Manlius Pebble Hill School Syracuse, New York Head of School Start Date: July 1, 2019 mphschool.org Mission To inspire our students to think critically, act responsibly, and discover a passion for lifelong learning. MPH Core Values 1. We are dedicated to the pursuit of distinguishable academic excellence. 2. We cultivate passionate, accomplished, and invested teachers who challenge students to become inquisitive and independent learners. 3. We build self-confidence, respect, integrity, and strength of character throughout all grades. 4. We stimulate intellectual, emotional, social, and physical development — we teach the whole child. 5. We believe children learn best in a caring, close-knit community that values diversity. 6. We foster a love of learning through creative problem-solving and critical thinking. 7. We strive to attract bright, motivated students who are prepared to partner with teachers and classmates to foster a mutually supportive learning environment. 8. We prepare students to become responsible contributors to the local and global community.

Overview Manlius Pebble Hill School, a coeducational day school for students in Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12, seeks a Head of School to begin in July 2019 upon the retirement of current Head Jim Dunaway, who joined the school in February 2015.

Under Jim’s leadership in partnership with strong Board of Trustees support, the school now enjoys vastly expanded and improved campus facilities, including the new Athletics and Visual Arts Center, and work has begun on the new STEAM Park, an outdoor learning center and “children’s .” After years of declining student numbers, enrollment has been relatively stable for three years, and there has been particular growth in interest in the Early Learning program and Lower School. An already strong academic program is even stronger at all levels. In addition, the school successfully underwent the periodic two-year process of reaccreditation by the New York State Association of Independent Schools (NYSAIS) and remains the only NYSAIS-accredited school in .

The next Head of School will join an institution that has made remarkable progress and enjoys an excellent regional and national reputation. More than that, he or she will find an unusually optimistic and energized school community, a kind and encouraging culture that inspires students to tackle big challenges and celebrate each student’s success. An exceptional faculty tap into student interests and develop them into powerful strengths. The curriculum provides students with the tools they need for success after MPH, whatever their course of study and career.

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Students Enrolled: 272 Zip Codes Represented: 26 Students of Color: 36% Student to Faculty Ratio: 7 to 1 Faculty and Staff of Color: 51% Faculty Holding Advanced Degrees: 74% Athletic Teams: 8 competitive varsity and junior varsity teams Endowment: $2.5 million Total Financial Aid Awarded for 17-18: $1.4 million Students Receiving Financial Aid for 17-18: 21%

School History

The Manlius Pebble Hill School can trace its roots back to 1869, when the Rev. Frederick Dan Huntington founded the all-boys St. John’s School in the Central New York town of Manlius. In 1879, the school added a military component. When the school struggled with enrollment in the 1890s, General William Verbeck took over as headmaster and recreated it as one of the nation’s top military schools, serving as a thriving feeder school for West Point. In 1924, Verbeck changed the school’s name to The Manlius School. In 1970, because of low enrollment and financial challenges, The Manlius School merged with nearby Pebble Hill School to form today’s Manlius Pebble Hill School — a nondenominational, coeducational independent school.

The Pebble Hill School started in Syracuse — on the current site of the Manlius Pebble Hill School — in 1926 as an all-boys school. Twenty years later, it turned coeducational and continued to grow steadily. In 1970, the board was looking for ways to expand the program — and found the answer when approached by trustees at the Manlius School offering to merge. Although the merger did not go smoothly in the early years, good leadership helped the school weather the recession and energy crisis of the 1970s and emerge stronger in the coming decades.

Although the school has evolved through various phases, its most important legacy has been the ongoing commitment to academic excellence. Today, with more than 4,200 alumni throughout the world, Manlius Pebble Hill School continues to provide an unparalleled education that prepares its students for the challenges of the future.

The Search Group | Carney, Sandoe & Associates 2 [email protected] | www.carneysandoe.com The School Manlius Pebble Hill School (MPH) serves 312 students in Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12 from its location in Syracuse, New York. Students come from more than 30 school districts, spanning several counties, as well as other countries — bringing a wide variety of cultural, socioeconomic, ethnic, and religious experiences. The current enrollment includes 72 students in the Lower School (Grades PreK-5), 83 in the Middle School (Grades 6-8), and 157 in the Upper School (Grades 9-12). The student-to-faculty ratio is 8 to 1. Around 35% are students of color.

