THAYER ACADEMY Braintree,

DIRECTOR OF DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION Start Date: July 2021 thayer.org MISSION Thayer Academy’s mission is to inspire a diverse community of students to moral, intellectual, aesthetic, and physical excellence so that each may rise to honorable achievement and contribute to the common good.

OVERVIEW

Thayer Academy is a coeducational day school for grades 5-12, located in Braintree, Massachusetts, just south of Boston. Founded in 1877, Thayer seeks students from all backgrounds and offers an environment in which each student is affirmed, supported, and challenged to take on responsibilities, pursue ambitions, and stive for achievements. The school’s program combines rich tradition with 21st-century innovation. Here, students form lifelong relationships with one another and with inspiring teachers who care deeply about their personal growth and academic success.

Thayer Academy seeks a Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion starting July 2021. The Director reports to the Head of School; is a member of the Senior Administrative Team and the Administrative Forum; chairs the Committee of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; and is charged with informing the Academy’s strategic direction in areas of school life that pertain to diversity, equity, and inclusion. The Director will also help oversee the implement the school’s new Strategic Plan for Racial Equity and Justice, which focuses establishing policies and practices that directly address opportunities for growth in all areas related to racial equity and justice.

SCHOOL HISTORY

Thayer Academy was founded in 1877 at the bequest of Braintree native, general and philanthropist , who is also known as the father of the Military Academy at West Point and founder of the Thayer School of Engineering at . In the early years, tuition at the Thayer Academy was free for students from Old Braintree (Braintree, Quincy, Randolph, and Holbrook). The Academy would develop over time into a leading in the region— attracting students from numerous communities. CARNEYSANDOE.COM 2 FAST FACTS Founded: 1877

Total students: 710

Students of color: 18%

Total faculty: 108

Faculty of color: 14.7%

Faculty with advanced degrees: 68%

Student/teacher ratio: 6:1

Zip codes represented: 76

Financial aid budget: $7.7 million

Students receiving aid: 35%

In the 1960s, the school opened the Asian Institute to offer courses in Mandarin, Chinese, Japanese, and Asian Studies. The success of the program earned the Academy the only invitation extended to a secondary school to participate in the 1964 World’s Fair in New York City.

THE SCHOOL

From the start, Thayer Academy has fostered a coeducational environment that affords equal access to students from a broad range of socioeconomic circumstances. Today, small classes, excellent and inspiring teachers, outstanding facilities, and rigorous academic standards stand at the center of its mission.

Thayer emphasizes the development of strong reading, writing, research, and computational skills, and at the same time, works to infuse students with a passion for learning. In addition, the school offers a rich array of extracurricular pursuits, particularly in the arts, athletics, and community service. As part of its global focus, the Academy also offers 16 international and domestic travel programs. In support of the academic success of all students, Thayer’s learning resources include an active writing center, technology center, and learning center.

A distinctive feature of Thayer is its socioeconomic diversity. More than one-third of students receive financial aid, and the Academy’s budget to support financial aid is one of the most generous among private schools in the Boston area. The result is that Thayer has a mix of students that reflects the broad spectrum of communities in the region.

CARNEYSANDOE.COM 3 Thayer also found and operates RISE (Respect, Integrity, and Success through Education)—an academic enrichment program that runs both in the summer and during the school year. Each summer, approximately 100 students of color in grades 3-10 come from the Boston metro area to attend small classes and receive individualized instruction over a seven-week period. The program empowers students through challenging academic coursework, cultural education, and community-building activities.

DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

In accord with the school mission, Thayer Academy is wholly committed to strengthen its school culture so that every student feels known, connected, and prepared to embrace diverse learning opportunities on and beyond its campus.

In the fall of 2020, the Thayer Academy Board of Trustees approved a Strategic Plan for Racial Equity and Justice. This plan includes a focus on creating an antiracist curriculum, building, and supporting an antiracist school culture, developing related teacher and administrator professional development, improving hiring and admission practices, and affirming the board’s commitment to antiracist leadership. To obtain success in all these areas, the plan calls for a detailed combination of transparency, accountability, representation, school cultural expectations, and antiracism education.

The board is also committed to providing the necessary funds to support DEI initiatives and will direct operational funds over the coming year to provide the DEI Office with another staff member and the Upper School with an additional school counselor of color to offer guidance and support in both the realms of emotional well-being and college guidance.

