Website Prospect Sierra School Prospect Sierra School
Prospect Sierra School
Overview of School
Prospect Sierra is an independent, coed TK–8 school located on two campuses in El Cerrito, California, serving 465 students. Prospect Sierra gives students the tools to build a better world by integrating rigorous academics with a deep understanding of human emotions. Every day our exceptional teachers connect students’ academic experiences to ethics, empathy, and social and emotional intelligence. The result is deeper intellectual engagement, greater self-knowledge, and compassionate relationships. Prospect Sierra students develop the courage to become more than great students, but great people. Please visit our website, www.prospectsierra.org, for more information.
Overview of Position
As this is the first of this position at Prospect Sierra, we are excited to welcome an experienced leader to collaborate with our community. This will be an exciting opportunity to move the school’s academic program to the next chapter of learning for students and adults. This position will work in partnership most closely with the Head of School, Division Heads, Director of Equity and Inclusion, Director of Technology and Innovation, and our teaching faculty to ensure that our academic program is mission-aligned and that our core values and academic benchmarks are clear and connected. This position will oversee professional development for faculty and staff and assist in faculty evaluation. The person who takes on this role will be an active member of the school’s Senior Administrative Team, contributing to the overall strength and effectiveness of the entire school.
Primary responsibilities of the job
- Oversee the cohesion and consistency of the academic program by identifying strengths, gaps, throughlines, and strategic approaches to each.
- Identify programmatic needs and initiatives and implement them.
- Lead committee work or related workshops with various constituencies, including faculty/staff and parents.
- Identify professional development opportunities to further the goals of the academic program.
- Create a protocol to evaluate new programs or significant changes to the curriculum.
- Continue to review and streamline assessment tools used to evaluate student academic growth. Review necessary standardized tests or introduce new evaluation tools.
- Create next steps for a robust faculty evaluation program.
- Support Head of School in completing a thoughtful and organized accreditation process: preparation year 2023-2024, reporting year 2024-2025.
- Work with the Director of Admission and Outreach and the Director of Communication to create innovative ways to articulate our program to the broader community.
Required Qualifications
- Appreciation for and desire to work with TK-8 aged students and the adults who guide them
- Demonstrated understanding of best practices in education, TK-8
- Knowledge of child development across a broad age span including knowledge of the essential role social-emotional literacy plays in the workplace and in the classroom
- Knowledge of and passion for using differentiated instruction and multiple modes of instruction
- Deep knowledge of identity safe and anti-bias learning practices
- A passionate commitment to creating an innovative, joyful environment for students
- Ability to create highly collaborative spaces for adults to be thought partners
- Ability to take initiative, work passionately and joyfully, and collaborate effectively with diverse constituencies
- Willingness to be a team player and show initiative
- Bachelor of arts or science degree and/or professional coursework or certification, indicating training applicable to the responsibilities of the position
In addition to required qualifications, desirable additional skills include:
- Multiple Subject Teaching Credential, master’s degree in education, or relevant coursework or certification indicating advanced knowledge in areas related to the responsibilities of the job
- Multiple years of experience designing and implementing curriculum
- Strong communication skills, both written and verbal
- Flexibility
- Excellent interpersonal skills
- Strong organizational skills and the ability to multitask
- Understanding of differentiated learning techniques
- Nuanced understanding of DEI/social justice knowledge from a personal or programmatic perspective
The salary is competitive. Benefits included.
Full-Time, project-based role with an intended time span of 3-5 years
How to Apply
Send a résumé (including contact information for three references) and one-page cover letter to: Tamara von Matuschka, Assistant to the Head of School
Include in the subject line: Associate Head of School Position
Prospect Sierra School is an equal opportunity employer. Our community is diverse in many ways, inclusive of race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender spectrum, age, ability, and more. We welcome and value the same in our faculty and staff.