The school’s calling card is its commitment to fostering academic excellence in a personalized setting. The teachers and administrators describe this as the “MPH Effect,” which arises from MPH’s one-of-a-kind combination of academics, culture, and community. The students are exceptionally bright, conscientious, and self-directed. The overall focus in every grade level is on helping students develop not only habits of mind — inquisitiveness, creative problem-solving, hard work, discernment, independence, collaboration, and rigorous thinking, speaking, and writing — but also habits of the heart — integrity, respect for others, self-confidence, moral courage, resilience, kindness, adventurousness, and leadership. The school also offers a home-stay program for international students and a five-day homestay program for regional students.

MPH is accredited by the New York State Association of Independent Schools and chartered by the New York State Board of Regents. The school is a member of the National Association of Independent Schools, the New York State Association of Independent Schools, the National Association of College Admission Counselors, the New York State Association of College Admissions Counselors, The College Board, and the Association of College Counselors in Independent Schools. MPH is also one of 48 independent schools nationwide to receive an endowment grant of $2 million from the Malone Family Foundation. Money is drawn from the endowment to offer scholarships to gifted students with demonstrated financial need. In August 2018, MPH was recognized as one of the top private- independent schools—second only to a boarding school—in by Niche.com.

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With enthusiastic, supportive teachers, MPH offers an environment of intellectual vigor and social engagement. Grounded in dialog, research, curiosity, and creativity, students first master the basics and then pursue excellence through extensive Advanced Placement (AP) courses, challenging electives, and real-world offerings such as assistantships, independent studies, and international travel. The arts are viewed as essential to a student’s intellectual and emotional growth and, therefore, central to the MPH academic experience across the divisions. Offerings in the visual arts as well as dance, voice, orchestra, band, and drama are varied and plentiful.

So that students become responsible citizens of the local and global community, MPH actively encourages and supports community service activities, believing that the link between academics and the real world energizes students’ sense of purpose and understanding of the 21st century.

Lower School The carefully planned Lower School curriculum merges intellectual, social, and emotional learning so that children come to know not just what to learn, but how and why. As early as kindergarten, students are practicing forming hypotheses. With a focus on the whole child, students are encouraged not only to develop their academic skills but also to strengthen positive interpersonal relationships. During Fourth and Fifth Grades, the students start their transition to Middle School not only through increasing academic challenges, including STEM and humanities courses, but also through developing greater independence and self-direction.

The Search Group | Carney, Sandoe & Associates 4 [email protected] | www.carneysandoe.com Middle School With a faculty trained to support students well at this age of transition, students focus on further developing both academic and social skills. Through small, faculty-led advisory groups, the students engage in conversation and learning about kindness, friendship, study skills, using technology appropriately, and more. While the academic program is rigorous, equal energy is put into helping students develop life skills — with the goal of creating kind, mature, hard-working scholars and citizens ready to step confidently into the Upper School.

Upper School Students must take a minimum of five core academic credits per semester. To graduate, they must earn a defined minimum number of credits in each academic department. The Upper School also offers a wide range of electives, enabling students to plan a schedule that stimulates their intellect and encourages them to pursue their own interests. The latter work is particularly important. The faculty wants students to take charge of their learning, explore their interests, and develop their strengths. To this end, students have the opportunity to engage in co-curricular opportunities that include independent study, assistantships, and both large and small performing arts ensembles. Seniors are required to complete a Senior Thesis Project (STP), which includes extensive research in their senior English class, culminating in an in-depth research paper and public presentation.

In addition, MPH is the only school in New York State to be included in the Malone Schools Online Network (MSON), a consortium of some of the nation’s most highly-regarded independent schools. Together with its MSON partners, MPH offers students a deeply engaging interactive distance learning experience.

The Search Group | Carney, Sandoe & Associates 5 [email protected] | www.carneysandoe.com College Placement In 2017, MPH seniors were accepted to the following colleges and universities, among others:

Allegheny College Arizona State University Bates College Boston University Bowdoin College Brown University Colby College Colgate University Cornell University Dartmouth College Fordham University Georgetown University Haverford College Ithaca College Lafayette College Massachusetts Institute of Technology Over the last five years, 85 percent of seniors have elected Middlebury College to take AP coursework. Sixteen AP courses are offered; Mount Holyoke College roughly two-thirds of the students taking an AP exam New York University typically receive scores of “3” or better. A number of students Northwestern University have earned the distinction of being AP scholars. Students Occidental College also regularly achieve National Merit recognition. Providence College Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute MPH graduates consistently enroll in the nation’s top Rhode Island School of Design universities. Starting informally in 9th grade and formally Rice University in 11th grade, the college counselor meets regularly with Smith College students and their families to discuss students’ goals Swarthmore College and aspirations, compose lists of best-fit colleges and universities, and begin navigating the application process. The Ohio State University The school also offers a wide range of test prep courses University of California, Los Angeles through partnerships in the local community. University of Colorado at Boulder University of Maryland, College Park University of North Carolina University of Rochester University of Wisconsin, Madison Vanderbilt University Vassar College Wellesley College Wesleyan University Williams College Yale University

