St. David’s School Raleigh, North Carolina Head of School July 2017 www.sdsw.org
The Position
Faith, Virtue, and Knowledge MISSION St. David’s is an independent school in the Episcopal school tradition that prepares young men and women for college and life by challenging them to excel in the vital areas of faith, virtue and knowledge.
FAST FACTS • Founded: 1972 • Type: Coeducational independent day school • Location: Raleigh, NC • Grades Served: PreK-12 • Enrollment: 643 • Total Faculty: 100 • Campus Size: 45+ acres • Mascot: Warriors • Accreditations: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), Southern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS). • Memberships: NAIS, NAES, SACS, SAIS, CESA, ERB and the College Board
The Board of Trustees of St. David’s School seeks a dynamic, strategic, and visionary Head of School with the passion and leadership skills to take all aspects of the School’s programs to the next level of excellence. The new Head of School will be a strong academic leader committed to inspiring, educating, knowing, and caring for the students, faculty, staff, parents, and friends of the St. David’s School community. This dynamic leader will also possess highly developed skills and demonstrated experience team building and fundraising, as well as recruiting, hiring, and retaining outstanding faculty. Marketing savvy and outstanding communication skills are also needed to successfully lead this growing college preparatory school. No leader of St. David’s can be effective without a committed relationship with Christ. As such, the next Head of School will be a person of strong and active Christian faith. In sum, the next Head of School will lead by example with strong faith and dedication to excellence, two tenets of the St. David’s community.
Executive Summary St. David’s is dedicated to preparing its students for college and life with excellence. Talented faculty who deeply love the Lord equip graduates to enter highly selective colleges and universities with confidence about what they believe and why. St. David’s does not desire to be a covenant Christian school in which a parent must be a professing Christian believer, nor does St. David’s desire to be a place of academic excellence that ignores the importance of faith and character. Rather, St. David’s is a wonderful hybrid of an excellent college prep school with faculty and staff who have a deep Christian faith, allowing a dual focus on developing the heart and
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mind of each student to his or her fullest potential. Located in the heart of Raleigh’s oldest neighborhoods, St. David’s is an active community. St. David’s families are involved in all aspects of the Triangle—one of the hottest boom towns in the country due to the continued prominence of its three large research institutions (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Duke University, and North Carolina State University).
School History St. David’s School originated in 1972 with the establishment of Hale High School, founded on the same grounds occupied by the school today. In the fall of 1990, this campus on White Oak Road became home to St. Timothy’s Middle School as well, which enrolled students in grades five through eight. By the end of the 1990-91 academic year, the decision was made to merge the two schools, becoming St. Timothy-Hale School. St. Timothy-Hale School continued to serve grades five through 12 until 1994, when a fourth grade class was added. A greater transformation came in 2003, however, with the addition of a lower division. The school opened that fall with students in Kindergarten through Grade 12 under a new name: St. David’s School. The current mission statement and motto — “Faith, Virtue, and Knowledge” — was adopted at this time as well. Saint David is known for his pious life of Christian leadership, which included the expansion of Christian education in the 6th century through the establishment of twelve Protestant monasteries.
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The School St. David’s School is openly Christ-centered and highly academic. While many schools strive to balance this duality, St. David’s School boldly celebrates both aspects of being an intellectually stimulating Christian school. Simply put, St. David’s is who they say they are! The School takes great pride in its highly successful college preparatory program and wide variety of extracurricular offerings, which create an exceptional school experience for all students. Not affiliated with any specific church, St. David’s draws students of many denominations and faiths, as well as those from non-religious families. Christian instruction at St. David’s focuses on learning from the Bible as a sacred text and the development of an authentic and informed Biblical worldview, rather than on a particular denomination or system of belief. Through an ongoing and open intellectual dialogue, the faculty, staff, students, and parents of St. David’s maintain the strength of their community in an atmosphere that encourages each person to think critically, challenge assumptions, and seek truth. This positive and supportive culture makes St. David’s an irresistible community where children can learn and grow together. Furthermore, St. David’s School prepares students to discover their unique purpose and calling, and to make a positive impact that extends far beyond their immediate community. St. David’s currently serves 644 students in Pre-K through Grade 12. While the School has the potential to grow enrollment, their consistently low student-to-teacher ratio ensures that the School’s most recognized strength is never lost: “At St. David’s you and your child will be known.” The Search Group | CS&A
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That said, the School’s growth speaks directly to the unique appeal of its community and academic program, and St. David’s hopes to continue its expansion in coming years. With multiple recent renovations, St. David’s is an attractive campus. In the near term, the School plans to complete necessary renovations to its current facilities in order to best support the educational needs of students at all grade levels. The School is close to realizing this goal already, having recently approved a detailed master plan for reimagining and rebuilding the few remaining original buildings on campus. Students come to St. David’s from a wide geographic area encompassing the Research Triangle and beyond. It is the vision of the Board of Trustees and faculty to position St. David’s School as the premier academic, college preparatory, and faith-based Christian school in the North Carolina.
