CARLTHORP SCHOOL Santa Monica, California

HEAD OF SCHOOL Start Date: July 1, 2021 carlthorp.org Mission Carlthorp School provides a strong academic foundation in a diverse and nurturing school community that emphasizes respectful values, responsible work habits, and excellence in order to prepare students to achieve their highest potential in education and life.

OVERVIEW

Carlthorp School, established in 1939, is the oldest independent school in Santa Monica, California. While expanding its curriculum in recent years, this coeducational, Kindergarten through 6th grade school has remained committed to its mission: providing a strong academic foundation in a diverse and nurturing community that emphasizes respectful values, responsible work habits, and excellence.

With 280 students and a student/teacher ratio of 6:1, Carlthorp has a reputation for both academic excellence and inclusion. Equally important to academics is the school’s focus on character development and instilling gratitude. The overall result is a highly engaging learning community where students thrive and are prepared to face the rigors and challenges of high school and beyond.

Carlthorp School seeks a dynamic leader as its next head of school starting July 1, 2021. Currently, Steve Springer is serving as Interim Head of School, having served as Associate Head of School and Principal at Carlthorp for the past two years. The successful head of school candidate will be an experienced educational leader devoted to the school’s mission and program. He or she will have oversight of all organizational activities and will serve as the school’s academic leader, fostering a climate of excellence and ethical growth among students, faculty, and staff. This is an exceptional opportunity to lead a highly rated independent school with an unwavering commitment to student success.

CARNEYSANDOE.COM 2 Fast Facts Founded: 1939 Grades: K-6 Total students: 280 Total faculty: 80 Faculty with advanced degrees: 70% Student/teacher ratio: 6:1 Students of color: 54% Faculty of color: 29% Financial aid budget: $530,000 Students receiving financial aid: 9.6% Endowment: $25 million SCHOOL HISTORY

Carlthorp School was founded in 1939 by Mercedes Thorp and Ann Carlson Granstrom. Their intention was to provide an academically rigorous education, enhanced by good study habits, courtesy, self- discipline, and positive self-esteem — with an overall goal of preparing each child to meet the challenges of higher education and life.

The school was founded as a proprietary institution but became a nonprofit in 1982. In 1983, Dee Menzies, a former Carlthorp School student herself, assumed the role of Head of School. During her 33-year tenure (ending in 2016), Carlthorp expanded its physical space and grew enrollment from 180 students to 280. The school’s academic foundation was also further solidified and complemented by an emphasis on service.

In 2020, Carlthorp School is celebrating its 80th anniversary. It is the oldest independent school in Santa Monica.

THE SCHOOL

Carlthorp School, located in a quiet neighborhood in Santa Monica, began as a one-room school in 1939. Over the years, it has grown into a thriving elementary school that has held to its founding principles of academic excellence and student engagement while evolving into an impressive 21st- century learning community. Though the breadth of the curriculum has expanded significantly in the last seven decades, the school’s basic philosophy remains the same; it focuses on the child as a whole, helping each student to grow academically, socially, emotionally, and ethically, all within the framework of a traditionally academic school. CARNEYSANDOE.COM 3 “Students can do it all at Carlthorp.” -Parent

Through its Code of Conduct, the Carlthorp School community embraces the importance of kindness, respect, citizenship, care for others, and care for self. As a result of this focus on personal and social responsibility, Carlthorp graduates are well prepared for the rigors of secondary school and the challenges of life beyond.

The school is committed to creating an inclusive environment for families, one that honors diverse perspectives and is composed of faculty, students, administrators, trustees, parents, guardians, and alumni of diverse ethnic, cultural, religious, and socioeconomic backgrounds. The school continues to focus on its K-6 DEI curriculum that is centered around inclusivity and building bridges and connections while also celebrating perceived differences.

Carlthorp is currently pursuing strategic priorities that include a deeper commitment to DEI; strengthening the 21st-century curriculum; recruiting and retaining talented teachers; and updating the school facilities through a Master Plan that is currently underway.

Carlthorp School is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). It is a member of the California Association of Independent Schools (CAIS) and the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS).

CARNEYSANDOE.COM 4 Secondary School Placement Historically, 97% of Carlthorp students matriculate to the secondary school of their first choice. Students most often matriculate to the following schools:

Brentwood School Campbell Hall School Crossroads School Harvard-Westlake School Lincoln Middle School Marlborough School Milken Community School New Roads School Oaks Christian School Paul Revere Middle School St. Matthew’s Parish School The Archer School for Girls The Geffen Academy at UCLA The Mirman School Viewpoint School Wildwood School ACADEMICS Windward School

Forward thinking and academically rigorous, Carlthorp School’s curriculum encourages students to discover themselves and the world around them. Teachers help students strive for excellence, emphasizing the importance of risk-taking and a growth mindset. The curriculum is thoughtfully designed to strike a meaningful balance of academic rigor, character development, and fostering a joy for learning. The core curriculum includes language arts, mathematics, science, Spanish, library, music, art, and physical education.

