Middle Division Director, Grades 6–8

The School at Columbia University is seeking a division director for grades 6–8. The person will work with the head of school and other key administrators to ensure the success of teachers and welfare of students who attend the middle-year grades in an innovate independent school in New York City. The person will be a role model and leader for the middle division of The School at Columbia.

The successful candidate must be devoted to the education of young people; comfortable working in a family-centered environment; and committed to collaborative working relationships with teachers, other administrators, and The School community.

Responsibilities:

• Administration: Participate in the recruitment, hiring, and ongoing evaluation of teachers; promote excellent teaching; attend to the ongoing needs of teachers and grade-level teams; work as part of the leadership team; keep track of the progress and needs of students, including preparing them for high school, addressing social and academic needs, and maintaining correspondence related to academic progress and conduct with families. Represent The School at local, regional, national, and international events as determined in conjunction with the head of school. Pursue professional development opportunities; attend conferences and professional meetings in order to remain current with academic trends, emerging pedagogy, available technology, and diversity and inclusion issues that may affect The School. Supervise standardized academic testing; oversee teacher report-writing and parent conferences; coordinate student screening, testing, and support services with a child support team for academic and social development, which includes a psychologist, learning support staff, high school placement coordinators, a school social worker, and interns.
• Curriculum: Oversee the implementation of an innovative, rigorous integrated curriculum, ensuring that mission drives curricular decisions. Ensure that students are well prepared for high school options. The curricular focus at The School includes gender sexuality education and social justice. With the academic leadership team and faculty members, evaluate, advise on, and support development of an inclusive and multicultural curriculum across all three divisions. Ensure horizontal and vertical alignment of the curriculum. Coordinate alignment of curriculum, instruction, and assessment with faculty.
• Community: Support diversity, team building, and cohesiveness among key stakeholders at The School. Plan and implement a leadership role for the oldest students in The School and determine how to creatively balance growing freedoms through to high school. Work in collaboration with the Parents Association.
• Leadership: Maintain congruency between The School’s mission and all activities of the division. Serve as the educational leader for the middle division, responsible for day-to-day operations. Maintain the budget for the division. Function as the chief voice of the middle division’s programs, expectations, behavioral guidelines, and other information necessary to ensure that all constituencies are fully informed. Be a visible presence in all areas of The School. Coordinate yearlong professional development for the faculty along with a team of teachers, based on The School’s four values:
  • Community: Build and foster community, partnerships, and understanding within The School and with school partners
  • Collaboration: Work with community members on curriculum and parent shares, family engagement events, powerful parenting coffees, etc.
  • Diversity: Provide strategic leadership in the area of diversity and inclusion
  • Innovation: Help teachers and students consider innovation in teaching and curriculum through professional development and goal setting
• Perform other duties as assigned by the head of school

Qualifications/Requirements:

• Minimum 8 years’ experience
• Bachelor’s degree; master’s degree in education or school administration preferred
• Minimum 2–3 years’ prior leadership experience required
• Thorough knowledge of mathematics and humanities learning
• Experience implementing integrated learning models
• Strong communication skills including demonstrable strength in writing
• Commitment to teamwork and facilitation of collaborative decision making
• Understanding of adolescent development and curriculum
• Abundance of creativity, intelligence, warmth, accessibility, flexibility, energy, humor, and organization
• Excellent organization and presentation skills
• Strategic thinker and empathetic problem solver
• Technologically savvy
• Demonstrated commitment to cultural competency and equity and justice in learning and leadership

For more information, visit The School at Columbia University’s employment website at www.theschool.columbia.edu/employment

All candidates must submit an official application via

Columbia University’s Recruitment of Academic Personnel website

https://jobs.columbia.edu/applicants/Central?quickFind=174312

Columbia University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer— race/gender/disability/veteran