Northwest Academy Head of School Position Description

Northwest AcAdemy

PortlANd, oregoNheAd of school

July 2017www.nwacademy.org

the PositioNThe Northwest Academy, a school that uses the arts and academics to foster student creativity and independence, is conducting a national search for its next Head of School. NWA is a young, innovative school and is the only co-educational, independent middle and high school program in downtown Portland. Strong student/teacher relationships are at the core of the school and a source of justifiable pride. These relationships foster an environment of trust in which students feel safe taking risks.

Pedagogically, NWA is distinct in its student-centered program and culture, which marries rigorous academics with comprehensive instruction in the arts and self-identifies as proficiency-based. Students are placed in classes based on their knowledge, skill, and academic maturity rather than chronological age. The result is a program that positively affects students’ levels of motivation, initiative, and creative risk-taking. The partnership of arts and academics helps the school accomplish its goal of developing creative, energetic students who graduate from the school armed with confidence, flexibility, and independence.

With the retirement of NWA’s beloved founding Head of School, Mary Vinton Folberg, fast approaching, the school seeks a seasoned leader who can continue her inspiring, innovative leadership. This is an exciting time

for NWA, which has recently secured re-accreditation and has enjoyed steady growth since it opened in 1997. The successful candidate will be a believer in NWA’s unique mission and program, who is warm, approachable, and personally committed to the arts. S/he will be an effective communicator, a collegial collaborator, and a passionate educator.

school historyFounding Head of School Mary Vinton Folberg founded Northwest Academy on the premise that students benefit from rigorous educational opportunities in both academics and the arts. In 1996, a grant enabled Mary to open an after-school arts program called “Arts After Hours.” The following year, the success of that program led to the founding of a full-fledged high school: Northwest Academy.

In 2002, NWA’s Middle School opened, in large part in response to a desire among existing families that the success of the high school be extended to a middle school.

Since its founding, the school has grown to become a 6-12 institution enrolling 208 students. The school has maintained its original belief in the dual power of arts and academics.

1The Search Group | Carney, Sandoe & Associates [email protected] | www.carneysandoe.com

Mission

Northwest Academy is committed to inspiring students to discover their intellectual and artistic voices in a creative and supportive atmosphere fueled by curiosity and constructive challenge.

Fast Facts

• Students: 208• Students of color: 19%• Faculty members: 42• Faculty with advanced degrees: 55%• Student/teacher ratio: 5:1

Vision

Northwest Academy will be recognized as a center of excellence in proficiency-based education, artfully blending academic instruction and experience. Graduates of the school will be innovative thinkers who chart their own futures and excel in a diverse global society.


the school Northwest Academy is truly a place of inspired learning. Its myriad opportunities for student and faculty creativity ensure an inspiring educational journey for student and teacher alike. Across grade levels, passionate and talented faculty members develop authentic relationships with their students, serving as role models and helping to produce students of confidence and character. Collectively, NWA’s community is inclusive, respectful, and accepting. Both teachers and students feel deeply connected and committed to the school and its variety of rich, creative courses.

middle school

Faculty in the Middle School are, above all, committed to the well-being of their youngest students. The Middle School’s atmosphere is supportive and encouraging, offering a balance of rigor and nurture that suits the particular needs of this age group. Teachers are precisely attuned to both the social and academic needs of their students, and they help them develop personal awareness and social responsibility—both of which are crucial to the maturing middle school student.

The Middle School program is predicated on the belief that students at this level are capable of far more rigorous work than they often experience. The academic program, which starts with a foundational approach in sixth grade and moves to an exploratory model by eighth, focuses on instruction in English, social studies, math, science, learning lab, world languages (Spanish, French, and Mandarin), and the arts. Teachers create an environment that is psychologically safe and respectful, which best allows students to acquire the critical skills they need to continue producing work of the strongest possible caliber in high school and beyond.


college eNrollmeNtNWA graduates have been accepted to the following colleges and universities, among others:

American Academy of Dramatic ArtsAmerican Musical and Dramatic AcademyArt Center College of DesignBard CollegeBarnard CollegeBoston UniversityBrooks Institute of PhotographyCalifornia Institute for the ArtsCalifornia Polytechnic UniversityColgate UniversityColorado CollegeCornell UniversityDrew UniversityDuke UniversityEmerson CollegeFashion Institute of DesignGeorge Washington UniversityGeorgetown UniversityHobart and William Smith CollegeLehigh UniversityLucerne School of Art & DesignMaryland Institute College of ArtMcGill UniversityMount Holyooke CollegeNew York UniversityNortheastern UniversityOberlin CollegeOberlin Conservatory of MusicOccidental CollegeParsons The New School for DesignPomona CollegePratt InstitutePurdue UniversityRhode Island School of DesignSarah Lawrence CollegeSavannah College of Art & DesignSchool of the Museum of Fine ArtsSt. Andrews University, ScotlandSwarthmore CollegeUniversity of the Arts, LondonUniversity of Edinburgh, ScotlandUniversity of PortlandUniversity of Puget SoundUniversity of Southern CaliforniaUniversity of the ArtsWilliams College

