Bancroft School Worcester, Massachusetts Head of Upper School Start Date: July 2020 www.bancroftschool.org Mission Bancroft, an independent, coeducational, college-preparatory day school, prepares talented, well-qualified, and motivated college-bound students, Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12, to pursue and realize their academic, personal, and social potential.
We provide a comprehensive, caring, and creative curricular and extracurricular program that fosters an experience of excellence for each student. Inspired students, a superior faculty, and engaged families thrive in our diverse, safe, and supportive community.
We afford students the opportunity to discover their passion in life and to learn to embrace confidently and responsibly the moral and ethical challenges of being lifelong learners, teachers of others, and citizens of an increasingly complex global community.
Overview
Bancroft School is a community of students, faculty, administrators, and parents working together to create an atmosphere of engaged and active learning where students can discover their unique paths with joy and confidence. The Bancroft experience empowers students and employees to develop connections and embrace their talents in order to emerge as leaders, humanitarians, and globally engaged citizens. Bancroft is a PreK – Grade 12 independent day school located in Worcester, Massachusetts – a thriving city with a rich history and a bright future and one in which the school is deeply invested.
Bancroft is a workshop constantly in motion—an open and inclusive campus that inspires learners to engage with one another, their communities, and the world in meaningful and impactful ways. The school is a laboratory that motivates curious minds to form the insights, skills, and character they will need to thrive far beyond graduation.
Bancroft students ask questions, share ideas, and solve problems together through research, experimentation, and reflection. Superb teachers and coaches take great care to foster confident, collaborative thinkers and problem-solvers and help to balance high expectations with reassuring support, inspiring learners to work hard to uncover their full potential. Bancroft graduates are ready to make independent decisions and manage multiple priorities because they have had plenty of practice. With every class, field trip, practice, or performance, Bancroft students take ownership of their learning.
The school is committed to cultivating a community that embraces diversity and an inclusive campus in which each individual is safe, known, and valued. Bancroft students and faculty alike are committed to honoring the dignity of the individual and the celebration of difference. The Search Group | Carney, Sandoe & Associates 2 [email protected] | www.carneysandoe.com Fast Facts Total student enrollment: 377 Upper School enrollment: 191 Total faculty: 79 Upper School faculty: 34 Faculty who hold an advanced degree: 67% Students who receive financial aid: 47% Students who identify as a person of color: 31%
Bancroft seeks a Head of Upper School who will empower and invest in faculty who provide innovative teaching for active learning; communicate effectively; demonstrate a passion for working alongside bright students, hard-working teachers, and invested parents; and nurture a diverse independent school community of global citizens and life-long learners.
Strategic Thinking and Innovation
Founded in 1900 by a group of Worcester parents interested in providing a quality education for their children, Bancroft is the oldest co-educational Pre-K–12 independent day school in central Massachusetts. While the school has always been known for its superior academic reputation, it has recently made a concerted effort to redesign the student experience around a more holistic approach, allowing students the opportunities to take ownership of their learning and enabling them to pursue their passions. The school’s commitment to being a leader in innovative education also allows dedicated faculty to explore and refine their classrooms and curriculum.
In recent years, the School has also made significant investments in campus enhancements to improve energy efficiency, air quality, and public safety; create flexible, multi-functional spaces in the music wing of the Performing Arts Center and new Field House facility; and enhance its ability to attract new students and families.
Bancroft is set to unveil its next strategic plan in early 2020. The plan is a product of extensive internal investigation and collaborative discussion among the School’s many constituents. The plan calls for a process that will continue to engage community members, support a more equitable environment, inspire more active teaching and learning, and provide for the long term sustainability of the School.
The Search Group | Carney, Sandoe & Associates 3 [email protected] | www.carneysandoe.com The School
Using an active, student-centered teaching approach called the Learning Laboratory Method (LLM), Bancroft helps students develop the voice, skills, knowledge, and character to thrive in today’s global community. A flexible daily schedule, a wide range of elective courses, community partnerships, local field trips, international travel opportunities — every aspect of the school — is in service to an active environment in which students own their learning.
As a place that strives to empower both students and faculty members, Bancroft believes learning can happen anywhere and everywhere. Teachers of all disciplines are known to take lessons beyond the classroom setting — whether it’s to the nearby lake or the Worcester Art Museum — in order to experience learning in action. This “hands-on” approach helps all members of the community improve problem-solving skills and understand how to apply school-based knowledge to real-world situations.
Choice is another hallmark of a Bancroft education and is particularly important in the Upper School as it enables students to explore the depth and breadth of subjects that inspire them. To that end, the Upper School schedule is purposefully designed with periods for collaboration with project partners or faculty, homework or independent research, and community building initiatives. The schedule also facilitates the development of time management skills and intrinsic motivation that serves students well beyond high school and provides extensive opportunities to discover new interests and further explore areas of passion.
