Head of School Opportunity New York, NY Town is an independent coeducational day school serving approximately 400 children from Nursery 3s through Grade 8. A warm, inclusive, diverse, and values-centered school community, Town is dedicated to excellence in academics balanced with an emphasis on joy, nurture, innovation, and character development. Since 1913, Town has fostered the educational principle and to this day my Town teachers are household names. of “Joy with Purpose” by blending both tradition and It was a family environment that made me feel unafraid innovation in order to provide young students with an to challenge myself.” engaging educational experience designed to inspire Located along the East River on Manhattan’s Upper East creativity, curiosity, and healthy risk taking. Town’s Side, Town’s beautiful and well‐maintained facilities challenging academic program and supportive support a rich program of academics, arts, and athletics. environment prepare students to thrive as confident learners in high school and beyond. For a position to begin in July of 2018, The Town School is seeking a strategically minded educational leader who As one recent graduate noted, “Town is a place where I will wholeheartedly embrace the school’s mission and always felt safe and learned how to learn. I was educational philosophy while moving Town forward completely prepared for everything that followed Town, with wisdom and energy. APPLICATION DEADLINE: DECEMBER 6, 2017 GUIDING PRINCIPLES OF THE TOWN SCHOOL MISSION The Town School is committed to elementary co‐education, serving students in nursery through eighth grade. As we embrace high academic and ethical standards for each student, we are guided by our school motto, “Let There Be Joy in Learning.” Town’s program balances the traditional and the innovative, emphasizing excellence in academics and a thorough exposure to the arts and physical education. We teach children to think creatively, read critically, and reason logically, stressing the value of both individual learning and collaboration. We are committed to diversity, teaching students to be inclusive and to respect themselves and others. Students leave Town as well‐rounded, articulate, resilient, and morally responsible individuals. They are prepared to meet the challenges of a demanding secondary education and continue on the path of lifelong learning. EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY The process of learning is as important as the result. Town builds on children’s natural curiosity and creativity, helping them discover and celebrate their strengths. In our nurturing and supportive environment, we challenge each student to take risks and persevere. The program enables students to experience success, increase self‐confidence and develop individuality. Faculty and parents collaborate in support of each child’s growth. Town students develop social awareness through age‐appropriate service within the school and the community at large. Town’s focus on elementary education enables students to exercise personal responsibility and to confidently assume leadership roles as they learn to become involved citizens of the world. SELF, OTHERS, AND SURROUNDINGS (S.O.S.): TAKING CARE OF TOWN Moral development and awareness are critical components for our students’ success. Self‐Others‐Surroundings (S.O.S.) is our mission‐based ethical code infused in everyday life at Town. Self: Try your best. Persevere and keep working through challenges. Develop your independence. Be honest. Be responsible. Others: Treat others the way you want to be treated. Be respectful. Be inclusive. Be helpful. Treat others fairly. Surroundings: Clean up after yourself. Conserve and do not waste. Respect property. 2 THE SCHOOL AT A GLANCE AFFILIATIONS PHYSICAL PLANT ACCREDITATION: New York State Association of LOCATION: 65,000‐square‐foot facility on Manhattan’s Independent Schools (NYSAIS) Upper East Side, adjacent to the East River and John MEMBER: National Association of Independent Schools Jay Park FACILITIES: 18,000‐volume library, state‐of‐the‐art science ENROLLMENT AND FINANCIAL AID and technology labs, a 188‐seat auditorium, full‐sized 2017–18 ENROLLMENT: 398 gym, arts wing, and three play terraces NURSERY-KINDERGARTEN: 77 LOWER SCHOOL (1–4): 169 UPPER SCHOOL (5–8): 152 FINANCE AND DEVELOPMENT STUDENTS OF COLOR: 36% OPERATING BUDGET: $21 million TUITION (ALL-INCLUSIVE): $32,200–$45,900 ENDOWMENT: $41 million FINANCIAL AID: $2.5 million aiding INDEBTEDNESS: None 19% of students TOTAL FUNDS RAISED, 2016–17: $1.3 million FACULTY AND STAFF ANNUAL GIVING FUNDS RAISED: $1.2 million TOTAL NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES: 114 ANNUAL GIVING PARTICIPATION: 91% parent, 100% FULL-TIME FACULTY: 70 faculty/staff, 100% FACULTY WITH ADVANCED DEGREE: 75% Trustee AVERAGE FACULTY TENURE AT TOWN: 8 years FACULTY/STAFF OF COLOR: 34% ON THE WEB: www.thetownschool.org DEFINING STRENGTHS AND UNIQUE ATTRIBUTES OF THE TOWN SCHOOL The Town School occupies a unique and essential niche in the New York City independent school marketplace. Its coeducational N–8 configuration allows the school to focus all of its