Website Town School for Boys
Director of Educational Technology
Since 1939, San Francisco’s Town School for Boys has had a rich history as a school specializing in teaching boys. The school is also known for the Town School New Teacher Institute and its commitment to training teachers new to their craft. The school’s goals include teaching boys to be good citizens, to enjoy their childhood, to develop a positive sense of self, to give back to their greater community, and to develop academic and intellectual skills which will serve them well through their lifetimes. The school prizes its growing diversity of background, religion, and race, as well as the diversity of interests which is so noteworthy in its student and alumni bodies. Located in San Francisco, Town School for Boys is a K-8 independent day school. Since its founding, Town School has been committed to providing the best possible education for boys and is recognized as one of California’s leading independent elementary schools.
Town School is excited to begin our next chapter in educational technology. We are pleased that we were able to use the rapid shifts required by Covid to slingshot both our capacities and programming forward. The Town faculty embraced new technological demands with gusto: all faculty completed multiple trainings with Global Online Academy, our tech team identified new tools for both our teachers and students, and, particularly in the Upper School, we adjusted curriculum design to leverage performance-based assessments over traditional summative assessments. This growth could not have happened without strong leadership from our technology team and, hence, we look for our next leader to take us to build on that growth with respect to both the use of new tools and faculty capacity-building. In addition, our new Director of Educational Technology leads by example through teaching and cheerleading technology with students across the grades.
The Director of Educational Technology will report to the Director of Teaching, Learning and Innovation, and will serve as part of the Director’s Team.
LEADERSHIP GOALS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Technology Integration
- Develop and oversee the entire K-8 technology curriculum, which will include partnering with the Academic Administration and the Engineering Design Instructor with respect to offerings in programming, robotics, and engineering.
- Under the direction of the Director of Teaching, Learning and Innovation, develop and implement a strategic vision for technology integration and instructional design to support the use of innovative tools and methods by faculty and students in both divisions
- Evaluate emerging technology and assessment tools, and, partnering with our in-house Technology & Research Consultant, guide senior academic leaders on strategic and operational decisions involving instructional technology hardware, software, and programs
- Design, deliver, and manage major professional development and growth experiences for faculty in areas of technology integration and curricular innovation
- Inspire the technology team and the broader faculty community to model and support best practices in innovation, technology integration, and instructional design
- Teach or co-teach classes and lessons as directed
General
- Manage and/or co-manage the team of technology integrators and teachers
- Serve on or lead committees related to technology and academics
- Maintain an active presence in the local, regional, and national educational technology communities
- Develop and maintain departmental budgets, policies, and procedures
- Other duties as assigned
PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS AND PERSONAL QUALITIES
- Experience working in the areas of instructional technology, instructional design, innovation; a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university is a minimum requirement, though a graduate degree in innovation, educational technology, instructional design, engineering, computer science, or related field is highly desirable
- Experience leading workshops, trainings, and projects related to technology integration and instructional design, preferably to faculty in a K-8 school
- Classroom teaching experience and love of working with elementary age students
- A track record of establishing ongoing relationships with faculty and designing interdisciplinary units and lessons
- Experience in project-based learning methodologies
- An eye on the horizon of emerging educational technology systems and paradigms, with an understanding of how to thoughtfully explore and evaluate such opportunities at a school that values whole-boy education
- Excellent relational and communication skills
- A collaborative, cooperative, and patient mindset
- A vision that is aligned with the needs of a dynamic and diverse faculty and staff
- A love of learning and love of school, and is delighted by the unpredictable journeys of young students
Town School for Boys Mission
At Town School learning is prized, love of school is essential, and boyhood is celebrated.
Philosophy
As an all boys’ school, Town provides a rich, challenging and rigorous educational experience that addresses the distinctive energy levels and developmental styles of boys. Town values being a diverse community that nurtures integrity, sensitivity and respect in its boys, and prepares them to become productive and contributing members of an ever-changing world.
Town School Values
Respect: We respect ourselves and others.
- We treat others the way they want to be treated.
- We practice good listening, compassion and empathy.
Curiosity: We are curious.
- We ask questions, think critically and solve problems.
- We seek opportunities to reach our highest potential.
Belonging: We all belong.
- We embrace and celebrate each of our unique stories and experiences.
- We seek to ensure that every member of our community feels an equal sense of inclusion.
Integrity: We act with integrity.
- We have the courage to do the right thing even when nobody else is watching.
- We always try our best and when we fail, we try again.
Joy: We are joyful.
- We make space for play, fun and laughter.
- We know joy can be found in hard work, risk-taking and perseverance.
Statement of Teaching Philosophy
Our goal is for each boy to be engaged in an environment that weaves together collaboration, critical thinking, integrity, empathy, and creativity. These broad skills, as well as a firm grounding in core academic competencies, offer boys an excellent preparation for their further education. We promote social and emotional learning as a foundation of academic excellence and self-discovery. We prepare students to meet challenges in the world by helping them develop an appreciation for a variety of perspectives from the local to the global. We celebrate diversity by fostering a community of learners built on mutual respect. Learning experiences are inclusive, relevant, flexible, innovative, and adapted to reflect the needs of all kinds of learners. In our joyful, active, and collaborative school, boys flourish.
We achieve these goals through an authentic curriculum that originates in the classroom, travels through the halls, and extends into the world. Our teaching balances traditional methods with key student-centered approaches including inquiry, project-based learning, and teaching for understanding. We stay relevant and current through our testing of innovative, research-based approaches. We model a commitment to lifelong learning, and we hone our craft by pursuing professional development and sharing knowledge with one another.
Statement on Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity:
Diversity, inclusion, and equity are essential core values of Town School. The best education for our students requires a diverse experience because a broad spectrum of ideas is essential for understanding different perspectives, challenging assumptions, and inspiring curiosity, to support critical and complex thinking.
We are committed to creating an inclusive and welcoming environment where each boy is free to be himself, and where boys are confident and secure in their own identities. We equip each boy with the tools to explore differences in experiences, background, beliefs and ideas. We seek to provide each student with the support and resources he needs to succeed and thrive at Town School.
A diverse and vibrant community is essential. To build and sustain such a community, we reach out to enroll students and families from a broad range of socioeconomic backgrounds, cultures, races, religions, and sexual orientations, and we recruit and retain faculty, staff and administrators from the same broad range of backgrounds. We cultivate an environment where every member of the Town community senses they matter as a significant part of the life of the school. Only when each person feels valued and is engaged may the school and the individual achieve their full potential.
Non-Discrimination Policy: Town School for Boys admits students of any race, color, religion, or national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the School. The School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sexual orientation, or national and ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, scholarship programs, athletic and other school-administered programs.
Application for this position can be found at https://town-school-for-boys.hiringthing.com/. To learn more about our faculty culture and community in general, please visit our Employment page.
