Compassionate. Creative. Confident.

Mission

Bertschi School educates children to become compassionate, confident, and creative learners in a global community.

Values

Our community values integrity, inclusiveness, respect, equity, and a commitment to sustainability.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Statement

We value equity and inclusion and believe engaging our differences makes us better and stronger. We welcome and honor the unique contributions of people from all racial, ethnic, religious, and socioeconomic backgrounds, gender identities, learning styles, physical abilities, and sexual orientations. Our commitment to equity drives us to be inclusive and diverse in all areas of our school. Head of School

Bertschi School, a PreK-5th grade school in , is eager to welcome a highly skilled educator as the next Head of School, with an official start date of July 1, 2022, leading into the 2022-2023 school year.

Bertschi kids are curious, enthusiastic, cooperative, open to new ideas, and eager to explore the world around them. Talented faculty and staff integrate core academics with art, technology, science, dance, music, Spanish, physical education, movement, and drama on an urban campus that exhibits the School’s commitment to sustainability and nature with buildings designed to teach and demonstrate social responsibility.

The next Head of School will report to the Board of Trustees and will be responsible for providing a vision to advance the School’s mission of educating children to become compassionate, confident, and creative learners in a global community. The Head of School will provide leadership for a highly capable faculty and staff while overseeing the School’s academic program, enrollment, strategic and campus planning, fiscal sustainability, and fundraising. The strongest candidate will be a dedicated elementary school educator with significant leadership experience who cares deeply about students, families and staff. The next Head will possess a joyful attitude and progressive approach to educating young children, and bring a demonstrated track record of advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion and building a strong community within an organization. About Bertschi School

At Bertschi School we:

Provide cohesive and meaningful learning experiences that balance structured instruction with inquiry-based learning. Blend the academic and social-emotional experiences of children. Invest in the fundamental skills of literacy, numeracy, and communications. Foster intellectual curiosity, creative expression, and critical thinking. Develop each child’s individual strengths and identify and support areas of challenge. Ensure that every child feels safe, welcome, and has a sense of belonging. Prepare the global citizens of tomorrow.

By the numbers: 38 faculty supporting 225 students in grades PreK-5 Average class size of 19 Student/teacher ratio of 7-to-1 61% of faculty hold advanced degrees Annual budget of $8.9 million Operating surplus in nine of the last ten years, with average surplus of just under $400,000 Bertschi Fund goals achieved for the last three years with greater than 85% family participation 100% Board participation in the Bertschi Fund each year Enrollment inquiries increased 48% from 14-15 to 20-21; applications increased by 28% in the same time period

Teaching and Learning

Our approach toward teaching and learning at Bertschi School is one of cooperation. We believe in:

Collaborative problem solving in and out of the classroom The richness of our global environment, as well as our local one Teaching and modeling respect for others Practicing social responsibility in concrete ways Bertschi teachers are exceptional professionals known for their passion, vitality, and creativity. Dedicated to the Bertschi mission, they work hard to create a culture of kindness where Bertschi students actively take part in their community and learn to seek and appreciate continual innovation and growth. Our interdisciplinary curriculum begins with challenging core academics at the appropriate level for each child to build a strong foundation in math and literacy. We then enhance our curriculum by integrating additional, developmentally appropriate resources to foster creative and analytical thinking and effective communication and collaboration. The combination has proven to foster successful learners and thoughtful contributors to society.

Our curriculum is made even deeper and richer through our outstanding specialist classes, including:

Art PE & Creative Movement Drama Spanish Music Science Library Robotics & Technology

Because Bertschi’s curriculum is interdisciplinary, specialist classes are often connected to classroom learning. Specialists collaborate with classroom teachers and make cross-curricular connections that deepen learning and provide multiple perspectives. Capstone events in each grade, including the beloved second-grade market and an immersive geo-political simulation (The World Peace Game) in fifth grade, give students the opportunity to explore topics in depth.

We also believe deeply that social-emotional learning goes hand in hand with academic readiness. From Pre-Kindergarten through 5th grade, our curriculum includes a detailed scope and sequence for social emotional learning and our teachers are trained in a variety of strategies specific to the needs of each child and each grade level. In 2018, Bertschi School became an Institute for Social and Emotional Learning school and has a mental health and SEL specialist who works with both students and parents.

Learning Services

At Bertschi, we seek and truly value neurodiversity. One of our core beliefs is that everyone benefits from learning in a diverse community. Our Learning Services team, composed of Learning Specialists and a Coordinator for Advanced Learning, is dedicated to understanding the complexity of every student through consistent communication with parents and teachers and twice annual student assessments. We understand that each student has a unique constellation of strengths and challenges. Learning Services’ goal is to create opportunities for all students to work to their full potential within the context of their classroom community. Learning Specialists collaborate with teaches and provide lessons in math, word study, linguistics, philosophy, and other areas of emerging need or interest. In grades K-2, Learning Specialists also work with small reading groups, in coordination with classroom teachers. Additionally, when students need individual support, we have a team of Learning Specialists with expertise in helping students develop academic skills. This one-to-one instruction is the only area of Learning Services where families pay an extra fee. Currently, the school also contracts with a Speech Language Pathologist and an Occupational Therapist.

