| Tahoe Expedition Academy Head of School Search Kings Beach, CA Start Date: July 2021 Founded only nine years ago, Tahoe Expedition Academy is exceptional in every way. Located in Truckee, California, near the North Shore of Lake Tahoe, the school covers grades K-12 and has grown rapidly to about 250 students. Universally referred to as TEA, the school is committed to taking a different approach to preparing students not only for success in the world, but to be leaders in making the world a better place. One of the hallmarks of the school is that students, in any grade, are treated as young adults with endless potential, rather than children with age-typical limitations. The school wants to meet each child where they are and help them become their best selves. Parents and students alike are thrilled with the experience and outcomes at the school. More than anything, it is a community that believes passionately in what they are doing. Central to that success is an exceptional group of faculty and staff, each one of whom has been attracted to TEA by the mission, as well as the commitment to innovation and creativity in developing and employing new approaches to building academic strength and character in TEA students. TEA is a laboratory for the next iteration of experiential learning. Its combination of off-campus activities, interaction with world-renowned experts in various fields, and traditional classroom work produces confident, capable, courageous graduates ready to embrace challenges. A related organization, Curvd Learning, is dedicated to researching and packaging what is working at TEA and making that wisdom available to the wider educational community to benefit more students. Typical of all successful start-ups, TEA has felt its way along. Not without missteps, the school has nevertheless prospered and reached a point where it is ready for an inspiring new leader to migrate the school from start-up to stability. The new head will be tasked with understanding the magic of TEA and helping the school community refine how its structure and operations translate the mission into an effective, well managed, sustainable school. The community is eager for a leader with skill and tact who will bring order and stability without losing the nimbleness and passion that are part of the magic. TEA knows who it is and is ready for a leader to take it to the next level, beginning July 1, 2021. DESIRED SKILLS AND PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS Among the many desired traits, successful candidates will have: - Appreciation for and belief in the school’s commitment to providing exceptional student outcomes in academics, character, and adventure. Eagerness to understand and embrace the unique ways TEA accomplishes its mission.
- A personal commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
- Proven success as the “face of the school,” advocating for its mission and vision in clear and compelling ways.
- Experience in organizing and structuring school administration for effectiveness, consistency, clarity of roles and responsibilities, and fiscal efficiency.
- A high degree of emotional intelligence and proven ability to relate to and earn the trust of a diverse group of stakeholders. The ability to implement sound management practices while being comfortable with the ambiguity that is often a part of a school committed to innovation and creativity.
- Familiarity with operational aspects of schools: finance and budgets; fundraising; tuition and financial aid policies; staff leadership and supervision; telling the school’s story to prospective families, to donors, and to the community at large.
- Experience with project-based and experiential learning, though prior experience in school that specifically spends a lot of time outdoors and off-campus is not required.
- Familiarity with a school administration working in a best-practices relationship with a Board of Trustees.
- Familiarity with balancing innovative and non-traditional approaches to learning with the reality of competitive college admissions for high schoolers.
- An inclusive, collaborative leader and team builder who will create a welcoming and “safe” environment for all; but with the ability to be decisive and take a stand when necessary.
The full position description can be found at https://www.carneysandoe.com/assets/Tahoe-Expedition-Academy-1.3.pdf. TO APPLY Interested and qualified candidates should submit electronically in one email and as separate documents (preferably PDFs) the following materials: - A cover letter expressing their interest in this particular position;
- A current résumé;
- A one-page statement of educational or leadership philosophy and practice;
- A list of five professional references with name, phone number, and email address of each (references will not be contacted until a serious mutual interest is established, and not without the candidate’s permission) to:
Skip Kotkins Senior Consultant skip.kotkins@carneysandoe.com Karen Whitaker Search Consultant karen.whitaker@carneysandoe.com |