Beginning in Kindergarten, the faculty places an emphasis on teaching students that striving for excellence does not mean striving for perfection, but rather a commitment to doing one’s best and embracing challenges. The overall goal is to help students build a strong academic base and develop essential life skills, including critical thinking, problem solving, and creativity.

Twenty-first-century elements of the curriculum include experiential education, thematic learning, and CGI (cognitively guided instruction) in the early years. Service learning is a central part of the curriculum, which culminates in the sixth grade with a focus on student-driven projects.

Carlthorp also encourages its students to develop their public speaking skills over the course of their seven years at the school, beginning with age-appropriate presentations in the lower grades, progressing to student-led tours for prospective families in the upper grades, and culminating in debate and other speaking opportunities in the sixth grade. As with every aspect of student life at Carlthorp, students are supported and nurtured as they develop these important life skills, so that they build their confidence to succeed.

The school uses a 1:1 laptop program in Grades 3-6.

CARNEYSANDOE.COM 5 SCIENCE

Carlthorp’s STEM program is robust and innovative. The cutting-edge Science Lab and Innovation Hub are places where students’ natural curiosity fuels inquiry. In the primary grades, students gain an introduction to the wonders of the natural world and the power of the scientific method in a laboratory that teems with live animals and hands-on experiences. They practice asking questions, making observations, collecting and analyzing data, drawing conclusions, and engineering solutions on topics that span the biological, physical, and earth sciences.

In the intermediate grades, student work shifts to formalizing an understanding of the scientific inquiry and design processes foundational to engineering, computer science, and game development. Students build bridges, design alarms, code games, construct golf courses, and myriad other activities that embed the iterative design process. Additionally, starting in the fourth grade, students begin physical computing. That work focuses on meeting design requirements, block-based coding, and robot construction. As students advance, they learn the basic principles of the programming language Python and how to use 3D printing technology to solve problems.

SPANISH

Carlthorp’s Spanish program gives students a general exposure to the language and culture of Spanish- speaking countries. The program appeals to different students’ learning styles within the framework of a structured curriculum. Working closely with the Director of Curriculum and Instruction as well as Carlthorp’s reading teachers, the Spanish teachers implement reading workshop strategies into their curriculum throughout the year. Every spring, they help organize a “Fiesta Latina” that celebrates the culture of Spanish-speaking countries.

CARNEYSANDOE.COM 6 THE ARTS

In addition to classroom art projects, Carlthorp students receive special instruction in the fine arts. They learn specific art techniques in a variety of media and become aware of different styles of art and corresponding time periods. The arts program culminates in an arts show exhibiting one piece from each student in the school. Every third year, the school also celebrates ArtSmart, a day devoted exclusively to the arts, including not only the visual arts but also the other fine arts: music, dance, and writing.

The music program develops musicians who are creative and collaborative. Making music together is at the heart of the program; students perform in grade-specific productions as well as musicals that bring together students from all grades. Carlthorp musicians master musical elements and concepts through a mixture of pedagogical approaches utilizing best practices of a student-centered curriculum. They are exposed to a broad range of music and make connections to the past and present of various cultures as they develop a music aesthetic. Students take part in a comprehensive music program that incorporates singing, in unison and in parts, movement exploration, group dances, ear training, music literacy, and dramatic interpretation. Each grade also has an instrumental focus, from the xylophone to the ukulele. After-school chorus and orchestra offer two additional opportunities for students. These singers and instrumentalists prepare three concerts throughout the year.

CARNEYSANDOE.COM 7 ATHLETICS

There are two facets of Carlthorp’s athletic program: physical education and after-school athletics. The goal of physical education is for students to enjoy participating, regardless of their athletic ability. By teaching skills that help establish a strong foundation in athletics, they come away with not only these skills but also a range of experiences that help instill confidence, sportsmanship, and leadership that they will carry with them beyond Carlthorp School.

For the lower grade PE class, an emphasis is placed on cooperative games, ball and object manipulation skills of both hands and feet, and team building. For the upper grade PE class, there is a focus on learning skills in the following units: basketball, football, hockey, volleyball, physical fitness, Omnikin ball, small sided games, bowling, scooter water polo, scooter volleyball, and hockey.

