THE SCHOOL
MISSION STATEMENT
“Friends Seminary educates students from kindergarten through twelfth grade, adhering to the values of the Religious Society of Friends. We strive to build a diverse school where students exercise their curiosity and imagination as they develop as scholars, artists and athletes. In a community that cultivates the practices of keen observation, unhurried reflection, critical thinking, and coherent expression, we listen for the single voice as we seek unity. The disciplines of silence, study, and service provide the matrix for growth: silence opens us to change; study helps us to know the world; service challenges us to put our values into practice. At Friends Seminary, education is rooted in the Quaker belief in the Inner Light – that of God in every person. Guided by the testimonies of integrity, peace, equality, and simplicity, we prepare students to engage in the world that is and to help bring about a world that ought to be.” Adopted December 2015
As the oldest continuously operated co‐educational day school in New York City, Friends Seminary has prepared students for success in college and beyond since 1786. A Friends School rooted in Quaker values, Friends Seminary emphasizes character development as much as it does college preparation. Inspired by the Quaker testimonies of integrity, equality, peace, simplicity, stewardship, and community, faculty forge a curriculum that helps students locate their innate curiosity and exercise their imaginations through a program of study that embraces learning in the classrooms, on the fields and stages, and in the community and throughout the world. In addition to an overarching mission that interweaves the School’s college preparatory and Quaker goals, Friends Seminary is guided by Service Learning and Diversity and Inclusion mission statements. Institutional commitments to service and respect for others yields a community that is giving and nurturing, that embraces differences and seeks to recognize “that of God” in each individual, seeing past divisive distinctions and identifying the common threads of humanity. In 2015 the School’s new strategic plan, “Reimagining this Place Called School” was launched. It provides guidance for the School’s priorities. The new Upper School Head will be deeply involved in executing the plan. Please visit http://www.reimagine.school/ to view. Located in the heart of New York City, Friends Seminary enrolls students in three divisions: Lower, Middle, and Upper Schools. As it prepares for continued pedagogical innovation while moving into a new Upper School Building now under construction, Friends remains grounded in its founding Quaker values. This new leader will be an integral part of the Friends Seminary community and should be a collaborative, inspiring individual who is committed to academic excellence and to the values that define Friends Seminary’s diverse, service‐driven Quaker community.
THE POSITION
The New Upper School Head is a senior administrator reporting to the Principal while closely collaborating with the Academic Dean. The position is 12 months and starts on July 1, 2017.
Specific Responsibilities
Academic Supervision Supervises and evaluate faculty and support staff assigned to the Upper School Clerks Upper School Faculty Agenda Committee in the planning and directing of the divisional meetings Oversees the Upper School curricular program, in collaboration with the Academic Dean and Department chairs Serves as a member of the Department Chairs’ Committees Oversees professional expectations of Upper School faculty, including attendance, grade reporting, and parent meetings Supervises student academic probation and the evaluation of the subsequent student reenrollment decisions
Student Life Supervises and supports work of the Dean of Students, the College Counseling Office and the Upper School Counselor Decides disciplinary decisions with the Dean of Students, with the approval of the Principal in major cases With the Support Services staff, oversees student support, such as tutoring, therapy, testing, etc. Meets with parents about student progress Attends Upper School functions, such as athletic events, plays, socials, and assemblies
Administration Sets scheduling priorities of the Upper School Oversees course registration and placement testing Oversees all Divisional budgets Oversees recruitment, hiring, and orientation of Division faculty and staff Works collaboratively with the Academic Team and the Administrative Committee in carrying out the mission and the Strategic Plan of the School Manages the Upper School Office
Admissions Interviews new students and families, conducts tours, speaks to groups of parents and students as schedule allows Reads admissions files and participates in the selection of incoming students Hosts special events related to admissions and orientation Works with the Admissions Office and the Head of the Middle School around transition issues Coordination with Parents Meets regularly with Parent Association Vice‐Presidents Attends functions and meetings as assigned Manages parent involvement Promotes Upper School program
THE ADMINISTRATION The new Upper School Head will join an administration that includes three Division Heads, Academic Dean, Dean of Co‐ Curricular Programs, Director of Admissions and Enrollment Management, Director of Institutional Advancement, Director of Communications and Media Engagement, and the Principal, Robert (Bo) Lauder, who is in his fifteenth year leading the School.
