What is "scholarch"

n. The head of a school (of philosophy) in Ancient Greece

A scholarch (, scholarchēs) was the head of a school in ancient Greece. The term is especially remembered for its use to mean the heads of schools of philosophy, such as the Platonic Academy in ancient Athens. Its first scholarch was Plato himself, the founder and proprietor. He held the position for forty years, appointing his nephew Speussipus as his successor; later scholarchs were elected by members of the Academy.

The Greek word is a produced compound of scholē , "school," and archē , "ruler." The Romans did not choose to Latinize the word, perhaps because they had no archons. They used sholasticus instead, "savant," which always applied to headmasters.