Academic Program A student at St. David’s School enjoys a dynamic and ever-evolving learning environment. The technologyrich classrooms, well-trained and visionary educators, and rigorous college prep curriculum provide students with the 21st century skills they need to become critical thinkers, confident leaders, and effective problem solvers. At all grade levels, academic instruction includes interdisciplinary, integrated, hands-on, and project based learning. Innovation Warriors, an exceptional design-thinking and innovation program, begins in the earliest grades and becomes more complex in its assignments and challenges as students progress, culminating in the senior seminars. In the past decade, the School has intentionally developed curriculum with a scope and sequence such that each developmental step logically prepares students for great success at the next level. St. David’s academic program not only supplies students The Search Group |CS&A
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COLLEGE PLACEMENTS Partial List of Colleges & Universities Offering Acceptance in recent years: Auburn University Belmont University Boston College Boston University Brown University Case Western University Clemson University Davidson College DePaul University Duke University Emory University Florida State University Furman University Georgetown University Georgia Institute of Technology Gordon College Harvard University Indiana University Mississippi State University North Carolina State University Oberlin College Princeton University Rhodes College Richmond University Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology Savannah College of Art & Design Sewanee: University of the South South Carolina University Tulane University United States Military Academy United States Naval Academy University of Alabama University of Colorado University of Hawaii University of Florida University of North Carolina University of Southern California University of Tennessee University of Virginia Villanova University Wake Forest University
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with knowledge fundamentals, but more importantly, challenges them to apply critical thinking in practical situations as they engage with the world around them. The academic program is based on students asking questions, solving problems, and connecting what they know with what might be. The goal is to establish in every student a sound foundation for higher-level thinking so essential to succeed in college and beyond. In today’s text-filled, smartphone-connected, social media-shaped world, there is an increasing need to highlight the importance of empathy and the development of strong interpersonal connections. Fortunately, St. David’s is a relational community in its core, and relationships between and among students and faculty have always been at the center of its pedagogy. Knowing that students approach learning from a variety of different perspectives, the academic program enables students at every level to maximize their potential. The Academic Support Program provides additional assistance to qualifying students, ensuring that every student can succeed in a challenging academic program. Twenty-one Advanced Placement courses are available for students who benefit from academic rigor, and outstanding elective and fine arts offerings allow students to pursue extracurricular passions and expressions of creativity. Independent study options allow students to extend their thinking beyond a traditional course load, and all upper school students have the opportunity to travel internationally during winter and summer break. Seniors study philosophical ethics, moral obligation and theories of justice in a Senior Seminar. As the capstone to their senior year, seniors travel to Greece prior to graduation to walk in the footsteps of the apostle Paul.
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Faculty The high academic caliber and empathetic nature of the faculty is St. David’s greatest strength and remains at the heart of the school’s admirable educational, faith-based, and character outcomes. The School leadership and Board strongly believe that “no school ever exceeds the quality of its teachers.” Indeed, students unanimously agree that the hallmark of a St. David’s education is the high quality of the relationships that are developed with their teachers. St. David’s faculty comprises an impressive group of educators with solid academic preparation; over 80% of upper school teachers hold an advanced degree. Regardless of these merits, the faculty and staff lead by example in their ongoing pursuit of extensive professional development opportunities. This strong emphasis on continuing education not only leads to higher quality learning experiences for students, but also models lifelong learning across the entire St. David’s community.
