FRIENDS SCHOOL HAVERFORD Haverford,

HEAD OF SCHOOL Start Date: July 2021 friendshaverford.org Mission Guided by Quaker principles since its founding in 1885, Friends School Haverford provides an intellectually rich program to an intentionally diverse school family. The School promotes academic scholarship, creativity, respect, integrity, and self- awareness with a commitment to creating a culture of stewardship and kindness. Friends School Haverford graduates are uniquely prepared to go forth with boldness of intellect and character.

OVERVIEW

Friends School Haverford, founded in 1885, is a Nursery-8 coeducational day school well known for its welcoming, child centered culture and intellectually rich program. Serving students and families of all religious and humanistic traditions, the School offers a warm and diverse environment that helps students develop a strong sense of identity as they hone their intellectual and social-emotional skills.

Serving around 100 students, Friends School Haverford is dedicated to the Quaker tenets of integrity, service, simplicity, equality, community, peaceful conflict resolution, stewardship, and sustainability. Students emerge as curious, confident, knowledgeable, and thoughtful young people — with the skills necessary to succeed in high school and beyond.

Friends School Haverford seeks a dynamic leader as its next Head of School starting July 1, 2021. The successful candidate will be an experienced educational leader devoted to the School’s Quaker mission and program. The Head of School has oversight of all organizational activities and serves as the School’s academic leader, fostering a climate of excellence and ethical growth among students, faculty, and staff. This is an exceptional opportunity to lead a highly regarded with an unwavering commitment to student success.

CARNEYSANDOE.COM 2 Fast Facts Founded: 1885 Total students: 96 Total faculty: 22 Faculty with advanced degrees: 57% Student/teacher ratio: 5:1 Students of color: 38% Financial aid budget: $335,475 Students receiving aid: 25% Endowment: $2.1 million

THE SCHOOL

Founded in 1885 as a coeducational elementary school, Friends School Haverford is the oldest Quaker school on ’s Main Line. The School was established by the Haverford Friends Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends. From the earliest days, Meeting members, community members who sympathized with Friends educational ideals, and families associated with have sought to provide a highly engaging Friends elementary school in the community.

Today, Friends School Haverford serves students from nursery school through grade eight. The overall program is rooted in academic challenge, intellectual vigor, artistic expression, service, and kindness. Teachers encourage children’s curiosity, creativity, and joy of discovery as they grow intellectually, spiritually, physically, and emotionally. Employing the tenets of progressive, constructivist education, the School fosters an atmosphere in which students learn to work independently and in cooperation with others. Students are challenged to question, explore, reflect, reason, and communicate effectively.

Emphasizing essential Quaker tenets for life and learning, Friends School Haverford cultivates a community characterized by diversity in belief, ethnicity, race, and socioeconomic background. Embedded in the mission is the belief that each child deserves to be seen, heard, and deeply known. From the youngest students to the graduating eighth graders, the School believes that all children own their voice and that the School’s job is to help them find that voice and speak their truth.

Friends School Haverford is governed by the School Committee, which is responsible for the mission, philosophy, policies, financial health, and appointment of the Head of School. Members of the School Committee include parents, alumni, community leaders, and neighbors.

CARNEYSANDOE.COM 3 ACADEMICS

The core of the student-centered curricular program focuses intently on language arts, mathematics, and social studies, supported by engaging classes in science, Spanish, art, music, and physical education.

In the Early Childhood program (Nursery School through Kindergarten), teachers collaborate in a curriculum that is nature-based, child-centered and progressive. The theme-based academic program focuses on language and literacy development, mathematical thinking and expression, and scientific thinking, exploration, and discovery.

The Lower School (grades 1-4) helps each student build a strong personal and academic foundation, with an emphasis on the skills and habits of lifelong learners. In language arts, students learn to use their skills in the context of self-expression and connecting meaningfully with others. The program includes both writing and reading workshops, which engage students in collaborative learning and a focus on metacognitive skills. The program also includes active engagement in mathematics, social studies, science, Spanish, and the arts — much of it shaped around the interests of the students.

The Middle School (grades 5-8) academic program is designed to prepare students well for high school and life beyond. The language arts curriculum seeks to nurture students’ love of reading and a critical eye toward texts and the world at large. The humanities program challenges students to look critically at history as an intentionally constructed story and nurtures in students the capacity to change the world for the better. In the Quaker tradition of social justice, great care is taken to represent undervalued groups in the curriculum. Students develop research and critical-thinking skills while simultaneously learning about history, anthropology, and civics. The comprehensive mathematics curriculum engages students in mathematical practice through problem-solving, interactive experiences, technology, and visual learning.

