MERCERSBURG ACADEMY Mercersburg,

DIRECTOR OF DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION Start Date: July 1, 2021 mercersburg.edu Mission At Mercersburg Academy we embrace the values of hard work, character, and community while learning to balance independence with interdependence and individual humility with collective pride. Our students commit to a life of learning, seek to understand the spiritual nature of human existence, and develop a determination to lead and serve the world.

Vision Mercersburg will boldly reimagine excellence in education by creating an interwoven academic and residential experience that will inspire our students to lead and serve in a complex, changing world.

OVERVIEW

Over a century ago, Dr. William Mann Irvine set forth a vision for Mercersburg Academy that was rooted in the importance of character and community. Today, Mercersburg—an independent coed college-preparatory boarding and day school for grades 9-12 and postgraduates—embodies those values in a way that reflects the complexity and texture of our ever-changing world. The culture of Mercersburg is kind and accepting, which facilitates students’ exposure to an incredible breadth of programs and opportunities. This culture also ensures that the Mercersburg experience is positive, respectful, and nurturing, and one where adult presence and mentorship frame and support positive peer interactions, promoting a healthy and safe environment for students to learn and grow. Students seek out a Mercersburg education because they are ready to be challenged in their endeavors both in and outside of the classroom, and be a part of something bigger than just themselves.

At this time, Mercersburg seeks a new Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Over the last few years, and under the leadership of the current Head of School, the topics of diversity and inclusion have become of the utmost importance to the Mercersburg community; the community is acutely aware that these topics must be addressed and explored in an ongoing fashion, from every vantage point. Accordingly, strong candidates will be compelling and effective communicators and collaborators. They will appreciate that the subjects of diversity, equity, and inclusion do not have endpoints or finish lines; rather they are values that must be woven thoughtfully into every aspect of Mercersburg life. Finally, strong candidates will be able to leverage the work that Mercersburg has begun in this space and use it as a springboard to ensure the school’s students, faculty, staff, curriculum, and culture continue to learn and grow at every turn.

CARNEYSANDOE.COM 2 Fast Facts Total students: 445 Students who board: 378 (85%) Domestic students who identify as a person of color: 33% International students: 21% Total faculty: 101 Faculty who hold advanced degrees: 73 hold a master’s; 5 hold a doctorate Student/teacher ratio: 4:1 Families that receive financial aid: 50% Endowment value: $295M

SCHOOL HISTORY

Mercersburg’s proud history and rich traditions date back to 1836, when the Academy’s predecessor, Marshall College, was founded in Mercersburg, Pennsylvania.

Marshall College moved to Lancaster, Pennsylvania in 1853, but the preparatory department of the college remained on its original site. It was chartered as Mercersburg College in 1865. In 1893, Mercersburg’s Board of Regents elected Dr. William Mann Irvine to lead the institution. Within months, Dr. Irvine renamed the school Mercersburg Academy and reorganized it as a college-preparatory school based on the Exeter model.

Dr. Irvine launched the new school in the fall of 1893 with 40 boys, four instructors, and four acres of leased ground. Mercersburg rapidly grew in size and stature, gaining regional and national recognition as a top college-preparatory with strong ties to Princeton University.

Through the Depression and World War II, the Academy prospered. In 1969, Mercersburg embraced coeducation, and the campus and the school’s offerings continued to grow. New building projects dominated the latter half of the 20th century with the completion of Lenfest Hall, the Academy’s 45,000-volume library, the Burgin Center for the Arts, and the Simon Student Center. During this time Mercersburg established formal exchange programs with schools in five different countries and completed two enormously successful capital campaigns.

CARNEYSANDOE.COM 3 THE SCHOOL

Head of School Katie Titus introduced Courageous Conversations in 2017 to help guide the campus dialogue about race, gender, politics, and other cultural touchstones. As a result of these Conversations, in the spring of 2019, a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice (DEIJ) task force made up of Mercersburg Academy faculty, staff, and students met under the following charge: At Mercersburg, we value diversity and believe in cultivating a safe community where everyone is encouraged to be their authentic selves. In a world where social norms are evolving rapidly, how might we at Mercersburg improve our policies, practices, and programs to strengthen our community as it relates to diversity, equity, and inclusion?

