THEOPPORTUNITYPositionedonahilltopinthecenterofNewEngland’ssecondlargestcity,WorcesterAcademy(WA)isadynamicurbanschool,integrallypartofitsneighborhoodandcloselyalignedwiththerenaissancecurrentlyunderwayinWorcester,Massachusetts.Uniqueamongindependentschools,WorcesterAcademyisanurbandayandboardingschoolthatisinsomewaysatypicalNewEnglandprepschool.Yetitisalsoremarkablydiverseandincludesmiddleschool,highschool,andahighlysuccessfulpost-graduateprogram,withdaystudentsdrawnfromnumeroustownsandcitiesintheregion,andinternationalstudentsfromawidearrayofcountries.Withoutstandingacademicsandexcellentprogramsinathletics,thevisualandperformingarts,andcivicinvolvement,amongothers,WorcesterAcademy,whilethriving,ispoisedtoembracethenextexcitingchapterinits186-yearhistory.
WorcesterAcademy’scampusiscenteredonastunningopengreenspace,unexpectedyetwelcomeinthemiddleofthesurroundingurban
landscape.Handsomeredbrickhistoricbuildingsthatspeakimmediatelytotheproudevolutionoftheschool,andwhichfosterandinspiretheseriousintellectualcultureofthecommunity,surroundthisgrandcentralquad.Yetitisthestudentsthatcreatetheschoolclimate;theyarejoyous,unpretentious,open,articulate,andhighlymotivated.Thefacultyisdedicatedandpowerfullydrawnbothtothelocationandeclecticismoftheschoolandsurroundingcommunities.Loyalgraduates,trustees,andpastandcurrentparentsunderpinandbolsterthereputationandresourcesoftheAcademy.
AfternearlyadecadeunderthecapableleadershipofHeadofSchoolRonCino,WorcesterAcademyisseekinganewHeadofSchoolforJulyof2021.ThispositionisideallysuitedforaleaderwillingtoembracetheexcitementthatisbubblinginWorcestertoday,alongwithacommitmenttofullengagementinaboardingschoolenvironment.Thereareexcitingentrepreneurialchallengesassociatedwiththisrole,bothintermsofinternalprogrammingandtheexternalmarketingandrelationshipsfortheschool,alongwithadaptingthoseopportunitiestoproudtraditionsandawarm,relationalschoolculture.WorcesterAcademyoffersauniquelycompellingheadshipopportunity.
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WorcesterAcademy:HeadofSchoolPosi>onStatement
HISTORYIn1834,agroupofWorcestercitizensestablishedtheWorcesterCountyManualLaborHighSchool.UndertheguidanceofIsaacDavis,whowouldserveasPresidentoftheTrusteesforthirty-fiveyears,andSilasBailey,theschool’sfirstPrincipal,theinstitutionbeganas"aschoolfortheeducationofyouthinthelanguages,artsandsciences,forpromotinghabitsofindustryandeconomy,andinculcatingtheprinciplesofpietyandvirtue."In1846,thenamewaschangedtoWorcesterAcademy,andin1869,theschoolmovedtoitspresentsiteonProvidenceStreet.WorcesterAcademy,whichnowstandsonUnionHill,isprimarilytheproductofDanielWebsterAbercrombie,Principalfrom1882-1918;underhisleadershiphistoricallysignificantbuildingsstillinusetodaywereconstructed.WorcesterAcademyisproudofitsmany“firsts”:Thefirstinternationalstudentsgraduatedin1937,thefirstAfrican-Americanstudentwasaformerslavewhograduatedin1875,andthefirstfinancialaidawardedtostudentswasintheyearoftheSchool’sfounding.Girlswerefirstadmittedinthemid-1800s,andJewishstudentswereadmittedtotheAcademydecadesbeforeother“traditional”NewEnglandboardingschools.WAremainsinspiredbytheseandmanyother“firsts.”