Community

Bertschi kids are part of a community that embodies our mission and values. Our students are on a life-long discovery process to be compassionate, confident, and creative learners in a global community. Bertschi is committed to socio-economic diversity, spending 15% of tuition revenue on Financial Aid. For the 20-21 school year, the average Financial Aid award is $23,373 and 44 of 225 students are receiving aid. Forty-three percent of the student body identifies as people of color and families hail from 43 different zip codes.

Bertschi parents and caregivers bring a strong commitment to collaboration and inclusivity and actively engage with the School in myriad ways: through participation on committees (including the Bertschi Parent Council, with two or more representatives from each grade), Board service, classroom support, book clubs, school-wide community service opportunities and more. The Bertschi experience is not only for kids—it’s an opportunity for an all-in family connection that builds lasting friendships and learning for all. Many are drawn to the Bertschi because of the level of family engagement throughout our community. Strategic Planning

Building on Bertschi’s 46-year legacy, we look to the future, firm in our commitment to treasure childhood in a 21st-century world. In 2018, the Board of Trustees approved a strategic plan to help guide our work as we seek to find innovative solutions to some of our biggest questions:

How do we prepare our students to be adaptive and resilient learners in a future we cannot predict? How do we continue our longstanding commitment to diversity in a city that is increasingly inaccessible financially and logistically? How do we fully leverage an urban campus built to teach children to develop ethical decision- making skills regarding the Earth, its people, and our resources?

The three goals of this Strategic Plan are: INVEST in the success of each child, THRIVE as a diverse community, and STEWARD our resources.

In 2019, Bertschi School embarked on a campus master planning process, catalyzed by the purchase of a building at the heart of campus that had been the last leased property on campus. A Facilities Task Force was created and performed an in-depth analysis of campus needs and opportunities, culminating in the hire of a top architectural firm to lead our community in the development of an updated campus master plan. Due to the pandemic, this work was put on hold shortly afterward. This past summer, a property adjacent to campus became available and the Board seized this rare opportunity to acquire property next to the school in this coveted neighborhood. Benefitting from Bertschi’s careful financial stewardship and the forward-thinking of the Board, the next Head of School will have the opportunity to reinvigorate and inspire the campus master planning and subsequent campus improvement efforts. History and Development

In 1975, in one leased classroom in the basement of Lowell Elementary School, Brigitte Bertschi brought dynamic, multi-cultural, community-centered early childhood education to 15 students. The following year, Bertschi School moved 10 blocks north to its current Capitol Hill location—beginning with just one building. In the 1980s, the school expanded to Pre-K through 5th grade, with additional buildings to serve more than 120 students. In 1999, “Mission 2000” raised $1.4M to enable the renovation of the Church Building classrooms and preserve Berstchi’s landmark Church building. The next year, Bertschi’s celebrated Learning Services Program was established, offering assistance to all students through small-group reading and math study and individual tutoring. By the School’s 35th anniversary in 2011, Bertschi’s 230 students were enjoying new spaces for music, art, PE, and outdoor play in the Bertschi , a LEED Gold certified building, as well as the Living Building Science Wing. In the Spring of 2015, the Bertschi School Board of Trustees appointed Rafael del Castillo as Head of School, following founder Brigitte Bertschi’s 42-year tenure.

In 2018, Bertschi published a new Strategic Plan. With property acquisitions in 2019 and 2020 completed, the next Head of School will join Bertschi School at an exciting time, with the reinvigoration of the campus master planning effort underway and the ability to move forward with confidence to ensure a strong, mission-driven future for the school and community. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Since its founding in 1975, Bertschi School has committed to building a truly diverse community. The School seeks to engage with families, educators, and community partners who bring unique perspectives and experiences that enrich the community’s understanding of each other and the world. The work of diversity, equity, and inclusion at Bertschi is multi-faceted and ongoing, and it is essential to the school’s mission.

An intentional curriculum in each grade level promotes developmentally appropriate content to stimulate learning in the areas of identity, diversity, justice, and action. Under the leadership of Bertschi’s new Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, faculty and staff engage in ongoing training on topics such as media literacy, gender diversity, multicultural education, cultural competency, race and privilege, and anti-bias awareness. Location and Local Culture

Bertschi School is a certified Green Ribbon School located in Seattle’s North Capitol Hill neighborhood. The campus is a series of former homes and customized buildings covering a full city block. The bright, welcoming, and kid-friendly campus is centrally located, only minutes from downtown Seattle, the University of , Lake Union, and Puget Sound. The campus is located in an urban setting but has the feel of a small village; it is home to the fourth certified Living Building in the world and the first LEED gold-certified building on a school campus in the region. Bertschi students also learn in repurposed former homes and outdoor spaces that create a beautiful, varied, and child-centered environment.

