Bakersfield Adventist Academy (BAA) is seeking a full-time principal to oversee the curriculum, instruction, facilities, and financial operations of the school’s K-12 program. Candidates should be committed members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, possess a passion for discipleship, and hold a master’s degree. The applicant will have or be willing to obtain current NAD administrative credentials. Preference will be given to candidates with previous successful administrative experience. 

The Bakersfield area is in the southern Central Valley Agricultural region of California.  Travel times to the Pacific Coast, Yosemite, Sequoia, Death Valley, and other national parks are less than 2.5 hours. BAA is also just north of the Los Angeles area and can be reached in under 2 hours.  School enrollment has grown over the past several years, with 135 students and 13 staff members.

We seek applications from individuals who are passionate about guiding students into a relationship with Jesus alongside their colleagues, qualified to lead the staff in the appropriate curriculum for an Adventist K-12 school, and willing to train them in curricular development and classroom techniques. The principal may need to teach a class to enhance or fill out the curricular offering. Candidates will be dedicated to the mission of Adventist Education, embrace the opportunity to work in a culturally diverse area, and enjoy engaging with high school students and their parents in a goal- and mission-oriented academic environment. Applicants must be active Seventh-day Adventist church members eligible to work in the United States. (Hold a current work visa and be a resident of the US if not a US citizen.) Applicants must be active Seventh-day Adventist church members eligible to work in the United States. (Applicants must hold a current work visa and be residents of the US if they are not US citizens.)Elementary

The successful candidate will have the following qualifications: 

• Holds or is qualified to receive NAD teaching certification, Basic, Standard, or Professional, with a Secondary Endorsement in Religion
• Experience/willingness to provide spiritual leadership
• Ability to develop cooperative relationships with constituent pastors and church communities
• Good classroom management skills
• Comfortable working with current and emerging education and communication technologies (including Google Education programs and FACTS/RenWeb)
• A team player
• Maintains a spiritual presence and commitment
• Has a passion for the development of young people and is on fire for Jesus Christ
• Familiar with Elementary and Secondary curriculum
• Possesses the skills of organization, follow-through, and communication

Preferred Additional Qualifications:

• Additional endorsement and willingness to teach as needed
• 3+ years teaching in an SDA educational institution
• Being bilingual in English and Spanish would be a plus

This 12-month salaried full-time position would begin on July 1, 2025. Based on North American Division certification, experience, and area cost of living allowance, the salary range is $61,811 to $76,863. 

Please send a resume with a cover letter, a summary of your philosophy of education, at least three references, and a copy of your current certification (NAD and/or state).  Initial contact will be via email.