principal position at mission dolores academy in sf
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Principal Starting July, 2016
Welcome to Mission Dolores Academy! Our Goal Mission Dolores Academy is currently searching for outstanding candidates for the position of Principal, starting July, 2016. Our goal is to find the right person for this challenging and tremendously rewarding opportunity. We are looking for someone with the leadership experience, personality and drive to envision and implement a rich academic program and inspire our faculty, students and parents to work together in building upon the lessons and successes we help our students strive for each day.
Mission Dolores Academy, deeply rooted in Catholic tradition, graduates students who are confident, lifelong learners, and academically prepared to succeed in our global community.
Catholic Values
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Mission Dolores Academy is a welcoming, vibrant and diverse community that provides equal access to high quality, independent Catholic K-‐‑8th education for inner city students. We embrace families of all faiths and believe in delivering a values-‐‑based education. Our students learn to be critical thinkers, do their research, ask questions and be confident about their future success -‐‑ and they rise to the challenge.
Our Blended Learning program is a new paradigm in K-‐‑8th education. We teamed with Seton Education Partners to pioneer the concept of data-‐‑driven academics by integrating online learning with traditional teacher-‐‑led instruction. Our school was one of the first in the country
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to integrate online learning into core curriculum. And it’s working.
Based on comparative analysis using national standardized test results, Mission Dolores Academy students are making great strides. This is occurring at an inner city school with one of the lowest private school tuitions in San Francisco. Over 85% of our students receive financial aid and more than 60% meet state qualifications for lunch benefits. After graduation our students go on to attend some of the best private and charter high schools in the city. Many of them will be the first in their family to attend college.
This is a school community that is thriving.
Our Story
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Beginning with the 2016-‐‑17 academic year, the school’s leadership model will change to a Head of School – Principal organization. This model is emerging as a best-‐‑practice construct around the country, especially for schools requiring substantial effort in development and fundraising while ensuring a superior level of academic
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performance and growth.
Recently the Board was very pleased to appoint Paul Recktenwald as the first-‐‑ever Head of School. Paul and the new Principal will certainly be working together a lot to implement this highly collaborative and productive model in a way that positions the school for maximum overall success.
Our New Leadership Model
Mission Dolores Academy is proud to honor its rich Catholic tradition. Students attend Mass each week and receive daily religious instruction, including preparation for the sacraments of Reconciliation, First Communion, and Confirmation. We are grateful to have both Jesuit and Dominican religious personnel on staff including Chaplain, Fr. Charles Gagan, SJ, Sister Ann Providence, OP and Sister Annette Sheaffer, OP.
Of the approximately 265 students, 40% are Latino, 25% African-‐‑American, 20% Filipino, 13% Multi-‐‑Ethnic and 2% other.
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Diversity
Latino
African-‐‑ American Filipino
Multi-‐‑Ethnic Other
Our Story (continued from previous page)
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Our rich history dates back to the 1850’s, making us the oldest private elementary school in San Francisco. Our campus is located on the historic Mission Dolores site and the original Misión San Francisco de Asís. Dedicated to St. Francis by Father Junipero Serra in 1776, the Mission is the oldest continuously standing structure in San Francisco.
Beginning in 2001, we saw a decade of mergers between some of San Francisco’s most established and historic inner city schools due to lack of enrollment. The Reverend Charles Gagan, SJ, with the help of generous donors and dedicated Board members, interceded to chart an independent course to provide K-‐‑8th Catholic educational opportunities for inner city families. In 2011 Mission Dolores Academy was formed, building on our historic cornerstone.
Fred Furth, a long-‐‑time supporter of educational opportunities for underserved youth, played a key role in this strategy by generously stepping in to help safeguard the school community. He enabled the establishment of a significant endowment, the Megan Furth Memorial Fund, in honor of his late daughter, Megan. Mr. Furth has been an unwavering supporter for many years, and we are grateful.