Seattle, a city known for thought leadership and innovation, is surrounded by water, mountains, and evergreen forests. Washington State’s largest city, it is home to a large tech industry, with and Amazon headquartered in its metropolitan area. Seattle is also a regional center for the performing arts, with over two dozen live theatre venues, and the home of seven professional sports teams, including the NFL’s , MLB’s , NHL’s and the WNBA’s Seattle Storm. Capitol Hill, Bertschi School’s home, is one of Seattle’s most popular entertainment districts with live music venues, fringe theatres, and some of the city’s most prominent locally owned coffeehouses and restaurants, as well as a vibrant counterculture community. Role of the Head of School

Reporting to the Board of Trustees, the Head of School is the community leader of Bertschi School, charged with stewarding its human, intellectual, and financial capital with integrity, energy, and humility.

Guided by Bertschi’s founding values of integrity, inclusiveness, respect, diversity, and a commitment to sustainability, the Head of School will lead the effort to inspire students and their families, faculty, and staff toward rich, purposeful, life-changing learning. Managing an operating budget of $8.9 million, the Head of School will lead a strong team of the following direct reports: Assistant Head of School Chief Financial Officer/Chief Operating Officer Director of Institutional Advancement Director of Enrollment Management Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Director of Extended Day & Summer Programs Director of Learning Services Director of Technology Campus Planning (consultant) Opportunities and Challenges

Leading with Strategic Vision

Partner with the Board of Trustees and build upon the 2018 strategic plan to articulate and execute an exciting and inspirational vision that engages and unifies the community while looking towards the future; Reinvigorate and advance campus master planning efforts in light of two recent property acquisitions located adjacent to campus; Further amplify the school’s reputation and celebrate its strengths, communicating the value of a Bertschi education to internal and external stakeholders; Foster alignment and a spirit of collaboration around the Bertschi School identity, mission, and vision as the school prepares to enter its fifth decade; . Fostering Academic Excellence

Support a talented faculty committed to academic excellence and progressive values, nurturing an atmosphere of professional growth within a diverse, vibrant community; Promote innovation, creativity and best pedagogical practices in academics and co-curricular programming; Build on the school’s commitment to its core values and their integration within the curriculum; . Strengthening the Bertschi Community

Prioritize active listening, open communication, and collaboration among all Bertschi community members, including students, parents, grandparents, faculty, staff, and alumni; Cultivate a diverse, inclusive, and supportive school community where all children are known and valued in both their strengths and challenges; Build strong relationships within the community in a kind and supportive manner so that all feel a genuine sense of belonging and trust in school leadership; Champion initiatives that promote diversity and inclusive excellence for students and families, faculty, and staff, and help connect the ongoing DEI work across all areas of the school;

Securing Bertschi's Financial Future

Develop and sustain relationships with individual donors and institutional funding sources; Lead the community through a capital campaign, informed by campus master planning efforts; Bolster enrollment, including the ability to attract, retain, and support a diverse student body; and, Engage in strategic fiscal management, particularly working with the Board and the CFO on developing creative solutions aimed at sustainably being able to provide competitive salaries while balancing tuition increases. Desired Qualifications and Characteristics

To lead Bertschi School in these vital areas, the next Head must be a skilled and committed educator with strong administrative experience who cares deeply about student well-being. The next Head will bring a joyful attitude and progressive approach to educating children, and evidence of a demonstrated track record of advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion within an organization. An advanced degree is preferred. In addition, strong candidates will demonstrate the following: Powerful and inspirational communication skills and a collaborative, yet decisive, leadership style; Experience developing positive, supportive, and trusting relationships with students and their families, as well as faculty and staff; Experience developing and successfully executing on a strategic vision; The ability to partner with both internal and external constituents to drive support for the School’s priorities; A spirit of innovation and knowledge of best practices in elementary education; Commitment to collaboration, transparency, and accountability as a leader; Experience supporting school-wide DEI initiatives and DEI professional development goals; Self-reflection, and the ability to appreciate and learn from past missteps or missed opportunities; Strong management skills; Financial acumen; A global perspective; Experience building philanthropic relationships; A successful track record with enrollment management including recruitment and retention; and, Experience with elementary-age students and expertise in early childhood and elementary pedagogy. Application Process

The search committee for Bertschi School will begin accepting nominations and reviewing applications immediately. Requested application materials include a letter of interest, curriculum vitae, and professional reference list. References will not be called without explicit permission. For best consideration all candidates should submit materials to the following address: [email protected].

For more information about Bertschi School, please visit www.bertschi.org.

Bertschi School is being assisted in this search by Storbeck Search. For additional information, please contact: Nishant Mehta, Managing Director & Independent Schools Practice Leader Sherry Coleman, Managing Director Lisa Solinsky, Senior Associate [email protected]

Bertschi School is an equal opportunity employer seeking a more culturally diverse workplace. Bertschi School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, national or ethnic origin, socio-economic status, gender, sexual orientation or disability.