CARNEYSANDOE.COM 4 COLLEGE MATRICULATION Thayer students consistently go on to the top colleges and universities. Graduates from 2019 attend the following, among others:

American University Bates College Boston College Bowdoin College Brown University Carnegie Mellon University Colby College Columbia College Chicago Connecticut College Davidson College Duke University Harvard College Loyola Marymount University Miami University, Oxford New York University Northeastern University Northwestern University ACADEMICS Providence College Rochester Institute of The academic life at Thayer Academy is focused on drawing Technology out the personal best from each student. Sewanee: The University of the South With its supportive yet challenging environment, the Middle Syracuse University School enables students to become confident, well-rounded, The George Washington and independent learners. Core academics are structured University around yearly themes, including: To Be Compassionate The New School (5th Grade), To Inspire: Nature and Civilization (6th Grade), Trinity College To Rise: The Individual and Society (7th Grade), and To Tufts University Contribute: Citizenship and Leadership (8th Grade). The Tulane University Middle School also has a Collaborative Design Lab—a United States Military Academy creative space in which students are challenged to University of Colorado at collaboratively create solutions to various problems. Boulder University of Connecticut In the Upper School, students learn in a challenging academic University of Denver environment. All core and elective courses demand that University of Massachusetts, students develop skills in creative problem solving, critical Amherst analysis, and independent thinking. The Upper School University of Pennsylvania offers honors and AP courses in most disciplines. Thayer University of Southern California offers a Global Scholars Program, which encourages University of Washington greater awareness of and engagement in global issues by Vanderbilt University combining academic learning with real-world international Vassar College and multicultural experiences. Students can also take part in Wake Forest University

CARNEYSANDOE.COM 5 independent scientific research and engage in creative, collaborative problem-solving through Thayer’s Collaborative Design Lab.

In both the Middle and Upper Schools, teachers are committed to developing and evolving an antiracist curriculum.

ARTS AND ATHLETICS

All Thayer students participate in the arts—through required courses, electives, and extracurricular programming. Thayer’s visual arts program provides students with the opportunity to develop their creativity, imagination, and effective visual expression through a variety of media. The music department nurtures a deep appreciation for composition and music and recognizes the important role music plays in developing a student’s self-esteem. Many students take part in the school’s numerous instrumental and vocal groups. In drama, the Upper School stages three performances annually.

Thayer Academy offers 26 varsity sports teams and 86 teams in total—including varsity and junior varsity teams in football, soccer, cross country, swimming, diving, tennis, volleyball, gymnastics, hockey, basketball, wrestling, baseball, golf, softball, tennis, crew, and track and field. Over the years, Thayer teams have won 86 Independent School League (ISL) championships and 70 New England (NEPSAC) championships. Its hockey team is consistently one of the best in the nation.

CARNEYSANDOE.COM 6 STUDENT LIFE

In all, Thayer offers 65 students activities, clubs, and community service opportunities annually. On the academic front, the school fields five academic teams: traveling mathletes, Model UN, Mock Trial, Physics and Robotics Team, and Debate Team.

Upper School Student organizations include the Asian Culture Club; Spectrum, Thayer’s gay/straight alliance; ISOKAN, the African American/Black affinity group; and the Upper School diversity club, The Organization for Minority Enrichment, Growth & Awareness (OMEGA), which is committed to enriching and educating the community about diversity, inclusion, and equity. Middle School student organizations include DEI-based electives, affinity groups, and a Middle School Diversity Club.

Annually, Upper School students of color attend the NAIS Student Diversity Leadership and Middle Schools students of color attend the AISNE Students of Color Conference.

CAMPUS

Thayer is located on a 34-acre campus situated in the heart of Braintree, a suburb town south of Boston. This historic campus consists of eight buildings, which include 54 classrooms, two libraries, space for the visual and performing arts, and three gyms. The campus also includes numerous athletic fields.

Among the newer facilities are two state-of-the-art Collaborative Design Labs, a two-story strength and conditioning center, a Middle School Resource Center, and six synthetic grass playing fields. The Center for the Arts, opened in the fall of 2008, includes a 550-seat theater, dance studios, and art classrooms.

CARNEYSANDOE.COM 7 The school recently unveiled plans for a new Middle School building, which is designed to enhance program flexibility, scheduling autonomy, and a spirit of collaboration. The end result will be a school reimagined to more fully address the needs and expectations of today’s students.

BRAINTREE, MASSACHUSETTS

First chartered in 1640, and home to both presidents John Adams and John Quincy Adams, Braintree lies 12 miles to the south of Boston and has a population of around 36,000 today. It serves primarily as a suburb of Boston but is also considered one of the most livable towns in Massachusetts. In fact, in 2020, Braintree was one of just two Massachusetts towns listed in Money magazine’s top 50 places to live in America.

