Middle School Head Search

The Seven Hills School Walnut Creek, California July 1, 2020

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TheSevenHillsSchool:MiddleSchoolHead

OVERVIEW

MISSION

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“SevenHillsisalearningcommunitywiththemissiontodeveloptheintellect,engagethespirit,andfosterrespectfor,andresponsibilityto,ourworld.SevenHillsisamission-drivenschool,withawell-articulatedwholechildphilosophyembracedbyallcommunitymembersandvisiblethroughouttheclassroomsandplayingfieldsoftheschool.Theschoolisalsoguidedby“SevenBeliefsforSevenHills”whichspeaktotheschool’scommitmenttowholechildeducation,joyfullearning,apassionateandcreativefaculty,avibrant,diverseandinclusive

TheSevenHillsSchool,aco-educationalschoolserving408studentsinpre-schoolthrough8thgrade,seeksaMiddleSchoolHeadforJulyof2020.Ateverylevelandineveryaspectofschoollife,SevenHillsprovidesanatmosphereinwhichstudentsthrive.TheSchooliswell-positionedandstableandhasenjoyedexcellentleadership;thenextmiddleschoolheadwillleadatalentedteamof22educatorsand140students,sustainthedivision’shealthyculture,andprovideanourishingmixofathletics,arts,academics,service,internationalstudy,andoutdooreducation.TheindependentschoollandscapeintheBayAreaisexceptionallyrobust,andSevenHillshasfirmlyestablisheditswell-deservedreputationasalearningcommunity,embracingbothtraditionandinnovationandprovidingabalanceofchallengesandsuccessesforeachandeverystudent.

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community,andeffectivestewardshipofallschoolcommunityresources.Drivenbystudents’inherentandinexhaustiblecuriosity,theschoolstrivestotendtotheacademic,emotional,socialandaestheticlifeofthechild.Teachersworkhardforeachstudenttobe“known”andtonurtureandcelebrateindividualstudentaffinities.Teachersconstructauthenticlearningexperiencesthatallowstudentstomakechoices,think,research,design,create,solve,andshareoutcomeswithothers.Throughouttheschool,studentsareencouragedtobecriticalandanalyticalthinkers;by8thgrade,theyhavelearnedtolistenopen-mindedlytodivergentpoints-of-viewandembracedifferences.Inbetween,therearehundredsofmomentsinwhichteachersguidetheirstudentstoemotionalintelligencewhileteachingappropriateself-advocacy,conflictresolution,andrestorativejustice.

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HISTORYANDCAMPUSFACILITIES

TheSevenHillsSchool:MiddleSchoolHead

SevenHillswasfoundedinOrinda,Californiain1962byagroupofparentswhosoughttobuildanexcellentacademicprogramrootedinastrongfoundationofvalues.Initsearliestyears,theschoolwascalledSt.Stephen’sDaySchool.IthadabriefstintasCanterburyDaySchoolinanewlocationbefore1968,whentheschoolsettledintoitspermanenthomeandchangeditsnametoreflectitsbeautifullyexpansive9-acrecampusontheformerSevenHillsRanchinWalnutCreek.Overtheyears,buildingprojectsandcarefulstewardshipofoutdoorspaceshaveproducedalovelycampus.Classroomsandcommunityspacesenjoynaturallightandarespacious;publicareasarewell-maintainedandwelcoming.Theflowofthebuildingandspacesischild-friendly,withbothinsideandoutsideareasdesignedforallkindsoflearners–thereareexpansivespacesformiddleschoolteamsports,andcozyplayareasforsmallgroupsofyoungerchildren.Agym,library,theatre,multipleplayingareas,sciencelabs,offices,break-outspaces,andoutdoorgatheringspacesmeanthattheschoolisabletocarryoutitsmissionwithpurpose-builtacademic,athleticandartsfacilities.

LOCATION

Easilyaccessiblebypublictransportation,thecampusisnestledinarollingpark-likesetting,withefficientmeansforparentstodropofforpickuptheirstudentsatschool.ABART(BayAreaRapidTransit)stationisnearby;familiesandteacherscancommutetoschoolfromotherpartsoftheBayArea,suchasOakland,SanFranciscoandMarin.ThecityofWalnutCreekisdiverseandvibrantandhasexperiencedrapidgrowthinthelastseveraldecades.Acosmopolitancity,WalnutCreekhasarichhistory,athrivingartsscene,excellentrestaurants,andahostofopportunitiestohike,bike,orsimplyenjoythemanybeautifulparksandopenareasnearby.

