Head of School Search

Charlotte Preparatory School Charlotte, North Carolina July 1, 2020

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CharlottePreparatorySchool,aco-educationalpre-K—8thgradeschoolinCharlotte,NorthCarolinaseeksaHeadofSchoolforJuly2020.Ateverylevelandineveryaspectofschoollife,CharlottePrepprovidesanatmosphereinwhichstudentsthrive.TheSchooliswell-positionedandstableandhasenjoyedexcellentleadership;thenextheadofschoolwillhaveanopportunitytoservewithanexcellentBoardofTrustees,atalentedteamofeducators,andanenthusiasticandcommittedcommunityofparents.TheindependentschoollandscapeinCharlotteisexceptionallyrobust,andCharlottePrepisreadytoremovethe“hidden”fromitsoft-describedqualitiesasa“hiddengem”school!

CharlottePreparatorySchool:HeadofSchool

OVERVIEW

MISSION

“CharlottePreparatorySchoolfosterslifelonglearningandprovidesanexemplaryeducationalexperiencefoundedonacademicexcellence,positivecharacter,andleadershipdevelopmentinadiverse,inclusivecommunity.”

CharlottePreparatorySchoolisamission-drivenschool.Itsmissionarisesfromafirmsetofdeeplyheldfoundationalcorebeliefs:ThatPeopleMatter,ThatSchoolStructureMatters,andThatProgramsMatter.Allstrategic,structural,andprogrammaticquestionsaretestedagainstthesecorebeliefsbeforeimplementation.

Fourpillars—courage,integrity,perseverance,respect—serveasvaluesthatdrivetheeducationalprogram.Evidenceoftheschool’sembraceofthesepillarsisabundant,fromtheencouragementofagrowthmindsetinstudents,toopenandrespectfuldiscourseamongstteachersandparentsorthedeterminedspiritthatdrivestheschool’sathleticteams.

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HISTORY

CharlottePreparatorySchool:HeadofSchool

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CharlottePreparatorySchoolwasfoundedin1971byMauraLeahyTuckerasapre-schoolnamedCharlotteMontessoriSchool.Duringthefollowingtwodecadestheschooladdedgradelevelsandmoved(1992)toitspresentcampus.By1997theSchoolenrolled209studentsinPre-Primary—5thgrade.Inthelate1990sMs.TuckerdecidedtoexpandtheSchoolto8thgradeandrenameitCharlottePreparatorySchool,preservingtheMontessoriprogramintheEarlySchool,andcommencingconstructionofanewMiddleSchool,whichopenedin1999.Inthefollowingyears,CharlottePreparatorySchoolwasbuiltintoawell-respectedproprietary(for-profit)schoolwithabeautifulcampusandasoundlydevelopedprogramandexcellentteachingstaff.Enrollmentgrewtoapeakof442studentsin2008-09.TheFinancialCrisisof2008andtheGreatRecessionthatfollowed

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hadaheavyimpactonthecityofCharlotteduetoitsextensivebankingandfinance-basedeconomy.Independentschoolenrollmentdeclinedacrossthecity.Atthischallengingtime,agroupofparentscoalescedaroundtheideaofpurchasingCharlottePrep;inthespringof2012theSchoolwasconvertedtoitscurrent501(c)(3)not-for-profit(NFP)status.ABoardofTrusteeswasconstitutedandbeganitsgovernanceduties,hiringanewheadofschool,whointurnbuiltanexperiencedandtalentedleadershipandteachingteamandcollaboratedwithteacherstorefineandexpandthecurriculumandprogram.WhilethecompetitiveindependentandparochialschoolmarketplaceinCharlotteremainsexceptionallystrong,CharlottePreparatorySchoolhasrepeatedlyaffirmedthebenefitsofitsclosecommunityandnurturingacademicenvironment,whichallowitsgraduatestoflourishinhighschool,collegeandbeyond.

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CAMPUS FACILITIES

CharlottePreparatorySchool:HeadofSchool

TheCharlottePreparatorySchoolcampusconsistsofan11.5-acrecampuswithfivebuildings,severalcottages,andfourdistinctandwell-tendedplayareas.Thecampusisnestledinaleafypark-likesetting,withefficientmeansforparentstodropofforpickuptheirstudentsatschool.Theclassroomsarelightandspacious,andallofthehallsandpublicareasarewell-maintainedandwelcoming.Theflowofthespacesischild-friendly,withbothinsideandoutsideareasdesignedforallkindsoflearners–thereareexpansivespacesforMiddleSchoolteamsports,andcozyplayareasforsmallgroupsofyoungerchildren.Agym,severallargemeetingspaces,playingfield,conferenceroom,cafeteria,andspaciousfineandperformingartsstudiosmeanthattheschoolisabletocarryoutitsmissionwiththeacademic,athleticandarts-appropriatefacilities.TheSchoolownstwohousesneartheschool,oneofwhichisreservedfortheHeadofSchool.

