Career Center

Job Summary

A new role at GCE Lab School, Assistant Head of School oversees daily operation of the school. The Assistant Head oversees student scheduling, monitors student academic progress, responds to student academic concerns, manages grade reporting, and assures responsiveness to student, faculty, and parent needs and interests. The Assistant Head of School is responsible for ensuring that the mission, vision, and institutional direction as defined by the Head of School are carried out through purposeful objectives and initiatives.

The Assistant Head is a senior administrator and a visible leader of the school. Reports include Dean of Students, Director of Student Support Services, Director of College Counseling, Civic Engagement Coordinator, Field Experience Coordinator, and Professional Immersion Experience Coordinator. They will be the primary liaison to the GCE Parent Committee. They observe, supervise, and help to evaluate faculty in the development and implementation of the curriculum. The Assistant Head reports to the Head of School and has oversight of the school during the Head’s absence.

The Assistant Head participates in the whole life of the school and will assume other responsibilities as assigned by the Head of School. 

GCE Lab School is young, innovative, and ambitious. A successful Assistant Head will be a kind of visionary and entrepreneur, who thrives in a diverse, collaborative, nimble, creative space.

Responsibilities

Academic Affairs

• Direct and oversee the day-to-day, internal academic program, including student support
• Apply knowledge of the educational, physical, social, and psychological needs of adolescents and their families, and develop plans for meeting those needs
• Coordinate ongoing and effective communication that explains and advances the academic program, school-wide objectives, and student support
• Keep the Head of School informed of the general programs, activities, and needs of the school
• With School Counselor and Learning Specialist, provide support and guidance for students, including development and coordination of student accommodations
• Promote learning environments that inspire learning; student engagement, and student success by addressing different learning styles and holding students to high standards
• Make recommendation to the Head of School regarding problems or concerns relating to curriculum

Personnel Management and Development

• With the Head of School, determine faculty teaching assignments
• Serve as a resource to teachers in matters of classroom management, teaching methodology, and general school practices and procedures
• Promote teaching techniques that support the mission and philosophy of the school which include discovery, constructivist, and developmentally appropriate approaches to learning; inquiry- and project-based instruction; interdisciplinary coursework; and real-world collaborations
• Conduct regular meetings with faculty that cover routine school matters and provide for the stimulating exchange of ideas on issues of educational/philosophical interest
• Model tact, helpfulness, respect, and the recognition of individual differences and the special abilities and strengths of each teacher
• Follow personnel policies as described in the Faculty-Staff Handbook and support student behaviors as described in the Family Handbook
• Participate in recruitment, interviewing, selection, hiring, and termination of faculty and staff
• Participate in orientation of all new school faculty and staff

Administration and School Support

• Active in student recruitment efforts
• Approve admission of new and returning students
• Ensure maintenance of collegial, ethical, safe student environment, consistent with the values articulated in the Family Handbook
• Collaborate with the Head of School and the Board to maintain Strategic Plan, develop and steward financial resources, create and update policies and procedures.
• Participate in completion of reports required by accrediting agencies (Cognia, ISACS) and the state of Illinois
• Participate in fundraising from personal and corporate donors; available to meet with donors as needed
• Maintain a leading presence at school events
• Delegate and/or undertake duties as needed

Summary of Qualifications and Expectations

• BA required; graduate work in business, law, education, or liberal arts preferred
• At least five years working in private secondary education; at least two years in a leadership role
• Experience working in multicultural and multi-ethnic environments
• Excellent communication skills, written and verbal
• Established interest in progressive education; knowledge of inquiry-based, project-based, interdisciplinary, and/or real-world learning models
• Inspire trust and confidence, particularly in parents, faculty, and partners
• Ability to engage, educate, and encourage high school students
• Ability to maintain healthy personal and professional boundaries
• Willingness to engage donors and actively participate in raising funds for the school
• Demonstrated flexibility, humility, curiosity, integrity, and attention to detail
• Basic budgeting and project management
• Conflict resolution and problem-solving skills

Time & Place

This is a full-time, 12-month position. Position begins no later than August 1, 2022.

Process

• Submit Cover Letter & resume?
• Introductory virtual interview
• Submit writing sample
• Onsite interview with Head of School & Faculty
• Background checks
• Reference checks