Director of Student Life Grades 5-8

Mark Day School Director of Student Life for Grades 5-8 (Beginning July 2023)

Mark Day School seeks an innovative, experienced teacher/administrator for the position of Director of Student Life for Grades 5-8 beginning July 2023. Working as a member of the Senior Administrative Team and in close collaboration with the Head of Grades 5-8, the Director of Student Life leads the student life program for the upper grades at Mark Day, including curricular and co-curricular elements such as social and emotional development, the mentor program, student behavior, and parent/guardian education.

Candidates should have a track record of strong working relationships with students, faculty colleagues, and parents/guardians, leadership, interpersonal communication skills, and the inclination and experience to work in a diverse community focused on issues of inclusion, equity, and social justice.

Mark Day School is an independent, all-gender, K-8 school located in the Bay Area in San Rafael, CA, with an enrollment of 380 students. Innovative, inclusive, and full of heart, Mark Day School unites an enriched, challenging academic program with a kind and inclusive community. The school nurtures a love of learning, engagement in the community, and development of compassion and an ethical framework. Students learn and practice the intellectual, social, and emotional skills they will apply to the unique challenges and opportunities of their time; graduates stand out not only for their intellectual curiosity and pursuit of ideas but also for their joy of learning and a deep sense of responsibility to be active, engaged citizens.

Mark Day School has established a consistent practice of thoughtful innovation in its curricular program, focusing on school-wide structural approaches to develop current century skills and concepts including four cross-disciplinary literacies: cross-cultural literacy, media and information literacy, eco-literacy, and social and emotional literacy. Highlights include the award-winning Media Literacy program; well-established local and global partnerships with the Hamilton School, Marin Head Start, eSibonisweni School and Kliptown Youth Program in South Africa, Beijing Experimental Primary School #2 in China, and Pan American School in Costa Rica, among others; Boxlight and FrontRow technology in every classroom, with a one-to-one laptop program beginning in sixth grade; Mandarin and Spanish language beginning in kindergarten; an integrated Social and Emotional Learning program; a commitment to differentiation across the school; and more.

Mark Day School is a vibrant and diverse community, and all community members continue to work towards the furthering of an inclusive and supportive school. Mark Day School is an equal opportunity employer committed to excellence through diversity, inclusion, and social justice. Mark Day School salary and benefits are very competitive by both NAIS and regional standards. The range of salary for this position is approximately $95k-$135k, depending on experience. For more information about Mark Day School, please visit our website (www.markdayschool.org), where you may also find the 2022 Strategic Plan.

Interested candidates should send a letter of interest, personal statement, resume, and list of five references via email (preferred) to Joe Harvey, Head of School, at jharvey@markdayschool.org. 

The search committee will evaluate candidate materials on a rolling basis and will begin interviewing candidates in January 2023. To be part of the first round of candidates, the deadline for submitting materials is January 13, 2023. 

Job Description: Director of Student Life for Grades 5-8

The Director of Student Life for Grades 5-8 reports to the Head of School, serves as a member of the Senior Administrative Team, and leads the student life program in grades 5-8.

The specific responsibilities of the Director of Student Life for Grades 5-8 include the following:

1. Lead behavior, discipline, and restorative practices program to support the school’s behavioral expectations for students and students’ social and emotional development. Specific responsibilities in this area include the following:

• Build strong relationships with students; be a daily presence at arrival, breaks, and dismissal.
• Lead the response to behavioral issues, using research-supported processes such as reflect and repair, solution teams, and conflict resolution.
• Lead, orient, and support faculty and staff about school behavioral expectations and practices.
• Work in close partnership with the Student Support Team with the Director of Learning Services, grades 5-8 Counselor, and Head of Grades 5-8.
• Lead communication with parents/guardians on discipline issues.
• Collaborate with school counselors to communicate with parents/guardians on social and emotional development, including Parent/Guardian education events.
• Attend parent/guardian conferences when needed.
• Provide updates to the Parent/Guardian & Student Handbook, as needed.

2. Lead student life programming in grades 5-8

• Proactively build social networks between students, including clubs, lunch/recess options, and intramurals.
• Collaborate with the Director of Partnerships, Equity, and Inclusion to create and sustain student Affinity Groups.
• Act as a liaison with eighth grade Parent Coordinators.
• Take the leadership role, collaborating closely with Head of Grades 5-8, to develop, implement, advance, and supervise co-curricular programs, including the K-8 buddy program, outdoor education, dances/trivia night, lunch/recess activities, and field trips.
• Serve as a chaperone on an Outdoor Education trip.
• Support the co-curricular athletic program.

3. Lead 7th & 8th Grade Mentor Program

• Lead mentor orientation and professional development (with Head of 5-8).
  Support mentors with training, materials, and ongoing orientation.
• Implement community engagement activities in grades 7 & 8.
• Serve as a mentor.

4. Teach as part of the Literacies Block team. Lead the Health & Wellness program, including Health & Wellness classes, in conjunction with School Counselors.

5. Collaborate with the Heads of Grades K-4 and 5-8 to determine class placement for students in grades 5-8, after reviewing teacher recommendations.

6. Plan and orchestrate graduation and Closing Week ceremonies.

7. Participate on the Admissions Committees. Assist with screening of potential new students.

Tagged as: Middle School