Physical Campus The St. David’s campus offers a wide range of outstanding facilities in the heart of Raleigh. The administration is housed in the original Lassiter farm home, built in 1915 and refurbished to serve as a link to the area’s past. The new elementary building is a stateof-the-art educational facility that houses students in Pre-K through fourth grade. A new middle school facility is slated to replace the current middle school that was removed this summer. High school students enjoy the benefits of social connection in the intentionally The Search Group |CS&A
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unstructured space of their facilities, which resemble the sophistication and style of a college student center. The St. David’s Performing Arts Center serves a multi-functional role in the life of the School from informal student assemblies and prayer meetings to high school musicals and drama. Perhaps the most awe-inspiring space on campus, however, is the chapel. Boasting a grand entrance and deep wooden pews, the School’s chapel is used for weekly services and holiday celebrations throughout the school year. It is also a popular wedding venue in the wider RaleighDurham community.
celebrations.
In addition to the primary campus, St. David’s also owns a 31-acre tract that is currently being developed for use as satellite athletic fields for soccer, lacrosse, baseball, and tennis. The football field is centered on the main campus, thereby providing a locus for school spirit and community
Albeit compact on approximately 17 acres, the St. David’s campus is located in the center of in-town Raleigh, featuring large open areas and fostering a strong sense of the School as one unified community. Future additions and replacement facilities are well planned, while exceptionally easy access to the I-440 beltline makes St. David’s a convenient choice for families from a wide geographic region.
Governance and Leadership The St. David’s Board of Trustees is made up of highly qualified and experienced members. To ensure preservation of mission and consistency of vision, St. David’s Board members serve open-ended terms. This allows long-term trustees to provide ongoing expertise and institutional knowledge that exceeds traditional structures that might suffer from frequent transitions. The most obvious trait of the Board is a strong desire and unselfish commitment to do what is best for the School and the students it serves. The main emphasis of the Board is to ensure that the School stays true to its mission and has the resources to meet that mission, to provide fiduciary oversight, and to offer a strong strategic planning effort to create and execute the master plan.
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Raleigh, North Carolina The capital of North Carolina, Raleigh is frequently found at the top of magazines’ “Top Ten” lists, thanks to a diverse business sector, strong educational options, family-friendly culture, and high quality of life. Recent accolades in 2016 alone include: • • • • • •
Raleigh: #1 Best Big City in the Southeast (Money Magazine, September 2016) Raleigh: #2 Easiest City to Find a Job (Forbes, September 2016) Raleigh: #2 America’s Hottest Cities for Tech Jobs (Forbes, August 2016) Raleigh: #3 Best Cities for Young Families (Value Penguin, February 2016) Raleigh: #4 Best Place to Live (U.S. News and World Report, 2016) Raleigh: #5 America’s Next Boom Towns (Forbes, January 2016)
According to Money Magazine, “Raleigh has become a magnet for young families: The number of children between the ages of 5 and 14 grew more than 55% from 2000 to 2013, roughly 10 times the national average.” The article also notes the strong economy: “Between 2010 and 2015, job growth in Wake County was a whopping 20%. Raleigh has a strong employment base of its own, anchored by government jobs, and many residents commute to nearby Research Triangle Park, home to more than 200 companies, including Cisco, IBM, and Fidelity.” Research Triangle Park, commonly called “The Triangle,” is a cluster of high-tech companies and research enterprises first established in the 1950s in close proximity to Raleigh’s North Carolina State University, Duke University in Durham, and UNC-Chapel Hill. The booming job market has led to rapid population growth in the Raleigh-Durham area, making Raleigh was one of the country’s fastest growing cities in recent decades. The Search Group |CS&A
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While the business climate attracts the intellectually curious and ambitious, Raleigh’s vibrant culture, pleasant weather, and safe communities keeps them there. Downtown Raleigh is home to the North Carolina Museums of Art, Natural Sciences, and History among others. The city also features two outdoor amphitheaters, popular during summer months, and the Duke Energy Center for Performing Arts, whose four distinct theatre venues feature a diverse array of entertainment. Raleigh is also home to the North Carolina Symphony and Carolina Ballet. The climate in Raleigh is subtropical, characterized by four distinct—though not extreme—seasons. Winters are short and cool, averaging six inches of snowfall per season. Summers are warm and sometimes humid, though often cooled by afternoon rains. Named by TIME Magazine as one of the most educated cities in the U.S. in 2011, Raleigh is a unique place that appreciates academic achievement and the drive for innovation. And with a rich array of higher-ed institutions, Raleigh offers an ideal environment for anyone passionate about education.
