Dwight-Englewood School Englewood, New Jersey Director of Institutional Equity and Inclusion July 2017 www.d-e.org
The Position
Mission Statement As a community of learners, DwightEnglewood School strives to foster in each student a passion for life-long learning. We seek excellence, honor integrity, and embrace diversity in order to meet the challenges of a changing world and make it better.
Diversity Values Statement The worth and dignity of every person at all levels of work, study and play are paramount at Dwight-Englewood across any artificial lines of exclusion. We aspire to be people who make the following statements: • We are people of eclectic ethnic, national, and religious backgrounds • We are people from varied family and economic structures • We are people of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities • We have different abilities, learning styles, and types of intelligence • We are committed to embracing all of our diversity even as it evolves Our commitment to the diversity of our student body requires a mirror image of that diversity in the composition of faculty, staff, administration, and trustees, and will likewise be reflected in our curriculum.
Dwight-Englewood School, a Pre-K through Grade 12 School in Englewood, New Jersey, which is located in the greater New York City area, seeks to hire a Director of Institutional Equity and Inclusion to commence July 2017. This is a senior administrative position and will report directly to the Head of School. This exciting position calls for a collaborative and visionary educational leader to oversee equity and inclusion initiatives and work with students, faculty, parents, administrators, and trustees. The Director will facilitate, promote, and supervise the work school-wide. The Director will have the opportunity to make an impact both internally and externally. It is essential that the Director have an in-depth knowledge of and deeply held commitment to equity, inclusion, and social justice as demonstrated through practice and experience. The position allows for enormous growth and the opportunity to build a team to help to sustain the work throughout the school.
School History Dwight-Englewood School (D-E) is the result of the merger of three independent institutions: the college-preparatory Dwight School and Englewood School for Boys, which came together in 1973, and the Bede School, the first accredited Montessori school in New Jersey, which joined with Dwight-Englewood in 1993 to create a full PreKindergarten through Grade 12 program. Since celebrating its 125th anniversary during the 20142015 school year, Dwight-Englewood has continued to thrive as an institution. Recent developments at D-E include a host of green initiatives focused on creating a more environmentally-friendly school, enhanced diversity programming, and a more robust STEM curriculum grounded in the Hajjar STEM Center, which opened in the fall of 2015.
The School Today, Dwight-Englewood is a coeducational, independent school of approximately 1,000 students in preschool
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through Grade 12. As the most ethnically diverse school in Bergen County, D-E is characterized by its strong commitment to creating a welcoming and inclusive learning environment. The student body represents more than 80 towns in Bergen, Hudson, and Rockland counties, as well as New York City. Across D-E’s three divisions, students benefit from a seamless educational experience coupled with age-appropriate learning environments. Throughout, the school’s core values of respect, honesty, judgment, commitment, courage, and community provide guiding principles as students grow as learners and as people. D-E’s experienced, passionate, and dedicated faculty works tirelessly to ensure that each individual develops the capacity to think clearly, decide wisely, and live honestly, three hallmarks of a Dwight-Englewood graduate. In caring for students as independent learners, and as people, and truly knowing their students beyond their academic experience, D-E faculty endeavor to fulfill the promise and potential of the school’s profile of a teacher statement. The initial words of the D-E School mission, “As a community…,” engage the school in embracing diversity, with an ongoing commitment toward kindness and empathy.