Outside the classroom, students take advantage of the many arts, cultural, and educational opportunities that exist within walking distance of the school. Special events include cultural fairs in Ancient Civilizations in sixth grade, the Physical Science Fair in seventh grade, community service days, an arts week, and a music showcase. Special retreats for each grade level help students forge strong relationships with their peers and learn in a hands-on way; sixth graders travel to the Outdoor School, while seventh graders spend their retreat on a working farm and eighth graders go spelunking and fossil hunting in Mt. St. Helen’s.

high school

NWA’s High School focuses on stimulating intellectual passion, shared curiosity, and academic accomplishment. The program’s authentic academic rigor prepares students for achievement in college and beyond. Students have various opportunities for in-depth studies and immersion, allowing them to engage deeply with content. Critical thinking, synthesis, evaluation, and application are valued more highly than memorization, and the school’s characteristic partnership between academics and arts cultivates creative thinking, individuality, and collegiality.

Students grow not only academically, but also as artists and people. Through the school’s unique program, they develop personal responsibility, collaboration, and empathy as they transition from adolescence to adulthood. They graduate prepared for success in academia, the work environment, and their personal lives.


Students pursue coursework in the humanities (including a thesis seminar), math, science, world language, the arts (they must complete seven arts elective credits), physical education, and 30 hours of community service. The varied curriculum ensures that students’ multiple intelligences can thrive, and the comprehensive arts program helps students develop skills necessary for success in the arts and beyond. The school’s college counselor encourages the students to examine their unique ambitions and abilities as a means of helping them create a personalized list of colleges and universities that will best meet their needs.

High school students enjoy off-campus privileges, which allow them to become expert citizens of downtown Portland. Special events include class retreats—to Newport for Coastal Ecology in freshman year, Ashland for the Shakespeare Festival in sophomore year, Silver Falls State Park for transcendentalism and drawing in junior year, and the Oregon Coast in senior year—as well as arts week, homecoming and spirit weeks, costume day, and a talent show. Additionally, extended lunch breaks on Fridays allow students to listen to guest speakers, and a visiting writers series introduces students to professional creatives.

urbAN cAmPus NWA’s downtown campus is enhanced by its close proximity to cultural institutions, colleges, and even the city’s thriving assortment of food carts. The school’s integration within Portland allows teachers to expand classroom instruction with frequent field trips—to museums, lectures and films, and theatrical/musical performances. The school also enjoys academic and cultural partnerships with several organizations. Its partnership with Portland State University’s Challenge Program allows juniors and seniors to take college-level courses at PSU, where they also enjoy access to the university’s resources and library.

The school uses the Multnomah County Library as its school library, and the Northwest Film Center for its film and video program. Students at NWA are truly integrated in their home city.


PortlANd, oregoNThe largest city in Oregon, Portland is one of the most popular, livable cities in the United States. Just 60 miles from the Pacific Ocean, Portland was named for the East Coast city of Portland on the coast of Maine, over 3,000 miles away. Portland, Oregon straddles the Willamette and Columbia Rivers, and its easy access to water historically ensured its economic strength.

In the last 25 years, Portland has seen the emergence of a booming technology industry and is home to corporations such as Intel. Since 2000, Portland has experienced significant growth in its population and has become a popular city for young, college-educated people and families.

Portland has a thriving arts scene and is home to many famous bands and musical groups, theaters, and performing arts institutions. In 2013, The Guardian lauded Portland’s music scene as the “most vibrant” in the United States. An abundance of karaoke bars have earned Portland the coveted title of “capital of karaoke,” and talented fledgling musicians can be heard singing covers throughout the city.

Known for its street food, Portland features many popular food carts, as well as various microbreweries and specialty coffee shops. It has been recognized by multiple publications for its foodie culture, which offers options for every palate.

Focused on sustainability, Portland is often hailed as one of the greenest cities in the nation. The city is home to move than 8,000 acres of protected natural areas, including Forest Park, the largest wilderness park within city limits in the United States.

Sports fans cheer on the Trail Blazers of the NBA and the MLS Champion Timbers. The Portland Marathon and the Hood to Coast Relay are also popular attractions for tourists and running enthusiasts.

Portland is a dynamic, vibrant city with outlets for every type of interest. It is a wonderful place to call home.

oPPortuNities ANd chAlleNgesThe next Head of NWA will arrive at an exciting time in the school’s young history. Since its founding by Mary Folberg, NWA has been located in downtown Portland in order to draw from the city’s many educational and artistic resources. NWA’s distinctive vision and location have allowed it to grow in tandem with Portland’s ascendency as one of the country’s most livable cities and one of the most desirable homes for the nation’s


Creative Class. With its distinctive program firmly established and its reputation growing, the school is now actively engaged in the search for a permanent home. The next Head of School will join a community excited about the school’s future and eager for a leader who will help build on its many strengths.