LOCATION

CharlottePreparatorySchoolislocatedonthecornerofSardisandBoyceRoadsintheSouthParkneighborhoodofCharlotte.ThecityofCharlotteisdiverseandvibrantandhasexperiencedrapidgrowthinthelastseveraldecades.Acosmopolitancity,Charlottehasarichhistory,alivelyartsscene,strongeducationalinstitutions,aneconomypoweredbyinternationalcorporationsinbankingandfinance,andamultitudeofdistinctneighborhoods,parks,andattractions.

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graduatesmatriculateattheirfirstorsecondchoicehighschool,andanecdotalevidenceshowsthattheyflourishaswell-rounded,confident,resourcefulandenthusiasticparticipantsinalldimensionsofhighschoollife.

Faculty–CharlottePreparatorySchoolhasadeeplycommitted,diverseandexcellentfaculty.Theycollaboratewithoneanother,embracetheschool’sethosoflifelonglearningandgrowth,enjoyautonomy,anddevelopcurriculumthatreflectsresearchand“bestpractices”intheclassroom.Facultyhavecreateda“hands-on”curriculum,withincreasedSTEMchallenges,tremendousfineandperformingartscurriculum,andlivelyopportunitiesfortheirstudentstoexploreandfollowtheirnaturalcuriositiesandaffinities.Theyarebelovedbystudentsandparents,andareattheheartofthewarmththatpermeatestheschoolcampus.

AdministrationandStaff–TheleadershipteamatCharlottePrepconsistsofaDirectorofEnrollment,threeDivisionHeads(Early,LowerandMiddleSchools,)aDirectorofFinanceandOperations,DirectorofAthletics,DirectorofCommunityLife,andajack-of-all-tradesintheformofalong-timeadministratorwhoservesastheExecutiveAssistanttotheHeadofSchoolandSchoolOperationsManager.Communicationsandmarketingaresharedresponsibilities,andtheteamhasaprotocolthathelpsdelivertimelyinformationintheformofnewsletters,all-schoolcommunications,admissionsmaterialsand

CharlottePreparatorySchool:HeadofSchool

THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY

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CharlottePreppridesitselfonitssmall,diverseandtight-knitcommunity;eachandeverystudentisknownandenvelopedbycaring,nurturingadults.

Students–studentsatCharlottePreparatorySchoolarehappyandfilledwithprideanddelightintheirschoolcommunity.ThehallmarkoftheSchool,visibleineachandeverycornerofcampus,isthecloseandlovingrelationshipbetweenteachersandstudents.Themultipledimensionsofstudentdiversityenrichtheclassroomdiscourseandenliventheschool.CharlottePrephasthemostdiversestudentbodyofanyindependentschoolinCharlotte(41%usingNAISguidelines);studentsandteachershailfrom43countries,sotheschoolhasadistinctinternationalfeeling,deepeningthediversity.Studentsdiveintonewexperienceswitharemarkablewillingnessandexcitement;whethersigningupforanewsportinMiddleSchool,tryingoutforaroleinthemusical,orsteppinguptoaleadershipchallenge,studentsareencouragedandacculturatedtotakerisksandtrynewthings.100%ofCharlottePrep’s

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Parents–ParentsatCharlottePreparatorySchooldelightinthesmallandcaringcommunitymuchastheirchildrendo;regardlessofwhentheirfamiliesjointheSchoolcommunity,parentsarewarmlywelcomedandfeelimmediatelyconnectedtootherfamilies.ThereareasignificantnumberofinternationalfamiliesatCharlottePrep,theresultofyears-agoeffortsthathavedevelopedintoastrongword-of-mouth(andwell-earned)reputationthattheschoolquicklyandeffectivelywelcomesfamiliesfromGermany,Hong-Kong,orIndia.ParentslikethattheSchoolissmall—indeed,manychooseCharlottePrepforthatreason—andwhiletheyunderstandthattheschoolshouldgrow,theycautionagainst“losingtheheartoftheschool”bybecomingtoolarge.Intheparentcommunity,examplesofkindnessandcaringabound,fromgraciousandthoughtfulsupportforparentsexperiencinghealthissuesorafamilycrisis,toeasysolicitationofvolunteersupportforaschoolproject.Likemanyschools,parentleadersmentionthatthereisacoregroupthatdoesthelion’sshareofthevolunteerwork,

buttheyareconfidentthattheycankeeptheenthusiasticspiritofvolunteerism–whetherbuildingsetsfortheschoolmusicalorcoordinatingfund-raisingevents—healthyandgrowing.

