THE WINSOR SCHOOL Boston, Massachusetts Director of Admission Start Date: July 2020 www.winsor.edu OVERVIEW The Winsor School is an independent day school for academically promising and motivated girls in grades 5-12. Winsor students hail from more than 60 different communities in and around the city of Boston and comprise a diverse, vibrant community that values intellectual curiosity, authentic engagement, and personal integrity. Winsor’s curriculum and culture are rooted firmly in the school’s mission statement – Winsor prepares young women to pursue their aspirations and contribute to the world – and challenges its students to lead lives of purpose as responsible, generous-minded women. Winsor teachers make all of this possible through their tremendous devotion to determining how each student will excel, not if she will. In short, the Winsor experience shapes students in every possible way; Winsor students are not only thinkers and scholars but also artists, athletes, community volunteers, club members, leaders, and mentors.
The Search Group | Carney, Sandoe & Associates 2 FAST FACTS
TOTAL ENROLLMENT: STUDENTS WHO IDENTIFY TOTAL FACULTY: 471 AS PEOPLE OF COLOR: 89 44%
FACULTY WHO HOLD AN STUDENT-FACULTY RATIO: ADVANCED DEGREE: 8:1 92%
The Search Group | Carney, Sandoe & Associates 3 ACADEMICS AND CULTURE Winsor’s reputation for academic excellence has drawn families for generations. Students are taught to think and learn independently in order to gain the competence and confidence necessary to be lifelong learners and strong, courageous women. Foundations in core classes including English, math, science, history, foreign language, the arts, health and physical education, and technology are supported by robust electives, community time, and interdisciplinary STEM and computer science programs. Advanced Placement courses are offered in Upper School. The college choices of Winsor graduates—some of the finest in the country—reflect the academic strength of both the girls and the school.
At Winsor, learning is not just a function of the academic curriculum. Winsor has a rich tradition in athletic competition. Winsor athletes and coaches strive for excellence across 14 different sports. In these programs, students gain confidence that extends into everything they do. The arts are also woven into the fabric of every student’s Winsor experience, giving girls essential opportunities to think creatively, work collaboratively, and explore and express their voices and passions. Another key component of a Winsor student’s education is service learning. Community service activities for Lower School introduce students to many facets of community service learning and leadership. In Upper School, Winsor offers students a range of year-long community service opportunities. Notably, the choice to participate is up to the girls; the school doesn’t require service.
The Search Group | Carney, Sandoe & Associates 4 Above all else, Winsor values its culture of respect and inclusion, which supports ethnic, racial, religious, and socio-economic diversity among all the constituencies of the school. Winsor intentionally nurtures this culture through many different means, such as thoughtfully building and revising its curriculum, celebrating multiple forms of aptitude and accomplishment, and offering a wide array of diversity efforts and programs. As a result, Winsor students, alumnae, and faculty collectively recognize the importance of candid communication; nurture intellectual growth in conjunction with social growth; and understand the necessity for a safe, supportive setting where young people can clarify their own beliefs and values, take risks, and think and speak for themselves.
CAMPUS AND FACILITIES Nestled in the center of Boston’s bustling Longwood area, Winsor has been a city school since its founding in the Back Bay in 1886. The century-old academic wing, updated with cutting-edge classrooms, science and engineering labs, and an inspired art studio, frames a grassy courtyard that is an unexpected oasis in the urban location. And the state-of-the-art Lubin-O’Donnell Center for the performing arts, athletics, and wellness enables students to experience the very best of a 21st century education. Winsor’s newest performing arts facilities include a theater, sound-proofed recital and practice rooms, and recording and editing studios. Winsor’s athletic facilities include five international squash courts, a gymnasium, two NCAA basketball courts, two NCAA volleyball courts, a yoga/wellness room, a multipurpose activity room, and two turf fields. In addition, Winsor shares a boathouse on the Charles River, home to Winsor’s competitive crew team.
The Search Group | Carney, Sandoe & Associates 5 BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS Comprised of diverse neighborhoods and remarkably easy to explore on foot or by public transport, Boston, Massachusetts, is known for everything from its historical landmarks to its iconic institutions of higher education to its powerhouse professional sports teams.