Bancroft is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) and a member of the Association of Independent Schools in New England (AISNE) and the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS). The Search Group | Carney, Sandoe & Associates 4 [email protected] | www.carneysandoe.com College Placement Bancroft’s college counseling office provides students and families with hands-on assistance and guidance through all aspects of the admissions process from exploration to submitting applications.
The following is a selection of colleges and universities to which members of the Classes of 2015-2019 have been accepted:
American University Boston University Brown University Carnegie Mellon University Columbia University Cornell University Duke University Elon University Fordham University Georgetown University Harvard College King’s College London Lehigh University cademics Loyola University Maryland A Middlebury College Academic programming at Bancroft is meant to provoke New York University Northeastern University critical and analytic thought, while offering students the Northwestern University challenges and exposure to diverse topics they need to be The Ohio State University effective citizens of the 21st century. The curriculum includes Pennsylvania State University course offerings that invite students to discover passions, Purdue University identify interdisciplinary connections, and explore how and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute why the world operates the way it does. Rollins College Saint Louis University Sarah Lawrence College The science and history departments have created unique Skidmore College courses that encourage inquiry, practice research, and Syracuse University engage each student with experts in their field of inquiry to help Trinity College mentor their work. Upper level language courses connect Tufts University students to native speakers and provide opportunities for a University of California, Berkeley University of California, Los Angeles deepened cultural understanding through local partnerships University of Chicago and projects such as the Latino History Project in Worcester University of Connecticut and the annual French Immersion Day. University of Miami University of Oregon Bancroft supports students with a range of learning styles and University of Pennsylvania needs. In the Upper School, academic support coordinators University of Toronto are available to work with students either one-on-one or University of Vermont in small groups to help maximize their academic potential. University of Wisconsin, Madison Vassar College Faculty and these specialists identify each student’s strengths Wake Forest University and challenges and design strategies for success. Thus, any Washington University in St. Louis student in need is offered a developmentally appropriate, Wesleyan University coordinated, and proactive academic program. Whittier College The Search Group | Carney, Sandoe & Associates 5 [email protected] | www.carneysandoe.com Arts and Athletics
Bancroft provides a robust platform for artists of all kinds with offerings in music, painting, acting, ceramics, photography, and writing. Art exhibits can be found all over campus, and in the school’s Harrington Theatre students produce and perform four main-stage shows throughout the year. Bancroft’s arts programs transcend campus limits: students regularly travel off campus for concerts and speech and debate tournaments, and Bancroft student art is showcased throughout the Worcester community and region.
Bancroft’s athletics program (Bancroft Bulldogs) exemplifies the principles of collective learning and healthy competition. Starting in Lower School, physical education classes teach collaboration, cooperation, and sportsmanship. Team sports begin at the Middle School level, with a program that focuses on skill development, participation, and team camaraderie. In the Upper School, students compete in a wide variety of sports, building character, resilience, and leadership skills through competition. Fourteen sports are offered at the Upper School level. Bancroft teams compete primarily in the Eastern Independent School League with ten other New England independent schools. Student athletes continue their athletic participation, with current alumni in college field hockey, rowing, golf, baseball, cross country, track and field, basketball, and lacrosse.
School Life
Bancroft’s Upper School holds many traditions, several of which mark the culmination of a student’s experience at Bancroft. The Senior Thesis is a semester-long project that challenges 12th graders to research a topic that holds significant meaning to them and to create an informed argument that
The Search Group | Carney, Sandoe & Associates 6 [email protected] | www.carneysandoe.com is supported by coherent evidence and in-depth, opinionated analysis. During their work on this project, students sharpen a variety of skills from critical thinking to analytical writing.
Consistent with Bancroft’s belief that learning can happen anywhere, the Bancroft Senior Cooperative (BSC) program—better known as the “Senior Co-op”—transports seniors out of the classroom during their final semester and into real-world work environments throughout the Worcester community. Past Co-Op locations include UMass Medical, Greater Worcester Land Trust, and the Latino Education Institute.
Of course, students don’t have to wait until they are about to graduate to have meaningful experiences outside of the classroom. Bancroft is home to more than 30 clubs and organizations, including Student Council, Gourmet Food Club, Gender & Sexuality Alliance, and Multi-Cultural Student Union. The current club options are an important reflection of the diversity of student passions and talents.
Bancroft is also known for hosting The Young Writers Conference, a weekend of poetry, fiction, and non-fiction workshops for all levels of writers in Grades 8 through 12. The conference offers a valuable opportunity for teenagers from the greater Worcester area to develop their skills with published authors and working writers who serve as active mentors throughout the weekend. Supported and encouraged by these professionals, attendees work closely with and learn from dynamic, published writers; learn about the writing process from idea to publication; garner feedback on their writing; and meet like-minded peers.