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THESCHOOLCOMMUNITY

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SevenHillspridesitselfonitssmall,diverseandtight-knitcommunity;eachandeverystudentisknownandenvelopedbycaring,nurturingadults.Students–SevenHillsstudentsareengaged,enthusiasticlearners,45%ofwhomarestudentsofcolor.TheEarlyChildhood(ages3-4)Educationcenterhas44students,LowerSchool(GradesK-5)has226studentsandtheMiddleSchool138.Throughouttheschoolcommunity,childrenareencouragedtotakerisksandstretchtheirskills,tostepintoleadershippositionsandtobekindandsupportiveofoneanother.Abuddyprogramlinksthethreedivisions(ECE,LowerSchoolandMiddleSchool)andschoolleadersareeagertocontinuetobuildthe“oneschool”communitythroughsuchchangesasthenewAll-CommunityLunchProgram.AhallmarkoftheSevenHillsprogramisthateachchildis“known”forallofhisorheraffinities,strengthsandchallenges.IntheMiddleSchool,theadvisingprogramismixedgrades,sochildrenlearnaboutthetraditionsandspecialprogramsofthegradesahead.IntheMiddleSchool,theElectivesprogrambuildscommunitywithawidevarietyofoptionssuchasCooking,Fitness,Arabic,“SevenHillsWalkabout,”MockTrial,YearbookorKnitting. Faculty–The57membersoftheSevenHillsfaculty(and10SupportTeachers)areusedtodeepengagementattheschool,whethersupervisingtheschool’sexperientiallearningprogram,refiningcurriculumorplanningactivities,teachersarenostrangerstohardwork.Parentsdescribeteachersas“attunedtotheneedsofkids,”“friendlyandapproachable”and“greatproblemsolvers.”Oneteachersummarized,“Toputitsimply,we’reawesome!”Job-shareshavemadeitpossibleforteacherstostayattheschoolwhileraisingtheirownyoungchildren,andmanyteachersidentified“flexibility”asaqualitythathasallowedthemtothrive.Likemostindependentschoolfaculty,SevenHillsteachersvalueautonomy;forafew,therecentchangesandrisingexpectationsatSevenHills(schedule,gradesandadvisorreports,updatedtripprotocols,andsomefacultyattrition)havebeenchallenging.Bothparentsandteachershighlightedthatthefacultyisdeeplyknowledgeableaboutthedevelopmentalneedsoftheirstudents.

TheSevenHillsSchool:MiddleSchoolHead

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program.TheCommunicationsManagerleadseffortsinbothinternalandexternalcommunicationsandmarketing(includingthemonthlyMiddleSchoole-newsletterHuntHallHappenings),whileLearningSpecialists(oneineachdivision),aschoolcounselor,facilitiesstaff,technologystaff,andofficestaffroundouttheteam.Trustees–SevenHillsSchool’sleadershipstructurefollowsthetypicalindependentschoolmodel.Itisgovernedbyaself-perpetuatingboardoftrusteeswhichholdstheschoolintrust.Theprimaryresponsibilitiesoftheboardoftrusteesistodetermineandguidethecharacter,mission,andcultureoftheSchool;toestablishoverallpoliciesfortheSchool;todevelopstrategicplans;toassurethefinancialstabilityoftheSchool;andtoassurethatthepoliciestheBoardadoptsareeffectivelyimplemented.Inaddition,theBoardrecruits,selects,hires,andevaluatestheHeadofSchool.Currently,SevenHillsSchool’sboardoftrusteesconsistsof21members.Parents–TheparentcommunityisorganizedbythePIA(ParentInvolvementAssociation)whichmanagesseveralcommitteesandmultipleevents,rangingfromtheannualauctiontoprovidingfestiveholidaytreatsforteachers,andaserviceeffortdesignedtosupportfamiliesthroughtheBayAreaCrisisNursery.Parentvolunteershelpwithcampusbeautification,hostparenteducationevents,andenthusiasticallysupportsuchschoolinitiativesastheJapaneseExchangeProgram.

