P H s F , c H s d 2020 school enrolling 220 students, Presidio Hill remains true to the progressive...

Presidio Hill scHool

san Francisco, caliForniaHead oF scHool

start date: July 2020www.PresidioHill.org

overview

For more than 100 years, Presidio Hill School in San Francisco has nurtured the unique skills and interests of every child who walks its halls. A transitional kindergarten through eighth grade independent school enrolling 220 students, Presidio Hill remains true to the progressive values and philosophy that inspired its creation in 1918. As the oldest progressive school in California and the site of the Center for Progressive Education, Presidio Hill is a pioneer in child-centered learning. The school offers its students a challenging, project-based curriculum that prepares them for the future by attending to their developmental needs. It is a place where children permanently fall in love with learning as they discover and develop their full potential.

A well-trained, creative, and committed faculty forms the backbone of this exceptionally strong community of learners. Faculty celebrate children and integrate student curiosity into core subject areas, making classroom activities meaningful and ultimately inspiring students to become lifelong learners. A vibrant, diverse, and supportive community allows students to explore their unique voices, traits, and talents and each individual is honored and respected. An emphasis on the importance of community and service encourages students to develop self-awareness, personal character, resilience, and an understanding of their role as stewards of the planet and citizens of the world.

At this time, Presidio Hill seeks a new Head of School, effective July 2020. The successful candidate will be a proven leader, a progressive educator, and a person of warmth, integrity, and joy. The next Head will be responsible for maintaining Presidio Hill’s strong sense of community while seizing new opportunities that will take the school into its next 100 years.

2The Search Group | Carney, Sandoe & Associates [email protected] | www.carneysandoe.com

Fast FactsSchool type: Coeducational, progressive school for Transitional Kindergarten (TK) through Grade 8Students: 220Students of color: 47%Faculty: 45Faculty of color: 33%Student/teacher ratio: 9:1Students receiving flexible tuition: 20%Average grant amount in 17-18: $23,462

MissionDedicated to progressive education since 1918, Presidio Hill School challenges young people to imagine, inquire, and create. Our students engage San Francisco and The Presidio as an extended classroom and become empowered learners who are responsible, committed to justice, and optimistic about the future.

scHool History

In the early 20th century, the progressive ideals of John Dewey were circulating throughout the country. Helen Salz and Flora Arnstein, two San Francisco women, agreed with Dewey’s philosophy. They envisioned a school in which children of all races, faiths, nationalities, and backgrounds could come together to learn.

Salz and Arnstein opened the Presidio Open Air School to San Francisco families tired of the rote learning and factory-model pedagogy of the time. They aimed to provide their original 15 students with opportunities to learn by doing and to express themselves creatively. Presidio Open Air School was the first progressive school in California, and throughout its history has remained committed to its seminal founding ideas. The school has always been ahead of its time; in keeping with Dewey’s beliefs, the school that eventually became Presidio Hill took its responsibilities in the larger community seriously. Dewey believed that schools should be incubators of democracy, and that children should learn to be citizens of a democratic society by taking an active part in the social milieu of the school. In the 1930s, Presidio Hill became a place where European refugees could get help transitioning to American life. In the 1940s, Presidio Hill was the first independent school in San Francisco to enroll African-American students. The school has a longstanding commitment to diversity and opens its doors to families of all socio-economic levels and children of all backgrounds.

The school celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2018 and is proud of its place in the history of progressive education in the United States, as well as in the history of San Francisco. For more than a century, Presidio Hill has developed students who are caring community members who advocate for themselves, for others, and for what is right. Staff members encourage and captivate students, learning alongside them, fostering leadership, and inspiring civic engagement. Presidio Hill, while having changed and grown in structure over the last century, maintains the progressive mission and inclusive values from its founding—values that have made the school an incredibly special and unique place.



tHe scHool

Presidio Hill focuses solidly on the developmental needs of its students, from the youngest children in the transitional kindergarten to the eighth graders preparing to enter high school. The school continues to challenge prevailing educational paradigms while remaining true to its founding principles. At its heart, Presidio Hill continues to be a school where children are happy—it is a place to which children are eager to come, and where a lifelong love of learning is kindled.