The Head of School The Head of St. David’s School is the chief executive officer and administrator of the School, serving as the only employee of the Board of Trustees. It is the Head’s responsibility to provide oversight of all academic, enrollment, personnel, compensation, fundraising, and management of the budget and facilities. The new Head of School must be comfortable as the public face of St. David’s. It is an expectation that the new Head of School be an inspirational leader knowledgeable about academic matters, committed to excellence, and possessing the moral and educational vision to move the School forward in meeting its mission. His/her personal faith in Jesus Christ must be the basis for personal and professional life, providing a visible model for the school community through his/her actions, decisions, and commitments. The Search Group | CS&A
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Strengths of the School The next Head of School will enter a community with many strengths and positive momentum: • A school with a strong identity that balances the pursuit of academic excellence with leading a fulfilling life of service to Christ • A strong, independent school open to all beliefs that emphasizes biblical truths rather than denominational doctrine • Graduates entering highly selective colleges and universities with the knowledge of what they believe and why • Excellent and committed faculty dedicated to academic excellence • A strong college preparatory program that yields impressive college placements • A culture of individualized learning in which each student’s strengths are developed and celebrated • Warm, nurturing teacher relationships that sustain throughout students’ time at St. David’s • A passionately committed and supportive community of students, faculty, staff, and parents • A program of rigorous academics within a community of faith complemented by a variety of extracurricular opportunities that highlight moral character and opportunities for personal growth • An attractive and cohesive physical campus in the midst of significant upgrades • Extensive leadership, experiential, and service opportunities for students. The Search Group |CS&A
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Opportunities & Challenges The St. David’s School’s strengths are abundant across the board. The School is highly regarded for its college prep program. The fine arts programs produce outstanding performances and portfolios. Athletic teams have won state championships, and are consistently winners of the Wells Fargo Cup, an award given to top-performing high school athletic programs in North Carolina; a high percentage of recent graduates go on to compete at the college level. The college placement of graduates and the professional pursuits of alumni are equally impressive. The campus facilities are state-of-the-art and the setting is beautiful. The school community is strong, and there is an uncommon passion and pride for the School. The new Head of School will be entering a school in a position of remarkable strength, and will be charged to take the community to the next level of success. St. David’s is a relatively new school, however, and faces the typical challenges that come with the natural evolution of an educational institution. The new leader will need to respond to the following opportunities: Leadership The next Head of School will be charged with providing needed leadership to a highly talented team of faculty and staff. This leadership role needs to identify areas to further invest in the development of faculty and staff professional growth and provide the The Search Group | CS&A
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resources for them to carry out their function with excellence. Recruiting, hiring, and then retaining faculty and staff to meet the needs of a growing and dynamic school are critical to the ongoing success of the new leader. The new Head of School is also expected to hold all employees accountable for the quality of job performance and reward successes. Development and implementation of a strong and sound evaluation program will be necessary to achieve this goal. Stewardship/Philanthropy Providing sufficient resources to fully support the mission of the School is one of the most critical challenges for any school. Fortunately, the Board of Trustees has already taken a leadership role in cultivating potential within the community, and they look forward to including the new Head of School in this endeavor. The new Head of School will bring previous fundraising experience and success to this effort, thereby establishing new patterns of stewardship and giving. The new Head of School must begin the critical job of developing a viable endowment to secure the long-term financial health of the School. The Master Teacher Fund is one of the planned vehicles to create endowed funds to assist in retaining the School’s outstanding faculty. Community The new leader must be visible and present in the school community and continue to build relationships among the faculty, staff, students, parents, alumni, and external community. This visible leadership presence, as well as knowing and caring for all constituents of the School, will be an essential key to establishing lasting support for St. David’s mission. Simply being the face of St. David’s is not enough; people in the community need to recognize and relate to the Head of School’s authentic devotion to the school’s mission of providing superior academic programming in a Christian environment. Only since 2003 have there been St. David’s alumni who matriculated through the full K-12 program; as such, there is great opportunity to engage and build strong support amongst a growing, but still relatively young, alumni base. The Search Group |CS&A
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TUITION & FINANCIAL AID AT ST. DAVID’S SCHOOL • • • • • • •