CARNEYSANDOE.COM 4 Placement

Ninety-nine percent of Friends School Haverford students are admitted to their first-choice high schools. In recent years, students have matriculated to the following schools:

AIM Academy Christopher Dock Mennonite School Delaware Valley Friends School Friends’ Central School Carver High School of Engineering and Science Girard Academy Music Program The inquiry-based science curriculum incorporates independent student work and cooperative group experiences. In grades 5-6, students study cells, genetics, light and sound, and the history of science. In grades 7-8, the focus shifts to ecology, forces and structures, energy, Revolution School and climate change. Science, Technology, Engineering, Science Leadership Academy at Art, and Math integration (STEAM) is also an important component of the overall curriculum. Beeber Short Ridge Boarding School During the COVID-19 pandemic, the faculty and staff Springside Chestnut Hill have been offering students and families a rich learning St. Joseph’s Preparatory School experience through a thoughtfully constructed distance- learning program that includes both synchronous and The asynchronous learning, along with morning meetings, weekly reflections, a plethora of carefully curated The Concept School resources — and constant, ongoing support. The The THE ARTS The Woodlynde School Art, the stories of artist’s motivations and the methods William Penn employed by the greatest artists — whether contemporary or historic — are tightly interwoven in a curriculum that introduces students to the power of self-expression. Studio Arts — including drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, weaving, pottery, and more — begin during the earliest years and continue through eighth grade.

CARNEYSANDOE.COM 5 At every age, students engage in music as a language of self-expression with exceptional power to reach people through their emotions. In the Nursery School, students are introduced to group music- making activities. By the time they reach Middle School, they have facility with music notation and are confident readers. A feature of the Middle School music program is that all students are taught to play the marimbas and memorize rhythmically complex arrangements of songs based on the Shona music of Zimbabwe. Every year, the Friends School Haverford Kwaya Marimba Group offers concerts throughout the Philadelphia region.

ATHLETICS

Friends School Haverford believes that preparation for a life of healthy physical activity is an inherent part of a good education. To that end, students engage in physical activities and play at all grade levels. Over the course of the third- and fourth-grade years, students learn the skills and game rules for soccer, football, volleyball, , floor hockey, and lacrosse. They understand the qualities necessary for playing on a team, including sportsmanship, teamwork, and leadership. Students further develop their motor skills by engaging in aerobics, gymnastics, and track activities.

Middle School students continue playing the sports they’ve learned in previous years, and build on their knowledge of game fundamentals, team strategy, and skill development. Students are motivated to participate fully and confidently and engage in both a healthy competitive spirit and sportsmanship. The program offers co-ed soccer in the fall, co-ed basketball in the winter, and co-ed in the spring.

CARNEYSANDOE.COM 6 STUDENT LIFE

Friends School Haverford seeks to enrich each student’s educational experience by providing a wide range of activities during and after school hours. These activities develop well-rounded individuals while also enhancing the sense of community and family that exist in the student body. The School consciously focuses on establishing a culture based on simplicity, peace, integrity, community, equality, and stewardship.

Meeting for Worship lies at the heart of education at Friends School Haverford. The underlying principle is that there is a spiritual aspect of human experience that can be apprehended by seekers of all ages through quiet reflection. The School requires all students and teachers to attend Meeting for Worship, regardless of their religious affiliation or humanistic tradition. The meeting does not impose specific articles of faith or belief; rather, it creates time and space for individual and community reflection.

The Late Afternoon Recreation for Kids (LARKS) program is designed to provide nursery through grade 4 students with opportunities for exploration, peer connections, and fun. Clubs offered in LARKS are sponsored by the faculty and outside teachers. The Middle School offers a variety of after-school program, including clubs and sports.

Service is also a central component of the curriculum. The active community-service program engages students in the broader community throughout the school year.

CARNEYSANDOE.COM 7 CAMPUS

Friends School Haverford campus a safe and welcoming environment. The campus, tucked behind yellow stucco walls on Buck Lane, consists of three main structures: the Meeting House, School House, and Heritage House. The outdoor space is an extension of the classroom and is integrated into the curriculum. The campus is a certified National Wildlife Schoolyard Habitat, indicating that students and teachers have completed projects that demonstrate commitment to wildlife conservation and the environment.