Overitslong,proudhistory,WorcesterAcademyhasexperiencedtimesofprosperityandsomeperiodsofconsiderablechallenge;yettheschoolhasremainedconsistentlytruetoitscoremission,adaptedwithvisionandflexibility.Forexample,inthe1890's,tomeetthe
needsofachangingsocietyandtocomplementtheAcademy'sclassicaleducation,Dr.AbercrombieintroducedcoursesinsciencepatternedafterthosehesawtaughtinEurope.Othersignificanteventsincludethere-admissionofgirlsin1974andtheformalestablishmentofamiddleschoolin1987.Recentphysicalimprovementsincludetheadditionoffifteenacresofnewcampusspace(SouthCampus),whichiswithinwalkingdistanceofthehistoriccampus.SouthCampusishometoMorseFieldandtherecentlycompletedWAPerformanceCenter.OtherconstructionwithinthelastdecadeandahalfincludesRaderHall,theNewBalanceAthleticFields,andtherenovationofKingsleyLaboratoriesandWalkerHall.Theprogram,facilities,andcurriculumcontinuetoevolveinexcitingdirectionstothisday.
TotalEnrollment: 574studentsMiddleSchoolEnrollment: 86studentsUpperSchoolEnrollment: 488studentsCountriesRepresentedinStudentBody:13StatesRepresentedinStudentBody: 12InternationalStudents: 105UnderrepresentedMinorityStudents:≈20%BoardingStudents: 67AverageFinancialAidGrant: ≈$25,000FinancialAidBudget: $7.1millionNumberofTeachingFaculty: 86AdvisortoStudentRatio: 1:8NumberofHonorsandAPCourses: 40NumberofAthleticTeams: over50StudentTheaterProgramParticipants:80AverageClassSize: 14studentsCampusAcreage: 71Endowment: ≈$43millionDebt: ≈$18millionOperatingBudget: $24.5millionAnnualFund: $1.15millionMostRecentCapitalCampaignTotal: $52millionAveragedrivingtimetoBoston: 45minutesNumberofTrainsDailytoBoston: 20
FASTFACTS
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WorcesterAcademy:HeadofSchoolPosi>onStatement
MISSIONANDCOREVALUES
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WorcesterAcademyexiststoinstillinitsstudentsthedesiretolearnthroughoutlife,toengagepassionatelywiththeworldaroundthem,andtobehonorablepersonsofstrongandresourcefulcharacter.
CoreValues
Weareacommunity–curious,thoughtful,generous,andthrivinginourdiversity.WeembraceeachofourcorevaluesasessentialtothemissionofWorcesterAcademyandastestimonyofourbeliefsandcommitments.
Honor:Integrity,honesty,respect,fairness,andresponsibilityinformouractionsandbeliefs.Theseattributesarethefoundationsfor‘AchievingtheHonorable’(theschoolmotto)inbothourpublicandprivatelives.
Respect:Webelieveintheinherentworthofeveryperson,celebratingdifferenceinacommunityrichwithdiversegiftsandtalents.Weseekcommonalityinourrelationshipsregardlessoftitle,background,orindividualabilitiesandchallenges.Wealsoacceptresponsibilityforsustainingtheworldaroundus,fromthecampustotheglobalenvironment.
Community:Theactoflearningbringsallmembersofthiscommunitytogether.Weshareabeliefintheimportanceofservingothersthroughbothleadershipandgenerosity.Arespectfulandcompassionateapproachtocitizenshipguidesouractionsonthiscampusandinthewiderworld.
PersonalGrowth:Personalgrowthmaybemeasuredinmanyways;themostauthentic,however,iswhenwearetruetoourselves.Weseektofulfillourpotentialbybuildinghabitsofmindandbodythatpromotegrowthinknowledgeandunderstanding,abilityandconfidence,poiseandleadership.Bydoingso,wenurtureadesireforlife-longlearningandacommitmenttoexcellenceinallphasesoflife.
