Head of School Opportunity Shrewsbury Montessori School Shrewsbury, Massachusetts
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Head of School Opportunity Shrewsbury Montessori School Shrewsbury, Massachusetts Since 1972, Shrewsbury Montessori School has provided students with a high-quality education based on the teachings of Dr. Maria Montessori, the founder of the Montessori philosophy of education, who understood that all children are born with unique strengths and challenges, and learn best when their education is individualized and fosters their intrinsic desire to learn. Shrewsbury Montessori School (SMS) offers nearly 170 children from age three through grade six a multifaceted education that fosters academic excellence, self-reliance, and independence. The program is overseen by a caring and dedicated faculty with an average tenure of more than 10 years. Situated on three campuses, Worcester, Auburn and the main campus in Shrewsbury, SMS takes full advantage of its spectacular setting. In keeping with the Montessori commitment to experiential learning, the SMS experience also includes myriad opportunities to engage with the local and global communities through travel, service learning, and mentorship/internship programs. In the past five years, SMS opened the third campus in Worcester, purchased a new property in Shrewsbury, participated in a research program with the Boston College Language Learning Lab, partnered with a new Montessori school in Shanghai, China, and established an annual trip to the Island School for sixth-year students. The school has also secured dual accreditation from the Association of Independent Schools in New England and the American Montessori Society, and the Board adopted a comprehensive strategic plan that will guide the school through 2021. For a position to begin in July 2020, SMS is seeking a dynamic, forward-thinking educator with a genuine love of children and a commitment to the Montessori philosophy. An intimate school with a clear mission and a strong academic program, SMS is a fantastic place for a hands-on leader with the energy, creativity, and compassion to help the school continue its growth and development. On the web: www.shrewsburymontessori.org APPLICATION DEADLINE: NOVEMBER 18, 2019 SHREWSBURY MONTESSORI SCHOOL AT A GLANCE MISSION Our mission is to prepare and foster the development of the whole child in a safe and nurturing environment while sparking their natural curiosity and their innate love to learn. With the teacher as their guide and a hands-on approach to learning, we aim to cultivate a self-disciplined, self- confident, independent, and academically prepared global citizen who is cognitively, socially, emotionally, and physically aware. VISION Shrewsbury Montessori School is a well-known, innovative leader of quality Montessori education for early childhood and elementary students. We are financially stable and growing our programming. We are a vibrant, diverse community that respects students, inspires teachers, supports families, and enhances the community. We provide an environment that nurtures children to develop their individual gifts and teaches them to love learning. Every child grows to their potential to live happy and fulfilled lives and forever remain lifelong learners. CORE VALUES Shrewsbury Montessori School’s core values are grounded in the Montessori philosophy and guide our community, programs, initiatives, and unique culture. Our core values reflect how we work inside and outside the organization to achieve our mission, vision, and goals. At SMS, we believe in: • Independence and Autonomy – We encourage and guide children to do things for themselves. By giving children opportunities, there is an increase in their self-belief, self- confidence, and self-esteem that they will carry with them throughout their life. • Community – We promote community and cultural awareness in our classroom environments, and celebrate the diversity of our students, families, and staff. • Respect – We value self-respect, mutual respect, respect for others, and respect for our environment. We provide a safe and nurturing environment that encourages the appreciation of joy and the wonderment of childhood. • Joy of Learning – We provide engaged, purposeful learning opportunities that promote a love of lifelong learning. • Peace Education – We cultivate each child’s ability to become peaceful, compassionate citizens and responsible stewards of the planet. 