The Village School, Royalston MA USA
Start Date: July 1, 2024
The Village School seeks a Head of School to oversee all aspects of the running of this non-profit nature-based school of 75 preschool through grade six students. Reporting to the board of directors, the Head of School will ensure the growth of students and the engagement of parents, sustain the school’s collegial work atmosphere, maintain the spaces where learning happens, and position the school for continued success.
The successful candidate will be an effective relationship builder who embraces the traditions and culture that make The Village School a special place. A collaborative team player with superb time-management skills, the Head of School will have a demonstrated ability to listen effectively, engage others in an open collegial way, and prioritize relationships while completing tasks to foster a school-wide learning environment. This school is characterized by active student and adult participation, with a focus on the perspective and aspirations of students, and the sense of purpose that comes from belonging to an intentional learning community. Kind and thoughtful, the director will act as a positive role model for students and faculty alike, embodying the school’s values and mission. The Head of School will be excited to activate the energy within the community of supporters and volunteers to honor the past and help shape the future of the school.
Responsibilities:
> Mission – Embody and promote the mission of The Village School through its commitment to place-based and child-centered learning, its values that recognize the abilities and contributions of all, and the ongoing integration of best practices in teaching and learning into programming that responds to the passion and interests of children.
> Management – Empower and effectively delegate to faculty and staff, acknowledging the central role of faculty and staff in providing holistic educational programming incorporating learning, reflection, and action. Allocate resources and time with input to serve the priorities of the school. Oversee professional development, hiring, and retention of educators and program leadership.
> Programming – In collaboration with the curriculum director and other staff, guide the academic schedule, field-trips, and events in alignment with the mission of The Village School, including direct involvement as necessary in scheduling, supervision, coverages, lunches, after school programming and security. Navigating conflicts between students, and engaging parents around escalated behavioral issues as necessary.
> Communications – Communicate effectively and in a timely manner with internal and external stakeholders: students, parents, volunteers, faculty, and staff.
> Operations – Maintain, design, implement, and monitor systems and procedures necessary to the successful functioning of the school. Manage the daily school operations, including arrival and dismissal of students and support for key events.
> Family Relations – Engage and connect with families, honoring and elevating the role of parents as integral members of the learning community.
> Admissions – Recruit and retain families to The Village School. Showcase the values and benefits of the program across the range of ages and needs of parents and students. Navigate classroom placement and enrollment decisions with the input of teachers to serve the best interests of the school.
> Community and Constituent Relations – Represent the school and build deep community relations among stakeholders, including the continuing education program and Miller’s River Educational Cooperative campus adjacent to The Village School, the local town government, and within the wider educational community.
> Fundraising – Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward donor relationships and raise funds to support the school’s commitment to affordability through financial aid, and its commitment to a balanced budget and financial sustainability through gifts toward endowment.
> Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion – Implement policies and practices that actively support students, families, and staff who do not identify as part of the predominant culture of the school and community. Sustain an organizational environment that allows for learning and growth. Engage adults in training and conversations about how unconscious bias affects teaching and student learning as well as hiring, evaluation and promotion.
> Improvement – Gather and use data including faculty and staff input to assess and enhance the collective work of the school.
> Leadership and Planning – Lead and coordinate the development of short- and long-term plans and objectives for the overall operations of the school and its programs and activities, monitor progress, assure adherence, and evaluate performance in alignment with the long-term interests of the school.
> A substantial tenure of teaching and leading in an elementary age learning setting.
> Desire and ability to work with students in a nature-oriented rural academic setting.
> A deep commitment to personal and professional integrity.
> Experience with curricular integration and the fundamentals of implementing experiential education, including project-based learning.
> Excellent oral and written communication skills, instructional leadership, time management, collaboration with others, organizational skills, judgment, and even temperament.
> Ability to work productively and positively with faculty, staff, parents and community and skilled at building consensus.
> Experience and willingness to solicit philanthropic funds from parents, alumni, and others to support the school, a plus.
> Experience managing a budget.
> Master’s degree preferred.
> $70,000 to $100,000 salary range
> Retirement contribution match up to 4% of salary
> Professional coaching
> Dental insurance
> Paid time off/sick time
> School calendar (lighter workload during vacations and holidays)
Interested candidates, please contact Narwhal Talent Partners:
search@narwhaltalent.com
All inquiries are treated as confidential.
Full opportunity statement available here:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LLPNM3_eOxspZUGwRsC7Sl65EqgDPJZF/view?usp=sharing
As the founding director enters retirement, this joyful and intimate school launched by a group of parents over 30 years ago finds much to celebrate. A purpose-built building opened in 2018 on a 55-acre property with direct access to fields, forests, and ponds that are core to the student learning experience. As a financially stable organization with active demand for all grade levels, the school seeks to build on the seed endowment funds to improve faculty compensation and affordability for families. A culture of building a shared understanding guides the decision making within this school community. Working alongside teachers and a small administrative staff to serve families and connect with students individually and daily, the Head of School will focus on high quality education and sustaining this educational community and the relationships within it. To learn more about the school, please visit https://www.villageschoolma.org/
Peter G. Hamilton | (617) 620-9268
Christian G. Henry | (857) 285-3364
search@narwhaltalent.com
Together, we are empowering exceptional education.