Hawken School

Hawken School is an independent, nonsectarian day and boarding school serving more than 1,000 students from preschool through grade 12. The main campus sits in Chesterland, Ohio, on wooded acreage about 30 minutes east of Cleveland. A second campus in University Circle places upper school students near the city's museums, hospitals, and research centers. Faculty often teach across both sites.

The Mastery School model shapes the school day in a way few Ohio independent schools share. Students take one subject at a time in multi-week blocks instead of a traditional seven-period schedule. Teachers plan longer arcs, work closely with a single cohort, and assess through projects rather than short quizzes. Language faculty in Mandarin, French, Latin, and Spanish adapt the same immersive rhythm.

Compensation rests on a solid base. Hawken School reported net assets above $115 million and revenue near $60 million in 2023, and fundraising grew about 29 percent year over year. That base supports salaries benchmarked against NAIS peers, health and retirement contributions, tuition remission for faculty children, and funded professional development. Some boarding-side roles include on-campus housing, which stretches a paycheck in northeast Ohio.

Hiring runs across the year. Expect searches for core academic faculty, world languages, arts, STEM, and early childhood teachers. The school also hires coaches, learning specialists, admissions officers, and advancement staff. Most faculty searches close between February and May for an August start, with occasional mid-year openings.