THE ACADEMY Berkeley, California
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THE ACADEMY Berkeley, California HEAD OF SCHOOL Start Date: July 1, 2021 theacademyschool.org Mission The Academy’s mission is to develop thoughtful, ambitious, and deep learners. We honor our students’ individuality while cultivating their sense of integrity, their respect for others, and their commitment to service in a global society. Educational Philosophy Rigorous academics supported by small class sizes and expert teachers who utilize the Socratic method in their classrooms. OVERVIEW The Academy is a unique independent school in Berkeley, California for students in grades K-8 with an advanced academic curriculum and a longstanding commitment to diversity and inclusiveness. For over 50 years, The Academy’s mission has been to develop thoughtful, ambitious, and deep learners in a warm and supportive community. The head of school position presents an exceptional opportunity for an educational leader who is ready to lead a pioneering school and its dedicated faculty and staff. At a total size of fewer than 120 students and class sizes of fewer than 15 students, The Academy has been a ‘microschool’ for decades—long before the idea became popular. The school’s small size encourages close bonds between students within and across grade levels and enables the faculty to work individually with students towards mastery learning. CARNEYSANDOE.COM 2 Fast Facts Founded: 1969 Grades served: K-8 Target students per class in Lower School: 12 Target students per class in Upper School: 15 Total enrollment: 114 Students of color: 62% (2020-21 school year) Faculty holding advanced degrees in their field: 67% THE SCHOOL Situated on a quiet, tree-lined street in the Elmwood District, The Academy is located six blocks southeast of the University of California, Berkeley campus. The school’s campus consists of a main building, which houses the classrooms and the school office, a playground and side yard, and a front courtyard and garden. The main building is a Berkeley traditional brown-shingle known as the “Edwards House” designed by Ernest Coxhead in 1903. The school has called the Edwards House home for more than 45 years. The Academy proudly offers students a rigorous, advanced academic education in a diverse, nurturing environment. Teachers approach students with respect and ensure that each student is known, valued, and appreciated for their unique gifts. Academy students develop depth of knowledge and self-awareness about the process of learning. Fueled by outstanding academic preparation, students internalize a sense of ethical responsibility as global citizens. The school’s small size encourages close bonds between students within and across grade levels. Individuality is valued, and students are appreciated for who they are. Parents and teachers are proud that there is no “typical” Academy student. Graduates from the eighth grade are sought by selective high schools and excel there and beyond. CARNEYSANDOE.COM 3 ACADEMICS The cornerstone of an Academy education is the rigorous academic program. In addition to maintaining high expectations for student achievement, teachers at The Academy teach content about a year ahead of the state standards for each grade level. Much of the curricular content is spiraled throughout the school year and across grade levels, resulting in an excellent foundation of concept mastery. The Academy is committed to small class sizes because individualized attention from expert teachers is the best way for students to learn. The intimate environment allows students to flourish as citizens of their classroom and members of the community. Thanks to small class sizes, teachers also have the ability to assess each student’s understanding on a continual basis and to differentiate instruction accordingly. If a student needs extra support—or extra challenge—needs are identified and addressed quickly, giving each student the individual attention needed for success. In vibrant classrooms, teachers use the Socratic, or Constructivist, approach which employs an interplay of questions-hypothesis-answer-refinement-explanation that is a crucial element of learning. Teachers listen carefully to each answer, question again, and make certain the answers are supported by evidence and logic. Each student constructs knowledge based on experience, evidence, and the input of other students. This method allows students to develop a sense of ownership in their knowledge and beliefs, and gain confidence in their abilities to solve problems of ever-increasing complexity. Lower School (Grades K-5) From Kindergarten through fifth grade, each grade level is comprised of one class and one core teacher. Intimate classrooms and skilled teachers ensure that each and every student has their social and emotional needs validated and met, and that their intellectual horizons are ever-expanding. CARNEYSANDOE.COM 4 In addition to the instruction they receive from core teachers in reading, writing, mathematics, and social studies, students in the Lower School have the opportunity to delve deeply into science, art, music, physical education, and French, all led by talented specialist teachers. These programs are indicative of The Academy’s commitment to a well-rounded education for students, paying particular attention to nurturing their creative and explorative capacities, and encouraging good health and a sense of fun. Upper School (Grades 6-8) The Upper School (grades 6-8) is built on the evidence and belief that students at this age represent a distinct developmental stage. During these years, a great deal of personal and intellectual growth takes place. Passionate teachers guide students through their intellectual journeys in small classrooms that allow for the development and expression of individual ideas. Students in the Upper School continue to challenge themselves as scholars while expanding their conception of their place in the wider world. Each subject is taught by a specialist teacher, and Upper School students move from classroom to classroom in their pursuit of knowledge and wisdom. In addition to the traditional subjects—history, mathematics, English, and science (including coding and engineering—students also gain exposure to art history and studio art, music, Latin, French, and physical education. Transitioning between classes, increased academic expectations, and project- based and service-oriented learning help to prepare students for their lives beyond The Academy. Rigorous academics combine with careful mentorship to ensure that each student is prepared for high school emotionally and intellectually. The Academy also offers students the opportunity to learn and be challenged in different environments. They study field science through extended trips to the Marin Headlands or Yosemite National Park, deepen their knowledge of American history through visiting Washington, D.C., and broaden their understanding of culture and language through traveling to various countries. CARNEYSANDOE.COM 5 High School and College Placement Students have a wide range of choices after The Academy. The faculty and staff are committed to providing all of the information and support necessary for students to choose the high school (and later, college) that best reflects their talents and goals. Selection of high schools attended by Academy graduates: Bentley School Bishop O’Dowd High School College Preparatory School Head-Royce School Lick-Wilmerding High School Marin Academy Maybeck High School Phillips Exeter Saint Mary’s School CLASSICAL EDUCATION San Francisco University High School The Academy offers students a classical education, preparing them for a life of intellectual and civic Selection of colleges attended by engagement through high level training in multiple Academy graduates: disciplines. Students are also encouraged to acquire an appreciation of interdisciplinary connections, deepening Harvey-Mudd College their understanding of any single subject through New York University grasping its relation to others, and to the larger world. In Pomona College mastering mathematics, for instance, 8th graders design Stanford University and execute engineering projects and learn coding as an University of California, Berkeley instance of mathematics in action. University of California, Los Angeles University of Chicago An intimate knowledge of other languages and cultures Yale University comprises an essential element of an Academy education, as embodied in the exceptional language program. Students study French beginning in Kindergarten and continuing through 8th grade, preparing them for advanced level French in high school, and broadening their awareness of the diversity of francophone culture in Africa, the Caribbean, and across the world. In addition, students study Latin in grades 6-8, deepening their understanding of the Classical world as well as of the linguistic roots of the romance languages and of English itself. CARNEYSANDOE.COM 6 THE ARTS Visual arts in Lower School focuses on teaching the basic principles of art through a wide variety of projects. Students experiment with materials, express themselves creatively, learn from their mistakes, and reflect on and appreciate the beauty of their own artwork. They also learn to appreciate the historical and cultural aspects of art. Opportunities for field trips are plentiful, as there are many wonderful art museums near The Academy. The Upper School art program encourages inventive thinking and personal expression through exploration of art history and studio art. Students view, experience,