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Today, Mission Dolores Academy is on a strong and stable path. While the current difference between tuition and expenses is $7,500 per student, this deficit is covered primarily through fundraising and dedicated underwriting. The Academy staff, Board and several local organizations together raise over $1.5 million dollars each year to help bridge the gap. That kind of support, along with the Megan Furth Memorial Fund, will help ensure the financial health and longevity of Mission Dolores Academy for years to come.
The Academy is committed to ensuring our students continue to reap the benefits of leading educational technology in a stable environment. We also provide many enrichment, sports and spiritual programs to nurture and develop the whole student.
As Mission Dolores Academy’s exciting story continues, the Principal will be welcomed as a key member of the leadership team. Along with the Head of School and other members of leadership, the Principal will have a tremendous opportunity to help guide the school on the next leg of our journey to capture our brightest possible future.
Principal – Responsibilities of the Position The Principal of Mission Dolores Academy is the school’s educational leader. Many of the key responsibilities of this critical role are highlighted below:
• Directly responsible to the Head of School for the daily operations of the academic program and the teaching/learning process;
• Leads the faculty in the implementation of curriculum (blended and traditional) that meets the educational needs of the students and in analyzing and assessing of school-‐‑wide outcomes;
• Leads the teacher observation and performance evaluation process, as well as the evaluation, training, development and mentoring of faculty and staff;
• Supervises those team members responsible for student activities, student counseling, high school placement activities and family services;
• Oversees processes related to and makes recommendations to the Head of School regarding hiring, supervision, evaluation and dismissal of faculty and staff;
• Communicates learning targets and outcomes to colleagues, parents, and students on a regular basis;
• Builds and maintains positive, transparent relationships with the parents and support educators to optimize and evolve their students’ personalized learning experience;
• Coordinates and oversees the planning and development of the master calendar; • Works with the Head of School to help plan and implement the facilities and
technology needs of the school as they relate to the academic program; • Coordinates the updating and consistent use/interpretation of the Student
Handbook; • Facilitates and supports parent programming, including parent meetings, parent-‐‑
teacher conferences, Back-‐‑to-‐‑School night, holiday celebrations and open house(s); • Develops and oversees implementation of an annual budget that reflects the
school’s priorities as set forth by the Head of School and the Board of Directors.
Principal -‐‑ Qualifications and Characteristics We are looking for leading candidates who apply for the Principal position to have the following qualifications and characteristics:
• A Catholic who is open to sharing her/his faith with our students; • Demonstrated strength, skills and experience in school administration and leadership role(s); • Classroom teaching experience working with multiple grade levels; • Experience in teacher and classroom observation and assessment as well as in providing
constructive feedback, coaching, improvement ideas/techniques to aid faculty; • Experience interviewing, hiring, training and developing faculty and staff; • Experience facilitating productive resolutions and appropriate communications involving
students, teachers and parents in matters such as conduct, attendance, admissions, etc.; • Excellent verbal and written communication skills; • Experience and skills in conflict management, performance management and team building; • If not currently bi-‐‑lingual (English-‐‑Spanish), willingness to develop conversational ability in
Spanish.
In addition to the above, ideal candidates will also have some of these preferred characteristics:
• An outgoing, engaging interpersonal style with genuine interest in and respect for others; • An advanced degree in Education, School Administration or similar; • Five to eight years teaching experience in a K-‐‑8th school environment; • Experience in a Catholic school environment; • Experience in or in-‐‑depth understanding of various Blended Learning models; • Three or more years experience as a Vice Principal or similar school leadership role; • Experience working with Title 1 populations; • Bilingual verbal and written skills (English-‐‑Spanish); • Currently living in the greater San Francisco Bay Area.
To Apply Interested candidates should submit the following materials via email to Paul Recktenwald, Head of School at [email protected]. Please note how you heard about this opportunity in your email. Thank you. 1. A thoughtful cover letter describing your interest in and
understanding of this Principal role as well as your educational philosophy;
2. Your current resume; 3. A list of three references with names, titles, phone and
emails. These are kept strictly confidential and will not be contacted until later in the process and only after seeking and receiving your specific permission.
Equal Opportunity Employer