HEAD OF SCHOOL The Orchard School Indianapolis, IN Founded in 1922 by nine mothers committed to developing an alternative elementary school experience based on the philosophy of John Dewey and the progressive school movement, The Orchard School today is a nonsectarian independent school serving 555 students, age 3 to grade 8. For nearly a century, Orchard has honored the vision of its founders by offering a joyful learning environment grounded in experiential learning, curricular integration, ready access to the outdoors, and emphasis on the unique academic, social, emotional, and physical needs of each child. Orchard has been situated since 1957 on a beautiful 43‐acre Orchard’s next Head of School will guide the school as it campus in north Indianapolis. Its 18 acres of woods, four prepares to celebrate its centennial. For a position to begin in playgrounds, rustic outdoor classrooms, gardens, July 2018, Orchard is seeking an engaged and engaging greenhouse, challenge course, athletic fields, and miles of educational leader who is wholeheartedly committed to trails support one of the core tenets of the Orchard progressive education and skilled at adapting its experience: nature as teacher. foundational principles to the demands of the modern age. Welcoming parents as partners, Orchard’s dedicated faculty This is an exceptional career opportunity for an inspiring, and staff embrace the opportunity to meet each child where visionary, and strategically minded leader who can position they are, offering support and challenge to guide students as this cherished independent school for continued success and they develop into confident and curious lifelong learners well long‐term sustainability in an increasingly challenging prepared to thrive in high school and beyond as global educational marketplace. citizens. APPLICATION DEADLINE: OCTOBER 12, 2017 ORCHARD AT A GLANCE Mission The Orchard School’s mission is to develop and educate the whole child. Philosophy As a progressive, nonsectarian, independent school, Orchard commits to advance each student’s academic success, self-confidence, open-mindedness, ethical character, leadership, and love of learning. Enrollment 2017-18 SCHOOL-WIDE: 555 MULTI-AGE/KINDERGARTEN: 121 ORCHARD’S SIGNATURE STRENGTHS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (1–4): 201 MIDDLE SCHOOL (5–8): 233 Long a beacon of progressive education in Indianapolis, The Orchard School has STUDENT-TEACHER RATIO: 7:1 encapsulated its defining characteristics in the following 9 Promises: STUDENTS OF COLOR: 26% 1. The Best Teaching: Teachers who are recognized nationally for their Faculty & Staff expertise, high standards, and curricular innovations such as teaching teams, meaningful integration of disciplines, infusion of technology, and TOTAL NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES: 109 hands‐on, experiential learning. NUMBER OF FULL TIME FACULTY: 78 % WITH ADVANCED DEGREES: 52% 2. Students Who Love School: When students are “met where they are” by AVERAGE FACULTY TENURE: 12 years teachers who have the time and interest to focus on each student and FACULTY OF COLOR: 14% engage his or her intellectual and creative curiosity, learning is endlessly interesting. Finance & Development 3. Parents as Partners: Involved families thrive at Orchard. Teachers and parents are viewed as a cohesive team sharing insights in order to OPERATING BUDGET: $16M ENDOWMENT: $33M maximize and complement a student’s learning and growth. INDEBTEDNESS: $6M 4. Diversity is a Given: Integral to Orchardʹs academic excellence is a TUITION (FULL DAY): $19,231- dynamic, multicultural education within a widely diverse community that $20,831 is constantly evolving and growing. FINANCIAL AID: $2.21M FUNDS RAISED LAST YEAR: $3.5M 5. Successful Outcomes: Leadership, critical thinking, confidence, ANNUAL GIVING: $757K communication skills, integrity, character, social skills, as well as proven high school and college success are recognizable attributes of Orchard Affiliations students. ACCREDITATION: Independent Schools 6. State‐of‐the‐Art Resources: Relative to its program, Orchard’s physical Association of the plant and technological resources are unsurpassed by the best schools in Central States, National the nation. Association for the Education of Young 7. Nature as Teacher: In an increasingly urban world, nature remains central Children to the Orchard experience with over 40 wooded acres where students can MEMBER: National Association of learn, play, be inspired, soothed, intrigued, and enlightened. Independent Schools, 8. Global Readiness: Orchard’s diversity, multicultural curriculum, and Progressive Education world‐conscious perspective equip students with the kind of insight and Network experience required in a global society. 