Head of School Search - Educators Collaborative · MISSION & CORE VALUES Mission The mission of The Providen e ountry Day S hool is to inspire lives of engaged itizenship in an in

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HISTORY

Founded: 1923

Grades: 6–12

Total Enrollment: 225 students Upper School: 180 students Middle School: 45 students

Communities: 45+ communities in south eastern New England plus a vibrant international Population

Average Class Size: 12 students

Campus Size: 31.5 acres (including 10-acre Living Classroom forest)

Number of Faculty: 36

Number of Alumni: 4,015

Students Receiving Financial Aid: 40%

Affiliations: NAIS, NEASC, AISNE, SSATB, ISARI

PCD At A Glance

660 Waterman Ave | East Providence, RI | providencecountryday.org

The Providence Country Day School Head of School Search

660 Waterman Ave | East Providence, RI Applications Due: October 31, 2018 Independent Day School: Co-ed For July 1, 2019

In 1923 a group of business leaders, educators, and parents set out to establish a college-preparatory school in a rural setting. They wanted to provide area students with the advantages of a boarding school campus but afford them the additional benefits of a day school. The Sweetland Farm in East Providence offered the perfect location to bring their vision to fruition, and though the physical layout of the school has evolved over the ensuing years, the “farm” remains the center of the PCD campus today. Initially a small all-boys middle and high school, PCD was able to successfully navigate its commitment to becoming a coeducational institution thanks to a strict adherence to its founding principles. In 1991 the school admitted its first female students. Coinciding with the school's demographic shift was a geographic shift: in 1997, PCD completed an extensive campus consolidation and building project, in which two historic buildings, Metcalf and Chace Halls (1927) were moved to the east side of campus and renovated. At the same time Murray House opened as the new administration building, and the Moran Annex was added to the West Field House, providing greatly expanded and improved athletic facilities.

MISSION & CORE VALUES

Mission The mission of The Providence Country Day School is to inspire lives of engaged citizenship in an inclusive community that values the unique strengths of all students. By setting high standards for academic achievement, ethical behavior, and community participation, PCD empowers students to grow with confidence and prepare for a lifetime of learning and leadership to meet the challenges of an ever-changing world.

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Core Values COMMITMENT & PARTICIPATION Individual commitment and active participation are the personal contributions that open doors to confidence and competence. Growth is the triumphant result of surpassing one’s own expectations. DIVERSITY Diversity is the wealth of our community. When we embrace the many perspectives among us, we are enriched with an increased cultural awareness and sense of belonging. HARD WORK Persistence and hard work are essential ingredients for success in all areas of personal growth and achievement. HONESTY Honesty is the foundation of our community. Our strength is secured by trust, and that trust grows through truth in actions and words.

INTELLECTUAL CURIOSITY Intellectual curiosity is the spark that drives us toward academic excellence. RESPECT Respect—for oneself, for others, for ideas and for property—is the vital connection that makes every individual a valued member of our community. TEAMWORK Shared experiences and teamwork embody the interdependence of each member of our school and fulfill our potential as a dynamic community of learners.

PROGRAM

To succeed in being a lifelong learner is to succeed as a life-long questioner who embraces a sense of wonder and curiosity about the world. Accordingly, Provi-dence Country Day faculty press for questions as much as answers. PCD champions independent learning and diverse aptitudes and presents a vision of the world as a boundless, ever-changing and provocative place. They strive for balance and ask their students to do the same.

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A PCD education builds thinkers, innovators and creators by providing: A college prep academic curriculum designed to secure a broad knowledge

base across multiple disciplines, help students discover and develop their unique strengths, foster self-advocacy and independent learning, and devel-op a strong sense of character;

A robust multi-media arts curriculum that gives students tools for self-discovery and expression;

An athletic program that challenges both seasoned travel members and first time teammates, while giving everyone a place to belong;

An annual community curriculum that brings all students and faculty together to explore relevant and meaningful topics and appreciate our differences;

A service program that empowers students to understand their place in the world and their capacity to make it a better place.