Academics D-E’s curriculum is based in the ideal of “Challenging Minds for a Changing World,” with students at each level growing as a result of a curriculum that both challenges and supports. Faculty engage and guide students in their efforts to “seek excellence,” not perfection. Hands-on learning is at the heart of academics at D-E, allowing students to engage deeply with material and cultivate independent thinking. In addition, a teacher-student ratio of eight-to-one ensures ample opportunities for personalized instruction and growth. In the Lower School, teachers cultivate a love of learning through interdisciplinary exploration, practicing creativity, perseverance, and problem-solving in a wide variety of disciplines. As they move The Search Group | Carney, Sandoe & Associates
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College Enrollment The following is a partial list of schools to which members of the Class of 2016 enrolled: • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Australian National University Babson College Boston College Boston University Bucknell University Colgate University Columbia University Cornell University Dartmouth College Emory University Fordham University Franklin and Marshall College George Washington University Georgetown University High Point University Indiana University Ithaca College Johns Hopkins University Lafayette College Lehigh University New York University Pennsylvania State University Princeton University Rutgers University Stanford University Swarthmore College Syracuse University Tufts University Tulane University University of Colorado University of Miami University of Michigan University of North Carolina University of Pennsylvania University of Rochester University of Southern California University of Vermont University of Wisconsin Villanova University Washington University in St. Louis Wesleyan University Yale University
into the Middle School, these skills continue to blossom as students are presented with new challenges. In these grades, students investigate guiding questions of identity, connection, and perspective, thinking critically about the role of an ethical citizen in a diverse community. The annual Experimental Design Fair offers an exciting occasion for STEM learning and creative engagement, and throughout the year, Middle School students stretch themselves in a unique selection of Discovery classes, in which they may pursue art, film, computing, gardening, and more. Energy and enthusiasm are hallmarks of any D-E classroom, and as students continue into the Upper School, they are welcomed by new challenges and opportunities. The Upper School program is structured around a combination of core subjects in 9th and 10th grade and electives in 11th and 12th grade, allowing students to both develop a broad foundation and delve deep into topics of individual interest. Integrated with core subjects are multicultural literacies and ethics: all 9th-grade students, for example, participate in a seminar on self-identity, empathy, and human relations. In their final year at Dwight-Englewood, each senior has an option to complete a Focus project, drafting a collegelevel research paper, completing off-campus fieldwork, and presenting their findings to a panel of teachers and outside experts in a culmination of all they have learned.
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Throughout, D-E offers a rigorous college preparatory experience that fosters independent thinking, problem-solving, and the skills, inclusion, and integrity students will need to thrive in an increasingly complex, global world. Additionally, the school launched D-E 360° in the fall of 2015 which offers open-enrollment courses for enrichment, advancement, or credit for learners of all age groups, including adults. D-E 360° offerings are designed to enhance learning outside of typical school hours, including during weekends and after-school time frames, in a dynamic environment with small learning groups. Among core offerings are Summer Connections, an American Camp Association accredited summer day camp program that features fun enrichment, academic, and immersive options; Lower School AfterCare & Enrichment, an extended day program which takes place after regular school hours, bridging the gap between school and home; D-E 360° International, that provides students with international travel opportunities to engage in the world; DELTA (Dwight-Englewood Learning and Teaching Academy [for adults]), that offers professional development workshops for teachers and adults; and Enrichment Workshops, which enhance learning outside of typical school hours in an intensive environment with small class sizes.
Arts, Athletics, and Health & Wellness Programs Dwight-Englewood believes in the power of art to unleash creativity that affects a student’s learning experience. For that reason, a robust arts program is enjoyed by all students at D-E. In Lower School, students are exposed to different forms of visual art while exploring their creative abilities. Listening and creating music is also emphasized, highlighted by the Creating Original Opera program in which all 5th-grade students participate. Classes in drama, music, and studio art build upon skills in Middle School, where students gain confidence in their imagination and ability to create. Upper School sees The Search Group | Carney, Sandoe & Associates
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the introduction of courses that dig deeper into the visual and performing arts, including sculpture, ceramics, theatre production, technical arts, orchestra, stage band, and Jazz Rock, a program for aspiring singers and musicians. Performances and exhibits throughout the year showcase students’ talents and build a lifelong love for the arts. The athletics program at D-E instills concepts of good sportsmanship and teamwork beginning in Lower School, where young students develop gross motor skills and older children in grades 3-5 participate in co-ed intramural soccer, basketball, and baseball. Middle School introduces interscholastic competition in addition to the sports and skills learned in physical education classes. In Upper School, the spirit of the scholar athlete – those students who are equally achieving in academics and athletics – is particularly pertinent. Junior varsity and varsity athletic teams include soccer, tennis, cross country, field hockey, football, volleyball, basketball, lacrosse, track and field, softball, baseball, and ultimate Frisbee. Courses offered through the Health and Wellness Program are an important part of educating the whole child and are required for all students at D-E. The coeducational program develops awareness of the personal fulfillment that can be found in exercise, play, and sport. Students learn skills for team sports, as well as for lifetime leisure activities such as yoga, fitness and exercise, tennis, basketball, volleyball, strength and conditioning, ultimate Frisbee, and basketball. Through required courses in health and wellness, each student discovers the joy of his or her physical being, its interrelationship with the wellbeing of others, and the importance of concern for issues of health and human sexuality. Content of all courses is taught in a sequential and age-appropriate manner.