THE UPPER SCHOOL
STUDENTS
The Friends Seminary Upper School is a supportive and encouraging environment that forms strong ethical and intellectual foundations for its students. A range of exciting, innovative departments capitalize upon students’ innate curiosity and teach them academic and character values that accompany them throughout their time at the School and beyond. Expectations for faculty and students are high. The educational programs at Friends reach beyond the classroom walls, promoting a broad liberal arts education in the context of preparing students “for a world that ought to be.” The curriculum challenges students at the highest levels, pushing them to take intellectual and creative risks, while demanding both a depth of thought and clarity of expression. The visual and performing arts work in tandem with the traditional academic disciplines to achieve these goals. Our commitment to experiential education encourages students to put their learning into action through our wilderness programs, opportunities to study abroad, community service projects, student publications, Day of Concern, as well as programs such as Model UN and Mock Trial, just to name a few. Our highly successful athletic program teaches the value of teamwork and sportsmanship, in addition to traditional hard work, commitment, and perseverance. Perhaps most significantly, we gather several times per cycle as an Upper School community for Meeting in the historic Quaker Meetinghouse; here students, faculty, and administration share silence and reflections that inform our evolving awareness. Here we are equals and no voice is more important than another.
Upper School students may choose from five languages: Spanish, French, Chinese, Arabic and Latin. In service to our Global Education Program, students may study two languages concurrently, a unique opportunity.
754 students in grades K‐12 comprise Friends Seminary’s student body, of those, 261 are in the Upper School. The Upper School is guided by the Quaker principles that define the School, Friends Seminary students are a diverse, curious, service‐oriented group that pursue character development as much as intellectual achievement. Friends students come from over 70 zip codes within New York City, Long Island and New Jersey.
FACULTY
The Library, completed in 2006, is the academic heart of the School. The Mariana Wright Chapman Academic Center offers support, both remedial and aspirational, to students in grades 7‐12 before, during and after school. The Center for Peace, Equity and Justice coordinates all values‐oriented programming.
The four years of Upper School at Friends prepare students not only to pursue their college aspirations, it sets them on a course to contribute to the betterment of the global community. Our graduates enter the wider world compassionately independent, intellectually curious, ethically resourceful, and globally aware. As such, not only do our students come to understand and respect the differences among people, they learn the value of our shared humanity, our interconnectedness, and the importance of giving back to our communities. Please see our website for a full listing of academic departments and programs.
Friends Seminary takes pride in its committed faculty and perceives the group as the School’s single most valuable resource. Friends Seminary is distinct in the number of educators who choose to spend most of their careers at the School. Annually, Friends Seminary recognizes retiring faculty members through the Emeritus Program. In addition, one teacher each year is selected to speak on the “Art of Teaching.” There are 69 full and part‐time faculty and staff in the Upper School. There are 170 full‐time and part‐time faculty and staff in the School.
SCHOOL HISTORY
Quaker Education began over three centuries ago in England, during a period of unrest and political upheaval in the country. As individuals sought something that would give meaning to lives that looked increasingly bleak, George Fox started the Religious Society of Friends. His society was defined by the idea that there exists “that of God” in everyone, and that one can gain access to the God within through stillness and the practice of silence.
Careful listening, compassion, non‐violence, full equality of women (the School was co‐ed from the beginning), and social action in pursuit of social justice came to define the practices and values of the Society, which first established schools in England to provide their children with a “guarded” education anchored in these values.
When Quakers came to America, they quickly established schools to educate both boys and girls. In 1786, Friends Seminary was founded as Friends’ Institute through a $10,000 gift by Robert Murray, a New York merchant. As enrollment grew, the School moved to a larger campus on Elizabeth Street before its final 1860 move to its current location. Always innovative, in 1878, Friends Seminary was one of the first schools to establish a kindergarten and the first city school to employ a child psychologist. As the School has grown over time, it has embraced modern efficiencies and realities, using technology integration (such as the one‐to‐one iPad program) and cutting‐edge learning methods, such as blended and online learning to prepare students for entry into the global world. Never forgetting the Quaker values that inspired its creation, Friends Seminary produces students who not only succeed in the world, but who strive to improve it.