Middle School The Middle School (grades 6–8) at Providence Country Day introduces students to a world of possibilities. The small size and collaborative environment empowers and nurtures students at this critical stage in their development.

Inquiry and intellectual curiosity drive much of the challenging curriculum, which provides a solid foundation for college-preparatory work in our high school program. While classroom focus is on the traditional subjects and the arts, experiential and interdisciplinary learning is a hallmark of the Middle School program. We take advantage of frequent out-of-classroom opportunities, to connect the subject matter with relevant, real-world experiences and foster creative thinking. Middle School faculty are both academic leaders and mentors who inspire students not only to pursue deeper levels of understanding, but also to work

cooperatively and see themselves as part of a team of problem solvers. Like the faculty members who also serve as advisors, coaches, and role models, students are challenged to take risks both in and out of the classroom and are called to lead the school's numerous initiatives in community service, the arts, athletics, and student government. As a result, the opportunities for positive intellectual and character growth are abundant in the Middle School, and students emerge as confident, well-rounded individuals who eagerly embrace future challenges.

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Upper School Providence Country Day’s Upper School (grades 9–12) is abundant with opportunities. Through active participation across all areas of school life, students develop the tools needed to meet high expectations for leadership both in and out of the classroom.

The vigorous college prep curriculum builds on our rigorous academics from the Middle School program. The Upper School Program is designed to inspire, challenge, encourage, and support all students, wherever they are in their unique educational journeys. With four years of rich course work available in each discipline, including a wide range of honors and AP courses, students will focus on the traditional disciplines as well as on the arts, with opportunities for both breadth and depth of study. Faculty challenge students to learn not only how to answer questions but also how to ask them—translating curiosity into inquiry. Because it is the close

relationship between teacher and student that drives the best work we do, there are diverse opportunities for this contact to develop: through our small classes, the advisor system, extra help time and the roles many teachers assume as coaches and club advisors. As a result, Upper School students emerge as confident, engaged participants, who enliven our core values in their roles as leaders in the classroom, student government, the arts, extracurricular activities, and athletics. Students go forth from PCD as independent learners and thinkers, with the skills and practice to be resourceful, ethical innovators in both new and familiar settings.

ARTS

Middle School Arts Sixth through eighth graders benefit from a wide range of visual and performing arts opportunities. Performing artists enjoy choral, instrumental, and musical theory instruction, as well as numerous performance and publication opportunities.

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The consistency and breadth of the program lay the foundation for a lifetime of participation in and appreciation for the arts. Students attend regular music classes, participate in chorus, perform in the Middle School Band (supported by instrumental music classes), and take part in the annual musical theater production. As a part of their daily schedule, PCD Middle School musicians have the opportunity to take their musical studies to new heights through our unique relationship with the Rhode Island Philharmonic Music School.

Upper School Arts Once students enter the Upper School, opportunities to engage in the arts are abundant—for the committed studio artist, the fledgling, stage-frightened thespian and everyone in between. PCD students are nationally recognized, award winning musicians and artists, and they are brave explorers—learning a new language on a piece of sheet music and getting their hands dirty for the first time at a potter’s wheel. A full range of visual and performing arts opportunities keeps the creative juices

flowing and gives students multiple outlets for self-expression. PCD’s media-driven Upper School visual arts department offers introductory and advanced instruction in painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, computer graphics, printmaking, and design. Students can choose to focus on a specific discipline, working toward advanced studio/portfolio preparation classes in their senior year; or they might find unexpected success as they venture into

completely new territory. The arts at PCD call in equal measure to every student, as each finds different means of self expression and increases his/her understanding and appreciation of the expression of others.

ATHLETICS

PCD's athletic program is grounded in the principle set forth by the school's first Head, Charles Breed, who said, "no one is a sideliner here." As in all as-pects of school life, it is the full participation of everyone in our community that makes it strong. With an athletic requirement that supports both com-petitive and instructional levels of play, we put a premium on athletic partici-pation and find that everyone, both the sports-inclined and those who are not, relishes being a member of a PCD team.