School Life At D-E, academics, arts, and athletics are complemented by a robust extra-curricular program, in which students of all ages may grow personally, develop critical leadership skills, and pursue areas of curiosity and interest. In the Lower School, students may participate in enrichment offerings The Search Group | Carney, Sandoe & Associates
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including sewing, robotics, and yoga; as they move into Middle School, a select roster of clubs becomes a part of the school day, and students get involved with stage crew, fantasy basketball, or animal awareness. At the Upper School level, opportunities expand still further, with more than 30 active clubs in all disciplines, including two literary magazines, Model United Nations and debate, identity- and social justice-oriented groups, and much more. Students across all three divisions participate in service learning, an integral part of D-E’s mission to produce graduates who “engage compassionately with the world.”
Englewood, New Jersey Englewood is a quiet suburb with a vibrant downtown located just 10 minutes from New York City. Though conveniently close to Manhattan, Englewood feels like it is worlds away from the bustling metropolis. Lush suburban countryside lends a traditional New England feel to the town, and the Flat Rock Brook Nature Center, a 150-acre preserve and education center, provides environmental education programs to all ages. Residents can explore this portion of the Palisades Forest through a network of self-guided trails that provide access to a bubbling brook, wetlands, a pond, wildflower meadows, quarry cliffs, and woodlands. Downtown Englewood hosts a busy foodie culture and shopping center. Four-star restaurants, casual pizza parlors, and various boutiques surround the Bergen Performing Arts Center, downtown Englewood’s focal point. Residents and visitors can view plays, concerts, and other events at the Center or enroll in classes at its affiliated Performing Arts School. Englewood is eminently familyfriendly, offering over 50 houses of worship, an award-winning hospital, and recreational facilities that include basketball and tennis courts, baseball, football, and soccer fields. The town’s MacKay Park features a skating rink, and two swimming pools provide relief in the summer.
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Duties and Responsibilities and Inclusion
for the
Director
of Institutional
Equity
Dwight-Englewood School offers a competitive salary and benefits, including a strong support for professional development, to the new Director of Institutional Equity and Inclusion who will be charged to: • Establish high visibility and presence throughout the community and foster strong relationships with and between faculty, staff, students, and families • Provide support to faculty, staff, and administration on equity and inclusion initiatives • Identify equity training needs of leadership/faculty/staff and coordinate/conduct training where appropriate, working across all divisions • Create an equity team, which will work to support the needs of the school community • Commit to active involvement in student life • Coordinate efforts and work with parent affinity groups and student affinity groups and clubs • Guide, support, and work with administrators and faculty on best practices of culturally relevant pedagogy • Lead and advise on hiring and retention efforts for faculty, staff, and administrators from underrepresented groups • With the Head of School, work through challenges to facilitate positive change • With the Head of School, consult with the Board of Trustees and with members of the Senior Leadership team
Required Skills and Knowledge • • • • • • • • • •
Knowledge of best practices in equity and inclusion work A deeply held commitment to equity and inclusion on behalf of faculty, students, and families Demonstrated experience presenting/leading equity education programming Skill at working sensitively and effectively with a broad range of constituents Ability to teach, persuade, build trust, and establish credibility Ability to relate effectively with the wide range of communities, students, and school faculty and staff Ability to affect change collaboratively and empathetically Highly effective written and verbal communication skills Thoughtful listener, who listens to understand Strong technology skills
Desired Qualities and Traits • An empathic, self-assured, and strong leader who is able to work with broad constituencies and who is approachable and diplomatic • A kind, adaptable, and visionary leader who is able to support, direct, and collaborate with all stakeholders • Strong character and impeccable integrity • Visionary—strategic and insightful—with the ability to frame and implement plans The Search Group | Carney, Sandoe & Associates
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• A systematic thinker with excellent organizational skills and great follow-through • An inclusive, transparent, and trusted decision-maker • An educator at heart and in practice with knowledge of age-appropriate curriculum development
To Apply Interested and candidates should submit electronically in one email and as separate documents (preferably PDFs) the following materials (all inquiries are confidential): • A cover letter stating their interest and qualifications for this position • A résumé detailing work experience and education • Responses to supplemental questions that will be sent to you upon expression of interest in the position • A list of five (5) professional references with name, phone number, and email address of each to: Jennifer Christensen Search Consultant jennifer.christensen@carneysandoe.com Sherry Coleman, Ed.D. Senior Search Consultant sherry.coleman@carneysandoe.com
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