Challenge:Attainingexcellenceinachangingglobalenvironmentrequiresadaptability,creativity,andintellectualcourage.Weseekrelevanceinourwork,andprovidearigorousyetnurturingenvironmentinwhichweallmaythrive.Wevaluehardworkandthedisciplinedapplicationofknowledgeandskillsinourlearningandinstitutionalpractices.
WorcesterAcademy:HeadofSchoolPosi>onStatement
LOCATIONANDCOMMUNITY
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WorcesterAcademyiscloselyalignedwiththedynamicspiritandprocessesofrevitalization,repurposing,andinnovationcurrentlyunderwayintheCityofWorcester.RightdownthehillfromtheAcademy,theWorcesterRedSox(theTripleAminorleagueaffiliateteamfortheBostonRedSox)areconstructinganewbaseballstadium;thatentiredistrictisbrimmingwithnewbusinessesandpossibilities.TheSchoolis,infact,oneoftheofficialpartnersoftheteam,withwaystoinvolvetheWAstudentscurrentlybeingexplored.DowntownsectorsofWorcesterarewitnessingnewconstructionand,evenmoreprominently,thespectacularrepurposingofoldmills,warehousesandfactoriesasresidences,artisanalcenters,galleries,businesshubs,restaurantsandaccommodations.TheGreaterWorcesterareaboasts12universitiesandcolleges,manywithinonlyafewmilesoftheWorcesterAcademycampus,andmostofthemofferingpossibilitiesforpartnershipsandlearningopportunitiesforstudentsandteachers.Worcesteralsohasexciting,expandingartsandtheaterscenes;worldclassmedicalresearchandcarefacilities;arapidlyexpandingbiomedicalresearchandbusinesssector;andanairportthatoffersconnectionsaroundthecountryandtheglobe.
Perhapsmostsignificantly,WorcesterAcademystudentsprovidetensofthousandsofservicehoursinthecityandsurroundingcommunities.While
muchofthecentralcampusissurroundedbyanopen-gatedwall,actuallythereisnobarriertotheengagementofstudentsandfacultyintheneighborhood.TheSchoolhasapowerfulsensethatitsfuturemustbeevenmorecloselyalignedwithWorcester’sburgeoningopportunitiesandrisingtrajectory,andthenextHeadofSchoolmustbepreparedtobedeeplyengagedinthatendeavor.
WorcesterAcademy:HeadofSchoolPosi>onStatement
THEPROGRAMAt186yearsold,WorcesterAcademyseesitselfasatraditionalNewEnglandprepschool,albeitonewhoseprogramisanythingbutstuckinthepast.Studentsarewellpreparedfortheacademicchallengesofcollegewithagreatsenseoftheirplaceintheworldandtheirpotentialimpactonit.Intheclassroom,studentsareengagedbyexperiencedanddedicatedfacultywhoaresubjectareaspecialistsanddedicatedtotheintellectualdevelopmentofadolescents.Smallclassesandcloseteacher-studentrelationshipsallowfacultytodivedeepintotheirsubjectmatterandsupportstudentstoexcel.Studentsfromthelocalarea,acrossthecountry,andaroundtheworldmakeforawonderfulmixofexperiences,interests,andoutlooks.EverythingaboutWAfeelsgroundedintherealworld,includingtheacademicprogram.InarecentsurveytounderstandWorcesterAcademy’s“NetPromoterScore”(ameasureoflikelihoodforstudents,parents,alumni,andteacherstorecommendtheSchool),thethird-partyresearchfirmconductingthestudynoted
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WorcesterAcademy:HeadofSchoolPosi>onStatement
WorcesterAcademyreceivedthehighestscoresithasseeninitsworkwithover300schools.
