, Director of Lower School Position Start Date: July 1, 2021 MIAMICOUNTRYDAY.ORG DIRECTOR OF LOWER SCHOOL POSITION DESCRIPTION

CORE

Mission+Miami Country Day School is aValues college preparatory learning community committed to educating the whole child. Through the core values of honor, respect, wisdom, and compassion, we prepare students to be lifelong learners. We inspire our children to develop their intellectual, physical aesthetic social, emotional, and spiritual potentials by valuing every student every day. WWW.MIAMICOUNTRYDAY.ORG Fast Facts

PK3 - 12 1269 FOUNDED

TUITION 1938 ASSISTANCE STUDENT TO $6M+ TEACHER TYPE 9:1 STUDENTS ON COED FINANCIAL AID DAY CAMPUS SIZE

18% STUDENTS 20 OF COLOR ACRES

45% FACULTY W/ADV. DEGREES 60% Portrait GraduateOF A Be intellectually curious and independent thinkers

Demonstrate confidence in their abilities and resilience in the face of challenges and disappointments

Evidence a commitment to lifelong learning and reading in their personal and professional lives

Demonstrate good character and make good choices

Practice honor, respect, wisdom, compassion, and mindfulness

Possess a strong work ethic in all aspects of their lives EVERY STUDENT. EVERY DAY.

Overview

For over eight decades, Miami Country Day School (MCDS) has lived out its motto, delivering an exceptional college- preparatory curriculum that educates the whole person. Currently serving around 1,270 students in PreK3 to 12, MCDS has undergone remarkable changes since its founding in 1938. Nonetheless, the faculty and student body at this FCIS-accredited coeducational day school are united in their appreciation and continued respect for the school’s mission, philosophy, and traditions. Across all grades and divisions, MCDS’s students present themselves as creative, poised, confident, multi-talented, and enthusiastic-truly thriving in an environment that nurtures their intellectual, physical, emotional, social, aesthetic, and spiritual potentials. From its nationally ranked chess club to its national champion girls’ team, from its environmental studies center to its Comprehensive Outdoor Education Program, Miami Country Day School’s offerings are as exceptional as they are varied. School History In 1938, Mr. Luther “L.B” Sommers and Mr. C.W. “Doc” Abele opened The Miami Country Day and Resident Schools for Boys in what was then still a young and developing city.

Originally and elementary boarding school, MCDS grew quickly in both size and reputation. The transition to its coeducational day program came in the 1950’s ,60’s and 70’s, as the school began admitting female students and boarding rooms were turned into classrooms to accommodate rising enrollment. The Upper School was added in the late 1970’s and MCDS graduates its first senior class in 1981.

Miami Country Day School still occupies its original campus north of downtown Miami, but the facilities inhabited by the founding class of seven boys were quite different from what MCDS students enjoy today. While much has changed at MCDS since 1938, the school has retained the holistic approach to learning embraced by its founders, balancing rigorous academics with athletics and cultural enrichment to produce well-rounded and civic-minded young adults.

THE SCHOOL Over the course of 80 years, Miami Country Day School has built a reputation of excellence in South Florida. The dedicated team of 178 faculty at MCDS is composed of committed stakeholders: teachers appreciate small classes sizes, cherish autonomy in the classroom, and feel fully supported by the administration. Across all divisions, a classical liberal arts curriculum is enhanced by a number of signature programs that promote hands-on learning and whole-child engagement. With the rise of new media in recent decades, MCDS has embraced technology as an invaluable tool to improve educational practices, while holding fast to its commitment to:

LOWER SCHOOL ACADEMICS Miami Country Day School offers a college-preparatory curriculum that seeks to educate the whole person. The Lower School provides a strong program focused on development of foundational skills and concepts in literacy, math, and interdisciplinary areas. This is extended through the Middle and Upper school via a well developed curriculum PK3-12 grade. THE ACADEMIC PROGRAM .From early childhood through 12th grade, students’ social and emotional intelligences are developed and nurtured in a Life IS CHALLENGING, FOCUSING Skills curriculum, while robust art and physical education ON CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS AND programs foster students’ creativity and health and wellness. THE APPLICATION OF CONTENT. Our Lower School focuses on the whole child and fosters growth through a student-centered, integrated curriculum that is personalized and strength-based. Our aligned PK3 through 5th-grade program provides joyful learning experiences that build on knowledge from year to year.

We understand that children thrive in a nurturing environment that encourages curiosity, questioning, exploration and innovation. CHILDREN SPEND EACH DAY WITH FRIENDS PLAYING, LISTENING AND CREATING A STRONG SENSE OF COMMUNITY AND COLLABORATION. Lower School SIGNATURE PROGRAMS

ACES – ABESS CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE This environmental enrichment program is designed for MCDS’s Lower School students in PK-3 through 5th grade. There are inquiry based, hands-on activities that inspire curiosity about the natural world. From its gardens and greenhouse to its assortment of animals including a bird and tortoise sanctuary, ACES is the place where students are introduced to biodiversity, environmentalism, and the scientific method for experimentation.