Boston has ample attractions to suit the curious and young at heart — The New England Aquarium, Museum of Science, and the Boston Children’s Museum are all family favorites. History buffs can explore The Boston Tea Party Ship & Museum and Museum of African American History, or walk The Freedom Trail. Art lovers feel right at home in the Museum of Fine Arts and the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum.
While the city’s history and culture are unparalleled, Bostonians love their sports teams. The Boston Red Sox, the New England Patriots, the Boston Celtics, and the Boston Bruins command a hyper-loyal following. Though Boston proper has so much to offer, one of the very best parts about Boston is its proximity to some of the most gorgeous beaches and mountains in New England; skiers, hikers, and swimmers never tire of the opportunities to enjoy nature that are just a short drive outside of the city.
The Search Group | Carney, Sandoe & Associates 6 OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES In everything the school does, Winsor strives to nurture an environment of respect and inclusion. The admissions process at Winsor serves as a critical introduction to the school’s core values. Winsor’s diverse, vibrant community values intellectual curiosity, authentic engagement, and personal integrity and prepares young women to lead lives of purpose, pursue their aspirations, and contribute to the world.
The new Director of Admission must be prepared to usher Winsor more fully into a data-driven, strategic approach to enrollment management. Additionally, the successful candidate will bring a service orientation to the role, making certain that prospective and current families feel embraced by Winsor and thoroughly informed about Winsor — both as an educational institution and a close-knit community. The new Director is in the enviable position of succeeding a Director with a successful 18-year record of strong admission, wait lists, significant board-supported financial aid, and an increasingly diverse and powerful student body.
The ideal candidate will be a strategic thinker, strong internal and external communicator, an expert in marketing in a highly competitive urban setting, and a skilled manager. They will have a passion for all-girls education, and a commitment to lifelong learning, driven by curiosity and a desire to grow. The Director will be a proven team player who has a warm, collaborative nature, positive energy, and a sense of humor. They will ensure that families have a positive experience and favorable impression of Winsor regardless of the outcome of the admission decision. DESIRED QUALITIES AND QUALIFICATIONS Winsor seeks a Director of Admission who leads with imagination, innovation, energy, and drive. The most promising candidates will be strategic visionaries who understand the interdependence of all aspects of an educational institution as well as the workings of a sophisticated admissions office. The school is most interested in candidates who demonstrate many, if not all, of the following:
• Bachelor’s degree, with an advanced degree preferred. • At least 10 years’ experience in admission work, and at least five years leading an admission team in K-12, secondary, or higher education, with a profound understanding of best practices, innovative programs, and data analytics. • A dynamic, approachable presence that welcomes conversation and connection while respecting the views of others. • Effective communication skills with faculty members, parents, students, community members, and the Board of Trustees, keeping these groups appropriately informed of potential issues, accomplishments, and needs. • Excellent public speaking skills to capture and communicate the core values of a Winsor education. • A strategic mindset to develop and implement tactical marketing ideas and formulate the annual Admission Office Action plan with goals and objectives. • A leadership approach that, through appropriate delegation, professional development, and consistent evaluation, empowers colleagues and accomplishes objectives. • Willingness and desire to be visible on campus and to connect with teachers, students, and staff. • Enjoyment of working with prospective families and guiding them to wise decisions. • Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion work. • Experience in educational marketing within a highly competitive market. • Demonstrated success in managing people, one that is characterized by integrity, collaboration, and flexibility.
The Search Group | Carney, Sandoe & Associates 7 TO APPLY Interested and qualified candidates should email either consultant for more information. All inquiries are confidential. Applicants will need to submit the following materials in one email (and as separate documents – preferably PDFs):
• A cover letter expressing their interest in this particular position • A current résumé • A response to the following prompt: Describe a situation where you implemented a new strategic initiative for the admissions office and how you executed the plan. • A list of five professional references with name, phone number, and email address of each (references will be contacted only with the candidate’s permission) to:
Lisa Parsons Search Consultant [email protected]
Jenny Fry Search Associate [email protected]
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