Woodberry Forest School Woodberry Forest, Virginia Chaplain & Assistant to the Head for Student Wellness July 2018 www.woodberry.org
The Position Woodberry Forest School is an exceptional independent boarding school that has been preparing boys to succeed in college and life since 1889. While the School’s campus and curriculum have evolved significantly in the 128 years since its founding, the School’s commitment to its mission has never wavered. This mission begins with the stated intent to:
FAST FACTS Founded: 1889 Location: Central Virginia Type: All-boys boarding Grades Served: 9-12 Total Enrollment: 398 Total Faculty: 62 Student-Teacher Ratio: 6:1 % of Students of Color: 15% % Faculty w/ Adv. Degree: 56% Campus Size: 1,200 acres Newest Building: Kenan Hall (2015) Endowment: $240 M Fin. Aid Awards 2017-18: $5.9 M % Students w/ Fin. Aid: 43%
VISION Since the school’s founding in 1889, Woodberry Forest has sought to develop young men of intellectual thoroughness and principled integrity equipped with the capacity and eagerness to serve as leaders, learners, and citizens. Consistent with the historical founding of the school on Christian principles, we aspire to instill in every boy a deep sense of empathy, an enduring selfconfidence buttressed by genuine humility, and an enthusiastic pursuit of life-long learning marked by curiosity and adaptability. Above all, we aim for every boy to enjoy a meaningful life by nurturing his commitment to act upon moral beliefs and ethical values in service to others.
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“…develop in its students, under Christian principles, a high sense of honor and moral integrity, a deep respect for sound scholarship, a full acceptance of responsibility, a love of excellence, and a will toward personal sacrifice in service to others.” Woodberry Forest School was founded upon Christian principles, and this legacy underpins all aspects of the School’s educational program and community culture. Though it has no formal ties to a specific church or denomination, the School offers a wealth of resources and opportunities for members of its close-knit community to explore, engage with, and grow in their faith. The School’s defining honor system, character education, and emphasis on serving others further reflect the spiritual heritage and values that make Woodberry Forest such a special place to learn, live, and grow. Woodberry Forest School now seeks candidates to fulfill the newly envisioned role of Chaplain and Assistant to the Headmaster for Student Wholeness in the school community. The position, to start in summer 2018, is an exceptional opportunity for a faith leader to join a warm educational atmosphere in which character education and spiritual growth is held in as high regard as academic rigor.
The School Woodberry Forest School originated on a farm once owned by the family of former President James Madison. In 1889, Captain Robert S. Walker, a Civil War veteran, hired a tutor to come to his home and educate his six sons. Before long, neighborhood boys had joined them in their studies and a school was established. The Woodberry Forest School of today provides nearly 400 boys in grades
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9 through 12 with a challenging academic curriculum, extensive athletic programs, and a range of social and cultural activities. All students as well as more than 90% of faculty reside on campus at Woodberry Forest. This fosters a warm, familial environment conducive to developing young men of strong moral character. Essential to sustaining this healthy community is the School’s century-old honor system. This most honored tradition was born in 1899 when students asked that they be wholly trusted to uphold the School’s standards for ethical behavior. Less a rigid set of rules than a fundamental way of life, the Woodberry Forest honor system prohibits lying, cheating, and stealing. The goal of the honor system is cultural—aiming to create a residential and learning environment characterized by implicit trust. At Woodberry Forest, a boy is taken at his word. Treated seriously across the community, the honor system shapes the overall atmosphere at the School, as evidenced by the backpacks, skateboards, and iPads left unattended all over campus. All parents are also provided with a copy of the “Orange Book,” a guide to the system’s key tenets. A college preparatory institution, Woodberry Forest’s academics are grounded in the liberal arts. Faculty require intellectual rigor and place a greater emphasis on how their students think rather than what they think. In addition to core studies in English, history, science, mathematics, and foreign language, Woodberry boys also have the opportunity to expand their purview in a wide variety of elective courses ranging from the fine arts to computer science. Learning at Woodberry Forest means debating issues with teachers and classmates. With a student-teacher ratio of 6:1, students feel comfortable taking intellectual risks and expressing opinions. And, recognizing that boys inherently learn and develop differently from girls, faculty at Woodberry Forest are highly focused on meeting the specific needs of adolescent males, preparing them to become successful leaders in business, public service, and non-profit sectors as well as active and informed contributors to society. Every graduate of Woodberry Forest School goes on to pursue higher learning at a four-year institution, and many matriculate at the nation’s most selective colleges and universities.
