11
NANTUCKET NEW SCHOOL NANTUCKET, MASSACHUSETTS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF NANTUCKET PARTNERSHIP OF CHILDREN, HEAD OF NANTUCKET NEW SCHOOL JULY 2018 nantucketnewschool.org
NaNtucket New SchoolNaNtucket, MaSSachuSettS
executive Director ofNaNtucket PartNerShiP of chilDreN,
heaD of NaNtucket New SchoolJuly 2018
nantucketnewschool.org
the PoSitioN
Nantucket New School, a coeducational day school for students in preschool through grade eight, seeks candidates to assume the role of Executive Director of Nantucket Partnership of Children, Head of Nantucket New School starting in July 2018. This is an opportunity for an individual with strong leadership skills, financial and budgetary acumen, and a commitment to Nantucket New School’s mission of excellence to usher the school into its fourth decade of growth.
The new Head of School will serve as a visible presence at a school that boasts a powerfully close-knit community. The school is a safe and welcoming place, and the close relationships between faculty, students, and their families are treasured. Academic rigor, combined with a supportive and nurturing approach to education, is a hallmark of the school; graduates typically go on to attend selective boarding schools or into the honors track at the local public school. The next Head should be prepared to work to oversee the quality of curriculum while collaborating with faculty, staff, and other senior administrators. The position holds the opportunity for tremendous growth while working to sustain the school’s reputation.
School hiStory
In 1985, Nantucket New School was founded by six families committed to providing a sound educational choice for children on Nantucket island. The original school was incorporated as a non-profit in 1990 and grew through the early 2000s, when construction began on the current campus on Nobadeer Farm Road. In 2009, Nantucket New School was accredited by the Association of Independent Schools in New England. A few years later, the school’s formal merger with Strong Wings Adventure School resulted in the addition of six adjacent acres to the existing campus.
1The Search Group | Carney, Sandoe & Associates [email protected] | www.carneysandoe.com
Mission
Nantucket New School is a co-educational day school serving students in pre-school through grade eight. Within a family-centered school community, our program encourages academic excellence, respects the pace of childhood, and seeks to instill in our students curiosity, creativity, kindness and a lifelong love of learning.
We believe that a small school is uniquely equipped to meet the individual needs of students and their families. A low student/teacher ratio provides opportunities for us consistently to recognize each student as a person and as a learner. Essential to our success are strong student/teacher relationships, as well as partnerships between teachers and parents, creating a family atmosphere where students of different ages are able to interact cooperatively on a regular basis. We believe in and are committed to purposeful involvement in the unique community that is Nantucket and seek to build a student body that reflects the changing diversity of the island.
2The Search Group | Carney, Sandoe & Associates [email protected] | www.carneysandoe.com
In the past ten years, capital campaigns have strengthened the school’s financial position, allowing for new construction and the enhancement of campus facilities. Today, the Building on Promise Campaign aims to retire the $1.3 million debt associated with the New School/Strong Wings merger in order to ensure the ongoing strength of school programs, faculty, physical campus, and community outreach as the school enters its fourth decade.
the School
Nantucket New School is a co-educational day school of 100 students in preschool through grade eight. Offering academic excellence in a warm and intimate environment, the Nantucket New School program respects the pace of childhood; promotes a strong family ethos; and fosters curiosity, creativity, kindness, and a lifelong love of learning in its students. Daily interactions are characterized by caring and compassionate communication: teachers and students refer to one another by first name, and family members are known by every member of the faculty. True to its roots as a cooperative, Nantucket New School encourages active parent participation, considering family members to be partners in students’ education.
Relationships with the local community are another central facet of Nantucket New School’s mission. The school partners with local organizations to provide off-site learning opportunities and enrich the island community. In addition, a partnership with Strong Wings Adventure School contributes to the ongoing strength of both organizations, as well as expanding the depth, scope, and quality of the school’s physical education and outdoor program. After years of sharing building space, collaborating on programming, and supporting each other’s missions, Nantucket New School and Strong Wings Adventure School merged in 2010 to form the Parents Cooperative of Nantucket (now the Nantucket Partnership for Children). Together, the organizations support the growth of Nantucket’s children in meaningful and lasting ways.
3The Search Group | Carney, Sandoe & Associates [email protected] | www.carneysandoe.com
acaDeMicS
Learning at Nantucket New School centers on a philosophy of individualized instruction: rather than following a predetermined, static curriculum, teachers approach each child’s learning with attention to their histories, interests, weaknesses, and strengths. This commitment to flexible, inquiry-based, and multimodal teaching is evident in the layout of each classroom. Instead of sitting at rows of desks, students at Nantucket New School move through spaces designed to accommodate a variety of dynamic learning experiences. Three divisions within the school provide a schedule, curriculum, and guiding practices designed to meet the developmental needs of each age group.