curricular and financial efforts on meeting the needs of students from ages 3 to 14 without the complexities and distractions that come with having a high school. It allows students to find their voices and become active partners in their educational journey. The school’s balanced approach builds the foundation for academic excellence through joyful experiences and expression, setting the stage for realizing Town’s focus on “Joy with Purpose.” Above all, Town’s intentional approach to the creation of a community formed around shared values sets this remarkable school apart. Town is a school where educational philosophy translates directly into daily life. Even a casual visitor can see the schoolʹs philosophy living in the child‐centered conversations about learning, in the innovation in the classrooms, and in the academic achievement of the children. It is a school where the educational philosophy is palpable in an environment in which different perspectives are deeply valued and cultivated. At Town, children not only learn skills but also become confident young adults. 3 STUDENTS The Town School seeks to attract families who understand and embrace the school’s well‐articulated mission and philosophy. While Town enrolls families from throughout New York City, more than three‐quarters of the students are currently drawn from the Upper East Side of Manhattan. With many students arriving each day on foot and by scooter, Town has the feel of a neighborhood school. One parent described it as “an oasis on the Upper East Side for nice, down‐to‐earth families.” Shuttle buses transport students to and from the nearest subway stop at Lexington Avenue and from locations on the Upper West Side. Town is committed to enrolling a student body that is diverse across many dimensions. A $2.5 million financial aid budget is providing tuition assistance to 19 percent of the student body this year, with additional funds available for ancillary expenses families might incur, thereby enabling all families to avail themselves of the rich program that Town offers its students. Additionally, 36 percent of students this year identify as people of color, a 77 percent increase since 2006. The admissions office places a high priority on widening the pool of applicants through extensive outreach via school fairs, advertising, forging relationships with preschools, and working with organizations committed to diversity in independent schools. Well prepared academically, ethically, and socially for the next step in their educational journey, Town graduates are welcomed to the city’s top independent high schools. A few each year choose to attend boarding schools and, occasionally, New York City’s specialized high schools. FACULTY AND STAFF Town’s creative, expert, and dedicated faculty and staff lie at the heart of the school’s success. Founded by an educator and directed by faculty for much of its early history, Town retains a culture that highly values teaching and collegiality. In fact, Town’s Board of Trustees has publicly committed to providing compensation in the top quartile of peer schools for administrators, faculty, and staff. The presence of co‐ teachers in N‐K – 4th grade homerooms and a full complement of subject and learning specialists spanning all grades enhances collaboration. Regular faculty meetings encourage connections across divisions and departments. Faculty in all grades use a guidance model with regular meetings that enable all faculty and relevant staff to meet and review the progress of each student. An overall student:teacher ratio of 6:1 promotes close relationships with students and their families. Experienced and well‐educated (three‐quarters hold an advanced degree), Town’s teachers are wholeheartedly committed to professional development. All participate in growth opportunities on and off campus during the school year, and more than 80 percent take advantage of Town’s well‐funded summer grant program that supports curricular projects, classes, and travel connected to the curriculum. 4 ADMINISTRATION AND GOVERNANCE Head of School Tony Featherston joined Town in 2012 and has worked closely with the senior administrative team, which includes the Heads of the three divisions, the Chief Financial Officer, the Director of Admissions, the Director of Institutional Advancement, the Director of Community and Diversity, and the Dean of Faculty/Director of Curricular Innovation. Also reporting to the Head of School are the Director of Security and Facilities, the Athletics Director, the Director of Technology, the Auxiliary Programs Directors, and the Head’s Assistant. The Dean of Faculty/Director of Curricular Innovation reports to the three Division Heads. Town is governed by a well‐functioning 23‐member Board of Trustees composed primarily of current and past parents as well as the Head of School. Two faculty Trustees are nominated by the Faculty Committee, a self‐perpetuating, senior group of faculty that acts as an advisory group to the Head of School. The faculty Trustees are elected by the full Board and are full voting members. The President of the Parents’ Association serves as an ex officio member.