THE ATHENIAN SCHOOL Danville,

ASSISTANT HEAD AND HEAD OF UPPER SCHOOL Start Date: July 1, 2021 athenian.org Mission and Pillars The Athenian School prepares students for the rigorous expectations of college and for a life of purpose and personal fulfillment. Read the full mission here.

The Athenian education is built on six pillars, inspired by , that are the foundation of everything we do.

OVERVIEW

The Athenian School is a coeducational day and located on a gorgeous 75-acre campus 30 miles east of San Francisco. The vibrant and highly diverse community draws 539 students in grades 6-12 from the East Bay area and around the world.

The school, founded in 1965, offers an integrated and experiential curriculum based on the Round Square schools’ philosophy. As a founding member of Round Square, an international network of more than 200 schools on six continents, Athenian embraces the philosophy that binds the schools and is rooted in six main pillars: International and Multicultural Understanding, Democracy in Action, Environmental Awareness, Adventure, Leadership, and Service. These values are embedded in everything that Athenian does. Students have countless opportunities to experience and explore these themes. Through the Round Square membership, students go on exchanges, service trips, and international conferences through sister Round Square schools.

An Athenian education equips students for lives of intellectual exploration. By cultivating an understanding of self, society, and the natural world, Athenian compels graduates to apply their skills and knowledge to advance their own learning and make meaningful contributions throughout the world. The school is also known for its signature experiential programs, including the Athenian Wilderness Experience (AWE), a required 26-day wilderness backpacking program designed to promote personal growth, a deeper connection to the natural environment, and a sense of community.

The Athenian School seeks a dynamic leader as its next Assistant Head/Head of Upper School starting July 1, 2021. The successful candidate will be a highly experienced educational leader devoted to the school’s mission and program. The Assistant Head/Head of Upper School has oversight of all Upper School activities and works in concert with the Head of School to foster a climate of excellence and

CARNEYSANDOE.COM 2 Fast Facts Founded: 1965 Students: 539 total; 360 Upper School Boarders: 60 Countries represented: 20 Students of color: 59% Total faculty: 72 Faculty of color: 31% Faculty with advanced degrees: 85% Student/teacher ratio: 14:1 Financial aid budget: $3.8 million ethical growth among students, faculty, and staff. This is an exceptional opportunity to lead a singular and highly regarded with an unwavering commitment to student success.

SCHOOL HISTORY

In 1965, Dyke Brown opened The Athenian School as a boarding school in the foothills of , just east of San Francisco. Unusual for its time, when almost all boarding schools were single sex and not admitting students of color, Athenian was coeducational and successfully recruited students of color and international students. Brown believed — indeed, knew — that a community that drew upon the talents of many different kinds of students would best enrich the learning environment for everyone.

Born and raised in the Bay Area, Brown based his school on the education philosophies of legendary educator , who founded Outward Bound, the Round Square organization, the United World College movement, and (Germany) and School (Scotland). Notably, Hahn also took a public stance against Hitler in 1933; Hahn’s commitment to anti-fascism landed him in prison for five days before he was forced to leave Germany.

Following his time in the Navy during World War II and his years as Vice President for the Ford Foundation, Dyke Brown decided to open a school that would protect students from the “corrupting influences of society” by creating a protected reality in which they could learn and grow. His goal was to enable students to let their natural and innate curiosity and goodness thrive through their teenage years so when they did finally “meet” the world, they would have a strong inner core. Brown named his school The Athenian School because, as he put it, “we share the concern which Periclean Athens had for the full development of its citizens.”

CARNEYSANDOE.COM 3 Since 1965, The Athenian School has grown and diversified to include a day-student program, a Middle School, and vibrant summer and after-school programs.

THE SCHOOL

The Athenian School is difficult to summarize because the school, by design, touches on the full scope of what it means to be human. At its core, this 6-12 independent school is based on the six pillars established for Round Square schools: International and Multicultural Understanding, Democracy in Action, Environmental Awareness, Adventure, Leadership, and Service. The commonality in these schools is the respect for young people and their potential, a well-rounded development of human capacities, real-world learning opportunities, and a safe, loving community.

Through its own approach to these principles, the Athenian program offers challenging academics while cultivating the personal qualities of each student to become an adult guided by integrity, strong moral character, aesthetic sensitivity, and physical well-being. The school instills a deep appreciation of the relationship between the individual and cultures, society, and the natural world. Diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice are also educational imperatives. Upholding them is at the core of Athenian’s philosophy and a necessary precursor to meeting its mission to graduate culturally competent, global citizens.

