Crownsville, Maryland
Crownsville, Maryland
Posted: 20-Dec-24
Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico
Type: Full Time
Salary: From $98k- $102k
Categories:
Required Education:
Additional Information:
THIS IS THE JOB FOR YOU IF YOU…
- Adore middle schoolers and believe in their capacity as thoughtful learners and developing leaders.
- Are inspired and energized by what is possible when traditional education paradigms are replaced with a student-centered commitment to relevance, engagement, and inquiry, and are a highly effective ambassador and curator of this value.
- Have the proven ability to build community, shared values, and trust with students, families, and colleagues while also holding standards of excellence.
- Are a skilled leader and manager, a consummate collaborator, coach, and communicator, and always striving to support academic excellence, outstanding teaching, learning, and professional growth.
- Are aligned with our mission, core values, and Equity, Community, and Culture Principles & Best Practices and are committed to ensuring these are authentically manifested throughout the academic program and school.
The Middle School Division Head is the curricular and cultural leader of the middle school program (current enrollment is 141 students). They are responsible for ensuring a joyful and dynamic mission-aligned learning environment for students in grades 6-8 and promoting and maintaining excellence while also envisioning and implementing future strategy and growth both in the middle school and schoolwide, in partnership with the Upper School Division Head and Academic Dean. They report directly to the Head of School, are a member of the school’s leadership (and academic leadership) team & Equity, Community, and Culture Committee, and are the anchor of the middle school staffulty.
DIVISIONAL LEADERSHIP:
- Assume leadership of the division, managing all curriculum, assessment, programming, personnel, student support structures, discipline, communications, scheduling, logistics, and business aspects of the middle school to ensure the smooth operation of the division.
- Create an outstanding and positive student, family, and staffulty culture that aligns with the school’s mission, core values, and Equity, Community, and Culture Principles & Best Practices.
- Hire, lead, supervise, coach, inspire, and evaluate divisional faculty in conjunction with the Academic Dean, department leaders, and the Director of Human Resources. Collaborate regarding professional development and staffing strategy.
- In collaboration with the Academic Dean and Upper School Division Head, review and evaluate academic programming to ensure vertical and horizontal alignment and flow between grades, including special attention to the transition of students between the middle school and the upper school and the flow between middle school grades.
- Stay abreast of and able to share and articulate advances and trends in pedagogy and education and apply them as relevant to the middle school.
- Analyze constituent survey data connected to middle school programming and report and discuss trends and actionable steps annually with the Head of School.
- Design and review the middle school schedule and its implementation in collaboration with the school Registrar and Dean of Academics to ensure it effectively supports divisional needs.
- Work closely with the Registrar and Assistant to the Middle School in maintaining student records and databases, the appropriate use of Google Classroom (LMS) and Blackbaud (SIS), and, in collaboration with the Academic Dean, coordinate and analyze standardized testing.
- Function as the chief articulator of the division. Consistently and clearly communicate with division constituents, including regular in-person and virtual meetings and written publications. Collaborate with the Director of Marketing and Communications to effectively showcase the middle school internally and externally.
- Proactively and positively engage in the admissions, enrollment, and retention strategies. Chair the middle school admissions committee, attend admissions events, speak publicly and compellingly on behalf of the division, and engage divisional staffulty as effective admissions ambassadors. Collaborate with the Director of Admissions and Enrollment on creative ways of showcasing the middle school. Coordinate the onboarding of new students and families.
- Proactively and positively engage in the school’s philanthropy initiatives, promote divisional engagement in events, and collaborate with the Director of Philanthropy on middle school philanthropic strategies.
- Serve on and collaborate with members of the school’s leadership team, academic leadership team, and staffulty Equity, Community, and Culture committee (along with divisional student support teams) to support students, staffulty, and advance the school’s mission.
- As a member of the school’s leadership team, commit to personal growth, development, and productive contribution toward advancing the school’s Equity, Community, and Culture Principles & Best Practices. Explore and investigate policies, systems, and structures that may be working against progress in this area.
- Actively and productively support and steward school-wide change in support of the school’s mission, values, and strategic plan. Role model and uphold a productive and positive work environment, navigating conflict and cultivating community.
- Be a visible presence in all areas of the school and attend and support school functions.
- Provide divisional reports to the Board of Trustees and Bosque Parent & Guardian Association, as needed.
QUALIFICATIONS AND EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS
- Bachelor’s degree required. Master's degree preferred.
- Minimum three years of experience in a significant leadership position, ideally at the middle school level. Proven teaching experience of middle school-aged adolescents; knowledge of and ability to implement best practices regarding middle school curricula and pedagogy and developmental needs of the division’s students.
- Commitment to Bosque School’s mission, core values, and Equity, Community, and Culture Principles and Best Practices for all employees, and the creation of a progressive, student-centered, inquiry-based educational model.
- Commitment to the ongoing creation of a diverse and inclusive learning environment through thoughtful curricular decisions, updates, and the cultivation of culturally competent faculty and staff.
- Ability to make difficult decisions related to creating a mission-aligned faculty, staff, and student body.
- Ability to work a flexible schedule, including some evening and weekend work.
- Capacity to inspire commitment to long-term vision while also juggling the day-to-day logistics and challenges of leading a division. Highly developed organizational skills and attention to detail alongside strategic visioning, planning, and execution.
- Excellent communication (oral, written, presentation skills) and interpersonal skills.
- Discretion and respect for confidentiality.
WHO WE ARE
Bosque School, founded in 1994, is a non-profit, co-educational independent school serving approximately 400 students in grades 6-12, located in sunny, culturally dynamic, and affordable Albuquerque, New Mexico. We create transformative learning experiences that empower a diverse community of students to lead lives of intellectual curiosity, personal integrity, and compassionate contribution to a more just world. We manifest our mission through our core values of inspiring academic excellence, cultivating community, fostering integrity, and learning from place. Our dynamic, immersive, interdisciplinary learning environment challenges each student to think critically, creatively approach problems, and collaborate effectively with cultural competence. Bosque School has been voted the best private school in Albuquerque for the past four years by the Albuquerque Journal Readers’ Choice Awards. Click here to experience a virtual tour of Bosque School and learn more at www.bosqueschool.org. For out-of-state candidates, you can access information about relocating to Albuquerque here and view a cost-of-living comparison here.
HOW TO APPLY
Interested applicants must send a cover letter including salary expectations and a resume to Human Resources at applicant@bosqueschool.org in order to be considered. This position commences on July 1, 2025. Review of applications will begin immediately.
NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY
Bosque School is an equal opportunity employer and makes all employment decisions, including those related to recruitment, hiring, training, promotion, and recognition of individuals on the basis of their ability and job-related qualifications and without regard to race, gender, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, or any other classification proscribed under applicable federal, state, or local law. We actively seek diversity among faculty and administration as well as among students. The school complies with the law regarding reasonable accommodations for employees with disabilities. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation in order to participate in the application/interview process are requested to contact the School to arrange such accommodation.