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Woodberry Forest places great emphasis on community service as a part of ensuring the development of strong character in its students. Every student is required to complete a minimum of 60 hours of community service prior to graduation, 30 of which must be in direct contact with the individual(s) benefitting from his service. The School strongly encourages boys to complete their service requirements during summer breaks, when they can engage more deeply in one or two immersive projects. This approach not only helps boys to manage the demands of their other obligations during the school year, but also fosters a more meaningful and impactful community service experience overall. Beyond adherence to the honor system and completion of community service requirements, Woodberry Forest students also encounter lessons in empathy through overseas travel, via the School’s exceptional international studies program. Woodberry Forest offers summer study abroad programs in Central America, China, England (Oxford), Scotland, and Spain. Boys also have the opportunity to spend a trimester studying in South Africa through formal student exchange programs with three distinguished boys’ boarding schools there. Rounding out Woodberry Forest’s preparatory program are outstanding arts and athletics. The athletics program welcomes students of all ability levels to participate in one or more of the numerous sports offered at the School, which include traditional team sports (baseball, basketball, soccer, golf, football, squash, lacrosse, tennis, wrestling, track and field, swimming) as well as outdoor recreation activities (indoor climbing, mountain biking, skeet, hiking, kayaking, etc.). Students not only develop their athletic skill and an appreciation for healthy competition, but they also learn more about themselves, building confidence, humility, personal grit, and leadership skills. Likewise, student growth is fostered in a robust fine arts program. Visual arts at Woodberry Forest incudes 2D and 3D studio art, photography, digital filmmaking, woodworking, and printmaking; courses are taught by professional artists and culminate with a year-end student art exhibit. Performing Arts at Woodberry Forest includes main stage and black box experiential performance as well as improvisation, directing, and public speaking; the School puts on three productions each year. The music program, which is divided into instrumental and vocal departments, offers multiple performance opportunities throughout the year. Students can hone their skills in jazz and pipe band, string and wind ensembles, the School’s a cappella group, or in Chapel Choir and Consort. Woodberry Forest School is accredited by the Southern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS) as well as the Virginia Association of Independent Schools (VAIS).
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SPIRITUAL LIFE Embedded within the mission of Woodberry Forest School is the belief that the spiritual life is essential to the health of the school community. Woodberry Forest School requires all students to complete at least one course in Biblical studies and considers a part of their educational obligation to instill in every student a respect for all things sacred. Boys and faculty members attend a required chapel service each Monday evening. The service has traditionally included two hymns, a choral anthem or other special music, a psalm, two scripture readings, a sermon, and prayers. Saint Andrew’s Chapel is not only a place of quiet contemplation and worship, but a hub for chapel-sponsored activities throughout the school year. These include weekly Christian fellowship meetings, Bible study, communion services on Wednesdays, and Holy Day services. Students, faculty, and the surrounding community are welcome to attend lectures from visiting speakers at various times during the school year. The Religion Department at Woodberry Forest recognizes the interdisciplinary impact of religion as an academic discipline, noting its influence on history, literature, art, philosophy, politics, and international relations. The goal of the religious studies curriculum at Woodberry Forest is to educate students about the Bible as a spiritual, literary, and historical text, as well as to provide them with foundational understanding of other major world religions. The Chaplain leads both weekly and special services for the entire community. Talks are also underway on campus about the creation of more purposeful initiatives that support and embrace the holistic health and well-being of Woodberry students; the Chaplain will likely be the convenor and initiator of envisioning and overseeing the implementation of such initiatives.
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STUDENTS The student body at Woodberry Forest is comprised of a group of capable, motivated, and diverse young men from 23 states and 17 countries. Nineteen percent of new students this year are students of color, and 11% are international students. Most boys are admitted into ninth and tenth grades, though a few join in eleventh grade. Students in all grades live on campus, fostering a special residential culture that alumni readily reflect upon and cherish for years beyond graduation. Woodberry boys are seldom bored, with a wide array of activities on and off-campus, a diverse list of clubs to join, social events to attend, and close friends to share in the experience. They benefit from the holistic guidance they receive from teachers and coaches, the vast majority of whom live on campus and who serve as dorm parents. Faculty, spouses, and even their children become like family to students as well.
FACULTY The key to Woodberry’s outstanding academic program is its 62 highly accomplished and respected faculty. Each brings a wide range of educational and life experiences to the classroom and the community at large. All value the strong sense of campus community, the shared commitment to traditional values, and the broader opportunity to have an impact on students’ lives that a boarding school environment enables. At Woodberry Forest, teachers have access to a multitude of opportunities for professional development, including a sabbatical program. Indeed, faculty have cited the availability of ample resources and autonomy in the classroom as among the chief advantages of working at Woodberry Forest. Earnest and engaged students only further those rewards.
