Head of School Job Description

Denver Language School

Head of School Job Description

The Denver Language School (“DLS”), a full immersion Spanish/Mandarin K-8 Denver Public Charter School, is seeking a Head of School. DLS educates children using a full immersion curriculum that incorporates successful and innovative education best practices from around the world. Opened in August 2010 with K-2, DLS will add an additional grade level each year until ultimately offering instruction through 8th Grade.

About the position:

Preference will be given but not limited to having experience and enthusiasm with language immersion. A deeply held commitment to student achievement through language immersion for all students regardless of background is a non-negotiable characteristic. The Head of School will be a mentor and instructional leader for teachers and will serve as the chief academic officer of the school. He/she must be adept at key administrative, budgeting and personnel management duties and possess an entrepreneurial spirit and skills toward the operations of DLS.

The Head of School will set high personal and professional standards and motivate staff members to likewise aspire to high standards. He/she will be passionate about the development of the school culture plan, and adhering to and establishing the culture of the school. The Head of School must ensure that his/her decisions are guided by the school’s mission, vision, core values and principles. As the public face of the school, the Head of School will be responsible for attracting prospective families with an appealing demeanor and eloquence. As part of being a strong leader, he/she will also recognize that the school can only achieve success through the forging and nurturing of partnerships with Denver Public Schools (“DPS”), the faculty, families, support organizations, the DPS Board, and the larger community. The Head of School will seek to build up and edify those partners and relationships. In all actions, the head of school will aspire to exercise integrity, excellence, and strong leadership abilities.

Duties, Responsibilities, and Expectations:

·  Oversight of the day-to-day business affairs and operations of the DLS.

·  Oversight of the academic quality of the school, including ongoing refinement of the curriculum in consultation with program directors and the DPS Curriculum Department.

·  Oversight of the professional development of the faculty, including regular evaluation of their work, assisting them in the articulation of their educational goals, oversight of standing teacher meetings, and coordination of teacher training.

·  Oversight of the implementation of all aspects of the school’s culture plan: teachers’ workshops, staff training, and student outreach. The Head of School must ensure the core values and guiding principles of the school are being enforced at all times.

·  Oversight of the administrative aspects of the school including communication with families; coordination of information systems; consultation with the school’s finance manager in the coordination of ongoing school finances (i.e. purchases, payroll, etc.); coordination of volunteers; development and oversight of the teaching.

·  Oversight of the daily schedule and school calendar; management of staff to ensure daily operations such as ordering supplies, maintaining facilities and managing the calendar are implemented.

·  Supervision of current staff and the hiring for any vacancies in the administrative staff.

·  Comply with all legal obligations and district policies applicable to the school.

·  Maintain and submit timely enrollment, attendance, employment, compliance, financial, and other records and data as required by law and Board directives.

·  Establish procedures that create and maintain attractive, organized, functional, healthy, clean, and safe facilities.

·  Assume responsibility for the health, safety, and welfare of students, employees and visitors.

·  Manage school staff as a leader of a cooperative and diverse team of educators and administrators.

·  Recruit, hire, evaluate, and dismiss staff with the advice, consent, and at the direction of the Board.

·  Ensure proper licensing, assignment, and assessment of staff.

·  Participate in the development of curriculum, and assesses its effectiveness in the classroom.

·  Work with Lead Teachers to address the needs of individual students as well as classroom communities.

·  Oversee student discipline, in accordance with the school’s core values.

·  Cultivate cooperative and respectful relationships with families and the community.

·  Articulate and advocate the mission of the DLS in a manner that encourages collaboration.

·  Maintain close relationships with parents, communicating on a regular basis.

·  Facilitate classroom observations and school visits for current and prospective families.

·  Encourage parent and community involvement through volunteer opportunities and school functions.

·  Participate and help in fundraising.

·  Follow policies and standards established by the DLS, the DPS, and the Colorado Department of Education, except where the DLS has received waivers.

·  Carry out other duties as assigned by the Board.

Responsibilities to the Board of Directors

·  Work alongside the Board of Directors to ensure the success of DLS and that the mission of the school is carried out.

·  Maintain regular, ongoing, and open dialogue with the Board of Directors.

·  Serve as chief communicator between the Board and the staff.

·  Attend all Board meetings as a nonvoting board member and prepare and present reports as requested by the Board.

·  Provide feedback and guidance regarding the operation of the school to the Board.

·  Provide the board with monthly updates on the budget through the Finance Committee.

·  Enforce Board created policies and procedures.

·  Carry out other duties as assigned by the Board.

Qualifications:

All candidates should have:

·  Experience in a public charter and/or language immersion school.

·  A Master’s Degree or its equivalent in a related field of education.

·  Exceptional skills for inspiring, communicating, managing and following up with all staff members.

·  The ability to solve organizational challenges creatively and collaboratively.

·  The skills necessary to be a reflective leader who conscientiously strives to learn and grow from experience.

·  An eagerness to go above and beyond to ensure the success of DLS.

·  Training in CPR/First Aid, Blood-Borne Pathogens, Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect, and other health and safety topics.

·  The ability to pass a criminal background checkto work in a school setting.

Ideal candidates would have:

·  A thorough understanding of and belief in immersion education.

·  A doctoral degree in education.

·  A working knowledge of Spanish and/or Chinese and the cultures of the countries that speak those languages.

·  Knowledge of language acquisition and language immersion education.

·  At least five years of experience as a lead teacher.

·  At least five years of experience in a leadership position at a public charter, and/or language immersion school.

·  A thorough understanding of local, state, and federal regulations and policies governing charter schools.

Specific Attributes, Skills, Knowledge & Experience

·  Thorough familiarity with the language immersion model of education, preferably through several years of recent experience in a senior (administrative or faculty) position at an immersion school.

·  A love for learning, and a love for children.

·  A willingness to lead in a new school and to expand DLS.

·  Excellent written and oral communication skills.

·  A willingness to make tough decisions to ensure the integrity of the school’s mission is never compromised and be able to mitigate disputes.

·  Experience in implementing school culture, and maintaining academic excellence.

·  Strong appreciation and familiarity with other cultures and customs, as well as foreign languages.

How to apply:

Interested candidates must e-mail a resume and cover letter to or by mail to Jorge de la Torre, c/o Leslie Joseph, at The Stapleton Foundation 7350 E. 29th Avenue Ste. 300 Denver, CO 80238.

Resumes and cover letters must be received by May 15, 2012.

Please do not call the Denver Language School

to inquire about this position.