Greens Farms Academy seeks a dynamic, collaborative teacher and leader as its next Director of Athletics. The Athletic Director will oversee all areas of PreK-12 athletics and will share a commitment to help students learn about integrity and leadership, creativity and resilience, confidence and character. The Athletic Director will work closely with the Division Heads and faculty to support and promote a strong athletic program within the context of a dynamic academic program. The Athletic Director serves as a member of the senior Administrative team and will report directly to the Head of School. 

Qualities and Qualifications:

• Knowledge of a wide variety of sports, and extensive coaching experience.
• Education commensurate with work in PreK-12 education; master’s degree preferred.
• Passion for recruiting, building, mentoring, and supporting a strong coaching staff.
• Understanding of collegiate athletic recruitment.
• Appreciation of independent school culture.

Responsibilities:

• Articulate the school’s vision for a dynamic athletic program from PreK through 12th grade.
• Oversee the school’s physical education program and work to bring that vision to fruition.
• Manage all aspects of the athletic budget.
• Promote and ensure best practices are implemented in all areas of coaching.
• Oversee the hiring and ongoing evaluation of the coaching and athletic staff to promote a thriving program and positive athletic experience for all teams.
• Coordinate with the Division Heads to ensure alignment across academics, arts, and athletics.
• Represent Greens Farms Academy in the local athletic league (FAA and NEPSAC) meetings and conferences.
• Collaborate where appropriate with summer sports camps and programs.
• Collaborate with Advancement to promote the Athletics program internally and externally for the school.
• Collaborate with school leadership to maintain the Athletics calendar, oversee space use, and all logistics related to Athletics.
• Partner with the Director of Planning and Engineering and the CFO/COO and to oversee and maintain all athletics facilities to the highest standards.

Athletics at Greens Farms Academy

Working out in a new fitness center, playing on a team for an award-winning coach, exploring a new activity—all of this is education, and we take it seriously (and joyfully). Students learn about integrity and leadership, creativity and resilience, confidence, and the development of character in the GFA athletic program. The results are impressive: in the past 10 years, more than 300 student-athletes have been named 1st team all-league in the Fairchester Athletic Association, more than 60 teams have ranked in the top five in their FAA division, 27 teams have played in the New England Tournament Finals, and GFA has won the conference’s Sportsmanship Award five times.

GFA’s physical education and sports programs in the Lower School focus on staying healthy, learning new skills, and developing a love of being active. The mind/body foundation we establish for our youngest learners is an essential part of the Lower School education, with an emphasis on molding good teammates for life. In Middle School, we have a three-season athletic requirement—and a year-round belief in the importance of honoring one’s own health, testing one’s abilities, and working with teammates toward a shared goal. Upper School athletes participate in 50 activities, including interscholastic sports, independent studies, and fitness classes. Our varsity teams feature outstanding coaching (many of our coaches have coached at the college level or competed professionally; five have won Connecticut Coach of the Year), remarkable individual achievement (in the past ten years, we’ve had ten 1,000-point scorers on our varsity basketball teams), and stellar team results (GFA teams are regular finalists in the FAA and New England Prep School Athletic tournaments). In any given year, 15–20% of our seniors are recruited athletes at outstanding college programs.

The School

At Greens Farms Academy (GFA), students are empowered to do the hard, thrilling, essential work of shaping their own world, of building their own future. 715 PreK -12 students come from 23 towns in Fairfield and Westchester counties and form an inclusive community that plays on 64 interscholastic athletic teams, participates in a robust service-learning program, and aspires to live by the school's motto, "Each for All."

Founded in 1925, GFA is situated on a former Vanderbilt estate in the Greens Farms section of Westport, CT. The School is located on a scenic 44-acre campus.

The School’s highly regarded academic program is built around small class sizes (average 15), mentoring partnership with faculty (8:1 student to teacher ratio), and Signature Programs (World Perspectives, STEAM, and Sustainability) spanning all grades. The faculty is characterized by its growth-mindset, embracing innovation, exploring a range of student-centered approaches, and constantly seeking to better serve its students.

A stunning waterfront campus in Westport, CT, comprises three ecosystems - a salt marsh, Audubon woodlands, and the Long Island Sound - and architecture ranging from a modernized Vanderbilt estate to a state-of-the-art center for arts and global studies. Greens Farms Academy has graduated thousands of compassionate, enterprising, broad-minded women and men - people with the courage and vision to build a better world.

The GFA mission plays an essential role in school life: GFA engages students as partners in an innovative, inclusive, and globally-minded community to prepare them for a life of purpose. Faculty and staff have committed that language to memory, along with our core values -- passion, integrity, empathy, curiosity, excellence -- so as to better live out the spirit of those words.

GFA is a suburban school close to major transportation and a five-minute walk from the Greens Farms Metro-North train station. The campus sits on the Long Island Sound, a half-hour south of New Haven and an hour north of New York City by car or commuter train.

Benefits

Greens Farms Academy offers a dynamic and supportive work environment, competitive salaries, and a generous benefits package including a retirement plan with employer-matching, a full array of insurance plans, and generous support for professional growth. Greens Farms Academy is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should email a cover letter, resume, and list of references (if available) addressed to Bob Whelan, Head of School, to athleticdirectorsearch@gfacademy.org. Applications are due by March 12, 2021.