Small class sizes, one class per grade in the Lower School and two sections per grade in the Middle School, and an intimate, collaborative environment ensure that every child is known and nurtured and that all families are appreciated and involved.

The Center for Progressive Education at Presidio Hill School, which opened in the fall of 2015, is building on the school’s century-long legacy of progressive education to strengthen and expand the community dedicated to its philosophy and practices. In partnership with the University of San Francisco, the Center provides training for teachers seeking to become progressive educators, increasing the number of adults in the classroom and firmly establishing Presidio Hill as a leader in progressive education. A library of books, articles, and films on progressive education; a professional development institute; a lecture series; and an elementary school site where graduate students can carry on educational research all contribute to the larger community as a resource for progressive education. The Center for Progressive Education has also led public/private partnerships between independent school educators and their public school colleagues focused on disseminating effective practices in progressive education, through learning walks and peer-to-peer conferences.

The school is accredited by the California Association of Independent Schools (CAIS) and is a member of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), Progressive Educators Network (PEN), and People of Color in Independent Schools (POCIS).


academics

Presidio Hill School students and graduates are known for their critical thinking, their creativity, desire for deeper understanding, knowledge of their own voices, and ability to make connections.

Various components of progressive education comprise Presidio Hill’s educational philosophy. The school’s program is based on several tenets: educating the whole child, respecting developmental needs, focusing on understanding, encouraging active engagement, providing a safe environment, emphasizing process over product, teaching in integrated and thematic units, learning in cooperative groups, embracing diversity and inclusion, celebrating creativity, creating community, promoting freedom and responsibility, offering a broad curriculum, educating the heart and the mind, and enacting authentic assessment.

Teachers implement authentic assessment in order to encourage uninhibited growth in their students, and they collect, evaluate, and share information in order to guide decisions about future teaching and learning approaches. Another goal with this type of assessment is to measure students’ learning using methods that are free of cultural and social bias, comparing each student’s performance to benchmark skills and concepts. Assessment techniques include student portfolios and reflection, and are guided by specific criteria, which are constantly altered and refined by the faculty.

Presidio Hill takes a mindful approach to the use of technology. In the youngest classrooms, technology is used in a developmentally appropriate manner, typically for special projects. The third through fifth grades utilize classroom sets of ChromeBooks for research, word processing, and media creation. In Middle School, students participate in a 1:1 ChromeBook program, using technology tools for their academic work. Digital citizenship is embedded in the library/media curriculum from grades three through six. In grades five through eight, students are assessed on digital literacy and citizenship benchmarks.


Presidio Hill School has a long tradition of being a supportive learning environment for a wide range of students. In keeping with the school’s commitment to diversity of all kinds, it believes a variety of learning styles enriches the learning experience for all students. Learning Services at Presidio Hill provide support to those students requiring additional assistance, and teachers strive to differentiate instruction to meet the needs of all learners.

Students leave Presidio Hill ready for the finest high schools in San Francisco and beyond. The results are clear: Presidio Hill graduates continue to be avid learners as well as creative and constructive citizens within their communities.

Lower SchoolGrades TK through five comprise the Lower School at Presidio Hill, where caring teachers guide students on an exciting journey of discovery. As at all grade levels, the Lower School programs are specifically designed to engage students in their own learning. Classroom activities are fun and collaborative and encourage each student’s natural curiosity.

Faculty integrate students’ interests into the core subjects and develop project-based curricula that provide hands-on opportunities to learn, experiment, and collaborate with peers. The program includes physical education and Spanish. Lower School classes also connect with students across all grade levels through a buddy program. As students engage with curricular material in ways that are exciting to them, they develop a lifelong love of learning, which strengthens as they advance through the grades.

Middle SchoolStudents at Presidio Hill’s Middle School for grades six through eight enjoy an integrated, hands-on curriculum that is further enriched by integrated field trips and other experiential learning

opportunities. Through independent and group project work and ever-expanding experience with the world around them, students grow in their academic and social abilities, as their confidence and self-awareness increase. Independence, critical thinking, and creative problem solving are all hallmarks of Presidio Hill middle schoolers.

