learner deserves a path forward.

PURPOSE

The Helix School exists to create a learning environment where autistic and neurodivergent students are known, valued, and challenged to grow. Through individualized instruction, evidence-based practices, and a whole-child approach, The Helix School cultivates academic progress, social-emotional development, and the confidence students need to build meaningful, self-directed lives. The School's work is guided by care, high expectations, and an unwavering commitment to each student's potential.

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

The Helix School and The Helix Adult Academy (THAA) are two affiliated organizations unified with The Helix Continuum, an organizing brand and mission framework that holds both organizations together under a common vision and founding leadership. THAA is a nonprofit adult services and vocational training organization launching Fall 2026. Together, the two organizations reflect a shared commitment to building a continuum of care for autistic and neurodivergent individuals from childhood through adulthood.

Marjorie McMorris, Founder, remains actively engaged across both organizations in the areas of strategic direction, external partnerships, fundraising, and community relationships. The Interim Executive Director will work in close, regular collaboration with Marjorie and will partner with her to ensure that school-level priorities remain aligned with the broader shared mission.

Candidates who thrive in this role will be energized by a collaborative leadership environment, comfortable operating with clarity about their scope, and skilled at building a strong internal partnership with a founder who is deeply invested in the School's success and committed to empowering the Interim Executive Director to lead day-to-day operations with authority and confidence.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Helix School seeks an Interim Executive Director to provide steady, experienced leadership during a planned transition, serving for the 2026-2027 school year. The Interim Executive Director will serve as the chief executive of The Helix School, reporting to the Board of Directors and working in close partnership with a strong, committed Leadership Team.

Since its founding in 2014, The Helix School has grown significantly and is now focused on strengthening the operational infrastructure, financial discipline, and staff culture necessary to support its next chapter. The Interim Executive Director will be asked to make meaningful progress on those fronts while honoring the mission, relationships, and spirit that make Helix exceptional.

The right candidate is a seasoned operational leader with a genuine understanding of and passion for the population Helix serves. Experience in special education and familiarity with the nonpublic school landscape are important assets in this role. Above all, this is someone who can earn the trust of families, staff, and the Board quickly, lead through change with both firmness and heart, and set the stage for the permanent Executive Director who will follow.

STRATEGIC PRIORITIES

The Helix School's next Interim Executive Director will arrive at a meaningful moment in the School's evolution. Significant growth has created the need for stronger systems, sharper financial discipline, and a staff culture that reflects the School's next chapter. In partnership with the Board of Directors and a strong Leadership Team, the Interim Executive Director will focus on four priorities during the 2026-2027 school year:

• Building and implementing the operational and HR infrastructure the School needs to run with greater consistency and accountability
• Working alongside the Director of Finance to bring greater financial discipline and sustainability to day-to-day operations
• Protecting and strengthening the interdisciplinary clinical model that sits at the heart of the Helix program
• Advancing the Helix brand and deepening donor, parent, and community relationships in close collaboration with the Directors of Development and Admissions

Above all, the Interim Executive Director will set the stage for the permanent Executive Director who will follow, ensuring a strong, stable foundation from which the next chapter of The Helix School can be built.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Leadership and Board Relations

• Execute and administer Board policies, serving as the primary liaison between the Board of Directors and day-to-day School operations.
• Report regularly to the Board on School matters and maintain accountability for effective, professional institutional management.
• Articulate, model, and implement the mission and philosophy of the School across all programs and activities.
• Advise the Board on near-term priorities and keep Board members well-informed on School operations, staff culture, and progress during the leadership transition.

Personnel Management

• Hire, supervise, evaluate, and develop all School employees, building a high-performing, mission-aligned team.
• Administer disciplinary actions and terminations as necessary, in accordance with applicable policies and regulations.
• Foster a collaborative, student-centered team culture and provide ongoing professional development opportunities.

External Relations and Advancement

• Oversee all external-facing operations, including admissions, recruitment, marketing, and community engagement.
• Serve as the School’s primary representative for public relations, building and sustaining strong relationships with families, school districts, funders, and community partners.

Fundraising and Development

• Working alongside the Director of Development, cultivate and steward relationships with individual donors, foundations, and corporate partners.

Financial and Facilities Management

• Oversee the School’s day-to-day financial operations, including implementation of the annual operations plan and budget.
• Collaborate with staff on the budget development process and present recommendations to the Board.
• Ensure the proper maintenance of the School’s facilities and grounds.
• Advise the Board in its primary duty to safeguard the School’s financial health over both the near and long term.

Academic Programs and Student Services

• Champion and protect The Helix School's interdisciplinary model, ensuring that clinical services and teaching faculty continue to function as an integrated team in service of each student.
• Direct the School’s academic, nonacademic, and co-curricular programming, including curriculum planning, development, and evaluation.
• Oversee student supervision, evaluation, graduation, discipline, and separation or expulsion processes.
• Ensure ongoing compliance with NPS regulatory requirements, district contracts, and IEP obligations; serve as the School's primary point of accountability with district funding partners and the California Department of Education.
• Assess the effectiveness of all School operations and programs and report findings to the Board.
• Keep the Board and all relevant constituencies informed about School developments and performance.

Daily Operations and Community Engagement

• Manage the School’s day-to-day activities, including participation in School functions, assemblies, meetings, and events.
• Maintain a visible, engaged presence across all aspects of School life. This position requires substantial time commitments beyond regular hours, including evenings and weekends.