Assistant Head of School for Teaching and Learning
Performance Profile
Assistant Head of School for Teaching and Learning
Position Summary:
The Assistant Head of School for Teaching and Learning is a full-time, benefits-eligible, 12-month position that reports to the Head of School. The standard work schedule is Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., with flexibility as approved by the Head of School. This position includes 15 vacation days and 10 PTO days annually.
As the educational and administrative leader of The Fay School’s teaching and learning programs, the Assistant Head of School for Teaching and Learning is responsible for overseeing students, faculty, research-based academic initiatives, and academically related parent relations, including learning and behavior matters. This role is a key member of the Leadership Team and may report to the Board of Trustees as needed. The Assistant Head of School for Teaching and Learning’ primary objective is to lead the continual advancement of the school's teaching and learning programs as they support and develop teachers while also ensuring they remain innovative, responsive, and aligned with best practices in education. This work directly supports The Fay School’s strategic goal of elevating its national profile through its strategic plan.
Responsibilities include the following:
- Maintains and develops congruency between the school’s board-approved strategic plan and the teaching and learning programs.
- Supervises and supports all Lead Teachers, Assistant Teachers, Department Chairs, Nurses, the Dean of Students, Instructional Specialist, and Director of Curriculum and Instruction and any other academic support positions as assigned by the Head of School to maximize student success, student learning, teacher growth, and teacher development.
- Responsible for initiating parent communication centered on student learning and behavior concerns with support from the Head of School.
- Displays thorough knowledge appropriate to this supervisory assignment and stays abreast of recent developments in education. The Assistant Head of School for Teaching and Learning also exemplifies in their own work with faculty members the qualities they hope to develop in the faculty.
- Develops and administers a comprehensive system of hiring teachers and academic support staff, consistent with the policies of the school, of the best-qualified candidate(s) and a well-informed match between school and teacher. Throughout the hiring and supervisory processes, the position values racial, cultural, and gender diversity.
- Ensures that new faculty members and new direct reports receive orientation and support sufficient for them to work effectively and with confidence that they are carrying out the educational mission, vision, strategic plan, policies, and procedures of the school.
- Ensures that teachers are informed of praise and critiques of their work and that useful support and assistance are available to each teacher to improve teaching quality.
- Makes available to all faculty members on an equitable basis whatever resources the school can provide for professional growth and development to support the strategic plan's goals, both on and off campus.
- Supervises the supply and equipment purchasing for instructional needs.
- Encourages and challenges teachers and direct reports to initiate curricular improvement by providing the necessary direction, time, resources and by creating structures to foster faculty collaboration and support on curriculum development.
- Leads faculty members in upholding ambitious standards of professional behavior and responds immediately when behavior occurs that is harmful to children or harmful to the school community.
- Evaluates and works to improve teaching and learning through classroom visits, discussion with teachers, and other methods that are fair and consistent with the practices of The Fay School. Evaluation is based on clearly articulated criteria that teachers have helped define and occurs in a context of respect for the teacher's professional knowledge and decision-making capability. The Assistant Head of School for Teaching and Learning also monitors their own work by inviting suggestions and critiques from teachers and staff.
- Willing and able to use their personal smartphone routinely and appropriately to utilize school apps to communicate, collaborate, and fulfill responsibilities as outlined in this Performance Profile.
- Maintains congruency with and support of ISAS standards within the teaching and learning program's context.
Competency Profile:
- Celebrates diversity and is proactively inclusive of all racial, cultural, socio-economic, religious, and gender groups.
- Exhibits self-awareness and self-monitoring in identifying and solving student, parent, curricular, and school problems. At the same time, the Assistant Head of School for Teaching and Learning understands the vision, the mission, the strategic plan, and all policies of the school and, when questions or concerns arise, raises them with appropriate colleagues and Head of School.
- Demonstrates effective written and oral communication skills.
- Fosters collaboration among academic team members to build and develop curricula and to ensure others are well informed of changes, initiative, and progress.
- Embraces feedback and a culture of continuous improvement.
- Displays attitudes and actions that contribute to a joyful, healthy, and collegial teacher culture.
- Supports and actively promotes the organization. Positively reflects the organization’s core values and addresses actions that do not align with those values.
Qualifications:
- A master’s degree is required; a doctorate degree is preferred.
- Five years of administrative experience or equivalent training and/or experience preferred.
Physical Requirements and Work Environment:
- Ability to move easily across campus for stretch periods of time.
- Ability to lift and carry moderately heavy packages up to 20lbs.
- Ability to write and speak effectively.