During the same year, four external DEIJ professionals in independent schools visited Mercersburg over a two-day span and provided valuable input to the Mercersburg DEIJ task force, which then produced a report that included observations, findings, and recommendations. The school’s task force identified faculty and staff training as the highest priority. As Mercersburg entered into its accreditation process, this training was highlighted as the singular focus of the Sustaining Excellence accreditation protocol, which prompts a school to identify a strategic initiative, conduct a research project on the implementation of the initiative, and present its findings to other schools. The school community understands that there is no box that can be checked to accomplish anti-racism; this will be an ongoing practice for all communities, especially those founded on privilege.

The school has already identified areas of opportunity for its curriculum to evolve to be more reflective of a diverse and changing world. One such area is the work of the history department. In the spring, a history class on race was presented to the Academic Office; that course was approved as an elective and will be the first official course propelling Mercersburg in its initiative to move Beyond the AP. Advanced Studies in Race and Ethnicity in the U.S. will be offered this academic year. In addition, in a memo to school leadership, Jay Bozzi, chair of the history department, wrote, “We will not allow ourselves

CARNEYSANDOE.COM 4 to address the vital concerns of the day (racism) with antiseptic detachment, but will actively use the events, questions, voices, and figures of the past to promote an understanding of and engagement in the present. Such inquiry is a critical endeavor for all of our students, and we want to ensure that those courageous conversations are a consistent experience in all of our history classes.” Finally, Jennifer Smith ’97, dean of academics, will lead the academic department heads through a curriculum audit next year to develop a comprehensive plan for how to diversify our curriculum further for a contemporary and future world across all departments.

ACADEMICS

Mercersburg’s curriculum offers 170 courses from its eight academic departments. Students may also pursue their passion through individualized projects. When building courses, faculty practice the concept of “backward design”—keeping the end goals of each student in mind. Planning begins—whether the subject is chemistry, history, Spanish, or multivariable calculus—with an essential question: what are the ideas and concepts students should understand and master after successfully completing a course? From there, faculty and staff build a flexible strategy that will maximize learning.

Ninth and 10th grades focus on skill development so that students establish a significant foundation in all disciplines, preparing them for more independent and in-depth work in 11th and 12th grade. Mercersburg limits the amount of homework for ninth and 10th graders to no more than 45 minutes per class each night (due to the school’s COVID-19 response, students only have two classes).

In the 11th and 12th grades, students do more independent, in-depth, project-based, and experiential work. With most graduation requirements finished by the end of the 11th-grade year, students can explore their interests and passions during their senior year. All students must successfully complete one of Mercersburg’s two capstone experiences for upper-class students: MAPS or Springboard. These CARNEYSANDOE.COM 5 capstones foster original thinking and allow students to proliferate their own ideas while producing compelling work in preparation for college.

A two-year program that begins in 11th grade with a competitive application process, Mercersburg’s Advanced Program for Global Studies (MAPS) gives highly motivated students exposure as young scholars. MAPS expands and transcends the existing curriculum, seeking to encourage and inspire students to redefine their potential. Students are empowered to become creative and discerning thinkers, independent and self-directed learners, and compassionate and engaged global citizens.

In 11th grade, MAPS students enroll in Thought, Knowledge, and Belief, a course that considers the role of morality, intuition, reason, philosophy, religion, and ethics in human affairs, as well as political theory and current events. In 12th grade, they enroll in the Senior Research Thesis and undertake a “SEARCH” project (Study-Engage-Apply-Research-Create-Help) with the help of one or more professional consultants outside the school community. SEARCH includes the completion and defense of a 30-page paper on a topic of the student’s choice, a 10- to 15-page “call to action” community engagement proposal, and a 45-minute presentation to a panel in a public forum. The SEARCH project involves considerable extensive first-person, online, and print source research.

Other MAPS requirements include advanced foreign language study; community engagement projects in the Thought, Knowledge, and Belief class and in the SEARCH class; and participation in a MAPS study- abroad trip in the summer between the 11th and 12th grades.

In a world that is increasing in complexity with a culture that risks asking less of us for the sake of skimming and entertainment, Springboard engages seniors in an innovative, in-depth capstone experience. Springboard teachers are passionate about their subject areas and eager to work with students on real-world challenges. Though each Springboard is different in terms of subject material (from commercial arts to storytelling through podcasting), the goals of each Springboard are the same: to delve deeply

CARNEYSANDOE.COM 6 College Placement The Mercersburg Academy Class of 2020 had an extraordinary year for college and university matriculation. All told, the seniors received 543 acceptance offers from 240 colleges and universities. The following list includes some—but not all—of the colleges and universities to which they matriculated:

