| About Us The Fessenden School, in West Newton, MA, is an all-boys independent day and boarding school serving 525 students from Pre-K to Grade 9. The School seeks to employ individuals who will share our commitment to supporting The Fessenden School’s mission to cultivate each boy’s talents and develop in balance his character, mind, and body in an inclusive and joyful community. For over 100 years we have been committed to the education of boys, and our facilities, curriculum, and programs are designed with the necessities of boys in mind. Position Summary The Director of Teaching and Learning for the Middle and Upper Schools oversees a comprehensive, well-articulated grades 5-9 curriculum and collaborates with department chairs/directors and the Lower School Assistant Head. The coordinator advocates and supports instructional practices which reinforce the School’s mission, educational philosophy, academic goals, community principles, and commitment to diversity, inclusion, social justice and anti-bias curriculum. The coordinator works in full partnership with the Assistant Head of School. This position is for ten months and three additional weeks during the summer. The anticipated start date for this position is August 2021. Responsibilities Curriculum and Assessment: -
Oversee the continual process of developing curriculum and hone its scope and sequence, with a particular eye towards the transitions between grades and divisions -
Oversee the curriculum and suggest recommendations for correcting overlaps and gaps -
Collaborate with the Director of Equity and Inclusion in assessing and implementing a multicultural and anti-bias curriculum -
Assist the AHOS with the five-year curriculum review process with department chairs and program directors, including preliminary preparation, research and assessment of outcomes -
Coordinate regular reviews of textbooks and educational resources with department chairs -
Help departments develop academic and curriculum standards appropriate for the school -
Oversee documentation of curriculum using Atlas -
Review all proposed changes to the curriculum and provide updates on a yearly basis -
Articulate the curriculum to various constituencies -
Collaborate with division heads and department chairs/directors to analyze standardized test data and make appropriate recommendations for changes and revisions -
Review standardized test data three times a year and assist faculty in using data to inform instruction Teaching and Learning: -
Provide instructional coaching to faculty, maintaining the non-evaluative coaching model -
Provide updates on instructional coaching to Department Chairs/Directors and Assistant Head of School -
Observe classroom instruction and the implementation of curricular initiatives on a regular basis -
Advocate methods for integrating instruction and interdisciplinary studies -
Advance Fessenden’s 21st Century Educational Best Practices (cross-cultural competency, differentiated learning, educational resources, and project-based learning) -
Assist teachers in matching appropriate assessment instruments to curricular objectives -
Collaborate with division heads regarding curriculum and instructional practices -
Collaborate with the Assistant Head regarding professional development opportunities, related to teaching and learning -
Conduct regular workshops around pedagogy and instructional practices for first year teachers -
Conduct a minimum of two workshops per year to keep faculty informed of current trends/research in curriculum and instruction Additional Responsibilities: -
Teach two/three classes in the Middle and/or Upper School -
Assist Assistant Head of School with facilitating Department Chair and Department Directors meetings -
Serve as a member of the following administrative teams: -
Expanded PK-9 -
Administrative Council -
Meet weekly with Assistant Head of School -
Collaborate with the School Scheduler regarding the academic schedule -
Stay current with instructional coaching practices, educational technology, curriculum development, national learning standards, multicultural education, and 21st Century Educational Best Practices -
Network with curriculum directors and coordinators at other independent schools -
Perform other duties as assigned by the Head or Assistant Head of School Minimum Qualifications -
Bachelor’s degree in education or related subject -
Minimum of five years of experience in instructing children in an academic program -
Extensive curriculum work in a school setting -
Ability to develop and provide differentiated instruction to meet the learning needs of a range of students -
Enthusiasm and communication skills to engage faculty in best practices and build meaningful relationships -
Ability to serve in a diverse community of colleagues, students, and parents -
Demonstrated commitment to inclusion, social justice, diversity, and equity -
A commitment to boys and boys’ education Preferred Qualifications Physical Demands and Work Environment The physical demands described here are representative of those that are essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions. The requirements for performing the duties of this position are as follows: -
Frequently required to walk, stand, sit, talk, and hear -
Regularly required to bend, stoop, crouch and/or kneel -
Occasionally required to lift and/or move objects weighing up to 25 pounds -
Majority of work is performed in a school/classroom environment, and the noise level in the environment is usually moderate. |