The after-school athletics program at Carlthorp School is an extension of the classroom for fourth through sixth graders. Coaches reinforce the importance of commitment, competition, time management, and teamwork. Athletes are coached to compete and play to win, while valuing the Code of Conduct and the importance of sportsmanship in a competitive environment. All students are encouraged to play, and all students who sign up are offered a place on the team. Teams compete in the Coastal Canyon League, a league made up of Westside independent schools.

Sports include boys basketball, girls basketball, co-ed football, boys volleyball, girls volleyball, and co- ed soccer. After-school sports clubs include fencing, golf, and running.

CARNEYSANDOE.COM 8 SCHOOL LIFE

Carlthorp is rich with traditions — from the daily, all-school Flag Line, to cultural celebrations, to annual service and learning trips. Some traditions are experienced by the community on a daily basis, while others are annual or semi-annual traditions. These traditions create a sense of community, pride in school culture, and gratitude for the educational experience that is being provided to students.

The school offers an optional after school program that includes a variety of clubs, taught primarily by Carlthorp teachers, that allow students of all ages to have fun, play, and experiment with new extracurricular activities. Clubs include robotics, artist studio, debate, Latin, and innovation. While the clubs vary each trimester, Homework Club, Theatre Ensemble, Chorus, and Orchestra are available year-round.

Students and their families also engage in regular community service, and students take part in service- learning trips, both locally and nationally. In sixth grade, service projects are student-driven; members of the class research and then advocate for a cause that is meaningful to them.

Additionally, Carlthorp has a vibrant parent community, where parents feel welcome and connected to the school and each other. Parents appreciate that there is an understated sensibility in the school community, where independent schools on the westside of Los Angeles can often feel otherwise. There are many opportunities for parents to be involved in areas that match their interests, talents, and schedules, enriching both the student and parent experience. Parent volunteerism is coordinated by two former Carlthorp parents, who provide guidance to parent committees, room parents, and parent volunteers who organize special activities on campus.

Carlthorp School families are typically private and value the discretion with which the school utilizes social media and other forms of marketing. Strong emphasis is placed on digital citizenship and responsible online presence in all forms, and the school models this behavior, consistent with its Code of Conduct.

CARNEYSANDOE.COM 9 CAMPUS

Carlthorp School is situated in a residential neighborhood four blocks from Santa Monica Beach on San Vicente Boulevard. Its neighbors are an apartment building to the west and a condominium building to the east. There are 14 homerooms on this modern campus with two classes per grade and approximately 20 students per class, or 40 students per grade.

Overall, Carlthorp uses its space well and has started the process of contemporizing the facilities as a way to stay current, including the recent creation of the Innovation Lab. The school is also working to increase environmental sustainability, including replacing fixtures and moving toward LED bulbs and using bottle refill fountains. The Master Plan, which has been developed over the past few years, calls for additional updates and additions to the campus. The school is currently seeking approvals from the City of Santa Monica for the projects contemplated by the Master Plan.

SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA

Santa Monica is an 8.3 square-mile beachfront city in the western Los Angeles County with a population of 90,000. Given its favorable climate (averaging 310 days of sunshine a year) Santa Monica got its start as a resort community that grew quickly with the booming development in the Los Angeles area.

Today, Santa Monica ranks high on various livability indexes, which includes the quality of education, public and private. As with all communities in the greater Los Angeles area, real estate costs are above average. Of course, one of Santa Monica’s best attributes is its proximity to all that Los Angeles has to offer. Popular sites in Santa Monica include the famous Santa Monica Pier and Palisades Park atop a bluff overlooking the Pacific. Along with the shoreline attractions, Santa Monica is also popular

CARNEYSANDOE.COM 10 for shopping and dining. The city is home to a number of international entertainment corporations, including Hulu, Lionsgate Films, and Miramax.

Santa Monica is also one of the first cities in the nation to formally adopt a sustainability plan — focusing on water conservation policies, waste reduction, green construction, and reducing carbon emissions. The plan aims at achieving an 80% cut in carbon emissions by 2030 and reaching community-wide carbon neutrality by 2050 or sooner.

OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES

With a history of stability — only four heads of school in eighty years — the Carlthorp head of school search presents a rare opportunity to lead a remarkable school characterized by a strong sense of community, academic rigor, moral character, and care for the well-being of each child. Carlthorp enjoys consistently high demand, an engaged and generous parent body, and a stellar record of placing its graduates into outstanding secondary schools in the Los Angeles area. With all of its strengths, plus a beautiful location and an exciting Master Plan on the drawing board, the school is poised to thrive under the stewardship of a new head of school, who will sustain the school’s emphasis on academic rigor and the Code of Conduct while articulating the best of what a traditional school can be in 2021 and beyond.

