Most importantly this individual will:

• Be the academic visionary voice on campus to ensure the richest and most resonant curricula and set of pedagogies and promote academic innovation at all levels regularly.
• Oversee academic program evaluation, encouraging and facilitating the implementation and regular revision of curriculum initiatives and monitoring the school’s 6-12 scope and sequence and curriculum maps.
• Manage, inspire and support teachers with the Dean of the Faculty serving all grade levels, and engage the faculty and administrators to examine the academic program and identify the important themes, approaches and content areas that need schoolwide alignment.
• Partner with the Dean of the Faculty, the Head of the Middle School, the Director for Social Justice and Inclusion and the Human Resources Office to establish a diverse and stimulating culture and community where faculty aspire to teach and desire to remain with the institution for a career.
• Ensure that the academic program reflects the School’s commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, justice and belonging, working closely with the Dean of Social Justice and Inclusion.
• Assess and implement the strategic academic goals of the School in conjunction with the Head of School.
• Lead fellow academic administrators and teachers in establishing a teacher performance evaluation system that promotes professional growth. This schoolwide process will seek to be personally and professionally meaningful to faculty at each stage of their career at the School.
• Work with the Registrar in setting up class rosters each semester for every course, ensuring appropriate placement for every student and an equitable distribution of students both within and between departments as well as balancing the number of preparations.
• Oversee Commencement and other end of the year ceremonies for our students in the Upper School.
• Participate in and be a strong advocate for strategic planning in terms of academics, student achievement and classroom pedagogies.
• Work with the CFO/COO on budgeting items.
• Occasionally report to the Board of Trustees, as directed by the Head of School.
• Stand in place of the Head of School when she is not present on campus.

Desired Qualities and Qualifications:

The ideal candidate will be passionate about education, embodying the love of learning and what it means to be knowledgeable, learned and wise.  This individual will be internally motivated and motivating to others, personifying the highest integrity, will be above reproach with a full understanding of the demands of the position.  This individual will be committed to the highest aspirations for an all-girls’ education, built around girls’ development, interests and full range of possibilities.  The Assistant Head of School, Dean of Academics will be a fair, inspiring and bold leader, building accountability and collaboration across all functions of academics, modeling best practices and decision-making at all times.  This individual will have an enthusiastic commitment to the importance of building and sustaining a diverse, just, inclusive and equitable academic environment.

Candidates who are most likely to advance will offer the following qualifications and qualities:

• Ability and willingness to enter into and participate fully in a dynamic all-girls’ boarding/day school located outside Hartford in Simsbury, CT.
• Excellent communication skills, both orally and in writing.
• Ability to interface thoughtfully and joyfully with all constituencies of the school community—the Head of School, the senior staff and administration, staff, faculty, students, parents, alumnae, Board of Trustees and friends of the School.
• Demonstrate a deep commitment to schools and organizations that promote social justice and equity.
• Ability to motivate and inspire an extraordinary faculty as well as hire brilliant and charismatic new faculty.
• Ability to model the School’s expectations of a great teacher, including but not limited to, teaching a class and being actively involved in the full life of the School community.
• 8-10 years+ of experience in independent education, preferably with some experience in a boarding school; 5 years+ in a managerial or administrative position desirable.
• Master’s degree or higher required.

Application instructions:

Please submit cover letter, resume, and contact list of three references in one document to hr@ethelwalker.org