American University Bates College Boston University Brown University Bryn Mawr College Bucknell University Case Western Reserve University Columbia University Connecticut College Cornell University Duke University George Washington University into a topic, ask questions and generate knowledge, and Georgetown University create a polished presentation that will be evaluated by a Johns Hopkins University panel of experts. Springboard engages students through New York University field trips, talks with guest speakers, and a wide range of Northeastern University Northwestern activities and skill development. Based on the principles of University Challenge-Based Learning, the program encourages Princeton University students to think critically and identify problems to solve, Stanford University challenges to face, or projects to develop. Swarthmore College Trinity University College counseling at Mercersburg Academy is a Tufts University meaningful, engaging, holistic experience that is as University of Michigan, Ann Arbor much a part of a Mercersburg education as anything University of Pennsylvania University else. Every student is paired with a college counselor the of Southern California University of St first year they are enrolled, which means every student Andrews University of Texas, Austin receives a personalized, grade-appropriate college University of Virginia, Main Campus counseling experience from day one. University of Wisconsin, Madison Vanderbilt University Wake Forest University ARTS AND ATHLETICS

Arts are a vital component of a student’s academic and cocurricular education at Mercersburg. Opened in 2006, the Burgin Center for the Arts is home to the arts faculty, rehearsal spaces, a ceramics studio, and performance spaces (including a proscenium theatre, a black box theatre, and two recital halls). After classes are completed for the day, the Burgin Center for the Arts CARNEYSANDOE.COM 7 has no shortage of visitors. Arts Performance Group Activities span music, dance, and theatre, and students can be found rehearsing for upcoming performances, crafting their art, or designing pages for Karux, the yearbook.

Athletic programs at Mercersburg provide a channel for developing leadership skills, enhancing collaborative ability, and building the character necessary to succeed and persevere. Blue Storm athletes lead with service and by example. Each year, approximately 82% of Mercersburg students participate in at least one sport season from a diverse offering of 45 teams. The school’s impressive facilities include the Goldthorpe Athletic Complex featuring Nolde Gymnasium, as well as the Lloyd Aquatic Center, the Flanagan Pool, the Hale Field House, the Plantz Courts (for basketball and volleyball as well as wrestling competitions), and the Davenport Squash Center.

SCHOOL LIFE

With more than 45 clubs and organizations, 27 interscholastic teams, outdoor education, and the Student Activities Committee (SAC), there’s never a dull moment at Mercersburg. SAC helps to plan more than 120 activities for students to participate in throughout the school year—everything from dances to bingo nights to trips to Philadelphia or New York City, and more. During the COVID-19 global pandemic, SAC is also providing a robust array of virtual offerings.

Part of Mercersburg Academy’s mission statement says: “Our students commit to a life of learning, seek to understand the spiritual nature of human existence, and develop a determination to lead and serve the world.” To help students understand what it means to lead and serve the world, Mercersburg offers off- campus travel opportunities during spring and summer breaks. These experiences provide students with an exceptional chance to extend learning beyond the classroom and take part in education that

CARNEYSANDOE.COM 8 supplements and extends the on-campus experience. These travel opportunities are complemented by the excursions offered by Mercersburg Outdoor Education (MOE) faculty and staff, which range from daylong local events to multi-week global adventures. Through activities such as rock and ice climbing, biking, and backpacking, beginners and advanced students grapple with physical experiences as well as larger life lessons. The Masinter Outdoor Education Center, a renovated 10,000-square-foot timber-frame barn on campus, houses the MOE program, and provides the high-caliber gear that a budding outdoor enthusiast needs. To Mercersburg students’ great benefit, MOE is able to outfit a group of students for a day of rock climbing, a two-week mountaineering expedition, multi-day biking trips, or any other adventure.

Students come to Mercersburg Academy from different cultural, religious, and faith backgrounds; the community embraces this diversity and nurtures hearts, minds, and spirits. The Irvine Memorial Chapel serves as a campus reminder of Mercersburg’s mission to teach students to approach life thoughtfully and creatively, to develop moral character, to live for something beyond themselves, to value their own spirituality, and to serve others. The Chapel is a meeting space on campus where students and faculty come together at various times throughout the year to hear from members of the community or guest speakers. In addition, the school has begun to establish multiple affinity groups on campus which will number 10 by year’s end.

MERCERSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA

A small borough in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, Mercersburg itself covers approximately one square mile with a population hovering around 1,500. Though it may be small in size, Mercersburg enjoys easy access to several state highways, meaning that its residents can easily visit other cities and towns, such as the sister cities of Hagerstown and Frederick, both in Maryland.

