COLORADO ACADEMY DENVER, COLORADO LOWER SCHOOL PRINCIPAL START DATE: JULY 1, 2019 COLORADOACADEMY.ORG Mission Statement A dynamic liberal arts and sciences program that challenges students ethically, academically, artistically, and athletically creates the foundation of Colorado Academy. Teachers, students, parents, and staff foster trusting and respectful relationships, enhancing our thriving school family. Students pursue excellence and seek to become lifelong learners and contributors in our local and international communities. OVERVIEW At the foot of the Rockies, Colorado Academy (CA) is a coeducational, independent day school in southwest Denver serving 979 students from across the Denver metropolitan area. It is the only independent school in the Denver metro area with a Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12 configuration, a key element both of the school’s identity and ethos. Bringing students and families from 73 zip codes across the city together to a single campus, the school is teeming with excitement, activity, and a love for learning. Rich in both tradition and the spirit of innovation, CA offers a college preparatory program that emphasizes the basic disciplines in the liberal arts and sciences, as well as ethical training and character education, along with the kind of artistic and athletic training that rivals specialty schools. CA is searching for a Principal to guide the Lower School Division (grades Pre-K through 5), with a position start date of July 1, 2019. The Search Group | Carney, Sandoe & Associates 1 [email protected] | www.carneysandoe.com Fast Facts Students Enrolled: 272 Zip Codes Represented: 26 Students of Color: 36% Student to Faculty Ratio: 7 to 1 Faculty and Staff of Color: 51% Faculty Holding Advanced Degrees: 74% Athletic Teams: 8 competitive varsity and junior varsity teams Endowment: $2.5 million Total Financial Aid Awarded for 17-18: $1.4 million Students Receiving Financial Aid for 17-18: 21% THE LOWER SCHOOL With outstanding teachers and forward-thinking administrators, an enthusiastic Lower School student body of nearly 340 students, committed and involved parents, and top-notch facilities, CA has a clear mission and exciting goals for the future. The school has employed tools such as Design Thinking, Mindfulness training, Responsive Classroom programs, and technology and coding opportunities for even its youngest students. The Lower School Principal oversees the day-to-day operations of the division, works closely with other division heads, and is a member of the senior administrative team. The position reports directly to the Head of School. The new division head will find a forward-thinking group of faculty primed for continued learning as teachers, for support for students, and for cross-disciplinary and cross-divisional teaching. The next Lower School leader will play a pivotal role in moving the division to the next level. The person in this position will provide the educational knowledge and vision, organization, and management skills to lead and effectively manage a talented group of faculty and students in the division. Students’ learning in the Lower School is key to a their social, emotional, and educational foundation for middle and upper school, college, and beyond. Because Lower School grades provide a major entry point to CA, the Lower School Principal is heavily involved as a school leader, ambassador, and representative of the school in the admission process. Several of the past five years have seen record numbers of applications to CA. The Search Group | Carney, Sandoe & Associates 2 [email protected] | www.carneysandoe.com STRATEGIC FOCUS Through two separate strategic plans, the school has successfully implemented many key initiatives, including a strong emphasis on social and emotional learning and student health, education that provides strong college and work readiness, and the teaching of the “Six Cs of 21st Century Skills,” which include Critical Thinking and Problem Solving, Communication, Collaboration, Creativity, Cultural Competence, and Character Development. CA is also committed to teaching leadership, service, confidence, and tenacity. The school is known as the birthplace of Outward Bound in the U.S., evidence of which is found in CA’s signature Outdoor Program, its Travel and Exchange program, and annual Interim adventures which provide experiences for students of all ages. THE STUDENTS AND FAMILIES Colorado Academy is known for its focus on the development of the “whole person,” balancing an innovative and rigorous curriculum with a supportive and encouraging school environment. Students are highly motivated and emerge from CA prepared for success in college and beyond. One hundred percent of CA graduates are accepted to four-year colleges and universities. The school community is one that values and honors difference and seeks to be a place where students of all ages and families of all backgrounds are understood, represented, and highly regarded. Students of color make up 22% of the student body. The Search Group | Carney, Sandoe & Associates 3 [email protected] | www.carneysandoe.com THE FACUltY AND CURRICULUM A passionate and talented group of 100 faculty members across all three divisions bring a wealth of experience to the classroom. Students are taught by educators who are experts in their respective fields. Teachers have an average of 17 years of experience in the classroom and 10 years at CA; 70% hold advanced degrees. Classes are intentionally small, with an average class size of 16 and a student/ teacher ratio of 9.8:1. The curriculum offers a balanced program designed to provide students with increasing levels of challenge and responsibility as they move through the grades. The Lower School’s 35 faculty members create units of study and topics that encourage discovery and questioning and utilize appropriate technology and tools, and they monitor students’ progress and mastery. Topics and courses in core subjects of language arts, math, science, and social studies are supplemented with lessons in computer science/engineering and design, art, music, physical education and kinesiology, and library. Spanish instruction starts in Kindergarten, and research tools and skills are added to library in Grade 3. With guidance, patience, and wisdom, teachers promote self-esteem, self-awareness, and self-initiated learning; they support development of self-competence, encourage socialization, and facilitate group problem solving. From the primary years on, children learn and grow as students and individuals through classroom discipline, service, and experiential learning. Colorado Academy is accredited by the Association of Colorado Independent Schools. CA is a member in good standing of the National Association for Independent Schools and is a member and co-founding organization of the Association of College Counseling in Independent Schools. The Search Group | Carney, Sandoe & Associates 4 [email protected] | www.carneysandoe.com ARTS AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION The Arts Program at Colorado Academy helps Lower School students develop an understanding of and appreciation for the arts at a young age. Art and music classes are a celebration of expression and discovery and prepare students to choose a visual or performing arts elective when they reach Middle School. Beginning in Pre-Kindergarten, students learn to make music by singing, dancing, and playing classroom instruments. Eventually their skills evolve into reading iconic notation, improvising, and performing in various capacities. Students may also choose to begin learning an instrument through private instruction in Lower School. In the visual arts, Lower School students work with an arts specialist starting in Pre-K. As they progress through Lower School, they develop an understanding of art principles and have the opportunity to experiment with different techniques and media. The goals in the Lower School Physical Education Program are to promote and foster a lifelong love for physical activity and create lasting growth in physical skills and fitness. Students work through a series of athletic activities designed to challenge them as individuals and as a group while reinforcing both gross and fine motor skill development, teamwork, and age-appropriate problem solving. CA’s signature Swimming Program for students in Kindergarten through Grade 5 is designed to teach children how to be confident, independent, and adventurous young swimmers. Students participate in a variety of swimming challenges and activities with their PE instructors who help teach stroke development and technique, while also reinforcing water safety and awareness of other swimmers. The Search Group | Carney, Sandoe & Associates 5 [email protected] | www.carneysandoe.com SCHOOL LIFE Addressing the needs and learning of the “whole child” means that Colorado Academy extends the programs it creates beyond history, math facts, reading fluency, and the scientific method. From outdoor education to service learning to clubs and leadership activities in the upper grades, students have opportunities to enjoy the CA experience outside of the classroom. The concept of service to others is fundamental to a CA education. From Pre-Kindergarten through Upper School, students participate in various service projects to develop social responsibility, perspective, and sensitivity to the world around them. In Lower School, teachers help students understand that the world is filled with uniqueness and difference and