COEP – COMPREHENSIVE OUTDOOR EDUCATION PROGRAM COEP begins in 5th grade and continues through Middle School. It is an exciting, experiential program that serves as an outstanding part of enrichment and electives. In 5th grade the focus is on learning fundamental outdoor skills, learning about Florida’s natural wildlife and landscapes, and the principles of Leave No Trace outdoor ethics. They can also opt for overnight camping opportunities and day trips to nearby wildlife and nature reserves. The canal that borders the school also becomes a classroom through canoeing and studying the health of that ecosystem.

READER AND WRITER’S WORKSHOP Reader and Writer’s Workshop from Columbia University is the cornerstone to the literacy program in Lower School. Teachers instruct young people to become avid and skilled readers, writers, and inquirers. We accomplish this goal through research, curriculum development, and through working in whole and small group instruction that is specific to the interests and the instructional level of the students. Guided reading is also part of the literacy program.

KINDER TO COLLEGE, LEADER IN ME WEEK OF POSSIBILITIES AND RESPONSIVE CLASSROOM The week before Winter Break is a special time in Lower School We have numerous leadership opportunities for our students, when each grade level explores an immersive and expansive like the Leader in Me program and Kinder to College Buddies, topic of study. This is when students become fully engaged in a to promote confidence and autonomy. We also empower and topic that provides learners with an engaging environment that encourage our students to create strong interpersonal skills. is highly interactive through field experiences, guest educators, and experts from the field. This puts students in the middle of a Through the Responsive Classroom model for Morning learning experience. It culminates with a synthesis of learning in Meetings and mindfulness practices, we encourage and a performance of understanding. Topics have included World support social-emotional wellness, inclusive communities Peace Games and Musical Performance that is completely and caring relationships. Children spend each day with friends student led – from set construction, marketing, and playing, listening and creating a strong sense of community final performance. and collaboration. OPPORTUNITIES TO FURTHER DIVERSIFY THEIR EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE AT MCDS ABOUND. Enrichment Programs

ARTS In recognition of the importance of art education to the development of the whole child, every Lower School student at Miami Country Day School is exposed to the full range of fine arts as a part of their enrichment curriculum. Students learn to draw, paint, and work with various artists and the cultural and historical role that art plays in our lives. They are introduced to the expressive value of music through song, movement, and Orff instrumentation. From the earliest age, MCDS students are given the opportunity to express themselves creatively and to display their work school-wide.

In our award-winning Center for the Arts, our faculty encourage children’s ownership over space and experiences. In music and art classes, children make their own decisions about their work and are not afraid to take risks, make mistakes and embrace failure.

AUXILIARY AND EXTRACURRICULAR PROGRAMS Opportunities to further diversify their educational experience at MCDS abound. The Lower School offers a highly enriching series of After School Clubs generated intentionally for children in PK3 through Grade 5. Ranging from cooking and coding to acting and DJ’ing, these clubs may be athletic, creative, adventurous, or simply fun.

Students of all ages can take swim lessons through Miami Country Day Aquatics (MCDA) program, which also supports the school’s competitive and teams. Our after school clubs are designed for Lower School students to participate in an organized after school activity​ from 3:15p.m. to 4:15p.m. Monday-Friday. ​​

These clubs alleviate the need for our parents to carpool to off-campus after school activities. Each club is taught by a professional and is geared toward enhancing your child’s overall school experience. Campus A multi-level Media Center, complete with library, computer facilities, and the latest communication technologies including an impressive broadcast studio, has become the heartbeat of the campus. The Center for the Arts includes a 650-seat auditorium, exhibit spaces, a dance studio, and a ceramics patio, among many features. The 36,000-square-foot facility, which also includes a 300-space parking garage, is the result of a $16.5million campaign. The collegiate-level athletic facilities include a modern Aquatic Center with a 25-yard outdoor pool, the J. Calvin Rose Athletic Center, and the Koch Athletic Complex, featuring one of Florida’s finest artificial surfaces for football, soccer, and .

MiamiThe fourth largest urban area in the nation, Greater Miami is home to over 5.5 million people. The majority of Miami’s residents have immigrated-or are born to parents who emigrated-from Hispanic countries in the Caribbean and Central and South America. The result is a unique, eclectic and vibrant community amidst a tropical landscape unlike any other in the country. From its food and music to its art and architecture, Miami is truly a cultural melting pot.

The campus of Miami Country Day School is located just north of downtown on the edge of Miami Shores. A primarily residential, independently governed community, Miami Shores is home to Barry University and features its own country club, course, historic library, community center, and beautiful waterfront views of Biscayne Bay.

