Description

Head of Middle School

Starting Date:  July 1, 2020

Gilman School seeks a dynamic educator to lead all aspects of its Middle School division (Grades 6-8).  

The Position

The Middle School is home to approximately 250 talented, engaged boys and 40 gifted and dedicated faculty and staff.  Gilman employs the teacher-coach-advisor model, and virtually every Middle School teacher coaches interscholastic and/or intramural sports and serves as an advisor to a cross-grade group of students.  A key to the division’s success is the impactful interaction of the faculty and staff with the students.  The faculty and staff embrace Middle School life, recognizing the need to mix levity and joy into their serious professional responsibilities.  The next Head of Middle School must embody this important balance, demonstrating an enthusiasm for Middle School life and a genuine concern for faculty, staff, students, and families.  

The Middle School is a well established division that has long blended proven practices with innovative approaches to educating boys.  Gilman is in the early stages of implementing its new strategic plan, and the next Head of Middle School will help lead the division-relevant implementation of that plan, with particular attention on program development and faculty hiring and support.  (To learn about the strategic plan, visit https://www.gilman.edu/about/strategic-plan.)  Building on the School’s traditions and its strategic path forward, s/he will also have the opportunity to put her/his stamp on the direction of the Middle School.   

The Head of Middle School will report directly to the Headmaster.  S/he will serve on the Administrative Council, the School’s leadership team, which ensures alignment between program, operation, and mission.  The Head of Middle School will work closely with the Headmaster, Assistant Head of School, and the heads and assistant heads of the other two divisions (Lower School and Upper School) to ensure smooth alignment of programs across the Pre-K through 12 continuum.   

Responsibilities will include:

• Developing and articulating a vision for Gilman’s Middle School and ensuring alignment between vision and practice
• Overseeing the daily operation of the Middle School program, including academic and co-curricular programming, scheduling, and staffing
• Leading the division’s administrative team to ensure the smooth operation of the Middle School
• Working closely with the Assistant Head of School to develop and coordinate an integrated, principles-based, year-round process for hiring Middle School faculty
• Leading the division’s faculty evaluation and professional development process, based on the Definition of Excellent Teaching (DET), empowering faculty to move forward with mission and goals 
• Supporting the academic department coordinators to ensure effective curriculum development and program coherence throughout the division
• Establishing the fair and consistent promotion of expectations for conduct and enforcement of discipline, working closely with administration and faculty
• Building and managing the division budget 
• Ensuring the safety of all students, faculty, and staff in the division 
• Working closely with the Enrollment Office to set and meet enrollment targets for the division 
• Communicating effectively with all constituents—faculty and staff, students, and parents—to ensure alignment of mission, expectations, and practice
• Teaching one section of an academic course and, as appropriate, coaching one season of athletics 
• Involving her/himself in the overall life of the School

A qualified candidate will demonstrate:  

• Significant experience in and passion for Middle School education
• Mastery as a teacher/coach/advisor
• Capacity to advance the community’s efforts to be diverse, inclusive, and equitable
• Interest in and enthusiasm for boys’ education
• Ability to work closely, responsively, and collaboratively with others
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Strong organizational skills 
• A sense of humor 
• Authenticity
• Embodiment of the Gilman Five:  Honor, Integrity, Respect, Humility, Excellence

Gilman School Mission

Gilman is a diverse community dedicated to educating boys in mind, body, and spirit through particular emphasis upon academic excellence, athletic participation and aesthetic appreciation.  Gilman seeks to produce men of character and integrity who have the skills and ability to make a positive contribution to the communities in which they live and work.

Gilman School is an equal opportunity employer. The School will not discriminate against any individual because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, handicap, marital status, or sexual orientation.  Additionally, the School prohibits retaliation against individuals who oppose such discrimination and harassment or who participate in an equal opportunity investigation.