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Manlius Pebble Hill is known for a performing and visual arts curriculum that helps students discover and share their most imaginative selves. Starting in Lower School with a Suzuki strings program, students become comfortable performing in public at an early age. The visual arts program provides an integrated sequence of instruction and experiences intended to instill in each student the skills and information needed to ensure a lasting appreciation of the arts in their lives. MPH’s student artists and performers also learn that creativity requires careful intellect, meaningful purpose, and thoughtful collaboration. As they ascend through Middle and Upper schools, students take part in sophisticated dramatic productions, learn cutting-edge artistic techniques, and explore the crucial ways art shapes individuals and the larger culture. MPH students frequently win prestigious local and national arts competitions.

MPH believes that every student — at every skill level — grows stronger physically, intellectually, and emotionally through serious athletic competition. Daily physical education classes start in Pre-K. The Middle and Upper School programs offer a range of sports, including track and field, lacrosse, basketball, tennis, volleyball, and golf. MPH student athletes frequently garner regional and state awards. MPH teams have won both regional and state titles. As part of its commitment to athletics, the school recently build a new state-of-the-art athletic facility.

The Search Group | Carney, Sandoe & Associates 7 [email protected] | www.carneysandoe.com School Life By providing an eye-opening range of programs, clubs, and activities, along with a nurturing school culture, the school offers students daily opportunities to learn more about who they are, what they can do, and what their next steps in school and life might be. The community includes buddy programs that enable older students to support and mentor younger ones.

The school offers an extensive co-curricular program. Current Lower School activities include: American Sign Language, Chess Club, French Club, Harry Potter Club, Martial Arts, The Wonder Years, MPH Writing Club, and Soccer Shots. Offerings for Middle and Upper School students include: 3D Modeling, Bicycle Mechanics, Gaming Club, Bluegrass Club, Chinese Club, Gay Straight Alliance, Green Avengers + Green House, Knitting Club, Math League, National Honor Society, Ping Pong Club, Student Council, and more. MPH’s strong Model United Nations program and the Mock Trial program speak to MPH’s emphasis on critical thinking and character development.

Campus Manlius Pebble Hill School is located in a peaceful section of Syracuse in Central New York, near Syracuse University and . The 26-acre campus boasts a new library and distance- learning classroom, a beautiful student center with a campus shop built in 2014, a newly constructed athletics complex, modern visual art and design studios, a dance studio, an art gallery, and more. In 2018, the school will unveil an outdoor classroom and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) Park. Behind the academic buildings lies the lower athletic field. Tucked away in the historic Barn is the black box-style Coville Theater. The Barn is now the home to the school’s acclaimed performing arts program. The quaint campus is a beautiful place to study, enjoy a performance, attend a sporting event, and connect with other students. The Search Group | Carney, Sandoe & Associates 8 [email protected] | www.carneysandoe.com Syracuse, New York Syracuse, New York, is the fifth most populous city in New York State with a city population of around 150,000 and a metropolitan population of around 620,000. Over the past two centuries, the city has functioned as a major industrial crossroads, first between the and the railway systems and today at the intersection of Interstates 81 and 90. Its airport is the largest in the region. The city is home to Syracuse University, a major research university, and Le Moyne College, a nationally recognized liberal arts college. It’s also home to SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry and SUNY Upstate Medical University. The presence of these institutions of higher education drives much of the economic and cultural activity in the city. Other major economic drivers are hospitals, service industries, and various smaller companies. The stability of these institutions and companies has helped the city remain economically solid.

The city has a lively arts scene, including the I.M. Pei designed , the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra, and . Live jazz is the centerpiece of two annual festivals. It also hosts an annual Shakespeare festival and is known for its contemporary music scene. The city is also home to City Market and the Destiny USA Mall, one of the largest shopping malls in the U.S. and the largest LEED-gold certified commercial building in the world.