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MSFaculty–22oftheabove-mentioned57areteachersintheMiddleSchool.Withtheaverageteachingexperiencebetween15and25years,theseareseasonededucators.TenuresatSevenHillsrangefromover40yearstonewthisyear.Thisisagroupoffacultywholeadthroughadistributedleadershipmodel.Thereisgoodleadershipinfrastructureandinstitutionalmemoryastwoofthestaffarealumsoftheschoolandmorethanafewhavehadchildrengraduatefromtheprogram. AdministrationandStaff–Theadministrationandstaffhavebeenrestructuredasthedivisionsoftheschoolshifted(e.g.MiddleSchoolfrom4-8to6-8)andtheneedsofstudentshavebeenmorefullyarticulated.Atwo-personadmissionsofficehasattendedtothebroadenrollmentoftheschool,whilethedevelopmentofficehasraisedtheAnnualFundtoover$600,000andiscurrentlyengagedinmultiplefund-raisingprojects.Theschool’sresourcesareablymanagedbytheBusinessOfficeteam,andtheEducationalLeadershipteamleaders(HeadofSchool,EarlyChildhood,LowerandMiddleSchoolHeads,DirectorofTeachingandLearning)spearheadalleffortstorefineandimprovetheschool’s

TheSevenHillsSchool:MiddleSchoolHead

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TheSevenHillsSchool:MiddleSchoolHead

THEPROGRAM

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TheMiddleSchoolprogramatSevenHillsbothengagesstudentsinchallengingdiscourseandpreparesthemforthemostacademicallyrigoroushighschoolsintheBayArea,includingareaindependentschools,parochialschools,publicschoolsandboardingschoolsalloverthecountry.AttheheartoftheMiddleSchoolprogramaresomesignatureexperientialeventsthatshapethestudentexperienceandtheinteractionsbetweenteachersandstudents.TheMiddleSchoolAdvisorysystemiscomprisedofseventeenadvisors(includingtheHeadofSchoolandHeadofMiddleSchool)whohavecross-gradelevelgroupsofseventotenstudentsthatmeetthreetimesaweek.Advisorsworkwithstudentsonallaspectsoftheirdevelopment:academic,socialandemotional,athleticandartistic,andarethefirstlineofcommunicationwithparents.BecauseavitalpartoftheMiddleSchoolprogramis“learningbydoing,”studentsengageinavarietyofhands-onlearningactivitiesandexperientialeducationdesignedtohelpthem

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developtheirwholeselvesaslearners,ascitizensandasexplorersoftheirworldandthebroaderworld.MiddleSchoolexperiencesinclude:

• 6thGradeweeklongoutdooreducationtoLassenVolcanicNationalPark

• 7thGradeweeklongAmericanhistoryandculturetriptoWashington,DCandatwelve-dayWWIIHistorytriptoEurope(newinthe2019-20schoolyear,replacingtheWorldLanguagetripstoFranceandCostaRica)

• 8thGradetriptotheShakespeareFestivalinAshland,Oregon

• 8thGradetriptoJapanwhichincludeshostingaJapanesestudentinNovemberforaweek,thenbeinghostedbythatsamestudentinTokyoinFebruary.ThetriptoJapanincludesvisitstoTokyo,Kyoto,andHiroshima.ThisJapaneseExchangePrograminvolvestheentireschoolaseachclassroomreceivesJapanesestudentvisitorsduringtheweektheyareontheSevenHillscampus.Theprogramisbookendedbytwoelaborateall-schoolassembliestoWelcomeandthensayFarewelltotheJapanesevisitors.

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AnothervitalpartoftheMiddleSchoolProgram(whichbeginsintheyoungestgrades)ispublicspeaking.Asstudentsdeveloptheiragencyandpursuetopicsofpersonalinteresttothem,theirresearchandwritingactivitiesculminateinan8thGradeResearch/PositionPaper,whichtheywriteoverseveralmonthsinconjunctionwiththeirLanguageArts,HistoryandInformationLiteracyteachers.Studentshaveafacultyeditorwhoworkswiththemone-on-onetocompletetheirpaper.TheythenworkwiththeirIntegratedExpressiveArtsteachertoturnthatpaperintoaTEDTalkwhichisdeliveredtoclassmatesandparentsshortlybeforegraduation.Community-buildingintheMiddleSchoolreachesbeyondcross-gradeleveladvisorytoincludeStudentCouncilandelectivesaswellasaweeklyAllMiddleSchoolAssembly(TownHall)wherestudentsandteachersmakeannouncements,sharetheirschoolexperiencesandpreviewwhat’supcominginMiddleSchool.LanguageArtsclassesbuilduponthefoundationofwriting,readingandspeakingskillsstudentshavelearnedintheLowerSchoolusingunitsofstudydesignedthroughColumbiaUniversityTeachersCollegeReadingandWritingProject,withreadingskillsfocusedonincreasing

