Headmaster/mistress (Driller Academy)
Qualifications
First and foremost one must be an instructor at Driller Academy of Artifice. There has never, and with current rules will never, been a Headmaster/mistress who was not an instructor at the school. What they teach is really of no importance, although there have not been any metallurgy teachers who have obtained this rank. No correlation has been found as of yet.
Another qualification is that of having taught at the school for at least five years. This is simply to weed out someone who is after the influence that comes with this position for nefarious means. The Board of Regents (Driller Academy) want people who are dedicated to the school and the students in this position so they will have their best interest at heart. Most of those who have held the position in the past have been with the school an average of 10-20 years.
The last piece is a dedication and something that is done upon getting the position. The person must continue their learning both at the school and through practical application. This means they must continue to teach students in their specialty discipline of Automkation. Along with that they are expected to seek out other learning methods outside of Driller they can either practice their magic and/or learn new ways in which to apply. Examples in the past have included working with different researchers within Ryma and traveling to Automaktion loci throughout Zhen Gho.
Appointment
When a previous Headmaster/mistress is leaving the position whether through retirment or having passed away the appointment process begins by the Board of Regents. The Board will take a look at every instructor who meets the right qualifications and begin to deliberate about them. It can be a quite intensive experience. Each candidate is looked at for history, teaching experience, Automaktion skill level, reliability, and merits and flaws. Anyone with a member of their family under one of the candidates is not allowed to speak on their behalf to avoid any bias. The same is true if one of the Board's family member is a candidate. Also there is a general time before that the Board will simply talk about possible conflict of interest.
Upon having all the information and removing any biases that could be possible the deliberation officially begins. This is the time where they really dive into the qualifications and merits of those that can hold the position. There is no time limit for how long they can deliberate or ruling that needs to be unanimous. They look for a majority on someone who is the best candidate. They work very hard not to have anyone appointed that a certain Board member is venousmly aganist. So far to this date it has been the case that every person appointed to this role has been accepted by the whole board.Duties
While there are specific responsibilites and written rules for the Headmaster/mistress, there are some not written, and just expected to be done by the person holding that position.
The duty to which all their other responsibilities fall under is that of promoting and continuing the growth of the Academy. All other tasks that are assigned to them fall under this umbrella and is meant to guide all their actions. Examples in the past have been the expansion of the testing fields for spells and automatons and another was finding increased and more reliable merchants to provide their resources. This is what the Board will judge all actions taken by the Headmaster/mistress by should their ever be an issue or question.
An unspoken obligation of the Headmaster/mistress is to be the sounding board for the instructors. They are meant to be an advisor/mentor for those teaching. This has usually been going on prior to them receiving this position, but continues and expands as they run the school as well. They should be checking in with teachers regularly, making sure they have everything they need, listening to concerns they have, and engaging in encouraging them to seek more knowledge and learning.
The last unspoken expectation of the Headmaster/mistress is that to the students. If they are holing up in their office and never coming out that is a problem. They should be roaming and walking the halls, talking with students, actively engaging in their education both through the class they teach and just being present. Unless under extreme situations they should be at every school function and available for assistance at them.
Responsibilities
Apart from duties there are written expections of the person in this position that they should be doing on a regular basis.
One specific responsibility taken on in this role is communicating policy changes and updates, or other such news, from the Board. The Headmaster/mistress is the connection point between the board and the other teachers at the school. Instructors trust that they will bring their concerns before the board and visa versa for the board to teachers. So far this has not been an issue for those holding the position.
A Headmaster/mistress is expected to attend at least three seminars related to magic, technology, or in their specific field of study for continued education. There is an amount of money set aside in the budget for this specifically. Apart from the three required there is no limit to the number they can attend but not to the detriment of their responsibilities, and they will pay for any extra.
In this position they are still an instructor. They are required to continue teaching a class, or more, in their field of study or for new students as well. Many people will actually take on a new student class to be a part of their experience as they first enter the school. This helps to show students who they are and that they are available as someone to speak and consult with.
Benefits
The largest benefit for those in this position is that of the increased pay. They receive a rather decent pay raise from what they had previously. Along with that gain money to be spent on seminars, supplies, improvements, and a discretionary fund for which they get approval from the Board to spend money on special projects they deem worthy of their time as well as improving the general state of the school. In the past this has been used to pay for students to attend Driller who couldn't afford it as well as special allowances for teachers to get rare and valuable materials.
Other miscellaneous benefits are that of a larger office space in a central location and the prestige that comes with having the title of Headmaster/mistress.
Accoutrements & Equipment
The only accoutrement that is special to the Headmaster/mistress is seen at graduations or other high end events that ceremonial outfits are regular. They get the traditional outfit they had as when they were a teacher. However now it is outlined in a green color where it attaches, the sleeves and the edges of the material. It is meant to stand out from the all black robes of the other teachers.
Grounds for Removal/Dismissal
In the short history of Driller Academy there has never been the case of a removal or dismissal of a Headmaster/mistress. Even with that being the case there are still procedures in place should the need arise.
Should the time ever come when the Board deicdes it is time for a Headmaster/mistress to be removed there has to be good reasoning. Outside the case of criminal activity there must be a unanimous decision to remove said person from the position. Grounds this can happen is if actions are taken that endangers the students, teachers, or other staff at the academy. Another reason they can be removed from their position is if they got there or even as a teacher by false pretenses. Driller values intregeity and honesty. Lastly any sort of criminal activity can be grounds for dismisal from Headmaster/mistress as well.
Overall the position of Headmaster/mistress is equivalent to others within the same position in other schools and places of learning. They wield quite a bit of power, but mainly over their surroundings at the institution at which they reside. There is some level of political power they have as well, being right in the thick of Rymaand all the politics that go on there.
Apart from that they would be as powerful as someone who ran a specific guild chapter within a city. Quite a bit of prestige and influence within their own city and bit out from it. However, the farther you would get away from that location the influence and rank would dwindle since lack of knowing, or caring, who they are.