In essence, the city is made up of a network of neighborhoods, plus the downtown area, which includes the attractive Hanover Square and , home to the most eclectic collection of restaurants, shops, and nightlife in the area. Much of the daily activity takes place on University Hill where Syracuse University and Le Moyne College are located. Other neighborhood highlights include Westcott, an artsy community and home to the Westcott Street Cultural Fair, and Marshall Street, a bustling commercial area with some of the city’s most popular restaurants.

The Search Group | Carney, Sandoe & Associates 9 [email protected] | www.carneysandoe.com Another feature of the city is the access it offers to many beautiful county, city, and state parks and outdoor activities in central and upstate New York — including the and the Adirondack Mountains. In 2010, Forbes magazine rated Syracuse as one of the top 10 places in the nation to raise a family.

Opportunities and Challenges

Manlius Pebble Hill School’s challenges are also its greatest opportunities. As the only independent school in the Syracuse region, it has the challenge and unique opportunity to create the value proposition for independent education in communities with quality public school options. As with many independent schools nationally, MPH’ s enrollment has been adversely affected by shifting demographics and economic dislocation. These challenges were severe enough that four years ago they threatened the school’s survival and resulted in the mid-year resignation of the previous Head of School. At that time, exceptional board leadership stepped in, providing an unprecedented level of financial support that stabilized the school’s financial position. The board also moved quickly to appoint a very seasoned and highly-respected independent school administrator as the new Head of School. The partnership between the current Head and current board leadership has resulted in further stability for the school and dramatic improvement to the school’s facilities, including the impressive new Arts and Athletics complex. Although still challenged to meet enrollment goals, MPH is now well-positioned to move ahead with singular financial support to build on its increasingly positive momentum.

The new Head of MPH will find a welcoming and warm community that is fully student-centered, and a school culture described by many as characterized by an “expectation of success.” Students and parents speak with genuine enthusiasm about the commitment and quality of the faculty. Students

The Search Group | Carney, Sandoe & Associates 10 [email protected] | www.carneysandoe.com are individually known, valued, and respected to a degree that is truly distinctive. The faculty speaks passionately about their students, their craft, and their colleagues. Within all the school’s constituencies there remains anxiety about the ongoing financial and enrollment challenges the school faces, but there is also a hunger for “visionary leadership” that can raise the public profile of the school and be a powerful advocate in the Syracuse community for the exceptional quality of an MPH education.

The school has maintained exceptional college placement results, yet there is growing concern that the reduction in financial aid and the need to enroll more “full-pay” families is shifting the student profile to a more academically-diverse population. There is a need to clarify the profile of the school to be sure it continues to serve mission-appropriate students. Continued efforts need to be made to more fully implement recent marketing studies and admission consulting. Additional staffing may need to be added to successfully move ahead with these initiatives.

A distinctive opportunity awaits the new Head of MPH to broaden and deepen relationships with the colleges and universities in the Syracuse region, especially the school’s long-standing connections to Syracuse University. There are a significant number of students whose parents are faculty and administrators at Syracuse as well as at Hamilton College, Colgate University, Ithaca College, and the SUNY network. Creative and entrepreneurial approaches to those colleges and universities could result in increased enrollment and raise the academic profile and reputation of MPH.

The next Head of Manlius Pebble Hill School will have an outstanding opportunity to work with exceptional board leadership willing to provide the resources to meet ambitious goals; a strong administrative team; and students, parents, and faculty and staff who are passionately committed to the school. There are challenges that lie ahead, but also a distinctive opportunity to build a legacy for this school and its community.

The Search Group | Carney, Sandoe & Associates 11 [email protected] | www.carneysandoe.com Desired Qualities and Qualifications of the Next Head of School

• A dynamic, visionary leader with strong personal and professional integrity • Innovative and forward thinking • High energy, enthusiasm, and passion • Significant experience in enrollment management and marketing • Willing to be a highly visible representative of MPH in the greater Syracuse region • Ability to be a “thought leader” in advocating for MPH as an independent school • Accessible and having the ability to easily connect with all members of the school community • Engaging, inspiring, and motivational • Highly effective communicator especially as a public speaker • Ability to build trust through transparency, openness, and honesty • Financial acumen and a strategic thinker

To Apply

Interested and qualified candidates should submit electronically in one email and as separate documents (preferably PDFs) the following materials no later than September 10:

• A cover letter expressing interest in this specific position • A current résumé • A one-page statement of educational philosophy and practice • A list of five (5) professional references with name, phone number, and email address of each (references will not be contacted without the candidate’s permission) to:

Peter O’Neill Senior Consultant [email protected]

Jennifer Wong Christensen Search Consultant [email protected]

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