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vocabulary,criticalthinking,andcomprehension.Studentsstudyawidevarietyofliteratureandworkwiththeirteacherstomakeconnectionsacrossdisciplinesandhistoricalperiodsunderstudy.MiddleSchoolMathatSevenHillsisintegratedwithCommonCoreStandardsandutilizestheBigIdeastextbooksupplementedwithoutsideresourcestobuildstudents’problem-solvingskillsandpreparethemforthemostrigoroushighschoolmathcurriculum.Typically,SevenHillsstudentscompletealgebrain8thgradeandmatriculatetogeometryinhighschool.TheflexiblesectioninginMiddleSchoolMathallowsfortheabilitytodifferentiateforstudentswhoexcelorstruggleinmath.ItisnotuncommontoseeMathsectionsoftwotofouracceleratedstudentsworkingwithateachertomeettheiruniqueneedsandpreparethemforhigherlevelsofmath.Historyfollowsathree-yearcycleinwhich6thgradersstudyearlycivilizationssuchasMesopotamia,Egypt,China,IndiaandGreece,7thgradersstudyAmericanHistorywithanemphasisonresearchandwriting,and8thgradersstudythemodernera,beginningbyexploringworldreligionsandtheirethicalsystemsandcontinuingbylearningaboutsuchthemesasindustrialization,trade,colonizationandglobalinterdependence.SevenHillsoffersbothFrenchandSpanish,withsomeJapanesevocabularyandbasicconversationalworkdesignedtopreparestudentsforhostingtheirexchangestudentandtheir8thgradetriptoJapan.WorldLanguageteachersuseahostofactivitiestostimulatelearning,fromphonicsandbasicconversation,toverb-conjugationsanddictationstoreinforcevocabularywords,aswellasfilms,culturalfieldtrips,guestspeakersandtraditionalcooking.Unitsofstudyinthethree-yearsciencesequenceincludeallofthemajorfieldsofscience:chemistry,biology,humanphysiologyandanatomy,engineering,astronomy,andphysics.Theprogramishands-onandincludesanumberofchallengesthatrespondtoastudent’snaturaldelightindesigningandexperimenting.

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LEADERSHIPTRAITSANDQUALITIES

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TheP.E.programusestheschool’sfull-courtgym,twolargesportscourts,andanall-weatherturffield.Sportsandactivitiesincludevolleyball,wiffleball,badminton,dance,bocceball,pickleball,rockclimbing,soccer,hockey,basketball,ultimatefrisbeeandcooperativegames.Theconsistentemphasisisonfitnessforlife.AnIntegratedExpressiveArtsprogramallowsstudentstodiveintobothperformingandvisualartswithmusic,graphicart,drama,debate,speech,technology,film,photographyandmedialiteracythroughprojectsandproductions.TheIntegratedExpressiveArtsprogramislinkedwithotherdisciplinessuchasLanguageArts;studentslearnaboutElizabethanTheatre,forexample,whilestudyingShakespeare.StudentsengageinweeklyRestorativeJusticeclassestodiscussconflictresolution,restorativepracticesandbuildinghealthyrelationships.AnInformationLiteracycurriculumasksstudentstobediscerningconsumersofmediaandcoversawiderangeoftopicsfromdigitalcitizenshipandresearchskills,tolibrarytimeandmedialiteracy.StudentsareofferedElectivesoverfourdifferentquarterseachyear.SomerecentchoicesareYearbook,Art,RockBand,Fitness,Mindfulness,Knitting,Cooking,ROVandRobotics,BookstoMovies,andawidevarietyofotheroptions.Studentscompleteservicehoursbyparticipatinginprojectsthroughadvisoryandgrade-levelscheduling.

TheSevenHillsSchool:MiddleSchoolHead

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TheMiddleSchoolHeadatSevenHillsis“CommunicatorinChief.”Whetheracknowledgingorappreciating,describingoradvocating,networkingorrecruiting,counselingordisciplining,communicationskillswillbevitalforthehealthandvitalityofthenextMiddleSchoolHead.Faculty,parents,andstudentswillbeappreciativeofavisible,engagedandaccessibleleader;studentsusedthewords“calm”and“funny”intheirsought-aftertraits;parentscited“approachable”and“grounded”asqualitiestheyseek,andthefacultychampioned“transparency,”“flexibility”and“engagement.”Warmthandopenness,andanabilitytoconnectwithMiddleSchoolstudents(andtheirfamilies)inalloftheirdevelopmentalcomplexitywillhelpSevenHillsSchool’snextMiddleSchoolleaderinspirethecommunityand,alongwithadministrativecolleagues,leaditforward.MiddleSchoolteacherswillwelcomealeaderwhoisagoodlistener,whoisapassionateadvocatefortheagegroup,andwhohasarealaffinityforMiddleSchool.ItisimportantforbothteachersandstudentstohaveavoiceintheimportantdecisionsaroundMiddleSchoollife.