Founded with a dual commitment to vibrant arts and challenging academics, the school is justifiably proud of the creative and meaningful ways that faculty engage students. The next Head will work with the faculty and the Board to strengthen further the arts and academics and to continue to explore how these programmatic areas work together to enhance the student learning at NWA.

The next Head will need to continue to nurture the school’s existing relationships with Portland’s arts and civic organizations while also seeking new opportunities to further enhance its program. As the school explores the role of STEM/STEAM, Portland’s growing tech industry offers some potential new partners.

Although NWA is known for its deep commitment to the arts and academics, the benefits of its proficiency-based education are less well understood. The next Head will need to help the Academy become better known by finding ways to showcase its many strengths throughout the region. The presence of many fine public high schools means that NWA must be perceived to be a compelling alternative if it is to recruit new students into ninth grade and increase retention of its current Middle School students.

NWA embraces diversity of all kinds, freeing each student to develop his/her unique talents and to create a distinctive identity. The next Head will work to ensure that NWA remains welcoming to students from all backgrounds and will work to further expand the racial, ethnic, and socio-economic diversity of its student body.

The strength in NWA is clearly found in the passion, dedication, and skill of its teachers. The next Head will work with the Board to ensure that NWA can recruit, retain, and support the professional development of its faculty. While there is a widespread agreement that faculty autonomy unleashes teacher creativity to design programs that meet the needs of students, there is also a desire to explore new ways of fostering increased faculty collaboration and programmatic coordination.

The quest for a permanent home will require significant philanthropic support. The next Head will play an increasingly important role in soliciting families who are new to NWA and will need to ensure that the development program is effective in managing and expanding the school’s philanthropic support.


With the acquisition of a permanent home, the next Head of School will work with the Board to oversee the redesign and reconfiguration of the new spaces. The magnitude of the project, coupled with the need to raise funds, will require a leader who can empower a team of senior administrators to oversee the daily operation of the school.

By necessity and design, NWA runs a fiscally lean operation. In partnership with a strong finance committee and an excellent business manager, the next Head of School will provide ongoing strategic leadership to the school’s finances, an emphasis that will be particularly important as the school moves into a permanent home.

QuAlificAtioNs ANd QuAlities of the Next heAd of school The Northwest Academy community is interested in candidates who possess the proven leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills to help the school maintain its commitment to graduating “innovative thinkers who chart their own futures and excel in a diverse, global society.” The school seeks a Head who leads with imagination, vision, energy, and drive. The most promising candidates will be strategic thinkers and team builders who understand the interdependence of all aspects of a school. The school is most interested in candidates who demonstrate many, if not all, of the following:

• A profound belief in the core values of NWA and a willingness to embody the spirit of the school. A strong personal commitment to the arts is essential.

• Passion that provides the leadership necessary to help the school achieve, sustain, and communicate its own distinctive form of excellence.

• A leadership approach that, through appropriate delegation and professional development, empowers other stakeholders and guides effectively the commitment, energy, and wisdom present in the faculty, staff, Board, and the larger NWA community.

• A warm, approachable presence that invites and respects the views of others.• A proven administrator with the ability to hold everyone accountable, serving first as a model of evolving

self-awareness and discipline.• Effective communication skills with faculty members, parents, students, community members, and the

Board of Trustees, keeping these groups appropriately informed of potential issues and/or needs. • Ability to work closely and comfortably with the Board of Trustees in a true partnership in governance

and leadership. • Understanding of and commitment to strategic external affairs, including admissions, fundraising,

marketing, and broader community involvement. The successful candidate must be committed to asking for financial support while encouraging a culture of philanthropy.

• Comfort in serving as a public figure and as the chief ambassador and spokesperson of the school. • Willingness to engage in enhancing the culture of philanthropy and in articulating the needs of the school.• A strong record of fiscal management and understanding of finance and budgeting.

The favored candidate will believe deeply in the value of the arts as a powerful means of fostering creativity and as an essential vehicle for human expression. The school seeks a leader who is approachable, outgoing, and energetic, a confident person of keen intellect and strong emotional intelligence. S/he will have excellent communication skills and be a person of deep integrity who will enjoy developing and guiding NWA at this exciting moment in its history. The next Head will be an articulate ambassador and team builder with a passion for the school’s unique mission.


seArch cAleNdAr

June 15 Applications DueJuly 28 Search UpdateAugust 6-7 First Round InterviewsMid-September Finalists Visit

to APPlyInterested and qualified candidates should submit electronically in one e-mail and as separate documents, preferably as PDFs, the following materials:

• Cover letter expressing communicating your fit with the values and needs of Northwest Academy • Current résumé• Statement of educational philosophy and practice • List of five references with name, phone number, and email address of each to:

robert fricker | robiN tweedy

Senior Search ConsultantscArNey, sANdoe & AssociAtes

[email protected] | [email protected] | 617-910-8044

Documents

Northwest Academy Head of School Position Description