When Athenian faculty and staff describe what they value about the school, they convey appreciation of community and dedication to mission. Sixty boarders and many faculty and staff live on campus, deepening the sense of shared experience and community connection. While Athenian’s day population today far outnumbers it boarding population, the ethos of a boarding school is deep in its DNA. Faculty are attentive to the craft of teaching and describe their approach as “teaching through relationship.” They love Athenian students, who are curious and engaging. Students feel heard and respected, and they value the emphasis on learning for the sake of learning.

CARNEYSANDOE.COM 4 The Athenian School is fully accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and the California Association of Independent Schools. It is a member of the Round Square Schools network, the Green School Alliance, the California Association of Independent Schools, the Association of Boarding Schools, the Mastery Transcript Consortium, the Bay Area Blended Learning Collaborative, and the National Association of Independent Schools.

SIGNATURE PROGRAMS AND ACADEMICS

The Athenian School believes the best way to master academic subjects is to experience their application firsthand. Through rigorous hands-on learning across the disciplines, students gain a deeper understanding of themselves, nature, and society while strengthening their bodies, minds, and spirits.

The Athenian Wilderness Experience The Athenian Wilderness Experience (AWE) is a graduation requirement for all students and a distinctive feature of the curriculum. This 26-day wilderness backpacking program is designed to promote personal growth and develop a sense of community. The course is a dynamic and concentrated reflection of The Athenian School’s values and mission without the insulation provided by the amenities, complications, and diversions of daily routines. Normally completed in the junior year, AWE is offered during the spring in the canyons and mountains of Death Valley National Park and during the late summer in the high country of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

Engineering and Design/The Carter Innovation Studio When it comes to design and engineering centers, at some schools the mantra is: build it, and they will (hopefully) come. At Athenian, the mantra is: we have come to build. The Carter Innovation Studio (CIS) opened in the fall of 2018, and an exciting new chapter began. The CIS is a 5,200 square-

CARNEYSANDOE.COM 5 foot crown jewel that is more than just a STEAM innovation center. The CIS is a hub for fabrication, design, engineering, shop, and computational thinking. The CIS was designed not only to support the Engineering and Design Department, but also to invite existing classes of more traditional disciplines to leverage and incorporate design and engineering principles.

Arts Athenian’s Upper School arts program offers an array of classes in the visual and performing arts. The performing arts disciplines include band, choir, dance, drama, film, and theater tech. Visual arts disciplines include architecture, ceramics, digital art, drawing, film, painting, photography, and sculpture. The program offers both breadth and depth through numerous arts disciplines and advanced courses in each area. Each year, a number of Athenian graduates go on to study the arts and music in college.

March Term Each March, all Upper School students engage in a mini-term class of their choosing, diving deeply into a subject area they otherwise would not get to explore in high school. While half of the junior class is experiential learning in Death Valley, the rest of the school encounters a wide range of hands-on learning opportunities. March Term course offerings vary every year based on faculty and student interests.

Community Service Service is a key component of the Athenian ethic. Students are required to complete 30 hours of community service every year. Ninth grade students participate in weekly on-campus projects in service of the Athenian community. Students also participate in two off-campus service projects on weekend days serving the wider community. In 10th grade, students continue to work on group projects while taking on increased responsibility. Sophomores organize and lead off-campus service projects during the weekly community service period and participate in two weekend projects. In the spring,

CARNEYSANDOE.COM 6 students prepare for their junior year intensive individual service projects through a series of interactive workshops. Juniors and seniors create their own service projects, demonstrating citizenship and leadership skills. In addition to a robust community service program, students are also engaged in the Athenian community in other ways.

In addition to these signature programs and core studies in English, math, history/social sciences, science, world language, art, physical education, and computational thinking, Athenian offers a broad range of electives, including Bay Area BlendEd Consortium classes, entrepreneurship, independent studies, internships, journalism, robotics, the Teacher’s Assistant Program, and yearbook.

COLLEGE PLACEMENT

Over the past four years, nearly 100% of Athenian students have been admitted to top colleges and universities globally and have chosen to matriculate at 143 different colleges.