2 VITAL STATISTICS FOUNDED: 1972 PERSONNEL SMS employs a total of 36 people, including 21 full- LOCATION: time faculty and 15 part-time faculty. Seven faculty Three campuses in Shrewsbury, Auburn, and and staff members have advanced degrees, and the Worcester, Massachusetts. The Auburn and average tenure of all teachers at SMS is 10.6 years. Worcester campuses each have one Children’s House classroom (PreK and Kindergarten), while the OPERATING BUDGET, 2019-20: $2.3 million Shrewsbury campus has three Children’s House classrooms, two Lower Elementary classrooms, and INDEBTEDNESS: $0 two Upper Elementary classrooms. TOTAL FUNDS RAISED, 2018-19: $69,000 ENROLLMENT, 2019-20: 168 Children’s House (PreK-K) 96 ANNUAL GIVING, 2018-19: Lower Elementary 46 $38,000; 100% trustee participation Upper Elementary 26 FULL-DAY TUITION, 2019-20: $14,230-$15,540 STUDENT-TEACHER RATIO: 12:1 ACCREDITATIONS: STUDENTS OF COLOR: 46% Association of Independent Schools in New England, American Montessori Society MEMBER: Montessori Schools of Massachusetts, National Association of Independent Schools DEFINING STRENGTHS AND UNIQUE ATTRIBUTES OF THE SCHOOL Shrewsbury Montessori is a lively, closely knit school community focused on providing individual attention and a caring environment for each and every child. The seasoned and dedicated faculty oversee a remarkably varied educational program solidly grounded in Montessori principles and enriched by frequent forays into the world beyond the school. Since the school’s beginnings, a supportive and engaged parent community has contributed mightily to SMS’s success. The school recently established a volunteer structure with teams dedicated to supporting various administrative and academic areas of the school, including, fundraising, family education, staff appreciation, gardening, admissions, and classroom support. SMS students are curious, engaged, lifelong learners who are increasingly self-aware and confident in their ability to meet life’s challenges as they move through the program. Not surprisingly, these poised young people are welcomed at all of the area’s secondary schools, including both public schools and independent schools such as Bancroft School, Fay School, Worcester Academy, Commonwealth School, and the Advanced Math and Science Academy Charter School. 3 FACULTY, ADMINISTRATION, AND THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES The passionate and experienced SMS faculty lies at the heart of the school’s success. With an average tenure of more than 10 years, they are afforded a great deal of autonomy and report high levels of job satisfaction. Each of the Children’s House classrooms in Auburn and Worcester is led by a team of two – a teacher and an assistant teacher. On the Shrewsbury campus, six faculty teach in the Children’s House, four in the Lower Elementary program, and four in the Upper Elementary Program. The school’s co- curricular faculty include a librarian, a content support teacher, and dedicated faculty in the areas of art, technology, French and Latin, and music. All classroom teachers in the Children’s House and Elementary programs hold Montessori credentials. The administrative team at SMS comprises the Director of Admissions, Director of Finance, Director of Advancement, Marketing/Communication Coordinator, and the Head of School. In addition, there are two part-time nurses and a receptionist. The 14-member Board of Trustees is an energetic and supportive group, made up of current parents, alumni parents, and those that love our school. HISTORY, LOCATION, AND FACILITIES Shrewsbury Montessori School was founded in 1972 by Mrs. Nancy Corkum, who opened the school with five children in Dudley, Massachusetts. The school expanded to Auburn in 1976 with the purchase of a log cabin classroom and then to Shrewsbury by renting space in Mt. Olivet Church. The main campus building was bought in 1986. Over the years, the school has added multiple classrooms, an all-purpose room, and a media center/library. The school opened its Worcester campus in 2017. A proprietary institution for nearly three decades, SMS was led by Mrs. Corkum until her retirement in 2004, at which time a group of parents converted the school to a non-profit, 501(c)(3) corporation. SMS was accredited by the Association of Independent Schools of New England in 2013, and in 2015 the school received its American Montessori Society accreditation. In September 2019, SMS purchased the Mt. Olivet Church property. The school plans to renovate the property to create classrooms that will accommodate approximately 70 students. With a population of more than 180,000 residents – and growing – Worcester is a dynamic, livable city in a beautiful setting. Nicknamed The Heart of the Commonwealth, the city is less than an hour’s drive from Boston, Springfield, and Providence, Rhode Island. Worcester is the second most populous city in New England, and home to many colleges and universities, including, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Clark University, Becker College, Assumption College, Worcester State University, and College of the Holy Cross. The University of Massachusetts Memorial Health Care system and the UMass Medical School have helped anchor a nascent biotech