THE SCHOOL TODAY Today, Friends Seminary continues its commitment to a Quaker education that produces spirit‐filled, motivated students across divisions. While founded in 1786, the School only recently separated from the New York Quarterly Meeting and received its own charter as an independent Quaker School. It is governed by a Board of Trustees with eighteen members. Beginning in the Lower School, students develop a sense of stewardship for the school community and respect for their surrounding neighborhood as they engage in a varied curriculum that introduces them to subjects that provide basic building blocks for future pursuits. Collaborative learning is key. The Lower School children add daily joy to the Upper School experience. In the Middle School, Friends Seminary faculty acknowledge that this distinct period is an important time of energy and exploration. Students are encouraged to discover their academic abilities, compassion, and self‐discipline as they are increasingly aware of their surrounding community and the needs of others. It is in the Middle School that students begin to become most actively engaged in Meeting for Worship, a daily morning retreat that provides moments of silent clarity in the midst of city noise. By the time students reach the Upper School, they have crafted disciplined habits of mind, heart, and body that allow them to grapple with the rigors and challenges of a first‐class education. As they apply themselves in and outside of class, students learn to put their values to action. In a broad liberal arts curriculum, teachers harness their students’ innate passion, curiosity, and idealism as they prepare them for “a world that ought to be.” By the time they graduate, Friends Seminary students are compassionately independent, intellectually curious, ethically resourceful, and globally aware. Friends Seminary offers myriad opportunities for students to become more involved outside the classroom. There are 35 athletic teams, including Baseball, Basketball, Cross‐Country and Soccer. There are 17 Varsity teams in the Upper School. The Boys Varsity Soccer Team has just won the NYSAIS State Championship.
QUALIFICATIONS AND QUALITIES OF THE NEXT UPPER SCHOOL HEAD Desired Qualifications Friends Seminary seeks candidates who: Bring experience and understanding of Upper School students and programs, preferably through previous teaching and administration Understand and align with Quaker values and decision‐making Understand and appreciate a program that supports a diversity of learning styles Bring an understanding of a robust college preparatory curriculum Encourage, inspire and appreciate faculty and staff and set high standards combined with a clear sensitivity to total student workload Have a deep commitment to diversity in all of its manifestations Understand and appreciate the transition between Middle and Upper School in a K‐12 school and fully support the college placement process Work collectively with department heads and the Academic Dean to hire and develop an outstanding faculty and staff Desired Qualities Friends Seminary seeks candidates who: Communicate well with all constituents and has a warm and welcoming personality Work collaboratively with all constituents, including an outstanding leadership team Show evidence of strong organizational and management skills Inspire others to teach and lead through example Work closely and effectively with parents in the division Understand the unique nature of New York independent school families and their needs Seek to build community within the division Are proactive in their leadership style Understand the broader needs of the whole school and work collaboratively with administrators and faculty to support and advance the School’s strategic vision for its future Have a sense of humor and model how to balance the demands of school and home Want to live and work in New York City
TO APPLY
NEW YORK CITY
Friends Seminary’s enviable location near New York’s Union Square provides easy access to a full range of recreational and educational resources in the heart of New York’s bustling metropolis. The city contains some of the most famous museums in the world, including the Cooper‐Hewitt National Design Museum, the Frick Collection, the Jewish Museum of New York, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Guggenheim Museum, and the Whitney Museum of American Art, among several others, and one utilized by the School.
Interested candidates should submit the following materials confidentially as separate PDF attachments in one email to Jacob (Jake) Dresden Cover letter expressing interest in the Friends Seminary Upper School Head Position Current resume Statement of Educational Philosophy and Practice List of five references with name, phone number, and email address of each (references will be contacted only with candidate’s permission). Jake Dresden Senior Search Associate CARNEY, SANDOE & ASSOCIATES jake.dresden@carneysandoe.com| 610‐757‐8593
The broader city of New York truly offers something for every type of resident with every range of interests. New York is home to some of the best entertainment venues in the country, including Broadway theaters, music halls, and sports stadiums. With every type of culture represented in its expansive boroughs, New York truly is an American melting pot. As the most populous city in the United States, New York is a global power city with significant influence in nearly every sector. Residents may select from five different boroughs in which to live: The Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, or Staten Island, each of which has a distinct identity, and all of which combine to form a proud, cohesive city.
Additionally, several distinguished colleges and universities dot New York’s landscape, including Columbia University, New York University, and several schools of design, among others. Friends has a cooperative relationship with NYU, the University closest to our campus. Seniors at Friends may take classes there at no additional charge. NYU professors receive a discount on tuition for Upper School students.