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PHYSICAL CAMPUS & LOCATION Woodberry Forest School occupies a lush, 1,200-acre campus overlooking the Blue Ridge Mountains and partially bordered by the Rapidan River. Situated in the heart of Virginia, the setting is peacefully secluded while also being just a short drive from Charlottesville, Richmond, and Washington, DC. The campus, exquisitely maintained and beautiful, includes state-of-the-art facilities and technology for academic, athletic, and artistic endeavors. Approaching the central campus, hills give way to tree-lined walkways and Georgian and neoclassical buildings. The campus is dotted with dormitories and faculty housing and presided over by the Headmaster’s house, a national historic landmark designed by Thomas Jefferson. Woodberry Forest has one of the finest prep school athletic complexes in the nation, featuring two synthetic fields; Johnson Stadium for football and lacrosse; a nine-court climate-controlled squash pavilion; and eight-lane, NCAA-caliber track and Bermuda grass field. The Harry Barbee Jr. Center houses a 200-meter indoor track, three basketball courts, and a six-lane swimming pool. The Dick Gymnasium, a historic building, is home to the basketball team, an indoor climbing gym, locker rooms, the training room, and the Reily Wrestling Center and Glover Center (a fitness facility). Woodberry also has a regulation nine-hole golf course, seven full-size fields, two baseball diamonds, 14 tennis courts, an outdoor pool, and cross-country courses where the state meet is often hosted. Outdoor education at Woodberry is equally outfitted, with a seven-mile perimeter trail and access to the Rapidan River, where many boys go to relax, explore, fish, cook out, and hang out with friends. Boys also have the opportunity to participate in rock climbing and hiking through the outdoor program, both on campus at the school’s Alpine Tower and in nearby Shenandoah National Park. Beyond the School’s campus, the region is rich in natural beauty and history. Dotted with picturesque towns, farms, and vineyards, the area produces ample beef, grain, and dairy products, as agriculture remains a dominant industry and economic driver. The Shenandoah National Park and Appalachian Trail, along with the Blue Ridge peaks, offer superb hiking and climbing with stunning views. As home to five American presidents, Central Virginia’s rich history—along with its beautiful scenery—attracts a diverse group of academics, creative artists, investors, and retirees who are ever enhancing the character of the area.
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Challenges & Opportunities The new Chaplain and Assistant to the Headmaster for Student Wholeness will have the opportunity to shape the programmatic life of the Chapel, and also to develop fresh and timely initiatives to educate and support students in the wellness and well-being of the whole person. The Chaplain will be expected to provide pastoral care for all students and to develop purposeful programs geared toward enhancing student well-being. The new Chaplain will explore new ways to engage students and the community in attending not only to their spiritual life but also to their overall well-being, in concert with the Dean of Students, the school counselor, and the school nurse. The Chaplain teaches classes in The Bible and will report directly to the Headmaster.
Desired Qualities & Qualifications The successful candidate will possess the following skills, experiences, and characteristics:
• Experience in designing and leading worship services for the community; • Ability to lead initiatives in collaboration with others such as the Dean of Students, school counselor, and school nurse to further student well-being and wholeness;
• Comfort engaging actively with individuals in pastoral conversations to provide support, • • • • • •
care, and nurture; Willingness to provide the ministry of presence to all students, families, and faculty in times of need; Earned recognition as a trusted resource for insight, inspiration, hope, and faith; The ability to identify and value the potential in students and the community; Humility; Sense of humor; M. Div. degree and ordination preferred.
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How to Apply Interested candidates should submit the following materials as separate PDF attachments in one email: • Cover letter expressing interest in the Chaplain and Assistant to the Headmaster for Student Wellness position at Woodberry Forest School; • Current résumé; • Statement of educational philosophy and practice; • List of 5 references with name, phone number, and e-mail address of each to:
Marguerite Lloyd
Senior Search Consultant marguerite.lloyd@carneysandoe.com
Carney, Sandoe & Associates 200 High Street, Suite 610 Boston MA 02110 www.carneysandoe.com
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MISSION STATEMENT The purpose of the school is to develop in its students, under Christian principles, a high sense of honor and moral integrity, a deep respect for sound scholarship, a full acceptance of responsibility, a love of excellence, and a will toward personal sacrifice in service to others. It is likewise its mission, based on these ideals, to develop its students into leaders, to train its students toward a useful contribution to the democratic society in which they live, and to give them thorough preparation for the best colleges and universities consistent with their individual potentials. The abiding concern of Woodberry Forest School is the personal growth of its students. To this end, the school attempts to provide a broad experience with balanced emphasis on the academic, artistic, physical, and spiritual development of its students. In so doing, the school believes that wellconceived challenges, together with support and encouragement, will instill self-confidence and a striving for continuing excellence throughout life. Woodberry Forest is committed to helping students become individuals whose sense of values and capacity to reason effectively will allow them to deal with important intellectual, ethical, and social problems and to lead rewarding private lives. In keeping with this objective, the faculty is more concerned with teaching students how to think than what to think. As a community, the school fosters an atmosphere of civility and cooperation, urging its members to treat one another with the respect and consideration they hope to receive in return. The underpinning of that effort is the honor system, which is a way of life that is fundamental to the decency of the Woodberry Forest community. The school seeks to maintain a secure and healthy environment for its students to go about the process of growing and learning, in the hope that every student will come to think of Woodberry Forest as a second home.
Thank you for your interest in Woodberry Forest School!