Relationships are of paramount importance in the Middle School, and teachers facilitate bonding among and with students through life skills classes, independent and group work, and a daily advisory program. This program provides developmentally appropriate guidance to students who, within a safe and trusted community, are able to practice social skills and establish caring and respectful connections.

Middle School students prepare for entry into some of the area’s most prestigious and progressive high schools. They pursue coursework in the humanities, math, science, Spanish, physical education, athletics, and the advisory program. A robust environmental science program is based on a hands-on outdoor immersion pedagogy. Additionally, the school helps students and their families navigate the daunting high school admissions process with a comprehensive placement program and test preparation.


High SchoolAdmissionsPresidio Hill School is committed to helping its graduating students and families find the best educational fit for their high school years. The high school placement program assists families with every aspect of the high school selection and application process, beginning in the spring of seventh grade and ending with high school placement in the winter of eighth grade.

Presidio Hill students attend a broad range of schools, reflecting the diversity and individual interests of the student body. The 30 members of Presidio Hill’s Class of 2018 received acceptances and placements at the following schools:

Archbishop Riordan High SchoolConvent of the Sacred Heart High SchoolCrystal Springs Uplands SchoolDrew SchoolInternational High School of San FranciscoJewish Community High School of the BayJustin Siena High SchoolLick-Wilmerding High SchoolLincoln High SchoolLowell High SchoolRuth Asawa San Francisco School of the Arts (SOTA)Sacred Heart Cathedral PreparatorySaint Ignatius College PreparatorySan Francisco University High SchoolSan Francisco Waldorf High SchoolSonoma AcademyStuart Hall High SchoolThe Bay SchoolThe Marin SchoolThe Urban SchoolWoodside International School of San Francisco

student liFe

Students’ natural curiosity and wonder infuse Presidio Hill with vibrancy and joy, both in and out of the classroom. In their daily interactions, these community members reflect Presidio Hill’s atmosphere of happy activity and inspired learning.

The arts are an important part of the Presidio Hill experience, allowing students to explore their talents, develop self-expression, and make connections between subject areas. Harnessing students’ natural curiosity and creativity in the visual arts, music, and performance, the school offers opportunities to participate in art shows, performances, and musical expressions throughout the year.

Presidio Hill School emphasizes the belief that students should be awarded the opportunity to compete athletically and build physical skills throughout each season. The athletics program offers a variety of athletic opportunities for students in grades six through eight. The goal is to provide students with many opportunities to explore, increase their athletic knowledge, and develop important skills, while enjoying being active and part of a team. Teams participate in the San Francisco Athletic League, which includes schools similar in size to Presidio Hill.

Service learning is a key practice at Presidio Hill, whose rich tradition of diversity, social activism, and personal responsibility mandates a collective commitment to giving back to the community in systematic ways. Community service learning is a core part of the program at each grade level and echoes students’ natural development. In the lower grades, they learn the importance of caring for their immediate communities through service activities such as cultivating school gardens, organizing food drives, connecting with senior citizens, and restoring the native habitat in the nearby Presidio. By the time they reach Middle School, students are ready to embrace their role as citizens of a global world. Outreach includes working with the Presidio Trust and the San Francisco Recreation and



Parks Department on habitat restorations and partnering with the SF-Marin Food Bank and Faithful Fools Street Ministry to combat hunger and homelessness.

Presidio Hill’s culture and community are two of its greatest strengths. Throughout the year, community events help foster this sense of connectivity among all constituents. Whether they are joining together for the Walkathon which raises funds for flexible tuition, celebrating with families on Grandparents and Special Friends Day, or meeting up with friends at Friday coffee, members of the Presidio Hill community are tight-knit, collaborative, and compassionate.

camPus

The school is situated in a prime location, just two blocks from the Presidio, a national park perched on the edge of the San Francisco Bay. Formerly an army base, the historic Presidio is an invaluable extension of the school, offering students a playground, athletic fields, and forests to explore. The Presidio is used for recess, physical education, interscholastic sports, and earth science, to name just a few of the ways this natural treasure enriches the Presidio Hill experience.

