Head of School

 

Please submit resumes to headofschoolsearch@ebsfb.org no later than Friday, January 13, 2023.

Title: Head of School

Reports to: Board Chair

Salary Range: $140,000 to $150,000

Direct reports: Director of Admissions and Outreach, Director of Curriculum and Instruction, Director of Development, Director of Operations and Storytelling, Director of Student Life, Learning Specialist

Work schedule: FTE

Unit: Administrative

We ask all EBSB staff to meet the following markers of excellence :

An appreciation for and desire to work with middle school-aged students.
A demonstrated understanding of best practices in middle school education.
A willingness to demonstrate cultural humility and show your work toward this lifelong learning goal.
A willingness to demonstrate knowledge of the essential role that social-emotional literacy plays in the workplace, and an interest in applying SEL within the educational setting.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Flexibility and excellent interpersonal skills.
Strong organizational skills.
Knowledge of educational technology to support teaching and learning.
Ability to take initiative, work passionately and joyfully, take on leadership roles as needed, and collaborate effectively with diverse constituencies.
Summary

The Head of School is responsible for the management and leadership of the school in fulfillment of the school’s mission and philosophy, building on the school’s successes to solidify an exciting and promising future for the school. The Head must embrace, preserve and enhance the mission, educational philosophy and culture of the school, supporting a child-centered education within the team teaching model. This includes facilitating and improving teaching and learning and building a school culture that values and respects diversity and ensures an atmosphere of collaboration, transparency and trust through open communication, clear expectations and full engagement of all staff and students.  The Head of School will oversee the development and implementation of school policies necessary for the ongoing operations of the school and ensure that all school programs and procedures are consistent with the school’s mission and strategic vision.  The Head will provide leadership and actively cultivate the various constituencies of the school by being available, actively listening to concerns, leading change where needed, seeking opportunities to be a spokesperson for the school, and articulating clearly the near-term challenges and successes as well as the long-term direction and vision of the school.  The Head will also actively participate in local and national associations, maintain an awareness of best practices and research, and serve as the educational leader for the faculty and staff.

Essential Functions

1. Constituencies Leadership

Provide strong advocacy and representation for the school, develop and manage strategic partnerships, and collaborate with other educational institutions, external communities and stakeholders.

Work in partnership with the Board of Trustees to embrace and enhance the school’s mission; articulate the mission to all constituencies including students, faculty, staff, parents, grandparents, alumni, and community; and support the mission with all constituencies.

Maintain good relations with the community, including local government, other independent and public schools, neighborhood organizations, and neighbors.

 

2. School Program and Curriculum

Ensure academic leadership of the school in all aspects of its curriculum and academic program.

Ensure that the school develops and maintains a strong program that is educationally and developmentally appropriate across all grades, with a clear identity and academic direction.

Ensure that the school’s program meets the needs of students in academic and social-emotional areas and reflects current research and best practice.

Encourage the development of an active “student centered” learning culture aligned with the EBSB mission throughout the school.

Work with the leadership team to monitor students’ social emotional and academic progress to address potential retention concerns.

With the administrative team/leadership team, manage schoolwide assessments like exhibitions of learning, capstone projects and other forms of student assessment and evaluation.

3. Admissions, Enrollment and Marketing

Work closely with the admissions director to develop admission materials and recruit students. Speak at admissions tours and open houses, attend and host events to increase enrollment, and participate directly in the review of applications and admission decisions.

 

As is necessary, work with the leadership team and families to determine if potential students are well matched with the school’s program and ability to provide support and counsel out as needed.

With the directors of admissions, operations and development (advancement team), develop a comprehensive and integrated marketing and enrollment program that will strengthen admissions and alumni, parent, and community involvement in the school.

Build relationships and capitalize on key events that support developing a culture of philanthropic support for the school.

4. Administration

Establish an effective, inclusive manner of leadership and appropriately involve members of the administration, faculty, and staff in decision-making.

Clarify the administration and governance of the school; delegate responsibilities and tasks to department directors and others to allow the Head to maintain active engagement in the life of the school.

Manage and develop the school in accordance with priorities, procedures, and policies, including:

articulate, contribute to, and drive the strategic development of the school;
oversee the development and maintenance of a staffing profile to meet the school’s strategic direction;
with the business manager / finance committee, prepare and manage the school’s budget, including all revenue streams and development funds;
plan, review, and manage physical resources, such as specialized teaching and research equipment, and space allocations for teaching and non-teaching activities;
implement relevant policies, e.g. Equal Opportunity, Occupational Health and Safety, Biohazards, Emergency Operations Plan to ensure safety and legal compliance.
5. Faculty and Staff

Attract, retain, develop, support, and evaluate faculty and staff.

With the division directors and other administrators, interview and hire all school personnel, including administration, faculty, and staff.

