Director Of Middle And Upper School

Bennett Day School is a progressive independent day school looking for passionate educators with an innovative spirit and rich background in learning and school experience. We are a new type of independent school; unabashed believers in the values of progressive education, we put students at the center of the process of learning.

Bennett Day School is hiring a Middle and Upper School Director who will serve 5th-12th grade students and families. In this role, you’ll be part of the educational team and be responsible for managing and implementing the core characteristics of our progressive, project- and competency-based Middle and Upper School.

THE OPPORTUNITY

The Middle and Upper School Director will be charged with the comprehensive responsibility for all activities involving students, faculty, and families in 5th - 12th grade, serving as the direct supervisor of the Middle and Upper School. Reporting to our principal, you’ll bring your experience to the team to build continuity between the lower, middle, and Upper School program that is true to our progressive mission.

As one of our Division Directors, you’ll be intimately involved in every aspect of the educational program of our school, and have input into major pedagogical and/or curricular decisions that the school makes. You’ll simultaneously develop your design and administrative skills in the oversight of the Middle and Upper School. You’ll have the opportunity to develop meaningful educational relationships with other administrators, including our education and administration team, as well as our 5th-12th grade teaching faculty.

THE ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS

• 5+ years experience working with children and/or adolescents in an education setting; preferably both Middle and Upper School experience
• Experience in a school that uses an interdisciplinary or team-teaching approach
• Experience working in teams
• Interest in/Experience designing innovative curriculum in a collaborative setting
• Commitment to the continual development of one’s cultural competence
• Commitment to ongoing professional development

THE SKILL SET

• A desire to collaborate.
• An ability to organize and motivate through the articulation of the mission, vision, and values of the school
• A clear and coherent ability to relay the expectations, behavioral guidelines, and other information necessary to ensure that all constituencies are fully informed consistent with their individual roles
• A desire to rethink and redesign what it means to be a teacher in modern education
• Dedication to designing and supporting innovative and nontraditional curriculum
• Comfort in a startup culture
• Interest in the science of the adolescent brain/learning science
• Working knowledge of the field of design in education, especially systems thinking

THE LIKELY TRAJECTORY:

WITHIN ONE MONTH YOU’LL

• Learn about all the major elements of the school, including its history, mission, vision and core competencies to become acquainted with the school’s ethos by meeting with all major stakeholders
• Learn about the day-to-day operations of the school by observing and/or shadowing a non-teaching faculty member
• Learn about our early childhood and lower school programs so that you can better see the developmental arc of our students
• Participate in programs for the orientation of new faculty and in-service training of all faculty
• Oversee the day-to-day operation of grades 5-12, including absences and leaves/substitutes, coaching new faculty, managing behavioral issues that arise among students, and division-specific meetings

WITHIN THREE MONTHS YOU’LL

• Take on the oversight of the Student Support Team and their individual behavior and learning plans for fifth through twelfth grade students
• Conduct regular meetings with faculty which will deal with routine school matters
• Engage with parents as stakeholders and work with them to manage the process of their student’s learning experience at Bennett Day
• Function as the primary articulator of your division’s programs, expectations, behavioral guidelines, and other information necessary to ensure that all constituencies are fully informed and consistent with their individual roles
• Participate in regular meetings with core faculty groups within the school, including the Student Support team, Administrative team, and Enrollment team in order to effectively manage academic and logistical operations
• Maintain awareness of the educational, physical, social, and psychological needs of the members of our school community in grades 5-12 and develop plans for meeting these needs
• Attend admissions and marketing events as needed to share the school’s story to potential Bennett Day families
• Act as lead in the process of ensuring that teachers in grades 5-12 are familiar with and adhere to school policies in all areas of the school operation.

WITHIN SIX MONTHS YOU’LL

• Observe, supervise, and help evaluate grades 5-12 faculty in the development and implementation of curriculum; supervise the teaching process, and review and evaluate the academic programs
• Make recommendations to the principal regarding the hiring and retention, and the grade-level assignment, of faculty in grades 5-12
• Present to prospective families at information sessions
• Be a part of admissions events for the purpose of vetting of student applications for admissions
• Oversee the interview and vetting process for faculty
• Serve as a consultant/coach to teachers in matters of classroom management, teaching methods, and general school procedures.

BY THE END OF 2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR, YOU’LL

• Contribute to the master school class schedule and to assign teachers and students to classes and other obligations
• Be a visible presence in all areas of the school; work toward a resolution of all problems - both routine and unique - as they arise in grades 5-12; keep the principal informed of the general programs, activities, and problems of the school.