HAVERFORD AND PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA

Haverford Township is a highly attractive suburb of Philadelphia with a population of around 50,000. The Township sits in Delaware County and is considered one of the best places to live in the state. The town offers residents a quiet suburban feel with plenty of services, restaurants, coffee shops, and parks. Among Haverford’s many qualities is its clear commitment to Quaker education. The town is home to three remarkable Quaker institutions: Haverford College, Haverford School, and Friends School Haverford. The public schools are also highly rated.

Because Haverford sits on the , about 12 miles from downtown Philadelphia, residents regularly take advantage of all the city and surrounding region offers. There are few locations in the with a more storied history and dynamic present than Philadelphia. The city has served an instrumental role in the and is the site of the signing of both the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution. Over the years, the city has been home to many U.S. firsts, including the first library, hospital, medical school, nation capital, and stock exchange.

CARNEYSANDOE.COM 8 Today, the Philadelphia metropolitan area is the eighth largest in the United States. As a thriving economic center, it is home to some major U.S. corporations, including Comcast, Cigna Insurance, Sunoco, Aramark food service, GlaxoSmithKilne, Urban Outfitters, and others. The city is also growing as a center for biotechnology and information technology. Of course, Philadelphia’s historic and cultural sites make it one of the nation’s major tourist destinations.

Philadelphia offers a plethora of cultural amenities. Museums include the Franklin Institute, the Museum of the American Revolution, the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, the Philadelphia Museum of Art (with the now-famous Rocky statue), and the impressive Barnes Foundation, which promotes the advancement of education and appreciation for the fine arts. With its historic neighborhoods, parklands, and remarkable building murals, Philadelphia is a wonderful city for walking. It’s also a great city for dining out, with 300-plus bring-your-own-bottle (BYOB) restaurants and lots of sidewalk seating reminiscent of European cities.

In education, the city is home to some of the oldest independent schools in the country and has the nation’s third largest concentration of college students — including at the University of Pennsylvania, Saint Joseph’s University, Temple University, and .

CARNEYSANDOE.COM 9 OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES

It is an inspiring experience to visit the Friends School Haverford campus. Tucked back off of the main street of the town, the School has a beautiful, natural setting that is well utilized by teachers and students. The experience is enhanced when seeing the rich range of quality work that the dedicated teachers engage in with the students. The School has a vibrant spirit that is brought to life through its commitment to Quaker values.

The next Head will join with the all of School’s constituencies to:

• Affirm the strength of its community and continue to bring to life Quaker values which serve as the moral basis for all of its work. • Celebrate the commitment of its teachers by continuing to support their growth as professionals. Additionally, work on strengthening the staff through efforts to diversify and hire teachers who will bring rich experiences to the School. • Collaborate with the School Committee to continue to address how Friends School Haverford can best adjust to region wide demographic trends; determine where the School can play to its strengths and where does it need to revise its program. • Be the positive, vigorous voice in the broader community to bring more attention to the quality program the School offers. • Continue to work with the staff to grow the strong academic program to ensure that all students are served. • In consultation with faculty and Committee members be decisive about the steps needed to buttress the finances of the School.

CARNEYSANDOE.COM 10 DESIRED QUALITIES AND QUALIFICATIONS

The next Head of School will be warmly welcomed by the School and the new leader will learn in short time that this is a special community, one that lives its commitment to kindness and that pursues the best in each other.

The next Head will have these qualities:

• An eagerness to be a strong presence in the life of the School. This is a school that is proud of the fact that every child is known. • A strong communicator with an ability to convey important ideas in writing and speak to the various groups in the School with honesty and authenticity. • A role model for the Quaker testimonies of equality, simplicity, and peace. Knowledgeable about the history of Quakerism and the role it plays in society. Able to understand and elevate the practice of Meeting for Worship. • Encourage and support teachers to continually learn and explore ways that Friends School Haverford can distinguish itself in the independent school world. • An ability to generate a strategic vision by assessing components of the program and being decisive about how to implement change.

CARNEYSANDOE.COM 11 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 writing sample e.g. a letter to parents, to faculty, or a piece from a school publication; • A list of five professional references with name, relationship, phone number, and email address of each (references will not be contacted without the candidate’s permission) to:

Robert Vitalo Senior Consultant [email protected]

Burke Zalosh Search Consultant [email protected]

CARNEYSANDOE.COM 12