CARNEYSANDOE.COM 9 Located in the crossroads of the Civil War, Hagerstown, with a population of around 39,700, is charming town 30 minutes from Mercersburg with a vibrant cultural and historical scene. Home to several important battlefields, Hagerstown also offers a wealth of attractions and activities. Residents enjoy year-round shows, concerts, and festivals at the Maryland Theatre and Performing Arts Complex, along with an active schedule of exhibitions, concerts, lectures, and films at the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts in Hagerstown City Park. Outdoor enthusiasts soak up the great outdoors hiking on Maryland’s Appalachian Trail, cycling along the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal and the Potomac River, and exploring one of the five national and eight state parks in the region.

As the gateway to western Maryland with its mountainous views and “clustered spires” skyline, Frederick is best known for its civil war history and its 40-block historic district. Located an hour from Mercersburg, the city is home to the National Museum of Civil War Medicine, the Schifferstadt Architectural Museum, and the Rose Hill Manor Park and Museums which include a manor house, a log cabin, and a children’s museum. A wide range of family-friendly events is held in Frederick throughout the year. Downtown Frederick boasts more than 200 antique shops and a variety of award-winning restaurants. To the northwest, Gambrill State Park offers mountain trails and overlooks.

Mercersburg students and residents often take advantage of the borough’s proximity to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania (about 70 miles away) and Washington, D.C. (about 90 miles away). Harrisburg, Pennsylvania’s capital city, is situated along the banks of the Susquehanna River. This city is known both for its beauty and rich history, having played a major role in the Westward expansion, the Civil War, and the Industrial Revolution. Now one of the largest metropolitan areas in the state, Harrisburg attracts many visitors throughout the year. It offers the sights and attractions of a big city with the convenience and charm of a small town.

CARNEYSANDOE.COM 10 Washington, D.C. is a city of access; it is easily navigated by locals and tourists alike because of its modern Metro subway system and quadrant-organization. Tourists of all types flock to D.C. to discover what the halls of the 17 free Smithsonian museums hold, to paddle on the Potomac and Anacostia rivers, or to relish in the extraordinary architecture. Over the last several decades, D.C. has experienced a cultural renaissance that has reinvigorated the city with nationally renowned restaurants, innovative gastropubs, and a bounty of international flavors. D.C. has had an influx of locally-owned shops, funky marketplaces, and bustling commercial activity in communities such as Chinatown/ Gallery Place, Adam’s Morgan, and Georgetown. D.C. is, of course, also home to many significant monuments and memorials and a number of sports teams. Their MLB team, The Nationals, their NBA team, The Wizards, and their NHL team, The Capitals, have sparkling, modern venues in the city, and the Washington Redskins (NFL) play a short distance north of Washington, D.C. in Maryland. This is all just the beginning of what locals and visitors love about living in the DMV area, a place that truly celebrates who we are as Americans and offers something for everyone.

OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES

• To redefine the Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion role as an integral position within the Academy’s senior leadership team. • To work with Mercersburg’s other senior leaders and Board to articulate a new vision for a diverse, equitable, and inclusive school community. • To build collective buy-in for an evolved school culture among the members of the Academy’s adult community. • To lead the Academy’s equity and inclusion work while supporting the faculty and staff in their work to create culturally affirming educational and student life programs and to further diversify the student, faculty, and staff populations. • To leave a legacy on a more than 125-year old educational community.

CARNEYSANDOE.COM 11 DESIRED QUALITIES AND QUALIFICATIONS

• The ability to center equity and inclusion within an existing but evolving organizational culture. • The capacity to build and execute a roadmap for school growth through work at the individual and organizational levels. • Demonstrated success in developing a faculty and staff that can appropriately support students and colleagues and views equity and inclusion as everyone’s work. • Strong communication and interpersonal skills and the strength to utilize them to navigate complex conversations and issues with all school constituencies, particularly faculty and staff, administrative colleagues, and Board. • An experienced supervisor and mentor who is able to delegate to those assigned to support affinity groups and other equity and inclusion programs. • Manifests patience, keen wit, resilience, and high executive function. • An appreciation for the unique nature of and experience offered by a residential educational community in a rural setting.

CARNEYSANDOE.COM 12 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 one-page statement of leadership philosophy and practice; • A list of five professional references with name, relationship, phone number, and email address of each (references will not be contacted without the candidate’s permission) to:

Lawrence Alexander Search Consultant [email protected]

Chris Boyle Search Consultant [email protected]

Brandon Jacobs Associate [email protected]

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