ASSISTANT HEAD OF SCHOOL FOR DIVERSITY, INCLUSION, AND ANTI-RACISM (Grades Pre-K-12)
Montclair Kimberley Academy’s diverse, collaborative, and inclusive community inspires students to lead lives of noble character, purpose, and distinction. The school’s challenging, engaging, and innovative academic program provides a vibrant and transformative education. Our faculty’s deep and genuine understanding of our students as individuals and as learners fosters their ethical development, intellectual growth, and personal success. As guided by its Strategic Plan, MKA is committed to promoting multicultural education, grounded in ideas of equity, anti-bias education, anti-racism, and social justice. We see multicultural education as a process of inquiry, reflection, and engagement that honors students’ narratives, provides a safe environment in which to explore and discuss multiple perspectives, and helps transform students and faculty, school culture and curriculum, community, and society. We seek candidates who share our commitment to this process.
Montclair Kimberley Academy (MKA), one of the largest,
co-educational, independent day schools in New Jersey, is committed to providing every student in grades Pre-K through 12 with opportunities to develop their infinite potential, in terms of both their intellect and their character. Guided by its motto—Knowledge, Vision, Integrity— the school encourages active participation in the arts, athletics, and community engagement to enhance the growth fostered by the challenging academic curriculum. Three, age-appropriate campuses, a significant commitment to diversity and inclusion, and faculty professional growth and development are hallmarks of the MKA experience. The school delivers an innovative education that combines excellence in teaching, creativity in curriculum, and a highly personal, technology-enriched environment. As a result, students develop the capacity to think critically, the confidence to stretch their abilities, and the skills required to meet today’s and tomorrow’s real-world challenges. Dedicated to their own learning as well as their students’ learning, MKA faculty members are committed to a continuous process of inquiry. The school allocates significant funding to support their professional growth. The Professional Growth Process (PGP) engages every faculty member in an ongoing process of inquiry, reflection, and adjustment of practice. On-site professional development workshops provide opportunities for faculty to inquire, explore, collaborate, and experiment with new ideas. Faculty members also travel locally and globally to attend conferences and workshops with renowned experts. With 85 towns represented in the student body, 18% faculty of color, and 42% students of color, inherent to an excellent MKA education are two values central to its work in diversity and inclusion: that MKA has a responsibility to prepare students for a society that is growing more complex and global and that all students work best when they—and their families—are seen, known, and truly accepted for who they are. The school continues to build cultural competency, relying on its ability to empower students, families, faculty, and staff to create a more inclusive community. A team of faculty serves as Diversity and Inclusion Coordinators at each campus; they help lead the faculty in the development of multicultural curriculum as well as the policies and procedures that shape everyday life. For instance, student affinity groups across all three campuses provide opportunities for students to connect, uplift one another, and talk about their experiences. A Diversity and Inclusion Parents Committee serves as a source of guidance and feedback to the leadership of the school and has played a key role in collaborating on the school’s Diversity and Inclusion Statement of Purpose and establishing parent affinity groups.
Connected to the fundamental principles found in MKA’s motto – Knowledge, Vision, Integrity – this
Diversity and Inclusion Statement of Purpose defines our community’s aspirational beliefs and actions: •
We believe that the diversity of experiences presented through a dynamic multicultural curriculum develops our global cultural competency. To cultivate a love of learning, we encourage ourselves
to explore and appreciate differences and similarities, challenge stereotypes, and acknowledge the range of perspectives within and outside of our community. •
We strive for equity and social justice as the foundation for our engagement with an increasingly complex world. To promote full and active citizenship and leadership, we engage with the world through the strength of our ethical convictions and recognize our deep interdependence with others.
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We uphold that an inclusive school environment fosters a culture of mutual respect, moral responsibility, and academic excellence. To recognize complexity and value empathy, we
welcome, embrace, support, and encourage our entire community: its races, cultures, genders, and sexualities, its experiences and economics, its aspirations, abilities, and affiliations.
