LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITY PASADENA, CA director of equity LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITY

Westridge gives girls the confidence, skills, and values to know who they are and thrive wherever they go. leadershipLEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITY opportunity

Westridge School, an independent day school for girls in grades 4–12 located in Pasadena, California, seeks a Director of Equity to lead the school’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts.

Founded in 1913, Westridge has a long-standing DEI as one of four strategic priorities for the school. reputation for the excellence of its academic program However, like most of our institutions and schools and its commitment to equity and justice. Reporting whose foundations were shaken this past spring directly to the Head of School as a member of the and summer due to the pandemic and the outrage senior leadership team, the Director of Equity will expressed around racial injustice across the country, be a strategic partner working with all constituencies furthering and deepening this work has taken on to lead and coordinate the ongoing design and greater urgency and attention. Westridge went through implementation of the School’s strategic approach its own reckoning, delving deeply into difficult and toward meaningful and transformative work painful dialogue about the experiences of Black throughout the community. This position will begin and other students of color at school. This process July 1, 2021. energized students, faculty, staff, parents, and alumnae to call for change within Westridge. Adding a senior Diversity, equity, and inclusion has been a long-held leader tasked with shepherding the school through commitment at Westridge. In recent years, DEI has this journey of institutional change is among the set been prioritized in professional development, student of commitments the leadership and Board of Trustees life, and curricular initiatives. The most recent five- have made. year strategic plan, announced in January 2020, keeps LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITY

Strategic priorities and • Coordinating with the school’s DEI Oversight Committee to ensure opportunities for the Director comprehensive and systematic focus and accountability for DEI priorities across all of Equity include: areas of operation and constituencies.

• Managing the school’s DEI Task Force and the • Advancing the school’s shared strategic vision DEI initiatives set forth in the strategic plan. of becoming an anti-racist institution, helping to shape systems, practices, and decision- making that reflect the school’s core values and ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS commitment to equity. This is a position of critical importance and with • Implementing anti-racist education and the significant responsibility of helping to create the training for all faculty, staff, and board members conditions (culture, norms, policies, and practices) in conjunction with the new Director of at Westridge to move toward equity and becoming Teaching and Learning. an anti-racist institution. The Director of Equity will benefit from the collaboration and support of • Providing educational opportunities on racism, trustees, senior leadership, faculty, staff, families, anti-racist practices, and broader topics within and alumnae in cultivating a truly inclusive and the areas of diversity, equity, and inclusion for equitable school environment for the students and members of the Westridge community. their families, as well as a workplace that embraces inclusivity and provides an equitable and rewarding • Collaborating with BIPOC students, parents, experience for every employee. The Director will faculty and staff, and alumnae to make a more partner with senior leadership, the new Director of inclusive learning environment; evaluating and Teaching and Learning, the Deans of Student Voices, re-setting community norms to improve school department chairs, and others to support growth across culture. the development of the curricular program, business operations, and the community life of the school. • Establishing systematic annual data collection and analysis process to uncover gaps, In addition, the Director will: inconsistencies, and bias in our program and school. • Work with the Westridge Parent Association and the Alumnae Board to guide and support equity • Working with academic leadership to ensure initiatives within their respective groups, including ongoing comprehensive curriculum review to providing information, facilitating conversations, identify areas for greater anti-bias teaching and and reviewing practices as needed learning, as well as gaps in inclusion of voices and perspectives of marginalized communities. • Act as a resource to the school’s marketing and communication team • Coordinating with leadership to increase racial diversity at Westridge at the student, staff, faculty, Supervisory Responsibility leadership, and trustee levels to better reflect the changing demographics of our state and nation The Director of Equity will supervise the Deans of and to provide more mirrors for our communities Student Voices (3) who, in coordination with school of color at Westridge. leadership, work with student leaders to engage the the position

We provide girls the highest caliber girl- centric education in a participatory and encouraging community focused on developing girls’ sense of self, sense of purpose, and the skills they need to live lives of impact. LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITY

student body and employees in student-led DEI challenge the status quo. This role requires a skillful conversations and educational opportunities as well as communicator – in both writing and speech – through to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in various modes of communication, including different accordance with the school’s Strategic Plan. technologies. Westridge’s diverse community requires a Director of Equity who has demonstrated successful experience working with students, families, staff, QUALITIES OF THE NEXT faculty, and leaders from a variety of backgrounds. DIRECTOR OF EQUITY The Director of Equity must have the ability to help the Westridge community recognize and interrupt The Director of Equity must be an experienced policies, structures, and practices that are hurtful and DEI practitioner and strategic leader who disadvantageous toward certain groups and hinder the understands how change happens at the individual ability of the School to move closer to its mission. and institutional level. The Director will be an inspiring and collaborative leader who can harness In addition, the Director of Equity must the great work surrounding DEI that is already demonstrate: happening at Westridge into a well-articulated program, and be able to lead students, adults, institutional leadership and the institution alike toward a more diverse, inclusive, and equitable community. • Readiness to serve on the senior leadership team

