A member of Saint Columbkille’s leadership team, the Assistant Head of School provides leadership, oversight, and vision for both the day-to-day academic operations and strategic academic initiatives of the school. The Assistant Head will partner closely with the Head of School, the Leadership Team, program directors and specialists, faculty and staff, students, families, and trustees, to continue to develop and promote curriculum, programs, and instructional practices that reflect Saint Columbkille’s ongoing commitment to academic excellence, equity and inclusion, and child-centered learning.
Academic leadership Evaluate and support the development, implementation, and alignment of curriculum at each grade level. Collaborate with the Head of School in planning and preparing professional development sessions and faculty meetings. Oversee instructional coaching for teachers in the areas of classroom management, effective instruction, assessment, and professionalism. Stay on top of current trends, research, and emerging ideas in the education landscape in order to support academic innovation and transformative change. Facilitate the use of instructional technology through supporting and supervising the Director of Technology. Partner with head of school to review teacher weekly lesson plans Promote a culture of academic excellence and innovation by serving as a visible presence in the school community and a passionate spokesperson for Saint Columbkille and its academic program.
Student support and family engagement: Participate on the Student Support Team, bringing a knowledge of best practices, a stance of curiosity, and goal of impacting student outcomes. Support teachers in upholding expectations for student behavior and in communicating with parents. Engage in positive conflict resolution and discipline as needed. Provide information. to current and prospective families on matters of curriculum and pedagogy.
Teacher supervision: Conduct teacher formal and informal classroom observations and teacher evaluations. Meet with individual teachers to strategize, affirm, and encourage. When needed, write and implement a performance improvement plan for faculty not meeting expectations. Work with the Head of School to plan meaningful professional development opportunities for teachers throughout the year. Manage the recruiting, selection, and hiring process for new teachers.
Oversee the faculty onboarding program.
Strategy and Mission: Uphold and model Catholic and Jesuit values throughout the school community. Bring a joyful presence to the classrooms, hallways, meetings, and school events. Build meaningful relationships that include knowing students and staff by name and welcoming parents and visitors. Partner with the Head of School on the implementation of the Head’s vision and goals and the development and execution of strategic initiatives. Act as a key advisor to the Head of School and take on the administrative responsibilities of the Head of School in their absence.
Other: Write a weekly staff update, including upcoming dates, important announcements, and valuable reminders. Draft the annual school calendar, including vacation days. Actively participate in weekly administration team and student support team meetings, as well as bi-weekly faculty leadership meetings. Participate in recess and arrival/dismissal when needed.
Fluently bilingual a plus Ability to work well with different personalities and a diverse student and parent body. The highest ethical and professional standards At ease with many types of software and up to date with trends in information technology Ability to influence and engage a wide range of constituents and build long-term relationships. Ability to build trust, work collaboratively, and engage productively with students, families, faculty, staff, trustees, and colleagues on the Leadership Team. Demonstrated interpersonal skills that reflect a growth mindset. Proven ability to communicate passionately, clearly, and concisely. Superior writing and oral communication skills. An ability to lead and motivate collaboratively and manage multiple projects and assignments with excellent organization, delivery, creativity, planning, and attention to detail.
Experience A minimum of three years of school leadership and supervisory experience that reflects a track record of cultivating positive relationships with students, families, faculty, and staff. A minimum of three to five years of elementary or middle school classroom teaching experience. Experience effectively and empathically leading faculty evaluation, growth, and professional development.