ATHLETICS

At Athenian, the interscholastic athletic program is an integral part of the total education program. In addition to athletic skill development, the program aims to instill attitudes and behaviors that reflect the ideals of citizenship, sportsmanship, and cooperation, as well as to help students build their self- discipline and self-esteem. Approximately 80% of Upper School student body participates in at least one sport. Sports include cross-country, sailing, soccer, tennis, volleyball, flag football, basketball, lacrosse, wrestling, baseball, softball, badminton, swimming, golf, Ultimate Frisbee, and track and field.

CARNEYSANDOE.COM 7 SCHOOL LIFE

Given Athenian’s diverse student body, student interests run far and wide. Typically, there are more than 20 active clubs every year created around student interests. Current clubs include Applied Science, Asian Culture, Business & Investment, Conversation Club, Engineering and Robotics, Fashion, Gender Equity, International Hip-Hop, Latino Culture, Model UN, Outdoor Adventure, Parkour, Political Action, QED Math, Students of Color, and more.

Class trips are also an important part of an Athenian education. School groups travel within California and to the East Coast to learn more about their country and the planet.

CAMPUS

Athenian’s 75-acre campus, located on rolling hills at the base of Mt. Diablo in Danville, California, is stunning. The most recent additions to the campus include a new Main Hall with dining facilities, the Carter Innovation Studio, and three new classroom buildings. The school has also made significant improvements in ensuring that the campus is ADA accessible.

The Carter Innovation Studio immerses students in Athenian’s hands-on, interdisciplinary approach to education that emphasizes active learning, making, and risk-taking. The 5,200-square-foot studio features three classrooms and includes a shop area with metal and woodworking tools, an industrial arts area, and a computer/CADD/3-D printer space.

The campus facilities also include a library, modern dormitories, two gyms, a fitness center, a dance studio, music practice rooms, an interfaith space, a meditation room, a black-box theater, and faculty CARNEYSANDOE.COM 8 housing. Outdoor facilities include a pool, turf soccer field, a disc golf course, a one-mile trail, and plenty of open space. The school uses solar power to meet about half of its energy needs.

DANVILLE, CALIFORNIA

Located 32 miles east of downtown San Francisco, Danville is a town of 42,000 in the San Ramon Valley near the perimeter of the Mount Diablo State Park. In 2020, Danville was named “the safest town in California.” The town describes itself as having “small town atmosphere, outstanding quality of life.” Danville has an impressive public library, a variety of museums, and some excellent restaurants and bars. Popular museums in the area include the Museum of the San Ramon Valley, Blackhawk Museum, Glass House, and the Eugene O’Neill National Historic Site. The town’s major attraction, however, is its physical beauty — its connection to the outdoors and its access to San Francisco and the Bay Area.

San Francisco, the cultural, commercial, and financial center of Northern California, is a hilly city on the tip of a peninsula surrounded by the majestic Pacific Ocean and picturesque San Francisco Bay. The city has had a large influence on the history of California as well as the United States. San Francisco is home to a little bit of everything: year-round fog, the iconic Golden Gate Bridge, cable cars, Fisherman’s Wharf, and Victorian houses. With a population of around 865,000, San Francisco is a popular tourist destination but also ranks highly on world livability rankings. The city’s colorful neighborhoods provide distinct and unique areas to enjoy culture and arts events, food, and shopping. Many localities feature a mix of businesses and venues that serve both residents and visitors and contribute to the city’s lively atmosphere.

CARNEYSANDOE.COM 9 OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES

The Assistant Head/Head of Upper School will focus on the Upper School operationally and culturally while thinking strategically across grades 6-12 in partnership with the Head of School and the Assistant Head/Head of Middle School. Specific opportunities and challenges include:

Integrate the Round Square Pillars More Fully into the Upper School Program A mission-driven school, Athenian distinguishes itself through its commitment to the pillars of the Round Square Consortium. The Assistant Head/Head of Upper School will center the pillars in decision making around program, curriculum, and innovation, using them as an organizing construct. The School is in the process of hiring for a new position — Dean of Experiential Learning (known internally as a “Pillar Dean”). This position will report to the Assistant Head/Head of Middle School and will work closely with the Assistant Head/Head of Upper School.