The Westridge community is eager to welcome a • Ability to act as a strategic thinker and expert Director of Equity who is a relationship builder, on equity and diversity, an instinct for working approaches the work with courage, and speaks collaboratively while insisting on progress with effective candor. The Director will nurture relationships built on trust, employ careful and • Successful leadership experience in a complex deep listening, and be present and engaged as organization the community learns to navigate and engage in conversations that are inevitably uncomfortable and • Experience as a teacher and teacher-leader with the position

the belief and understanding that DEI and social- DIVERSITY STATEMENT emotional well-being are central to academic achievement We believe understanding • Deep knowledge of instruction, curriculum, and the full human experience is child and adolescent development essential to preparing students successful equity and diversity for our increasingly diverse, experience global, and connected world. • An experienced educational leader whose strategic thinking, background, and passion are centered in That building and supporting a diverse and inclusive community a diverse community of students • Strong presence and gravitas, ability to inspire, and adults must be a top priority challenge, and motivate for Westridge because a diverse • Thought leader on topics of equity and social educational environment media engagement deepens, strengthens, and • Ability to help people dialogue about difficult solidifies academic excellence for equity/justice topics all. • An excellent recruiter of diverse, professional talent That a true sense of identity, emotional trust, and belonging • Knowledge of research and successful strategies around increasing equity, diversity, and inclusion is required for being present for learning, teaching, and management ability taking part in the Westridge • A highly capable decision-maker who seeks broad community. As such, equal input and whose hallmarks are transparency, collaboration, and communication priority must be placed on building and fostering a culture • Demonstrated success in carrying out strategic initiatives and in leading, motivating, and inspiring of inclusion. a team toward change That all students welcomed into • A dedicated leader with the ability to manage and our community deserve access to prioritize multiple projects, meet deadlines, and hold themselves and others accountable the same opportunities.

Education — from the Strategic Plan 2020

Bachelor’s Degree. Advanced Degree preferred LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITY

THE FACULTY They use their voice to challenge what they believe to be unfair and have been leaning into DEI Westridge’s faculty members are talented, dedicated to conversations with curiosity and courage. Student their craft, and deeply committed to girls’ education leaders in all divisions work with three Deans of and development. They are well aware of the Student Voices to further DEI conversations and importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion and are education in the school, as well as oversee the 20 ready for leadership that reflects the centrality of that student affinity groups. work to Westridge’s mission. The faculty are looking forward to critical conversations, follow through on great ideas, clear direction, and collaboration with the CAMPUS new Director of Teaching and Learning. Located in Pasadena, California, the Westridge campus is intentionally designed to support its THE STUDENTS students to grow and thrive. Girls make the campus their own — from climbing the trees (an unofficial Westridge students are often described as self-assured, school tradition!), gathering on the library patio, engaged, and comfortable in their own skins. From and sprinting across Ayrshire Courtyard to claim grade 4 onward, their voices are front and center, and their spot in line at the Commons for lunch. they are taught to think critically and independently You will see them hard at work tinkering in the and encouraged to consider their impact on others STEAMWork Design Studio (a lab for imagining and the world around them. As a result, Westridge and inventing) and you will hear the strains of the students and alumnae are confident women, creative orchestra rehearsal floating across campus from thinkers, and catalysts for action. Braun Auditorium. the school

Surgere Tentamus. We Strive to Rise. Motto 500+ Enrollment

69 Faculty

15 Average Class Size

7:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

approx $2.7 million to 23% of student body Financial Aid

When you look closer, you will see that every inch of Tiger the campus has a rich history that spans more than Mascot 100 years. The school has been located on Madeline Drive since the days of its founding in the early 1900s, Green & White and has expanded from the single house that once Colors constituted the whole of the school, to an expansive, park-like campus nestled into a quiet, residential neighborhood. Through the decades, Westridge has acquired and maintained historic architecture, MISSION including Pitcairn House, a craftsman built in 1906 by the influential early 20th Century architects Greene Westridge was built on a mission & Greene. The unique blend of contemporary and to provide gender equity in historic buildings makes Westridge a dynamic learning education. Today, we draw upon environment. Please take our Westridge Virtual Tour the spirit of our founder, Mary at tour.westridge.org! Lowther Ranney, to expand Pasadena, California diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) on our campus. These Located 11 miles north of Los Angeles, Pasadena is essential components of the considered one of the best cities to live in California. Westridge program are imperative With its Mediterranean climate, beautiful suburban to the wellness of students in neighborhoods, and multiple shopping districts, Pasadena boasts great restaurants and parks and underrepresented populations and is home to the Rose Parade, Rose Bowl, and the central to academic excellence for California Institute of Technology (Caltech). all Westridge students. procedure to apply

Westridge is committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse faculty and staff that is dedicated to providing an educational experience that is second to none. We 5 strive to ensure that faculty and staff reflect our student body and our community goals. SEARCH CALENDAR Interested candidates must submit the following materials confidentially via January 5, 2021 https://bit.ly/WestridgeDirectorofEquity in one PDF Applications Due attachment that includes in the following order: January 19–20, 2021 • Cover letter expressing interest in the Westridge Semifinalists Interviews School Director of Equity position • Current résumé February 16–19, 2021 Finalists Interviews • Statement of educational philosophy and practice March 1, 2021 • List of three references including name, title, Announcement phone number, email address and professional relationship (references are contacted only with the candidate’s permission)

Please email any questions to [email protected] or by phone to Orpheus Crutchfield at (510) 685-0861.