The school’s Speech and Debate team is a state powerhouse, ranking among the top ten teams each year for over a decade. The list of arts and writing awards for individual student work is equally impressive. The school’s robotics team holds high esteem at the school, across New England, and on the international stage. The Robodogs have a highly visible space in the Upper School,
The Search Group | Carney, Sandoe & Associates 7 [email protected] | www.carneysandoe.com from where they have launched a highly successful run of qualifiers for State, Regional, and World Championship competitions in VEX robotics.
Students work hard but also enjoy many school traditions that allow them to build community and take a break from their obligations. Each year, students look forward to the annual Lip Sync competition and all-night Bowl Bonanza, but the highlight of the year is Mountain Day. One day each fall, Upper School classes are canceled and students head to nearby Mount Wachusett for a day of intense and spirited class competitions. The excitement of Mountain Day is heightened by its unpredictability: students don’t know when Mountain Day will be held until one day in advance when a surprise announcement is made by faculty.
Campus
The campus at Shore Drive sits on 34 acres overlooking Indian Lake and features impressive facilities, including the Fuller Science Center, the Harrington Performing Arts Center, the Fletcher Athletic Center, and a Field House facility complete with an indoor turf field. In 2010 and 2011, the school took a major step toward environmental sustainability by installing a total of 896 high-efficiency solar panels, making Bancroft School the single largest solar electric system in the City of Worcester.
A recently completed capital campaign will allow Bancroft to make further facilities improvements in order to design teaching and learning spaces that more fully reflect the school’s commitment to student-centered, active learning.
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Depending on your perspective, Worcester is either the anchor of Central Massachusetts — known as the “Heart of the Commonwealth” — or the marker of the western periphery of the Greater Boston area. (Worcester is approximately 40 miles west of Boston.) Named after Worcester, England, Worcester is the second-most populous city in New England, behind Boston. Worcester is known for being a busy but friendly city, with a robust cultural community and easy access to local adventures.
Thanks in large part to Worcester’s large student population and growing population of families, there is always something of cultural merit to enjoy, ranging from theater, to athletics, to music, to excellent restaurants, to well-manicured public park space. Hanover Insurance helped fund a multimillion-dollar renovation of the old Franklin Square Theater, renaming it the Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts, which can now hold up to 2,300 patrons. Worcester is also an academic hub, home to nine colleges and universities including Assumption College, Clark University, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, College of the Holy Cross, University of Massachusetts Medical School, and Worcester State University.
In 2018, The Red Sox Triple-A affiliate officially announced plans to relocate to Worcester. Nationally renowned architectural firm, Beyer Blinder Belle has been hired to build Polar Stadium, which will serve as home to the Worcester Red Sox (WooSox). The stadium is under construction in Worcester’s burgeoning Canal District.
Worcester is conveniently location near two ski areas: Ski Ward Ski Area and Wachusett Mountain. Ski Ward, located minutes away in Shrewsbury, MA, is also an option for skiing, snowboarding, and tubing. Wachusett Mountain is a 3,000-acre State Reservation that offers a wide range of recreational opportunities from skiing in the winter to hiking trails in the summer. On a clear day, one can see the Boston skyline from Mount Wachusett’s 2,006-foot peak. The Search Group | Carney, Sandoe & Associates 9 [email protected] | www.carneysandoe.com The highly respected Worcester Art Museum is home to more than 35,000 works of art that date from antiquity to the present day. A noted favorite of the museum is the silver collection by Paul Revere, as well as the armor gallery and the stunning mosaic display situated on a Renaissance Court floor. Originally built in 1857, Mechanics Hall was revived in 1977 and made into a concert and performing arts venue, which is now ranked as one of North America’s top concert halls.
Crompton Collective offers a wonderful mixture of boutique market antiquities, art, and fresh produce. The venue was designed to celebrate the city’s local independent makers and there are loads of treasures to be had, from antique teacups to vintage furniture, to handmade baby clothes. Visitors often drop into the Canal District Farmers Market, in the same building, to pick up some culinary treats or stop by the Birch Tree Bread Company for some tasty refreshments.
Wormtown Brewery, Central Rock Climbing Center, and the EcoTarium are just a few other examples of other cultural attractions Worcester has to offer; each one is top-tier in its own right, beloved by locals and tourists. It’s easy to see why Worcester is growing in popularity and reputation; it’s a place with a meaningful heritage that has no shortage of enrichment — or fun!