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TheMiddleSchoolwillrequirealeaderwhoisfirmandwillingtohavehardconversationswithfamiliesandstudents,andwhojoinstheteachingteaminconstantre-evaluationandre-assessmentoftheeffectivenessofprogramsattheschool.SevenHillsisdeeplyengagedinconversationsaboutculturalcompetency;thenewMiddleSchoolHeadmustbeacourageousanddeterminedpractitionerof“growthmindset”inbuildingdiversity,equityandinclusionattheschool.ThenewleaderwillsucceedaMiddleSchoolHeadwhohasservedattheschoolforwellovertwodecades.WhilethetransitionwillincludetheeasyflowofinformationandsupportfromthecurrentMiddleSchoolHeadtothenewlyselectedleader,theMiddleSchoolstaffwillbeexperiencingasignificantchange.ThenewMiddleSchoolHeadwillneedtobeskilledatlearningthecultureoftheschool,buildingrelationshipswithbothfacultyandfamilies,andleadingwithconvictionaboutwhatbestallowsMiddleSchoolstudentstothrive.

TheSevenHillsSchool:MiddleSchoolHead

OPPORTUNITIESANDCHALLENGES

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ThisisaMiddleSchoolthatisingreatshapeandthatwillofferitsnextleadermultipleopportunitiestoacknowledgeexistingstrengthsoftheprogramwhilealsoofferinginsightintowhatisyetstillpossible.Thereareseveralkeyrealmsinwhichopportunitiesandchallengesareintertwined:

• Strategicplanning:TheschoolhasadoptedanddisseminatedanambitiousstrategicplaninwhichtheMiddleSchoolHeadwillbeavitalplayer.OneofthekeyinitiativeswillseeasmallexpansionoftheMiddleSchool,addingroughlyeighttotenstudentspergradelevel(from45-54ineachgradelevel)overthenextthreetofiveyears.Othersinclude:

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TOAPPLY

CandidatesinterestedinapplyingfortheMiddleSchoolHeadpositionmaydosobygoingto:https://rg175.com/candidate/signupwhereyouwillsubmitaletterofinterest,resume,aneducationalphilosophy/personalstatement,andlistthenamesoffivecurrentreferences.

QuestionsmaybedirectedtoCatherineHunteratcshunter33@gmail.comThedeadlineforreceiptoffullapplicationmaterialsisDecember20,2019

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o Developinga“dynamiccurriculumreviewcycle”

o ExpandingthespaceandopportunitiesfortheSTEAMcurriculum

o Continuingtorefinea“comprehensivedigitalandinformationliteracyprogram”(begunin2018-19),incollaborationwithanewlyappointedDirectorofEducationalTechnology,tobehiredSpring2020

o Creatingan“increasinglydiverse,equitableandinclusivecommunityofstudents,teachersandfamilies”

• Workingwithfellowacademicadministrators

tocontinuethe“onecommunity”effortstobringtheEarlyChildhood,LowerandMiddleschoolstogether.

• Workingwithfellowacademicadministratorstorefineimplementationofthe“ExemplaryTeachingModel,”agrowth-focusedsystemincludingfacultyevaluationandprofessionalgrowth(begunin2019-20).

• Joiningthealreadywell-establishedhigh

schooladvisingteam—helpingstudentsfindtheir“rightfit”highschool—willrequiretheMiddleSchoolHeadtoconnectwithchildrenandtheirparents,learnaboutthepeopleandprogramsoflocalhighschools,andcalmtheanxietyofparentswhoarenewtothispartoftheirchild’sjourney.

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• Improvingthelogistical"flow"intheMiddle

Schoolbyprovidingclarityinprotocolsandprocedures,exemplifyinghighlyeffectiveandorganizedcommunicationskillsandoutliningandconsistentlyreinforcingsharply-definedexpectationsforstudentbehavior.

• OverseeingallaspectsoftheMiddleSchool

InternationalTripsProgram,includingtheJapaneseExchange(inpartnershipwiththeteacherswholeadtheeffort),the7thand8thGradeInternationalTrips,chaperonequalificationsandtraining,tripplanningandcoordinating.

TheschoolwillcompleteitsCaliforniaAssociationofIndependentSchools(CAIS)Self-StudyReportinDecemberof2019,andtheaccreditationteamwillvisitinMarchof2020.ThefindingsoftheCAISaccreditationprocesswill—alongwiththeStrategicPlanoftheschool—serveasaroadmapforthenextSevenHillsMiddleSchoolDivisionHead.