9. A Meaningful Heritage: Orchard’s founding philosophy honored children ON THE WEB: WWW.ORCHARD.ORG as the curious, insightful, dignified human beings they are — it is a heritage that remains at the heart of daily life at Orchard almost 100 years later. 2 “Orchard is a school that smiles. Our halls are filled with laughter as students learn and explore secure in the nurturing guidance provided by teachers who know them, care for them, and see them each as individuals. It is in this essential teacher-student relationship that profound learning and great aspirations take root and blossom.” Students and Families With the capacity to enroll up to 615 students, Orchard is a large and vibrant school community. The school is strongly committed to maintaining and celebrating diversity across many dimensions. More than one‐quarter of the students identify as people of color. Economic diversity is supported through more than $2.2 million in financial aid, which assists 34 percent of the student body. Orchard students are kind, confident, and deeply curious about the world around them. The school welcomes a broad variety of learners and offers both support services and enrichment in every grade to ensure that their needs are met. Orchard students go on to many competitive independent, Catholic, and public schools, where they are widely appreciated for their active engagement in learning as well as their self‐awareness and ability to advocate for themselves. Parents are active participants in the life of the school and have a dedicated on‐campus Parent Center, which includes open workspace and computers. Faculty, Staff, and Administration More than 100 employees, including 78 full‐ time faculty, lie at the heart of the Orchard experience. With an average tenure of 12 years at Orchard, the talented teaching staff is fully committed to the progressive tenets that guide teaching and learning at the school. Teachers lead by example, modeling a willingness to grow, a deep knowledge of best practices reflecting current research, and a passion for learning. Working both in grade‐level teams and as members of departments that cross all divisions, the faculty are highly collegial, collaborative, and creative. More than 50 percent of the faculty hold advanced degrees, and ongoing professional development is generously supported. In the 2016‐17 school year, more than 30 teachers received summer enrichment grants. One‐third of the faculty is evaluated each year through a largely formative process. Close faculty‐student relationships are the norm at Orchard, facilitated by an overall student‐faculty ratio of 7:1. In Early Childhood through first grade, two full‐time teachers staff each classroom. Head of School Thomas Rosenbluth joined Orchard in 2013. The senior administrative team reporting to the Head includes the Chief Financial Officer; the newly appointed Director of Institutional Advancement, who oversees development, admissions, and marketing; the Assistant Head of School/Director of Studies, an alumnus and 19‐year employee who assumed his new position last year; the Director of Early Childhood and Elementary School, who joined Orchard last year; the Director of Middle School, a former Orchard teacher, parent, and Board member who returned to the school last year; and the Director of Diversity, a position created in 2014 and now held by a former teacher who has worked at Orchard since 2000. 3 Governance and Advancement Two Boards provide broad oversight and strategic direction at Orchard. The 19‐member Board of Trustees – composed primarily of current parents, alumni, and supporters of the school – meets monthly with the Head of School and is charged with overseeing the annual budget, establishing and monitoring operating policies set by the administration, and developing or approving annual plans. The 13‐member Board of Governors – consisting mainly of former trustees, alumni, and grandparents – meets quarterly with the Head of School. Responsible for the overall protection and preservation of the mission, the Board of Governors also directs investment and use of the school’s robust endowment, approves the annual budget set by the administration and the Board of Trustees, and approves strategic plans. Both Boards meet together at least annually. The Head of School reports to and is a non‐voting member of both Boards. The two Boards work collaboratively on many issues. A joint committee reviews and evaluates the performance of the Head of School, recommends any compensation adjustments, and provides insight into the Head of School’s initiatives for the ensuing school year. Both Boards must approve the selection of the Head of School. A joint committee of the two Boards and the administration is working on a five‐year financial sustainability plan. With the current strategic plan