Presidio Hill has enjoyed exciting growth. In June 2012, the school was offered the unique opportunity to purchase the property at 233 Maple Street, adjacent to the school’s existing Washington Street campus. This recent acquisition has increased the school’s physical space by more than 50% which will allow the enrollment to grow eventually to 230. The Maple Street facility houses the new, expanded library, larger classrooms for grades TK through three, and other needed administrative and educational spaces. Grades four through eight now have enhanced spaces in the original building on Washington Street, and the outside play space has increased by 57%. The new building also enabled the establishment of the Center for Progressive Education which opened in 2015.


The school’s brand-new innovation lab, in the Washington Street campus, is a K-8 makerspace were students can learn, collaborate, design, and build nearly anything. Problem solving, tinkering, and prototyping offers students opportunities to take risks, struggle, practice resiliency, try again, and feel successful. Makers have access to a wide range of tools, equipment, and resources to help their imaginations run wild.

san Francisco, caliFornia

San Francisco, the cultural, commercial, and financial center of Northern California, is a hilly city on the tip of a peninsula surrounded by the majestic Pacific Ocean and picturesque San Francisco Bay. One of the most diverse and dynamic cities in the country, many of the world’s most recognized technology and biotechnology firms—including Apple, Google, Facebook, and Uber—call the San Francisco Bay Area their home. Long known for its scenic beauty, its multicultural communities, and a vibrant business culture, San Francisco is a unique and breathtaking metropolis.

The hilly topography and maritime surroundings of San Francisco combine with the unique California climate to produce a number of extremely varied microclimates within the city’s 47 square miles. The Bay Area also serves as the gateway to the attractions of Monterey and Carmel, the Sonoma and Napa Valley wine country, Lake Tahoe, and Yosemite National Park. In addition, the city is close to nature with spectacular beaches, 3,500 acres of green space as well as easy access to miles of hiking and bicycle trails in some of the most beautiful parts of the West Coast.

Known for the Golden Gate Bridge, cable cars, Fisherman’s Wharf, Victorian houses, Alcatraz, and first-rate food scene, San Francisco is a popular tourist destination, but it also ranks highly on world livability rankings. With a population of around 865,000, the city’s colorful neighborhoods provide


distinct and unique areas to enjoy culture and arts events, food, and shopping. Many localities feature a mix of businesses and venues that serve both residents and visitors and contribute to the city’s lively atmosphere. San Francisco also has a very active environmental community and has been at the forefront of many global discussions about the natural environment.

Among its cultural and civic attractions, San Francisco has world-renowned symphony, ballet and opera companies, several world-class art museums, and such top experiential learning institutions as the California Academy of Sciences and the Exploratorium. The Bay Area is home to many leading universities and colleges, including Stanford, UC Berkeley, University of California San Francisco (medical school), Mills College, University of San Francisco, and San Francisco State University.

With sweeping views, an entrepreneurial spirit, year-round free cultural activities, and some of the best food, art, and music in the country, it is easy to see why San Francisco scores top rankings for being one of the fittest, healthiest, and happiest cities in America.

oPPortunities and cHallenges

The next Head of Presidio Hill will join the school at an exciting moment in its long history. The acquisition of the Maple Street building has been transformational. The additional space provides much needed classroom space for grades TK-3, a new library and makerspace, a greatly expanded playground area, and allows grades four through eight to spread throughout the original building. As important, the expanded space allows the enrollment to increase, eventually to 230. Presidio Hill is clearly on a roll and the next Head will work to sustain the sense of momentum by addressing the following:


The acquisition and construction cost of the Maple Street property required the school to draw heavily on its cash reserves and increase its debt to $9.8 million. The debt payments are manageable within the budget, but funds for other initiatives are limited until the enrollment increases further. The next Head of School will need to work with the CFO and Finance Committee to budget carefully and with Director of Admissions and the Chief Development Officer to increase revenue from tuition and philanthropic support.

