HEAD OF SCHOOL The Orchard School , 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 set to conclude in 2020, work will begin soon by the new Head of School, in consultation with the Boards, on the development of the next long‐range blueprint.

The Boards have also begun work on the next five‐year capital campaign, Orchard’s first major fundraising effort in 20 years. With an anticipated goal of $11 million, the campaign has already raised more than $3 million during the first year of its quiet phase. Funds raised will be used to support faculty salaries, financial aid, facilities upgrades, and the enhancement of the endowment, currently valued at $33 million. A 6 percent draw on the endowment this year is helping to support the $16 million operating budget, although the administration and both Boards are working to reduce the draw to 5 percent over time. A total of $3.5 million was raised last year through fundraising efforts, including annual giving proceeds of $757,000. Forty‐eight percent of parents contributed to the annual fund.

Location, Campus, and Facilities

Orchard’s 43‐acre campus is a defining strength and an integral part of the school’s program. The 164,000‐square‐foot school building, fully refurbished in 2002, is open, light‐filled, and attractive. It includes two gyms, a library, many comfortable gathering spaces, and dedicated facilities for art, dance, science, and woodshop. The heavily wooded grounds include a newly resurfaced running track, two soccer fields, a baseball field, a softball field, and four playgrounds. The outdoor education program is supported by a challenge course with high and low elements, rustic cabins and shelters, and miles of trails.

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About Indianapolis Just three hours’ driving distance from Chicago, four hours from St. Louis, and two hours from both Cincinnati and Louisville, Indianapolis is a lively, family‐friendly city of nearly 2 million people with a diverse economy led by health care, education, manufacturing, and tourism. The city recently completed $3 billion in infrastructure improvements, including a new international airport, an expanded convention center, and a multipurpose stadium. The Indianapolis Cultural Trail, a model urban bike and pedestrian path, connects six downtown cultural districts.

Rich with history and cultural offerings, the state capital is home to the NCAA, the American Legion, and the world’s largest children’s museum (founded by many of the same mothers who established Orchard). Residents enjoy a city center rich with restaurants, arts and entertainment venues, and inviting recreational spaces. Cultural attractions include the Conner Prairie living history museum and the Indianapolis Museum of Art. The redeveloped Central Canal, State Park (which includes the city’s highly regarded zoo), and are popular destinations for biking, hiking, and boating. Collegiate and professional sports – including the Pacers, Colts, and the Indianapolis 500 – are an exciting and popular part of the city’s identity and culture.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM

Orchard’s academic program is shaped by its child‐ first philosophy and organized into Early Childhood (including a multiage preschool and Kindergarten), Elementary School (grades 1‐4), and Middle School (grades 5‐8) divisions. Orchard’s students benefit from the school’s creative, project‐ based approach to teaching and learning.

On a typical day, an Orchard student might study simple machines while climbing on Orchard’s challenge course; explore themes of identity and diversity while developing painting technique in art class; or learn about ecology and sustainable farming practices while tapping syrup from Orchard’s maple trees.

The Orchard program is founded on the belief that the best pathway to deep understanding, skills, and knowledge is through active, rigorous, hands‐on learning that taps into students’ instinctive curiosity. Interdisciplinary approaches to teaching are the norm. In the Middle School, for example, math and science teachers join forces in the classroom to integrate and reinforce principles and the application of knowledge. Comfort with complex questions that have multiple possible solutions leads to open‐minded exploration and sophisticated comprehension. Beyond traditional educational practices, knowledge is constructed through play, social interaction, and direct experience.

While innovative approaches to teaching and learning are prized at Orchard, the educational program is built upon a documented, standards‐based curriculum that encompasses literature and language arts, mathematics, multicultural education, science, social studies, Spanish, technology, health, physical education, visual arts, drama, and music. Academic accountability measures include Educational Records Bureau scores, which typically significantly exceed national norms.

At Orchard, the 3 Rs are respectful, responsible, and resourceful. All teaching personnel are trained in the philosophy and methods of the Responsive Classroom approach, which helps children develop positive social skills that enhance problem solving and academic achievement. Service learning opportunities occur in each division, culminating in multiple days of service in the Middle School.