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Participation in organized sports or physical education is required throughout a student's career at PCD. The choices each season are broad, enabling students to pursue their current interests, develop new interests, and compete at their highest level of ability. The Athletic Department provides students with the opportunity to develop their physical, mental, and competitive skills to their fullest potential. Under the direction of experienced coaches, students increase not only technical knowledge of their sport, but also their communication, interpersonal, and leadership skills.

GOVERNANCE AND FINANCES

Providence Country Day School is governed by a 19-member Board of Trustees. It has an annual operating budget of $7 million and an endowment of $1.9 million.

Standing board committees include the executive committee, campus improvements, development, nominations & governance, and finance. Other committees are formed on an ad hoc basis as needed. The board meets twice per year in person and three additional times per year. This accommodates remote participation and allows for national board membership.

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The Board of Trustees of Providence Country Day School is conducting a national search to identify a new Head of School. Deirdre Ling, partner in Educators’ Collaborative, solicited input from key stakeholders during an on-campus visit. Based on this experience and the impressions she received, as well as input from the Search Committee, the following represents a summary of PCD’s strengths, the challenges it faces in the next three to five years, and the qualities and skills the trustees and the School seek in their next Head of School.

Strengths of Providence Country Day School a beautiful campus with proximity to the educational and cultural

opportunities of the City of Providence an inquiry-based learning approach across all disciplines ensuring that

both content and assessments are student-centered, relevant and meaningful

a dedicated faculty—passionate about their respective disciplines who establish close and caring relationships with their students

a collaborative and well-respected leadership team a supportive parent body and Board of Trustees

Challenges for Providence Country Day School and the New Head safeguarding the strong sense of community and relationships between

faculty and students preserving and maintaining the school’s beautiful and well-maintained

campus recruiting and retaining students in the face of a declining demographic

and keen competition with other educational and athletic options in the area

recruiting and retaining an outstanding faculty as teachers retire and transition out

continuing to refine and articulate the unique identity of the school and the value of its program in pursuit of a higher profile vis-à-vis the competition

building endowment toward the goal of long-term financial sustainability

Qualities and Skills of the Next Head of School a charismatic, visionary and inspiring educator conversant with best practices

in independent education for the 21st century, across the spectrum, but especially for grades 6 – 12

an eloquent communicator, both orally and in writing, who will be a dynamic spokesperson for the school

a community builder both internally and externally—reaching out into the greater Providence area to forge educational partnerships on behalf of the school.

a manager with business acumen who is frugal and financially savvy a leader who has either proven experience cultivating and asking for

resources or the personal disposition to learn how to do so

FUTURE LEADERSHIP OF THE SCHOOL

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Candidates interested in this position are asked to submit the following materials: EC Candidate Summary Sheet (Contact Deirdre for that document) Cover letter addressed to the Search Committee Resume Statement of educational philosophy A list of five or more references with contact information (including phone

numbers and email addresses) Up to three letters of reference may be submitted. (This is optional) Application materials are to be sent, electronically via email, as a single WORD document to:

Deirdre Ling, Partner, Educators’ Collaborative, LLC [email protected]

Candidates are encouraged to speak personally with Deirdre Ling (508-423-1605). During the fall of 2018, the Search Committee plans to identify a preliminary list of candidates whom they will interview. From this group, they will narrow the selection of candidates down to those who will be invited to the school for fur-ther interviews. The Board of Trustees expects to reach a decision and appoint a new Head of School by the end of the calendar year or sooner, with the term of office to commence on or about July 1, 2019. Salary and benefits are competitive. Providence Country Day School is an equal opportunity employer.

SUMMARY OF THE SEARCH PROCESS

Documents

Head of School Search - Educators Collaborative · MISSION & CORE VALUES Mission The mission of The Providen e ountry Day S hool is to inspire lives of engaged itizenship in an in