Nantucket New School aims to teach the “whole child” by making room for the “whole teacher,” and the resulting relationships make for holistic and meaningful learning experiences. With an average class size of approximately ten, strong bonds are formed between faculty and students. Focal points of the curriculum include STEM, language, and literacy. Students begin Spanish instruction in fifth grade, and each day, the entire school participates in a 30-minute silent reading/read-aloud period. Mindfulness education is another key component of the program, with the MindUp curriculum helping students to cultivate well-being and emotional balance as a natural complement to their academic growth.
The strength of the academic program is borne out in student outcomes: after graduation, approximately half of Nantucket New School graduates attend independent boarding schools, while the other half attend Nantucket High School, where they thrive in advanced and honors-level work.
4The Search Group | Carney, Sandoe & Associates [email protected] | www.carneysandoe.com
early School
The Early School serves students ages two years and nine months through four years, sparking students’ love of learning and laying the foundations for future education. By building relationships with trusted adults, students develop a sense of confidence and competence in a school setting.
During their years in the Early School, students are introduced to concepts and skills in language arts, math, science, social studies, music, physical education, and the arts through open-ended, multi-sensory learning activities. Campus surroundings provide an opportunity to explore plant and animal life, and field trips to the State Forest and animal hospital stimulate further study. Throughout, children learn at their own pace with the support of teachers working to cultivate creativity, independence, and curiosity.
lower School
In the Lower School, students in kindergarten through grade four thrive in a rigorous and nurturing setting, where individuals are celebrated for their unique strengths and talents. Through a balance of work, play, and physical activity, students in the Lower School experience transformative academic and social-emotional growth.
The Lower School academic program is designed to respect different ways of learning, creating a safe environment in which students feel comfortable making mistakes and learning from them. Mathematics education is grounded in the world-renowned Republic of Singapore curriculum, which introduces and reinforces skills through a linear and cyclical program, while literacy and writing are supported by writers’ workshops and the much-anticipated authors’ teas, where children read
5The Search Group | Carney, Sandoe & Associates [email protected] | www.carneysandoe.com
their work to their parents in a celebration of new skills. Science and social studies are enriched by projects, games, theater, and field trips to locations such as the Nantucket Whaling Museum and the Linda Loring Nature Foundation. Beginning in fourth grade, students learn keyboarding and technology skills, as well as participating in discussions about digital citizenship. Across disciplines, students practice individual and collaborative learning with a focus on balance: the Brain Gym program helps teachers implement research-based exercise and movement breaks throughout the day to aid in brain development.
uPPer School
The Upper School serves students in grades five through eight, providing a dynamic and flexible curricular experience based in a philosophy of experiential learning. While continuing their studies of math, literacy, writing, social studies, and science, Nantucket New School students immerse themselves in project-based, interdisciplinary activities, working together and in groups in order to build communication, collaborative, and problem-solving skills. As students mature, they take on greater autonomy and responsibility, including their own elected student government.
For Upper Schoolers at Nantucket New School, the classroom has “no walls,” as they work closely with island professionals to investigate questions in STEM and the humanities. The fifth and sixth grade ecology curriculum centers on the local environment, with extensive field studies around the island; further afield, trips to Plimoth Plantation, Cape Cod, and the White Mountains offer additional learning and leadership opportunities. Through technology, students connect with their peers around the globe, and each spring the eighth grade class plans and executes a trip to Washington, D.C.
6The Search Group | Carney, Sandoe & Associates [email protected] | www.carneysandoe.com
artS aND athleticS
The arts are an integral part of the Nantucket New School program: from Early School onward, students engage with music and the visual arts, cultivating creativity and self-expression. In the Lower School, twice-annual concerts and a yearly art show offer opportunities for students to practice performance skills and display their artwork; Upper School students participate in local art shows in partnership with the Artists’ Association of Nantucket. In addition, Upper Schoolers delve into art history, write and perform original musical compositions, and practice advanced visual arts techniques.
The physical education program, supported by Nantucket New School’s partnership with Strong Wings, promotes physical development, team-building, and good sportsmanship. Students of all ages practice leadership and teamwork skills on the playing field and benefit from a comprehensive outdoor education program. A high-ropes course and climbing wall allow Upper School students to push themselves toward new challenges.
School life
Life at Nantucket New School is enriched by a robust program of multi-age learning opportunities, community service, and civic engagement that connects students to one another, the island community, and the world at large. A tight-knit school environment facilitates interactions between students of various grade levels: the “Big Friend, Little Friend” program partners older and younger students for planned activities each month, and a “Families” program brings students of all ages together with faculty and administrators to participate in collaborative learning, community service, and an annual Field Day.