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For a more detailed view of the educational program, visit www.orchard.org. Here are a few highlights:

 A One‐to‐One Laptop Program provides students in grades two through eight and faculty with laptops and software programs. Early childhood through first‐grade students use iPads.

 The arts are a vital element of the Orchard experience, with all art forms (visual arts, music, and drama) integrated throughout the curriculum. Formal classes in the arts begin in Kindergarten and increase in time and scope as students mature.

 Outdoor education has been a feature of Orchard’s curriculum since its founding in 1922. In recent years, the school has developed a full scope and sequence for the program, which is integrated with the curriculum at each grade level and overseen by the Outdoor Education Coordinator. Program strands include team building, way finding, ecology, adventure on the water, and life skills.

 Middle School students venture out into the world for out‐of‐town study trips with strong curricular connections. Grade five travels to Mammoth Cave in Kentucky, grade six to St. Louis, grade seven to Chicago, and grade eight to Washington, D.C. Younger students take advantage of the resources available in Indianapolis.

 Orchard Extended Programs provide high‐quality before‐school, after‐school, and summer opportunities for both Orchard students and the broader community. Kids Connect encompasses before‐ and after‐school care as well as age‐ appropriate activities, clubs, and classes for students in each division. A variety of summer camps, offered on campus for eight weeks each year, draw more than 500 students from 40+ schools in the Indianapolis area.

 The extracurricular athletic program in grades 5–8 features no‐cut sports teams coached primarily by faculty members. Offerings include soccer, cross country, volleyball, tennis, football, basketball, baseball, softball, and track and field.

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OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES FOR THE NEXT HEAD OF SCHOOL

The next Head of The Orchard School will join an institution with myriad resources, including its long and distinguished history of excellence in progressive education; its clear, compelling, and relevant mission; a beautiful campus; wonderful students, and legions of loyal and supportive faculty, parents, past parents, alumni, and trustees. As Orchard sets the stage for its 100th birthday celebration in 2022, the next Head of School will have the opportunity to bring fresh perspectives and new energy to the challenges of ensuring continued educational excellence and long‐term financial sustainability. The school’s next leader will enjoy the strong support of a newly revitalized senior administrative team and dedicated Board members.

The 2008 economic recession marked the beginning of a challenging decade for Orchard, which has experienced both pressure on its endowment and a decline in previously robust enrollment demand. While the $33 million endowment remains impressive for an independent elementary school, Orchard’s educational model and the maintenance of its extraordinary campus are expensive. Cost‐cutting efforts during the post‐recession era, including staff reductions, taxed morale, though recent initiatives have helped with school morale. At the same time, the educational marketplace has become markedly more competitive, with both private and free public schools now touting progressive education practices that were once differentiating strengths of Orchard.

The constellation of opportunities and challenges awaiting the next Head of School calls for a clear and confident leader who is visionary, optimistic, and inspiring. With its distinguished history as a pioneer in progressive education, Orchard has the opportunity to serve as a thought leader and an incubator for excellence in the field. Among the specific opportunities and challenges awaiting the next Head are the following:

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Admissions and Marketing

Maintaining healthy enrollment in an environment of growing school choices and increasing price sensitivity while simultaneously remaining true to Orchard’s core beliefs will be a prime challenge for the next Head of School. Opening‐day enrollment for the 2017–18 school year was 555, a decline from last year and well short of the school’s 615‐student capacity. Working with the newly appointed Director of Institutional Advancement, the incoming Head will be expected to provide strategic leadership and hands‐on participation in the work of strengthening enrollment and retention. Defining and communicating Orchard’s unique value proposition to both external and internal audiences will be a high priority.

The Educational Program

In this competitive educational environment, it is more important than ever that Orchard ensure the excellence and continued relevance of its educational program. The school cannot afford to rest on its substantial laurels as the premier provider of progressive education for generations of Indianapolis‐ area families. While continuing ongoing initiatives to reinforce Orchard’s core progressive principles, the next Head will be expected to bring a fresh perspective to the evaluation of the entire program, with a particular focus on areas including STEM subjects, world language, and learning support services for the academically diverse student body.