Sustain and Deepen the Sense of Community Carlthorp faculty and parents express deep appreciation for the school’s warm and inclusive sense of community. The next head will have strong interpersonal and communication skills and enjoy being present and engaged with all constituents, celebrating achievements and marking important passages within the Carlthorp family by bringing people together at community gatherings or reaching out with private words of encouragement. The leader will know and value every member of the Carlthorp community.

CARNEYSANDOE.COM 11 Balance Academic Rigor with Best Practices and Innovation Carlthorp is justifiably proud of its stellar academic reputation. Graduates from the sixth grade are sought by the most selective secondary schools and excel wherever they enroll. Parents and teachers value Carlthorp’s balance of academic rigor with kindness and care for each student. Teachers appreciate collaboration, encouragement, coaching, and agreed upon curricular goals that accommodate teacher creativity and passion. They welcome a leader who will support their ongoing professional development and inquiry into best practices while encouraging reflective dialogue and program assessment to ensure Carlthorp’s curriculum is aligned across grade levels and supports student engagement and continued academic excellence.

Value Tradition While Managing Inevitable Change From Flag Line to the Thought of the Day to the Code of Conduct, the shared meaning and ritual of Carlthorp’s traditions reinforce a strong sense of community and common purpose, which gives rise to enduring relationships. Many families have multigenerational bonds with the school. They maintain connections long after their children graduate, and some parent volunteers have become long-term employees. While loving the small-village quality of the school, the Carlthorp community recognizes the rapid changes and complex challenges of our world and seeks a head of school who will continue to uphold the values of Carlthorp while leading the institutional evolution and innovation that ensures Carlthorp graduates will thrive in secondary school and beyond.

CARNEYSANDOE.COM 12 Steward Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Journey Carlthorp’s next head of school will possess the sensitivity, courage, and acuity to guide the school’s DEI work. The Carlthorp community, like so many independent school communities, aspires to be more diverse, equitable, and inclusive. Fifty-four percent of Carlthorp students and 29% of Carlthorp faculty self-identify as people of color. Members of the community occupy different stages on the journey towards greater inclusivity, and the next leader will need to meet constituents where they are, creating a safe environment for expressing diverse points of view and inviting participation in nuanced conversations and resulting actions. The school has hired a Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and the board has articulated a set of principles to guide the work in this area. The IDEA Committee (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Awareness), which is made up of parent volunteers, is intended to organize and engage parent volunteerism in this important area.

Evaluate and Strengthen Role Clarity and Decision-Making Protocols Carlthorp has had a history of promoting from within and offering employees growth opportunities in changing roles at the school. Because of these practices, as well as recent leadership transition, the next head of school will need to assess how personnel are hired and deployed in order to clarify and make more transparent how and by whom decisions are made and communicated. Onboarding, mentoring, and evaluation processes also need attention. Overall, the next head of school will welcome input from constituents while making and communicating clear decisions that support professionalism and allow all Carlthorp faculty and staff to focus their energy on what’s best for kids.

CARNEYSANDOE.COM 13 DESIRED QUALITIES AND QUALIFICATIONS

The next head of school will be:

• Approachable, accessible, and kind, embodying the “mayor of the village” role with a strong and joyful presence around campus and at school events. • An excellent communicator who understands the value of listening with an open mind, encourages dialogue, and models collaboration and reflection. • A lifelong learner who understands important trends and research in education and has the ability to combine that understanding with an appreciation for Carlthorp’s values, culture, and traditions in order to sustain its commitment to excellence. • A person who delegates while being consultative and supportive of all members of the team and alert to the pulse of the school, yet understands that the ultimate accountability to the school community lies with him or her. • Experienced in recruiting, retaining, supporting, and developing the growth of talented and committed administrators and teachers. • An educator who loves children, values the innocence and creativity of childhood, and has a thorough knowledge of the developmental milestones of children ages kindergarten to grade six. • The chief gratitude officer who recognizes and genuinely thanks students, faculty and staff, and parents for their contributions and warmly celebrates important moments during the cycle of the school year and in the life of the institution. • A reflective leader who can synthesize disparate points of view, yet courageously and confidently define and articulate the school’s true north across academic and culture issues. • A leader who embodies both humility and strength and articulates a shared vision of Carlthorp’s work on behalf of its students. • A role model for the entire school community; someone who truly lives the Carlthorp Code of Conduct both inside and outside of school.

CARNEYSANDOE.COM 14 TO APPLY

Interested and qualified candidates should submit electronically in one email and as separate documents (preferably PDFs) the following materials:

• A cover letter expressing their interest in this particular position; • A current résumé; • A one-page statement of educational philosophy and practice; • 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:

Bob Fricker Senior Consultant [email protected]

Nora Malone Senior Consultant [email protected]

Karen Whitaker Search Consultant [email protected]

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