TheMiddleSchool,locatedinRaderHallandservinggrades6-8,focusesonchallenge,fun,andpurpose.Studentsaresupportedtobuildtheiracademicskillsinaproject-basedprogramthatencouragesthemtostudytopicsin-depth.Collaborativeprojects,fieldtrips,outsidespeakers,andonlineresourcescombinetoallowstudentstomastercorecontentandgainvaluableinsightintohowtheylearn.AstrongadvisoryprogramiscriticaltoreinforcingtheAcademy’scorevaluesofhonor,respect,community,personalgrowth,andchallenge.Outsideoftheclassroom,middleschoolersatWAarepassionatelyandactivelyengagedinmanyvariedactivities,includingathleticsandservice.Thereare14athleticteamsonwhichtoplayaswellasafter-schoolclubsrangingfromprogrammingtosailingandultimateFrisbee.TheMiddleSchoolisalsoconnectedtothecommunitythroughanongoingpartnershipwithaneighboringpublicelementaryschoolandannualMarketProject,exploringethnicmarketsinWorcester.
TheUpperSchoolprogramisdiverse,inspiring,andchallenging.Studentstakeclassesineachofthe5majoracademicsubjectareaseveryyearandchoosefromextensiveperformingandvisualartsofferings.HonorsandAPsectionsexistacrossthecurriculumforstudentsseekingextrachallenge.Learningishands-on,collaborative,andfocusedontheapplicationoflessonslearned.Studentsin9thand10thgradehavecore
classes,andstudentsin11th,12th,andPGyearsareabletochoosefrommanyexcitingelectivesineveryacademicdiscipline.TheCenterforLearningprovideslearningsupportforstudentswithdiagnosedlearningneedsforanextrafee.TheartsareavitalpartoflifeatWA.With30+offeringsandahighlyskilledfaculty,theprogramaccommodateseverystudent’sneedsandinterests.Firstclassfacilitieshelptoinspirestudents’workinboththevisualandperformingarts.Manystudentsfarexceedtherequirements,motivatedtoexplorenewareasofinterestorgofurtherindepthinafavoritemedium.
Withalongstandingtraditionofofferingapost-graduateyear,WAenjoysawell-deservedreputationforenablingpost-gradstudentstofullyunlocktheirpotentialinacademics,thearts,andathletics.Itisayearoffocusthathelpstobringstudents’passionstotheforefrontandbuildontheskillsthatleadtosuccessincollege.Becauseoftherichofferingswithinthecurriculum,PGsareabletodesignaprogramwithjusttherightamountofchallengeandsupport.
Demonstratinghowtheirlearningcanbeappliedoutsideoftheclassroom,allseniorspursueprojectsinanareaofinterestinoneofsixcategories:careerexploration,masterworks,capstone,servicelearning,discovery,andlearningpracticum.TheGraduationProjecttopicsareasvariedastheinterests,experiences,andtalentsofWAstudents.Recentprojectshaveincludedblacksmithing,engineeringapianoplayerusingrobotichands,utopianarchitecture,3Ddesign,composingandrecordinganalbum,andcityscapepaintinginfourstyles,tonamebutafew.
AthleticshavelongbeenasignatureofWorcesterAcademy’sprogram.With50+teamsin17differentsports,thereistrulysomethingforeveryone,fromtheaspiringDivision1athletetothosewhowanttodabbleinsomethingnew.Worcester’svarsityteamsoftencompeteforleagueandNEPSACtitles.Theprogramissupportedbyexcellentcoachesandoutstandingfacilities,includingDanielsGym,MorseFieldandGaskillField(bothwithinwalkingdistanceofcampus),andNewBalanceField(5milesaway).WAalsopartnerswithlocalvenuesforicehockey,skiing,andcrew.