THE OPPORTUNITY This Assistant Head of School position provides a unique opportunity for a dynamic, experienced school leader to lead the school’s Diversity, Inclusion, and Anti-Racism (DIA-R) initiatives, Pre-K-12. The Assistant Head of School for Diversity, Inclusion, and Anti-Racism influences all facets of school life, from curriculum and pedagogy to athletics and the arts, and is a frequent, collaborative thought partner with the Head of School, the three campus Heads, and the Assistant Head of School for Curriculum and Professional Development. This Assistant Head of School is a member of the Administrative Council and also collaborates with the Admissions Team, the Athletics Department, the Communications Team, and the Development Team, to help achieve the school’s key priorities, mission, and vision. To cultivate a diverse and cosmopolitan community where everyone feels at home and where students become prepared to engage with our dynamic, 21st-century world, the Assistant Head of School for Diversity, Inclusion, and Anti-Racism works closely with the Diversity and Inclusion team of faculty to help our faculty and staff work to affirm the identity of every student and family. This key role also connects deeply with students and parents. Successful candidates will have experience leading Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) work in schools or other organizations and will have an educational philosophy and a vision that are consistent with Montclair Kimberley Academy’s values.
RESPONSIBILITIES OF ASSISTANT HEAD OF SCHOOL FOR DIVERSITY, INCLUSION, AND ANTI-RACISM •
As a member of MKA’s Administrative Council, leads and serves as an ambassador, articulator, and steward of the school’s mission and vision across all three campuses.
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As the leader of MKA’s Diversity and Inclusion Campus Coordinators, models leadership and leads from a research-informed perspective.
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Amplifies the school’s values connected to ensuring diversity and inclusion in an environment that centers academic excellence and a vision for developing students who demonstrate personal engagement with the world and take responsibility as citizens and leaders.
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Demonstrates commitment to and awareness of educational, physical, social, and psychological needs of the school community and develops plans for meeting those needs with a student-centered approach to DIA-R initiatives.
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Partners with the Head of School to collaborate with the Board of Trustees on DIA-R matters; facilitates and frames the agenda, in collaboration with the Chairperson, for the DEI Board Committee.
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Makes recommendations to the Head of School and to other Administrative Council members regarding the recruitment, hiring, retention, and mentorship of school employees and participates, where practical, in the hiring process.
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Supports the creation and implementation of all-school programs connected to DIA-R initiatives (curricular and co-curricular) to best meet the needs of students, faculty, staff, and families.
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In collaboration with other MKA curricular leaders, cultivates a vision and program for inclusive teaching and learning that is mindful of the unique needs of Pre-K-12 students. •
Understands and articulates data-informed trends in pedagogy and educational practices, particularly as they pertain to DIA-R.
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Serves as a thought partner and collaborator with the three Heads of Campus and the Assistant Head of School for Curriculum and Professional Development to promote cultural competency and other formative learning experiences designed to increase equity and inclusion.
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Collaborates with school leaders to ensure consistency and transparency around discipline, behavior, and school climate opportunities and challenges, and around restorative justice practices; collaborates with school leaders to communicate with students and families around disciplinary opportunities and challenges.
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Fosters trust and serves as a bridge-builder between the school and parents.
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Collaborates with and serves as a thought partner on program and policy to the Admissions Team, the Athletics Department, the Communications Team, and the Development Team.
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Fosters deep relationships throughout the MKA community between students, alumni, faculty, and staff.
DESIRED QUALITIES •
Empathetic and inspiring educational leader
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Passion for and understanding of Pre-K-12 learning
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Personal and professional commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, and anti-racism and the requisite skillfulness to support student, faculty, and staff growth in this area
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Ability to communicate with clarity in writing and speaking
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Skill in developing trust with various constituencies and deftly navigating sensitive conversations
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Calm confidence that comes from prior leadership experience
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High emotional intelligence and sensitivity to organizational dynamics
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Exceptional organizational and interpersonal skills
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Confidence and humility to advocate for new ideas, invite healthy debate, and welcome and reflect on feedback
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS •
Experience with and enthusiasm for leading inspirational change that deepens community, empowers community members, and nurtures belonging
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Prior experience in designing learning opportunities for students and adults, and in developing strategic programs across grade levels, divisions, or departments
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At least 10 years of experience working in an educational setting
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Evidence of post-collegiate learning and growth connected to Diversity and Inclusion
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Master’s degree preferred
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Prior experience working as a leader in Independent Schools a plus
TO APPLY By February 11, 2022, interested candidates should submit materials as separate PDF attachments in one email to: Cristina Junquera Executive Assistant to the Head of School cjunquera@mka.org 973.509.7935 Submissions must include the following: • Cover letter expressing how your experience has prepared you for this leadership position • Current résumé • Statement of educational philosophy and practice • List of five references, including the name, phone number, and email address of each (references will be contacted only with the candidate’s permission) It is MKA’s policy to provide equal employment opportunity to all qualified persons regardless of age, race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, socio-economic background, or disability not related to the requirements for being a successful employee at MKA.