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promotionofspecialevents.Staffmembers(anurse,acounselor,assistantstothedivisionheads,areceptionist,andbuildings-and-groundsstaff)keeptheschooloperationsrunningsmoothly.

Trustees-CharlottePreparatorySchool’sleadershipstructurefollowsthetypicalindependentschoolmodel.Itisgovernedbyaself-perpetuatingBoardofTrusteeswhichholdstheSchoolintrust.Theprimaryresponsibilitiesoftheboardoftrusteesaretopursuethecorporation’sbestinterests:todetermineandguidethecharacter,mission,andcultureoftheSchool;toestablishoverallpoliciesfortheSchool;todevelopstrategicplans;toassurethefinancialstabilityoftheSchool;andtocausethepoliciesthattheBoardadoptstobeeffectivelyimplemented.Inaddition,theBoardrecruits,selects,hires,andevaluatestheHeadofSchool.Currently,CharlottePreparatorySchool’sBoardofTrusteesconsistsof15members,includingtheHeadofSchool.

CharlottePreparatorySchool:HeadofSchool

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THE PROGRAM

CharlottePreparatorySchool:HeadofSchool

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WhiletheSchoolwasfoundedasaMontessorischoolfromPre-Kthroughfifthgrade,thechoicetochangethenamefromCharlotteMontessoritoCharlottePreparatorytellsthestoryofthedecisiontoopenamiddleschool.TheLowerandMiddleSchoolprogrambecamemore"traditional"whentheMiddleSchoolopenedwiththefirstsixth-gradeclass.Subsequentyearssawtheadditionofseventhandeighth-gradeclassesuntiltheschoolgrewtotwoclassespergradelevelfromkindergartenthrougheighthgrade.Thecurriculumpreparesstudentstosucceedatthewidevarietyofhighschoolstheyattendupongraduation,butmoreimportantly,studentsatCharlottePreparatoryarepresentedwithasmorgasbordofopportunitiesinacademics,arts,andathletics,deliveredthroughahands-on,engagingprogram.TheSchoolisalivelyandenergizedlearningenvironment.

CharlottePrepdeploysachild-centered,research-basedcurriculumfromwhichitsstudentscanderivethegreatestbenefit.Inordertoensurethatitscurriculumreflectsthebestinwhatbrainscienceanddevelopmentalpsychologyreveal,theSchoolemploysa“continuouscurriculumimprovementcycle.”ThismodelcallsfortheSchooltoregularly

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reviewitsexistingcurriculumandcompareitagainstbestpracticeformaximumefficacy.IntheSchool’sseven-yearhistoryasanon-profit,academicadministratorsandteachershavetogether:

• AdoptedtheMathinFocuscurriculum(SingaporeMath).

• ImplementedColumbiaUniversity’sUnitsofStudyforLanguageArts.

• Transitionedthehistorycurriculumtowardsabroadersocialstudiescurriculum,tointentionallyincludegeographyandgovernment/civics.

• TransitionedtotheTeachingProficiencythroughReadingandStorytelling(TPRS)methodologyfortheSchool’sSpanishcurriculum.

• DevelopedasystemandstafftosupportlearningattheSchool.

• IntegratedSTEMandtechnologysubjectmatteracrossthecurriculum.

• Expandedthefineandperformingartscurriculumtoincludeart,music,chorus,band,anddramaacrossallgradelevels.Thereare20+artsperformanceseachyear.

• Institutedbothsummerreadingandmathprogramstominimizelearningloss.

• InstitutedasmallonlineforeignlanguageprogramfornewmiddleschoolstudentswhoarenotreadyfortheadvancedCharlottePrepSpanishcurriculumorwhohavestudiedanotherlanguageattheirpriorschool.

• Developedahands-on,inquiry-basedsciencecurriculumthatleveragesthepotentialoftheSchool’srenovatedsciencespaces.

ThecontinuousreviewandimprovementoftheSchool’sprogramshasnotbeenfullyarticulatedtoparents,soakeycharacteristicoftheSchool’snextleaderwillbehis/herabilitytoarticulatethestrengthsofthecurriculumandclarifytheresearchthatbacksthechangesteachersandadministrationhaveinstituted.