Establish salaries for all school personnel and make final decisions on all hiring within the school.

Support an atmosphere of inclusion, innovation, creativity, collegiality, and professional development that will attract and retain a highly qualified faculty and staff.

6. Finances & Facilities – Capital Campaign, Master Plan

In conjunction with the Board of Trustees, administration and faculty, ensure the financial stability of the school by providing a consistent, ongoing review of school programs and services and by solidifying a sustainable program for sound fiscal management and fundraising.

Develop and support appropriate strategies for increasing tuition, grant writing, future endowment, annual fund contributions, key donor programs and school enrollment.

Maximize the full utilization of the school’s resources.

Assist the Board of Trustees and Director of Development on fundraising activities, including major donor campaigns, and key “asks” as appropriate.

Ensure the maintenance of the physical plant, and work with the Board of Trustees and faculty to develop the school’s master plan for the future. Appropriate necessary resources to implement the plan and manage our lease.

7. Board Relations

The Head of School must work closely and comfortably with the Board of Trustees to build a true partnership in governance and leadership.

The Head must ensure that the Board of Trustees is kept well informed of the school’s program, operations, and priorities to allow the trustees to provide effective advice and support in the management and development of the school.

The Head must develop an effective partnership with the Board Chair and a collaborative and trusting working relationship with trustees.

The Head attends as a non-voting member all meetings of the Board of Trustees and some meetings of Board committees and assists in retreat planning and other Board committee work.

The Head works with the Board to develop and renew the school’s strategic plan.

Skills, Qualifications, Personal Qualities

Experience, Competencies and Education

An experienced leader with appropriate educational and administrative experience who can embrace, articulate and promote a whole-child, EBSB vision and mission-minded, progressive model of education that supports a range of learning styles. A collaborative leader who has demonstrated strengths in executive management, organization and strategic planning. An energetic, forward-thinking and creative individual with high ethical standards and an appropriate professional image. A leader who is versed in restorative accountability. A strategic planner with sound technical skills, analytical ability, good judgment and strong operational focus. A well-organized and self-directed individual who is perceptive, discerning, and a team player. An intelligent and articulate individual who can relate to people at all levels of an organization and who possesses excellent communication skills. A good educator who is trustworthy and willing to share information and serve as a mentor. An active listener and excellent communicator, with strong speaking and writing skills. An educator who can  balance effective communication with being a warm demander.  A leader who can be decisive and accountable, yet also delegate effectively; who demonstrates big-picture thinking, common sense and good judgment. An equitable leader who centers dismantling white supremacist ideology and exploring the school’s relationship to power and privilege by prioritizing social justice, diversity, equity and inclusion. A well-respected leader in the educational community with an extremely effective record of execution who will establish credibility both within the school and in the outside community.

Masters degree (MA) or equivalent; or ten to fifteen years of related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

EBSB faculty are passionate leaders and learners dedicated to creating a community with a shared goal of building capacity in all of our boys; of helping to develop each boy’s cultural capital; of creating a safe, creative and exciting classroom and school environment; and of providing a stellar academic, physical and social/emotional experience for young men.

 

EBSB faculty play a significant part in creating the culture of the school. Their voices are important in finding and solving problems, in the design and implementation of the curriculum, and in creating innovative and sustainable programs. East Bay School for Boys recruits faculty from a variety of sources and seeks individuals who are well- suited to work with boys, who would enjoy a collaborative working environment, and who reflect the diversity within the school and of the East Bay. EBSB faculty explore together in collaboration to nurture an environment that fosters trust, collective purpose, communication, healthy conflict, and shared accountability.

 

When hiring faculty, East Bay School for Boys seeks individuals who are experienced in working with middle school students; who can make learning irresistible through challenge, a well-structured classroom, differentiation and a variety of teaching/learning modalities; who love teaching and working with boys; who are passionate about their subject area(s) and learning new things; who are eager to work in an interdisciplinary and collaborative environment; who are creative and have good organizational, project-management, and communication skills; who are willing to assume a variety of roles within the school including academic and social/emotional advising and coaching; who are creative, flexible and resilient educators; who make great role models for adolescent boys; and who have a sense of humor.

 

East Bay School for Boys, an independent middle school (grades 6-8), is an academically challenging and active environment: built for boys and with boys. We provide opportunities for boys to design, build, nurture, and grow their world, empowering boys to affect, connect, reflect, and most importantly, love to learn. We also focus on the boys’ social and emotional experience by creating a space where boys have positive male role models and are taught how to, and encouraged to be, the great men of tomorrow: engaged, thoughtful, and courageous.

Please submit resumes to headofschoolsearch@ebsfb.org no later than Friday, January 13, 2023.

 

Tagged as: Middle School