Embed Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Social Justice Across the Curriculum As is true in many schools, there is work ahead at Athenian in equity and inclusion, including curricular review, training on facilitating difficult conversations, hiring a more diverse faculty, and collaboration between division directors and the E&I team. The Assistant Head/Head of Upper School will partner with the incoming Director of Diverity, Equity, Inclusion, and Social Justice and the new Director of People and Culture to achieve these goals.

Continue to Align Program and Mission As Athenian has grown and evolved, it has sought to distinguish itself as a school that emphasizes experiential education while preparing its students for college. It’s a both/and proposition that requires clear and confident communication to constituents about the value of a program that includes essential experiences — like the Athenian Wilderness Experience, international exchange, and March Term

CARNEYSANDOE.COM 10 — that can’t be quantified by a test score. The Assistant Head/Head of Upper School will leverage opportunities to celebrate and advocate for Athenian’s vision of education.

Improve Cohesion across Core Programs Athenian teachers enjoy a high degree of autonomy, which can sometimes result in a lack of consistency in the student experience. The Assistant Head/Head of Upper School will work with the faculty, the Upper School leadership team, and the Middle School leader to ensure greater consistency across the student academic experience.

Integrate Recent Program Changes into Upper School Culture Changes that have been implemented in the last few years include the March Term two-week intensive through which students earn a semester of credit; a new schedule with longer blocks and fewer transitions; and an expanded overseas exchange program with high levels of student participation. The Assistant Head/Head of Upper School will continue the conversation about delivering the best versions of these programs.

Clarify Roles and Build Leadership Capacity Because several roles at Athenian are changing, the next Assistant Head/Head of Upper School will work closely with the leadership team to assess and clarify roles and responsibilities. The Director of Teaching and Learning position will be folded into other positions, which will require clarification of responsibilities for the Upper School leadership team, which includes the Academic Dean, Dean of Faculty, Dean of Students, the College Counseling team, and Counseling. The abilities to clarify the reporting structure, delegate, skillfully manage, and deploy this team are essential.

Strengthen Faculty Culture The Upper School will benefit from greater cohesion between the faculty and the administrative team. The teachers will appreciate a leader who will acknowledge and honor their work, balance process and collaboration with clear and transparent decision making, and inspire the team to work toward a CARNEYSANDOE.COM 11 shared vision. Breaking down department silos, collaborating, compromising in light of shared goals, and acknowledging the contributions of each to the health of the whole are essential. Finding the time and creating the capacity for the team to understand and appreciate one another’s roles and contributions would be helpful. This will be especially critical in the coming year as the school emerges from COVID-19, re-establishes the in-person relationships that have been a bedrock of Athenian, and comes to understand the lessons learned from the COVID crisis.

Enhance Sense of 6-12 Cohesion The Assistant Head/Head of Upper School will work closely with the Assistant Head/Head of Middle School to clarify and communicate a coherent 6-12 program and identity.

DESIRED QUALITIES AND QUALIFICATIONS

The ideal candidate will offer most or all of the following qualifications and qualities:

• Demonstrated alignment with Athenian’s mission and pillars. • A strong knowledge base and experience with best practices in Upper School pedagogy and curriculum planning and an educational philosophy that privileges active, student-centered learning and significant choice and flexibility. • A commitment to support the experiential cornerstones of the school including AWE, international exchanges, boarding, and March Term. At the same time, engage in the ongong risk-management that these programs require. • An understanding of the unique and compelling aspects of a residential community and an education rooted in experiential learning.

CARNEYSANDOE.COM 12 • Knowledge of best practices in diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice work and the requisite skillfulness to support student and faculty growth in this area and to facilitate critical conversations in the design of more inclusive curriculum and programs. • Knowledge of best and innovative practices regarding student and adult wellness. • The confidence and humility to advocate for new ideas, invite disagreement, and welcome feedback, engaging in challenging conversations with grace. • Willingness to engage fully in the life of the school, including living on-campus (periodic dorm duty), prioritizing visibility in the midst of professional responsibilities, and building meaningful connections with students and faculty. • A collaborative, consensus-building style built on active solicitation of input and excellent listening skills; warm, supportive, and relational.

TO APPLY

Interested 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.

Selected candidates will also be asked to provide the following:

• Responses to writing prompts, in lieu of a traditional statement of educational philosophy; • 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).

Candidates are invited to contact the consultants in confidence and to submit a resume and cover letter to:

Karen Whitaker Search Consultant [email protected]

Marsha Little Search Consultant [email protected]

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