ASSISTANT HEAD OF SCHOOL JOB POSTING
Organization: MOUNTAIN MIDDLE SCHOOL (4TH - 8TH GRADES)
Job Starting Date: July 1st, 2022 (2022-23 School Year)
City: Durango
Location: Colorado
Country: United States
Primary Category: Education Administration
Type of Position: Full-Time
Education requirement: Master’s Degree or higher and currently certified in the state of Colorado as a school Principal
MISSION and VISION:
Mountain Middle School (MMS) is currently recruiting for the position of assistant head of school for the 2022-23 school year. Accredited with Distinction, and expanding our 4th and 5th grades for the next school year, Mountain Middle School is seeking an assistant head of school to join our leadership team. Do you have the skills to be a leader at our wonderful school?
Our Vision
To be a distinguished educational community leader that empowers students to own their future.
Our Mission:
Within a safe and supportive culture, Mountain Middle School integrates technology and project-based learning into a rigorous curriculum that prepares students to achieve their highest academic and social potential.
MMS was founded in 2010, is authorized by the Charter School Institute (CSI), and is one of two independent public charter schools in La Plata County, Colorado. MMS serves approximately 300 full time students in grades 4th through 8th grade. We also have a thriving homeschool program that is expanding each year. As an independent charter school, MMS is able to take a creative approach to curriculum content by designing project based instructional experiences that intrinsically motivate students to succeed. The school has gone to a lottery every year since inception with a wait list growing each year. The school is currently completing construction on the new building that will include the newly expanded 4th and 5th grades along with a state of the art digital makerspace, art studio and rooftop classroom. MMS believes that every child has within them the possibility for greatness, which will be nurtured through a learning environment that is provocative, stimulating, interactive, inspirational, thought-provoking, challenging and bold!
THE MOUNTAIN CREDO - OUR COMMON PURPOSE:
In our pursuit of excellence, we share a collective responsibility for the success of Mountain Middle School. We embrace the support and challenges that come with being part of a team. We stay focused on the critical path of holding each other accountable to our norms. We walk our talk. We stand together in creating an innovative and open community that inspires transformation. We lean into discomfort and ideological conflict. We have each other’s backs and build trusting relationships. We embrace taking creative academic risks and support each other during our struggles. We trust and empower one another to find shared meaning through passionate learning.
ASSISTANT HEAD OF SCHOOL VALUED COMPETENCIES:
Reliable/Organized/Steadfast/Hardworking: Gets things done steadily and on schedule by honoring commitments, deadlines and results. Is comfortable with ideological conflict.
Integrity/Honesty: Doesn’t cut corners ethically, says what they will do and does what they say, earns trust and maintains confidence, does what is right, speaks truthfully, their word is their bond.
Loyalty/Team Chemistry: Reaches out to peers to spread positivity and cooperates to establish collaborative working relationships and positive work environment.
Positive Attitude/Enthusiasm: Displays a can do attitude, a passion and excitement for working with students, parents, and teachers.
High Standards of Excellence: Expects personal performance and team performance to be nothing short of the best. Will hold staff accountable for excellence by building trusting relationships.
ASSISTANT HEAD OF SCHOOL EXPECTATIONS:
School Leadership
Serves as the assistant to our Head of School in creating a successful, unified, and comprehensive educational program and experience for all grades;
Assists in conducting formal evaluations and improvement plans of staff;
Conducts instructional coaching aligned with PBL best practices;
Serves as our assessment coordinator for iReady and CMAS;
Serves on the school leadership team;
Leads our School Accountability Committee/SAC;
Accountability
Leads in the administration and analysis of all mandated student assessments;
Prepares appropriate and required accountability reports;
Updates and works with the Head of School to achieve targeted improvements/UIP;
Ensures that instruction and assessment are in a manner consistent with the School’s mission and vision during teacher evaluations and improvement plans;
Uses data effectively to monitor and evaluate student progress in assisting in drafting the annual unified improvement plan;
Learning Environment
Creates a positive and supportive school culture of excitement, high expectations, high performance, and accountability among students and teachers;
Supports teacher efforts to design and implement activities and programs to promote curriculum and project development;
Fosters a climate of innovation and creativity during instructional coaching cycles;
Facilitates the resolution of any problems that might arise among teachers, students, and parents by overseeing our SPED department, nurse and school counselor;
Curriculum
Stays current in and demonstrates comprehensive knowledge of effective, research-based PBL practices to improve student achievement by leading staff PD and assist staff with project ideation and project tuning sessions;
Ensures the development, evaluation, mapping and implementation of the 4th-8th grade project based learning curriculum and vertical alignment;
Develops, implements, and maintains standards and benchmarks for the school, 4th-8th grade, that meet or exceed the Colorado Department of Education standards;
Leads our Special Education staff and inclusion efforts as well as our MTSS process
Evaluates co-teaching, differentiation, assessments, and teacher leaders across all grades;
Communications
Interacts with school community members to build supportive relationships;
Fosters communication and collaboration among staff, parents, and students to support school goals with writing bi-monthly school newsletters, website updates, press releases and meetings;
Encourages participation from all stakeholders in school programs and activities;
Leads school tours with prospective families and attends school events as necessary.
Human Resources
Assists in administering teacher evaluations for 4th-8th grades;
Assists in preparing professional development for teachers;
Assists in recruiting and hiring needs of new teachers and administrative assistants.
Finance and General Management
Assists the Head of School in preparation of the budget; monitors budget performance;
Prepares reports for the Head of School, Board of Directors, Charter School Institute, and the Colorado Department of Education;
Supports fulfillment of the School’s mission by implementing and enforcing policies established by the Board of Directors and by recommending new and revised policies and procedures;
Ensures that policies and practices of the school meet requirements of the Federal Government, Colorado Revised Statutes, the Colorado Department of Education, and the Charter School Institute.
ASSISTANT HEAD OF SCHOOL QUALIFICATIONS:
Master’s degree or higher in education
Demonstrated effective organizational leadership
Current Colorado Principal License required
Education and experience with special needs and gifted students
Administrative experience in a school setting
Demonstrated knowledge of Colorado school law
Knowledge of and commitment to project based learning
Compensation: Compensation will be regionally competitive
To Apply:
Please send a cover letter addressing your interest. Please also include a current and detailed resume.
All documents should be e-mailed to our head of school, Shane Voss, at shane.voss@mountainmiddleschool.org. Please reference the title of the position you are applying for in the subject line.
You may call the main office phone number in Durango with questions, 970-828-5600.
Application Deadline: Monday, March 28th, 2022
For more information on Mountain Middle School, you can visit our school website at www.mountainmiddleschool.org
Mountain Middle School is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, or any other status protected by law or regulation. It is our intention that all qualified applicants be given equal opportunity and that selection decisions be based on job-related factors.