Pre-Kindergarten: $9,500 ($10,500 for extended day) Kindergarten: $12,950 ($13,950 for extended day) Grades 1-6: $17,050 Grades 7-12: $19,350 Total Financial Aid Awarded 2015-16: $570,000 FAS % of Total Revenue: 4.6% FAS % of Total Enrollment: 12.9%
Financial Responsibility The next Head of School must sustain healthy enrollment levels in a highly competitive educational market to ensure consistent tuition revenue. Simultaneously, practical decisions regarding affordability must keep tuition levels within reach for families. Maintaining a prudent balance of budgeting for growth with the financial realities of the School is one of the most critical challenges facing the new leader of St. David’s. Specific tasks regarding financial challenges include reducing the reliance on bond financing to fulfill facility needs through the use of highly effective capital campaigns. As well, accelerating the elimination of the debt incurred during recent school facility improvements will enhance positive momentum. Communications The next Head of School needs to be a persuasive and articulate advocate for the School, both internally and in the wider community. Strong interpersonal, oral, written, and presentation skills are critical to the success of the next leader of St. David’s. Keeping internal and external audiences well-informed of the School’s accomplishments, issues, and challenges will help ensure success as the new leader strives to better publicize St. David’s academic and extra-curricular programs and promote its reputation as one of the top independent schools in North Carolina. The development of an effective plan to achieve this high level of communication for all constituents of the School will be a critical responsibility. Ensure Continued Consistency During Growth The next Head of School will lead St. David’s marketing and promotional efforts to meet enrollment goals, serving as the face of the School in fundraising, community awareness, and recruiting efforts. As St. David’s School grows and evolves, it will be the charge of the next Head of School to maintain the high academic standards, grounded in the Christian The Search Group | CS&A
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faith, and uphold the traditional cultural aspects of the School. The new leader will maintain a high level of expectations for a strong college prep academic program, one that continually improves and adjusts to new trends in education while remaining consistent with the School’s mission. Growing the School will go hand-in-hand with continual improvement in meeting the operational needs of the community. The next leader will be responsible for executing the School’s master plan to expand campus facilities to meet the needs of a fully enrolled campus.
Qualifications and Qualities The favored candidate will be someone with a strategic, analytical intellect and a warm, empathetic presence. He/she will be a visibly present leader who relishes knowing and being known by the full community. S/he will also be expected to steward the St. David’s School’s mission, vision and values. While there will be varying degrees and levels of these qualifications and qualities, the successful candidate will have: Experience • • • • • •
Strong academic background Proven fundraising success Highly successful leadership in a well-regarded independent or public school Success in growing a school's enrollment Effective experiences in recruiting, hiring and retaining great faculty and staff Proven track record in creating and fulfilling a demanding and challenging vision
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Skills • • • • • • • • •
Strategic thinking/planning Excellent verbal and written communication Ability to facilitate transparent, open communication Excellent listener Ability to delegate tasks and hold others accountable Relationship-building Business acumen Current knowledge and understanding of new trends in education Ability to cultivate an environment that fosters the professional growth and development of faculty and staff
Personal Characteristics • • • • • • • •
Christian who is able to share his/her faith Love of children and families Outgoing, optimistic, and positive Highly motivated to be the leader of St. David’s Innovative, progressive, and relevant Resourceful High emotional intelligence Humble
Leadership Style • A leader who paints a compelling picture of a future for St. David’s that community members want to follow and donors want to support • Inspires all constituencies of the School to strive for excellence • Embraces new and innovative ways to improve the School • Passionate about blending high academic standards and development of Christian faith • A leader whose faith is central to their actions, decision and behavior.
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How to Apply To apply for the Head of School at St. David’s School, candidates should submit the following materials electronically to Bob Windham or Amanda Riegel of Carney, Sandoe & Associates: • A cover letter explaining the reasons for your interest in and qualifications for becoming the next Head of School at St. David’s School • A current resume • A personal statement outlining your leadership style • Brief description of your commitment to and growth in the Christian faith • The names, email addresses, and telephone numbers of five references. Please send all materials to Bob Windham and Amanda Riegel of Carney, Sandoe & Associates: Bob Windham Senior Search Consultant bob.windham@carneysandoe.com Carney, Sandoe & Associates 44 Bromfield St. Boston, MA Consultant Office: San Antonio, TX www.carneysandoe.com
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Amanda Riegel Search Associate amanda.riegel@carneysandoe.com Carney, Sandoe & Associates 44 Bromfield St. Boston, MA Consultant Office: Providence, RI www.carneysandoe.com
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