THE SCHOOL’S 22-ACRE, BEAUTIFULLY LANDSCAPED CAMPUS PROVIDES EXCEPTIONAL FACILITIES FOR LEARNING AND RECREATION. The Position LOWER SCHOOL DIRECTOR

OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES Miami Country Day School serves the Miami area with a rich heritage complemented by its dynamic future. For the 2019-2020 year, the school welcomed its first female Head of School which – in conjunction with recent investments in the school’s physical campus – has re-energized the innovative mindset of the administrative leadership team. The next Director of Lower School will have the opportunity to expand on the momentum of the past year while working in collaboration with the school’s leadership and peer Directors in Middle and Upper School.

Our Lower School focuses on educating the whole child and fosters growth through a student-centered, integrated curriculum that is personalized, strength-based, and hands-on. Our aligned PK3 through 5th grade program provides joyful learning experiences that build on knowledge from year to year. Within these formative years, and not unlike most Lower Schools, we welcome parents as involved partners in their child’s education. As such, parents seek leadership, connection, and guidance from their child’s school director. Therefore, there is great opportunity to build on the reputation of Miami Country Day School by reestablishing a solid and consistent vision for the Lower School, nurturing relationships with families, and strengthening and balancing age-appropriate academics with joyful learning.

The next Director of Lower School must: • Collaborate to create a strong curriculum that appropriately balances academic challenges with joyful learning. • Align, advance, and live by Miami Country Day School’s commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion by implementing concrete strategies to promote learning that represents and celebrates the identity of every student • Inspire, support, and evaluate an exceptionally strong faculty • Engage with Lower School families in a meaningful and proactive manner • Champion a “One School” approach rooted in collaboration and driven by a new strategic plan centered around innovation • Evolve the math and literacy curricula so they align and are embed into interdisciplinary units • Understand and embrace the use of Understanding by Design as a framework to help organize and create new curriculum and programs to ensure each yields age appropriate and intentionally designed outcomes • Explore innovative ways to enhance the student and teacher learning experience

Competencies and Characteristics: The Director of Lower School will be an experienced school leader prepared to manage the day-to-day programs within a sophisticated independent school in a major urban center. S/he will be eager to serve as an inspirational advisor for the division’s faculty, students, and parent community. S/he will be excited to embrace the distinctive climate and culture of Miami, a vibrant metropolis with deep historical roots and profound influences from Europe and South America. More specifically, the next Director must be: • A proven educator who leads by example: This person is honest, articulate, forward thinking, and an active presence in the daily routine of the Lower School student. • A visionary thinker who brings innovative ideas to life: Through passion and inspiration, this person embraces and encourages continued professional growth in the faculty and personally. They are a motivational example of continuous improvement, risk-taking, and reflective thinking. • A community builder with high degrees of emotional intelligence: This person is appropriately transparent throughout communications, empathetic, kind and patient, and able to connect with students, parents, faculty and administrators with confidence, compassion, and clarity. • A highly collaborative colleague who seeks alignment: This person engages with leaders across the divisions of the school to create a unified approach to learning. The Position LOWER SCHOOL DIRECTOR

Qualities and Qualifications • A master’s degree required, preferably with experience in Lower School teaching and administration. • A belief in the school’s mission, leadership, professional development, and commitment to creating an equitable and inclusive environment for Every Student, Every Day. • A broad yet deep knowledge of both traditional and innovative curricula, current best practices in teaching and learning, and the use of technology to evolve the foundation on new curriculum. • An understanding of and passion for early, pre, and mid adolescent development. • A highly energetic approach to navigating a demanding, fast-paced environment. • An intuitive leadership style with a sense of humor, an empathetic heart, and a courageous spirit to engage faculty, students and parents in ways that enhance their capacity to feel known, honored, and heard. • A highly reflective attitude, dynamic and flexible with the capacity to objectively self-evaluate through personal analysis and build clear strategies for growth and development. • The capacity to persuade and influence rather than direct people to adapt and change. • An infectious excitement and enthusiasm that cultivates a community who loves learning. • An eagerness to champion risk takers and provide feedback that allows equally for success and failure while encouraging reflection for growth.

Search Process and Application Requirements Acting on behalf of Miami Country Day School, Carney Sandoe and Associates is actively recruiting well-qualified educational leaders for this appealing career opportunity.

Applicants should submit the following:

• Formal letter of application for the position; • Current resume; • Statement of educational philosophy and practice; • List of at least five references with name, title, phone number and e-mail address of each.

Interested and qualified candidates should submit electronically as separate documents, the materials to John Faubert ( [email protected]) and Namita Bhattacharya ([email protected]) .

After an initial review of applicants, the Search Committee will conduct interviews with selected candidates. Finalists will be invited to Miami Country Day School for a more comprehensive series of interviews shortly thereafter.