Presidio Hill possesses a very strong sense of community that can be observed clearly as parents pick up their children at the end of day, attend performances, and participate in the fairs that punctuate the yearly calendar. The next Head of School should delight in being part of such a connected community. The next Head will need to be an excellent communicator who will work with the senior administration to ensure that the school’s strong sense of community is sustained even with the campus expansion and enrollment growth.

In preparation for the its next California Association of Independent School Accreditation, Presidio Hill is undertaking a self study and a curriculum mapping initiative. The curriculum map will enable the school to more carefully analyze the curriculum to ensure that it creates a seamless experience for students and framework for the faculty. The next Head will want to work with the division heads and teachers to use the results of the mapping and the report of the CAIS Accreditation Team to strengthen the program.

Presidio Hill is committed to its identity as a progressive school and proud of its attention to educating the whole child. The next Head will play an important role in communicating the effectiveness of Presidio Hill’s approach to progressive education to current and prospective parents.


Presidio Hill has made progress in its commitment to diversity and inclusion. The new Head will need to embrace that work and lead the school forward. Presidio has a vital and active multi-cultural leadership team whose work contributes to the academic excellence of the school.

ProFessional QualiFications and Qualities desired

Along with excellent leadership, communication, and organizational skills, the successful candidate will have a background that includes most, if not all, of the following qualities and experiences:

• A passion for educational excellence and a commitment to preparing students for the 21st century, matched with substantial administrative and leadership experience in an academic setting, ideally in a progressive school.

• A willingness to embody the spirit of the school and embrace Presidio Hill’s commitment to providing an outstanding progressive education with the ability to clearly and compellingly articulate that commitment. The Head must enjoy being an active and visible presence in the life of the school.

• A track record as a consultative leader who empowers others, delegates appropriately, yet who is comfortable being decisive when needed.

• The ability to be an effective communicator and a commitment to keeping families, faculty and staff, alumni, community members, and the Board of Trustees appropriately informed of important educational trends, school events, potential issues, and future needs.

• The ability to develop strong, supportive relationships among faculty, staff, and the administrative team and to foster a culture of meaningful professional growth.

• Proven commitment to diversity, inclusion, and multiculturalism; skill in building inclusive communities; and the ability to respectfully navigate diverse cultural and social situations.


• An understanding of and experience with an effective external affairs program, including admission outreach, secondary school placement, and fund raising. The next Head of School must be comfortable asking for philanthropic support.

• Experience in hiring, supporting, developing, and retaining a diverse faculty and administrative staff.

• Knowledge of school budgeting and finance.• Significant teaching and administrative experience, ideally in a progressive school.

Personal cHaracteristics desired

The favored candidate will be someone who is warm, steady, down-to-earth, level-headed, flexible, collaborative, community-oriented, and balanced, and who will relish knowing and being known to everyone in the school community. The ability to listen closely and communicate clearly is also critical, especially around making thoughtful decisions.

In an environment where everyone is encouraged to be a lifelong learner, Presidio Hill will be best served by a leader whose confidence allows him/her to model that spirit, including the ability to openly listen to and partner with a diverse community of teachers, staff, parents, students, and alumni/ae. The school seeks a leader whose temperament enables him/her to balance a passion for excellence with the recognition that meaningful change at the school will be realized only through thoughtfully and collaboratively designed and carefully communicated work with the staff, Board, and parents. Lastly, a successful candidate must possess an unmistakable love of children and the unique environment Presidio Hill strives to create for them.


searcH calendar

June 15 Applications DueJuly 21 Search UpdateAugust 3-4 First Round InterviewsMid-September Finalists Visit

to aPPly

Interested and qualified candidates should submit electronically in one email and as separate documents (preferably as PDFs) the following materials:

• Cover letter expressing interest in the Presidio Hill Head of School position, • Current resume,• Statement of educational philosophy and practice, • List of five references with name, phone number, and email address of each to:

Jennifer ChristensenSearch [email protected]

Robert FrickerSenior [email protected]

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