WorcesterAcademy:HeadofSchoolPosi>onStatement
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WorcesterAcademy’shilltopcampusprovidesanappropriatelytranquilspotforlearningwithinabustlingcity.WithseveralredbrickbuildingsthatdatebacktotheAcademy’searlydayssurroundingthelargegreenspaceatitscenter,thereisasenseofhistorytothecampus.Ofcoursemanyupdatesovertheyearsmakethebuildingsinspiringplacestolearnandcomfortableplacestolive.WalkerHall,thefirstbuildingoneencountersoncampus,hasbeenrecentlyrenovatedandisaLEEDcertifiedshowpiece,housingbeautifulclassroomsandartstudiosaswellasadministrationoffices.Fourdormitories-Dexter,Stoddard,Haydon,andDavol-houseboardingstudents.WarnerTheater,builtin1932intheornatestyleoftheday,isaspectacularsettingformusicandtheaterperformances.Therecentlyadoptedcampusmasterplancallsforanewathleticfacilityanddininghallamongotherupgradesthatwilladdtobothcommunityandprogramming.
THECAMPUS
OPPORTUNITIESANDCHALLENGESThenextHeadofWorcesterAcademyshouldbepreparedtoworkinpartnershipwiththeBoard,faculty,staff,andadministrationto:
• ArticulateacoherentandcompellingidentityandvisionfortheSchoolinanincreasinglycompetitiveenrollmentenvironment;
• TakefulladvantageoftheAcademy’suniqueurbanlocationandWorcester’srenaissancemoment;
• CultivaterobustpartnershipswithingreaterWorcesterthatwillservetogroundtheexperienceforstudentsinreal-worldexperiencesandfulfillasenseofpublicpurpose;
• RaisetheAcademy’sexternalprofiletoensurelong-termsustainabilitythroughrobustfundraisingandenrollmentmanagement;
• CommunicateeffectivelywithallconstituentsoftheSchool;
• EnsurethattheAcademyhasefficientandeffectivemanagementsystems,informedbybestpractice;
• LeveragetheAcademy’suniquediversitytoensurethatitisinextricablytiedtoacademicandprogrammaticexcellence;
• Inspirecontinuedprogramexcellencewithacademicachievementatitscenter.
WorcesterAcademy:HeadofSchoolPosi>onStatement
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QUALIFICATIONSANDQUALITIESOFTHENEXTHEADOFSCHOOL
APPLICATIONPROCESSWorcesterAcademyhasretainedthefirmResourceGroup175tosupportitssearchforitsnextHeadofSchool.Ifyouwishtosubmityourapplicationmaterials(whichincludearesume,coverletter,educationalphilosophyandoneotherwritingsample),pleasedosoattheresourceGroup175website:
h"ps://rg175.com/candidate/signup
Deadlinetoapply:May18,2020
Forinquiriesorifyouwouldliketonominateacandidateforthisposition,pleasecontactbothoftheResourceGroup175consultantsworkingwithWorcesterAcademy:
AND
Asuccessfulcandidatewillbeabletodemonstratethefollowingskills,values,andexperiences:
• Commitmenttoeducationalexcellenceandthecapacitytoleadthecontinuingdevelopmentofcurriculumandprogrammingacrossgrades6through12andpost-graduate;
• CompellingcommunicationskillswiththeabilitytocaptivateotherswithWorcesterAcademy’sstoryandvisionforthefuture;
• Empatheticleaderwhocanstriketherightbalancebetweenmaintainingawarm,approachablepresencewithbeingclearanddecisive;
• Effectivemanagerandsystemsthinkerwhoknowsbestpracticeandhastheexperiencetosetclearexpectationsandstandardsforaccountability;
• Aschoolpersonwhoappreciatesallthecomplexitiesandjoysofleadingadynamicdayandboardingschool;
• Effectiverecruiteroftalentandsupporterofexcellenceamongfaculty,administration,andstaff;
• Commitmenttoandexperiencewithleadingadiverseandinclusivecommunityandtheabilitytohelpotherslearnfrommomentsofmisunderstandingorconflict;
• EagerandeffectivefundraiserwhocaninspireotherstosupportWorcesterAcademy’slong-termsustainability;
• Optimismandtheabilitytoinspireothers.