Braintree’s allure is a small-town feel, a respectable cost of living, and easy access to Boston via the MBTA. Braintree also offers easy access to Massachusetts’ South Shore—and the Cape and Islands beyond. The town sits close to the popular 7,000-acre Blue Hill Reservation park. The South Shore Plaza, also located in Braintree, is one of the region’s larger malls. Of course, a main attraction is the Boston area itself, with its rich opportunities for cultural engagement and big-city amenities.

Residents and visitors enjoy Boston’s cultural appeal as well as parks including the Boston Garden and Common, the Charles River basin, and Frederick Law Olmstead’s Emerald Necklace park system. The city is home to world-class cultural and educational resources: Boston University, Tufts University, Boston College, Berklee College of Music, Northeastern University, New England Conservatory, and Wellesley College are among the area’s 35 colleges and universities, contributing to the area’s youthfulness and vitality.

CARNEYSANDOE.COM 8 Boston is a world leader in medicine and pharmaceutical research, technology innovation, and education. Leading cultural institutions that call the city home include the Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston Ballet, the Athenaeum, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and the Boston Pops. A legendary sports town, Boston abounds in professional, collegiate, and youth teams of all varieties (and generating plenty of opinions). A river city with a busy harbor and the adjacent Massachusetts Bay and Harbor Islands, Boston is also ideally positioned for recreation, with mountains, lakes, and seacoast all within easy drive. Served by a good public transit system, Boston is an eminently walkable (and bikeable) city.

OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES

• Working collaboratively to problem solve complex community challenges related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. • Continuing and enhancing the work of the former Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and diversity consultant to lead a newly restructured DEI team and supervising a full-time Assistant Director. • Actualizing the newly developed Strategic Plan for Racial Equity and Justice, and building systems for community constituents including students, faculty, staff, families, and alumni to further deepen their work in equity and inclusion. • Bringing “spirit to diversity work” to engage the spectrum of diverse thought communities together for constructive conversations that require enthusiastic discourse. • Collaborating in the rich landscape of like-minded schools in the greater Boston area and nationally.

CARNEYSANDOE.COM 9 DESIRED QUALITIES AND QUALIFICATIONS

• A deep knowledge of best practices in equity and inclusion work and a demonstrated experience in presenting and leading such work, ideally within the context of school communities. • An empathic, strong, and collaborative leadership style with an ability to work with broad constituencies in an approachable and diplomatic manner. • Strong communication skills, including clear and compelling written and verbal skills, coupled with an inclination to listen and understand. • A confidence and humility to encourage dialogue while engaging in challenging conversations with grace. • A “teacher at heart” with a particular passion for teaching about issues related to diversity, equity, and inclusion and preferably an advanced degree reflective of a sustained commitment to professional development.

PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

In partnership with the Senior Administrative Team; in collaboration with other administrators, faculty, and staff members; and in support of the Board of Trustees’ DEI Committee:

• Reviews and refines annually Thayer Academy’s Diversity Plan, including the associated Strategic Plan for Racial Equity and Justice. • Promotes discussion and implementation of multicultural and inclusive curricular programs across both divisions. • Helps shape support and market plans for diversity and inclusion-focused programs and events for

CARNEYSANDOE.COM 10 students and families as well as professional development workshops and programs for faculty and staff. • Supports the effectiveness and success of recruiting and retaining diverse faculty and staff. • Assists in the recruitment of students from diverse backgrounds and implements and reviews mentoring programs for those students and their families on an annual basis. • Acts as liaison to the various diversity and inclusion-related groups associated with the school community. • Networks with diversity coordinators at other independent schools as well as leaders of relevant organizations. • Pursues professional development opportunities and attends conferences and professional meetings to remain current with diversity and inclusion issues. • At the request of the Head of School, assumes responsibility for special projects that relate to diversity, equity, and inclusion. • Consistent with other administrators, assumes other important responsibilities which result in broader engagement in the life of the school while still dedicating time to devote to the aforementioned areas.

TO APPLY

Interested and qualified candidates are invited to contact the consultants in confidence. Candidates will ultimately need to submit the following materials as separate PDF documents:

• A cover letter expressing their interest in this particular position; • A current résumé; • A list of five professional references with name, phone number, and email address of each (references will not be contacted without the candidate’s permission) to:

Lawrence Alexander Search Consultant [email protected]

Seliat Dairo Associate [email protected]

Lisa Parsons Search Consultant [email protected]

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