Opportunities and Challenges
The next Head of Upper School will inherit a division characterized by significant forward momentum and an impressive commitment to continuous improvement. Students, parents, and faculty alike take notice of the school’s commitment to providing a student-centered program that offers significant student choice, flexibility, and support. A tight-knit faculty, supportive parents, diverse student body, deep commitment to providing an excellent and personalized student experience, and happy and engaged community characterize the Upper School. The current Head of Upper School is leaving
The Search Group | Carney, Sandoe & Associates 10 [email protected] | www.carneysandoe.com to lead her own school but has primed the Upper School for powerful work in teaching and learning and in social justice and equity.
The next Head of Upper School will face several challenges as well as incredible opportunities:
• As the student body has quickly increased in racial/ethnic diversity, neurodiversity, and socioeconomic diversity, there is enthusiasm and urgency around deepening the cultural competence of the faculty and equipping them to support a broad range of students. • Despite a long history of providing an excellent education, Bancroft is not well known throughout central Massachusetts; the next Head of Upper School will work closely with the Head of School, Director of Admission, and Lower and Middle School Head to tell that story of excellence within the community and with prospective families. • Through the “Learning Lab” model, students engage in active learning experiences and develop self-advocacy and agency; continued professional development for faculty, articulation of the central skills and habits of mind, and faculty coaching will ensure that the Learning Lab model is employed consistently and comprehensively throughout the Upper School. • The incoming Head of Upper School will play a central role in hiring and coaching faculty who are committed to teaching in a student-centered environment, can contribute to co-curricular programming, and have demonstrated a personal and professional commitment to cultural competence. • There are opportunities to further capitalize on the PK-12 continuum that the school affords, building continuity of experience for students and parents who transition between divisions. • A new strategic plan, which will be shared with the community in January, will offer a vision for the work ahead in telling the Bancroft Story, teaching and learning, and equity; nonetheless, the Head of Upper School will enjoy the freedom to creatively solve problems and meet challenges in the division, while drawing on the support of a strong senior administrative team.
The Search Group | Carney, Sandoe & Associates 11 [email protected] | www.carneysandoe.com Core Responsibilities
The Head of the Upper School serves a central role in the school’s leadership and daily administration. This position reports to the Head of School and is charged with the comprehensive responsibility for all curricular and non-curricular programs involving students and faculty in the Upper School.
The Head of the Upper School:
• Serves as the academic, cultural, and operational leader of the Upper School. • Oversees the academic, social, and emotional well-being of Upper School students in coordination with the Dean of Students, Director of College Counseling, Athletic Director, and School Counselor. • Ensures the academic program is innovative, flexible, culturally responsive, and student-centered. • Has primary responsibility for student discipline. • Oversees communication between the school and parents and meets with parents about issues of mutual concern. • Partners with the Head of School and department heads to recruit, hire, evaluate, and retain exceptional Upper School faculty. • Collaborates with colleagues to ensure a consistent and cohesive PK-12 program. • Collaborates with the Director of Admission and Financial Aid in the enrollment and retention of Upper School students. • Serves as a member of the school’s administrative team.
The Search Group | Carney, Sandoe & Associates 12 [email protected] | www.carneysandoe.com Desired Qualities and Qualifications
The ideal candidate will offer most or all of the following qualifications and qualities:
Professional Qualifications • Solid academic credentials, including an advanced degree, coupled with evidence of a commitment to continuous learning. • A strong commitment to Upper School teaching and administration, and an appreciation for the benefits of a PK-12 community. • Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, self-awareness, and emotional intelligence. • Personal and professional commitment to social justice and equity and the requisite skillfulness in supporting faculty growth in this work. • The ability to prioritize a high degree of visibility despite the demands of a busy professional schedule. • A strong knowledge base about best practices in PK-12 pedagogy and curriculum planning and an educational philosophy that privileges active, student-centered learning and significant choice and flexibility. • Decision-making philosophy that prioritizes students’ best interests.
Leadership Style • A collaborative, consensus-building style built on active solicitation of input and excellent listening skills. • The ability to communicate verbally and in writing with inspiration and clarity. • The confidence to advocate for ideas, invite disagreement, welcome feedback, and admit mistakes. • A proponent of thoughtful innovation who skillfully moderates the pace of change. • Visible, communicative, approachable, and responsive. The Search Group | Carney, Sandoe & Associates 13 [email protected] | www.carneysandoe.com Personal Qualities • Eager to engage actively with students and parents; committed to reinforcing the sense of the Upper School as a community of students, teachers, and parents. • Accessible, approachable, and open-minded. • Charisma, playfulness, and a sense of humor.
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 resumé; • A one-page statement of educational and leadership 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:
Beth Dietz Senior Associate [email protected]
Marsha Little Search Consultant [email protected]
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