THE BENJAMIN SCHOOL PALM BEACH GARDENS, FL HEAD OF SCHOOL START DATE: JULY 2020 WWW.THEBENJAMINSCHOOL.ORG Mission Fast Facts The mission of The Benjamin School is to provide School Type: Independent, coeducational a challenging college preparatory education to day school PK3-12 a diverse student body in a structured, nurturing Founded: 1960 community environment. The School motivates Enrollment 2018-19: 1,055 students to master the skills of learning, Full-time Faculty: 137 communicating and evaluating choices, and Student-faculty Ratio: 7.7:1 encourages them to grow intellectually, socially, Faculty with Advanced Degrees: 47% morally, aesthetically, and physically to their fullest Financial Aid Awarded 2018-19: $3 million individual potential. Students Receiving Aid: 17.9% Endowment: $16.07 million Benjamin inspires its students to develop a coherent Motto: Nulli Secundus (Second to None) set of values that includes love of learning, personal responsibility, self-motivation, concern for others, and a commitment to serve society. OVERVIEW The Benjamin School (TBS) is a coeducational, college-preparatory independent school with two campuses in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. With more than half a century of a tradition of excellence, it serves 1,055 students grades Pre-K3-12. The Benjamin School fosters innovative thinking by teaching 21st-century skills that shape students into independent, self-directed, collaborative, and determined leaders. Students develop strong character through the School’s “12 Benjamin Values” that are modeled both in and out of the classroom. The broad educational programs aim to cultivate in students creativity and curiosity in all aspects of student life – in their academics, in the visual and performing arts, and through athletics and community service. Broad horizons are built as students graduate prepared for an impressive range of opportunities, including admission to the nation’s most competitive colleges and universities. Each child’s talents are recognized and appreciated as teachers join with parents to discover, nurture, and celebrate each student’s unique gifts. In July 2020, current Head of School Robert S. Goldberg will retire after leading the school since 2008. Mr. Goldberg has guided the school to new successes academically, athletically, and in college placement, significantly furthering the School’s reputation in Florida and across the country. During his time at TBS, he developed the WOW program for Pre-K3 students, instituted 15 sequential years of French, Mandarin, and Spanish; carved out STEM facilities in the Upper School and a new (2019) $5 million dedicated STEM building on the Lower/Middle School campus; supported the creation of a video production program in the Middle School; built the stunning 850-seat Benjamin Hall theater; and added even more Advanced Placement courses to the many already offered in the 9-12 program. The Search Group | Carney, Sandoe & Associates 2 [email protected] | www.carneysandoe.com SCHOOL HISTORY In 1960, Marshall and Nancy Benjamin, two teachers from Michigan, acquired a three-car garage in North Palm Beach, swept out its dirt floors, bought some rudimentary furnishings, and founded what they called the North Palm Beach Private School. As forward-thinking educators, the Benjamins started a kindergarten whose curriculum featured foreign language, science, music, and physical education, but most importantly, reading. According to the Benjamins, a love of books and the ability to read meant children could educate themselves for life. The couple demonstrated a kindness and courtesy that made their school feel like family. That sense of family still exists today. Indeed, the vision of the founders is to educate the whole child, and beyond exposing children to rigorous academics, have them also experience music and the arts, as well as a second language from a young age. As they grow and develop, the School’s focus is for the students to participate in athletics, excel in reading, writing and public speaking, participate in meaningful community service, and to learn skills and build character that will serve them for a lifetime. Educating the whole child remains at the core of The Benjamin School ethos and approach to teaching and learning. Students develop self-esteem and confidence that carries them through school, college, and into adult life. A common alumni refrain is, “I wouldn’t be where I am today without The Benjamin School.” The Search Group | Carney, Sandoe & Associates 3 [email protected] | www.carneysandoe.com THE SCHOOL Today, The Benjamin School is one of Florida’s premier independent day schools. From Early Childhood through Upper School (grades Pre-K3-12), TBS offers a wide range of possibilities for students across broad horizons. Motivated by their own unique curiosities and empowered by a dynamic academic and co-curricular program, Benjamin students prepare for college and a world which may have jobs that don’t exist yet. With nearly 60 years of history and more than 3,000 alumni pursuing their passions around the globe, The Benjamin School today continues to evolve and offer promise and potential to its students, faculty, and to its next Head of School. With 1,055 students enrolled on two campuses in North Palm Beach and Palm Beach Gardens, The Benjamin School offers its students at every level a comprehensive character driven, academic, athletic, and artistic experience. The 14-acre Lower/Middle School Campus located across from the Intracoastal Waterway in North Palm Beach, Florida, serves students in grades Pre-K3-8. A remarkable 50-acre Upper School campus in Palm Beach Gardens, built in 2004, offers purpose- built, state-of-the-art facilities for its 400 students. The Benjamin School strives to foster a talented, richly varied school culture by equipping students with the necessary skills to successfully interact and flourish within a multicultural society and interconnected global community. TBS believes an inclusive community encourages a union of strengths and broadens the vision for all of its students. School-wide diversity events and an active Diversity Committee help to cultivate an appreciation for the broad ethnic, cultural, racial, and religious diversity of the School, community, and nation. The Benjamin School is accredited by the Council on Accreditation and School Improvement, Florida Council of Independent Schools (FCIS), Florida Kindergarten Council (FKC), SACS CASI (an accredited division of AdvancED), and Southern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS). The Search Group | Carney, Sandoe & Associates 4 [email protected] | www.carneysandoe.com ACADEMICS Learning at Benjamin is an active verb. Teachers challenge students to test the status quo, make connections across disciplines, and extend the horizons of knowledge. Benjamin teachers get to know students as individuals, recognizing their strengths and interests and helping them develop to their full potential. As students move through the School, they thrive under the tutelage of experienced teachers, achieving beyond expectations. The Benjamin School inspires excellence and innovation—both of itself and its students. Students convey deep appreciation for the broad array of academic and co-curricular offerings, and especially for the commitment of their teachers to help each student become successful. Teachers diligently encourage students to explore new areas of interest and intensify their interest in existing ones. “We punch above our weight in a lot of areas: artistic, athletic, theater, dance…every niche in a high school we have it and we have it at a really high level—that’s largely because of the commitment of faculty,” indicates one administrator. Lower School (Pre-K3-Grade 5) The early childhood program begins with Worlds of Wonder (WOW), a 3-year-old program, and continues with Pre-Kindergarten, a program for 4-year-olds. The faculty of both programs work together to create a positive learning environment that develops the whole child and that recognizes each child as a unique individual. Children explore new concepts through hands-on discovery, teacher-guided investigations, and project-based learning. Curiosity is sparked through imaginative play, creative movement, scientific exploration, and mathematical speculation. Particular focus is given to building character, self-esteem, and an innate sense of values. The transition from WOW to Pre-Kindergarten is seamless and provides a solid foundation of readiness skills and social- emotional development to prepare each child for future learning. The Search Group | Carney, Sandoe & Associates 5 [email protected] | www.carneysandoe.com The Lower School places great emphasis on educating young children to become the best version of themselves while nurturing a love of learning. A compassionate and accomplished faculty succeeds each day to excite student interests and abilities with an innovative curriculum focused on cognitive research. The learning environment stresses active exploration through play-based activities, independent learning centers, small group work, and one-on-one instruction. An emphasis on character development is coupled with curricula that reflects ongoing research and fosters communication, collaboration, and creative problem solving skills. Children begin their educational journey in Lower School with core academic subjects as well as art, music, world languages (French, Mandarin Chinese, and Spanish) and physical education. In small classes, faculty