Finance and Development

Ensuring the long‐term financial sustainability of Orchard will be a key challenge for the school’s next leader. Working in concert with Board members and the senior administrative team, the new Head will need to focus on both prudent financial management and the enhancement of resources through improved enrollment and heightened fundraising. The upcoming centennial offers a prime opportunity to reinvigorate a culture of philanthropy among current families, past parents, and alumni. Many alumni have fond memories of their days at Orchard, but the school has not yet capitalized upon that affection by inspiring large numbers of graduates to provide philanthropic support.

WHO SHOULD APPLY: IMPORTANT QUALITIES AND QUALIFICATIONS

The Orchard School is seeking a dynamic, inspiring leader who will honor and build upon the very solid foundation already in place. The school community will welcome a gifted communicator with a strategic mindset, a strong vision for progressive education in the 21st century, and a genuine love of children.

Orchard is dedicated to the goal of building a broadly diverse community and encourages applications from people of color, LGBTQ candidates, and women.

Ideally, candidates should offer most of the following attributes:

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Qualifications and Experiences

 Excellent academic credentials, including an advanced degree, coupled with demonstrated interest in lifelong learning.

 An understanding of, and commitment to, progressive education, ideally including knowledge of current best practices in highly regarded progressive schools.

 Substantial experience in teaching and school administration, ideally in an independent elementary school of high quality.

 Exceptional interpersonal and communications skills, including the presentation and public speaking skills necessary to promote the school among current and prospective families.

 Financial acumen and solid management skills.

 The willingness and ability to lead institutional advancement efforts, including fundraising, marketing, and communications.

 Experience in independent school governance.

Leadership Style and Personal Qualities

 A visionary, creative, and strategically oriented leader who is both respectful of tradition and supportive of thoughtful innovation.

 An open‐minded and open‐hearted leader who is positive, supportive, and eager to engage with all constituencies within the school community.

 A student‐centered leader who is respectful of children, enjoys interacting with them, and places their best interests first.

 An optimistic, kind, upbeat leader who inspires trust and promotes healthy morale.

 A confident, comfortable leader who solicits input, delegates effectively, enforces accountability, and acts decisively when appropriate.

 A careful steward of the school’s human, physical, and financial resources.

 A passionate advocate of progressive education who can genuinely communicate the many ways in which it builds character, curiosity, and critical thinking skills; a thought leader who is interested in advancing progressive education locally and nationally.

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ANTICIPATED SEARCH CALENDAR

Application deadline: October 12, 2017 Selection of semifinalists: October 25, 2017 Semifinalist interviews: November 11–12, 2017 Finalist visits: November/December 2017 Appointment: December 2017 Starting date: July 2018

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS AND SEARCH PROCESS

Acting on behalf of The Orchard School, Wickenden Associates is actively recruiting talented educational leaders for this appealing leadership opportunity. The lead consultant is Jo Butler ([email protected]). She may also be reached at (609) 683‐1355.

Candidates should submit no later than Thursday, October 12, an application package including the following:

 A cover letter indicating why they are particularly interested in and qualified for the position.  A current résumé.  A statement of educational philosophy.  The names, addresses, and telephone numbers of three references. (We will obtain permission from candidates before contacting references).  Optional: Other supporting material (e.g. articles, speeches, or letters of recommendation) that would be useful to the Search Committee.

These materials should be transmitted via email attachment to [email protected]. Candidates who are new to Wickenden Associates are particularly encouraged to initiate the application process well before the deadline.

After an initial review of applicants, the Search Committee will interview semifinalist candidates on November 11‐12. Shortly thereafter, finalists will be invited to Orchard for a more comprehensive series of interviews with representatives of the school’s constituencies. A December appointment is anticipated. Wickenden Associates will keep all applicants informed of their status throughout the process.

1000 Herrontown Road, Princeton, New Jersey 08540-7716 Tel: (609) 683-1355 Fax: (609) 683-1351 www.wickenden.com [email protected]