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LEADERSHIP TRAITS AND QUALITIES

CharlottePreparatorySchool:HeadofSchool

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TopamongsttheleadershipqualitiesthatwillbevitalforthenextHeadofSchoolatCharlottePreparatorywillbeexceptionalcommunicationsskills;theschool’smarketingefforts,bothinternallyandexternally,willdependuponagiftedstoryteller—aleaderwhocanexplainhowtheMontessoriEarlySchool’semphasisoncuriosity,explorationandindependencefuelstheLowerSchool’sinquiry-basedscienceprogramormiddleschoolstudents’exceptionalself-advocacyskills.Whetheracknowledgingorappreciating,describingoradvocating,networkingorrecruiting,communicationskillswillbevitalforthehealthandvitalityoftheSchool.

Faculty,parents,andstudentswillbeappreciativeofavisible,engagedandaccessibleleader;studentsusedthewords“playful”and“funny”intheirsought-aftertraits,andparentscited“approachable”and“grounded”asqualitiestheyseek,andthefacultychampioned“transparency”and“engagement.”Warmthandopenness,andanabilitytoconnectwithchildrenrangingfromage2½to14,willhelpCharlottePreparatorySchool’snextleaderinspirethecommunitytojointogetherforthechallengestheSchoolfaces.

CharlottePreparatoryalsoseeksaleaderwhoisapassionateadvocateforthepre-K-8,smallschoolmodel.

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KnowledgeoftheMontessoriphilosophyandprogramwouldbeanadvantage,aspartoftheSchool’smarketingchallengesinvolvedescribinghowtheMontessoriapproachiscarriedintotheK-8program,andwhyitisatthecoreofstrengthsCharlottePrepstudentsdemonstratebothwithinandbeyondtheschoolcommunity.

ThenextHeadofSchoolwillbeastrongadvocateforteachers,withsignificantexperienceasaclassroomteacherandabone-deepunderstandingofhowtocreateandsustainacommunityoflearners.

TheHeadofSchoolleadsahighschoolplacementteamthatworkswith8thgradefamiliesastheyexplorehighschooloptionsbeyondCharlottePrep.Theabilitytoleadthisindividualizedprocessthatincludespersonaladvocacyforall8thgradestudentswillbecrucial.

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OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES

TO APPLY

CandidatesinterestedinapplyingfortheHeadofSchoolpositionmaydosobygoingto:https://rg175.com/candidate/signup

Questionsmaybedirectedto:CatherineHuntercshunter33@gmail.comand/orTonyFeatherstontfeatherston@rg175.com

ThedeadlineforreceiptoffullapplicationmaterialsisDecember15,2019

CharlottePreparatorySchool:HeadofSchool

Thereareseveralkeyrealmsinwhichopportunitiesandchallengesareintertwined:

• Enrollment:TheSchool’senrollment(currentlyat346)istwentytosixtystudentsbelowthedesirednumber.BecauseoftheconfigurationoftheSchoolasasmallpre-K-8inamarketwithlarge,well-resourcedK-12schools,somefamiliesseekinganindependenthighschoolleaveCharlottePrepwhenaspotataK-12opens.ThereisattritionoutoftheMontessoriEarlySchool,whichiswidelyrecognizedasthe“thebestshowintown”forpre-schoolchildren,asfamiliesleaveforpublicschool,oraspotatoneofthemanyoptionsthatbegininkindergarten.

• Development:TheSchooldoesnothaveadevelopmentdirectorordepartment.TuitioncoversthecostofrunningtheSchool,anda$200,000parent-ledannualfundraisingeffortbringsfundsforinspiringprojectsandimprovementsaroundcampus.Whencombinedwiththeneedto(re)connectwithalums,anddevelopaneffectivemarketingandcommunicationsplan,thisrealmoftheSchool’soperationwillneedbothimmediateandsustainedattention.

• Strategicplanningandfinance:WhiletheSchoolhasbeeninexistenceforalmostfiftyyears,asanon-profititisjustsevenyearsold.Theopportunitytocreateaninspiringvisionforthefutureanddevelopthefinancialstructurethatwillpowerthatvisionaretwokeyopportunities.TheSchoolservicesdebt,competesinarobustindependentschoolmarket,supportsanambitiousarrayofprogramsandwillrequireastutefinancialleadershipinordertomovetothenextlevel.

• Faculty:Attracting,supportingandretainingstrongfacultywillnecessitateexaminingsalariesandbenefits,sustainingimprovementsinacompetitiveanddynamicmarket,aswellascreatingmoreprofessionaldevelopmentopportunitiesandanourishingcollaborativeenvironmentforprofessionalgrowth.Forexample,whiletheSchoolsustainsagenerous50%tuitionremissionprogramforfacultychildrenenrolledatCharlottePrep,therearenearbyschoolswhoprovide100%tuitionsupport,andtheSchool’sretirementmatchislessthansomelocalcompetitorschools.

LearnmoreaboutCharlottePreparatorySchoolat:https://www.charlotteprep.org/