7The Search Group | Carney, Sandoe & Associates [email protected] | www.carneysandoe.com
At the beginning of each day, the entire school gathers for Morning Meetings, with students taking turns to select topics and lead activities. This is also a time to celebrate birthdays, commemorate milestones, and share news. Every Friday during Morning Meeting, a guest speaker from the broader Nantucket community visits the school to share their perspective with students.
Indeed, outreach is integral to Nantucket New School’s mission, with students participating in on-island activism and global outreach. The Random Acts of Kindness program allows students to enact empathy in the local community, and Upper School students perform required community service, carrying out individualized community service projects as part of the eighth grade program. Older students also benefit from the chance to represent their peers in Nantucket New School’s vibrant student government, learning about and actively engaging in the democratic process as they plan events, promote school spirit, and organize community service.
PhySical caMPuS
The Nantucket New School campus centers on the Louise F. Walker Building, opened in 2002, which serves both as main school building and community learning center, opening its doors for lectures, performances, and events that serve the entire island community.
Other campus facilities include Fraker House, home to the Head of School, and the home for the Director of Strong Wings, donated in the spring of 2016. As a result of Nantucket New School’s merger with Strong Wings in 2011, the school’s campus extends over more than six acres.
8The Search Group | Carney, Sandoe & Associates [email protected] | www.carneysandoe.com
NaNtucket, MaSSachuSettS
Known worldwide as a summer vacation destination, the island of Nantucket is home to just over 10,000 year-round residents. During the tourist season, the population rises to 50,000, who come for the dunes and beaches, picturesque shingled buildings and cobblestone streets. In the 18th and 19th centuries, Nantucket was a bustling seaport and whaling hub; today, it has been designated as a Historic Landmark District by the National Parks Service and is home to art galleries, festivals, and several museums.
The island, which is only 47.8 square miles in area, is reachable by ferry or air; though commercial flights are available from the island, the Nantucket Memorial Airport is used primarily for private planes owned by summer visitors. Tourism makes for high property values, and the cost of living on the island is high; however, the small size of the year-round population makes for a close-knit, small town feel.
oPPortuNitieS aND challeNgeS
Opportunities include:• Technology: Using technology to support the school’s curriculum of experiential and project-based
classrooms.• Accreditation: The 10 year re-evaluation for AISNE (Association of Independent Schools in New
England) accreditation—a self-study scheduled for the 2017-18 school year—will prepare the way for a possible strategic planning process once the new Head is in place.
• Innovation: The future of education is changing. Might NNS respond to paradigm shifts (skills vs content, student ownership and assessment of learning, teachers as co-learning guides vs
9The Search Group | Carney, Sandoe & Associates [email protected] | www.carneysandoe.com
sages, etc.) with changes to the learning systems in our school to become more project based, interdisciplinary/non-disciplinary, multi-aged collaborations?
• Diversity: Should NNS reflect island demographics?• Professional development: Providing professional development to all teachers will help them identify
and use best practices for students with learning differences and/or challenges.
Challenges include:• Finances: While the school is financially healthy, the new public elementary school facility on
island as a potential challenge to enrollment. There is also a second private school on island, so admissions will continue to be of great importance. Student retention at the middle school level is an ongoing challenge. Further, tight budgets limit the potential to innovate and sometimes attract and retain teachers.
• Communication: Communication between the school and its community should be more consistent and transparent.
• Division consistency: There should be better cohesion across school divisions.• Location: Island living as a whole for the new Head and his or her family presents unique challenges.
DeSireD QualitieS aND QualificatioNS of the Next executive Director, heaD of School
• Someone with significant educational leadership experience—not necessarily as a Head of School.
• Someone who communicates extremely well both as a writer and speaker.• Someone who is a warm and reflective person, who is also a lifelong learner. • Someone who is an excellent teacher recruiter and motivator.
[email protected] | www.carneysandoe.com 10The Search Group | Carney, Sandoe & Associates [email protected] | www.carneysandoe.com
• A person with drive who has strong values and beliefs commensurate with those of the community.• A person who will network energetically to cultivate relationships and partnerships with students,
teachers, parents, businesses, and the broader Nantucket community.• A person who has the courage to make hard decisions and be an agent for change, and who
can work effectively toward consensus with the Board of Trustees, particularly to lead them strategically.
• A person who has the disposition for, and ideally experience with, fund raising.• A person who has the short and long term vision and skills to continuously improve the educational
environment and programs at both Nantucket New School and Strong Wings. • Someone who is a mentor to both teachers and the Director of Strong Wings.• Someone who is a genuine, honest, compassionate, enthusiastic, and loyal person.
to aPPly
Interested and qualified candidates should submit electronically in one email and as separate documents (preferably PDFs) the following materials: • A cover letter expressing their interest in this particular position• A current résumé • A one-page statement of educational philosophy and practice• A list of five (5) professional references with name, phone number, and email address of each to:
Fred WessonSenior [email protected]
