The Pine Schoolhobe Sound, Florida

head oF SchoolJuly 2017

www.ThePineSchool.org

The PoSiTionThe Pine School in Hobe Sound, Florida seeks a Head of School to lead a thriving community of 363 engaged students, 68 dedicated and inspiring teachers, highly professional administrators, and a committed Board of Trustees. The next Head of School will be asked to become an active and visible participant in The Pine School community and will be charged with the continued growth and enhancement of all aspects of the School.

Founded in 1969, The Pine School is a co-educational, independent, college preparatory day school enrolling students from Kindergarten through Grade 12. The academically rigorous curriculum is balanced with strong arts and athletics programs and the student body is culturally, racially, and ethnically diverse. The Pine School provides an excellent college preparatory program within the context of a warm, family-oriented community. Hobe Sound offers the best of small-town living with the cosmopolitan amenities of the Palm Beaches only 30 miles to the south.

School hiSToryIn the 46 years since the School first opened its doors, The Pine School has undergone a number of purposeful

name changes in an effort to communicate clearly and effectively its emerging identity within the independent school community. Known as The Pine School at its inception, the institution changed its name in 1975 to St. Michael’s School and became affiliated with the Episcopal Diocese of Southeast Florida. In 1994, the Board renamed the School, adding the word “independent” to the School’s name and ending the Episcopal affiliation. In 2006, the School returned to its original name of The Pine School to honor its roots and clarify its non-denominational identity. Today, the School is non-sectarian in both belief and practice.

From the beginning, one of the School’s goals has been to establish learning habits that will carry students through their multiple endeavors into college and adult life. Until 2005, The Pine School served students on their Lower Campus in Stuart, Florida. In the fall of that year, inspired by Florida’s booming economy and growing population, the School added a ninth grade class of 30 students. In February 2007, the School opened its magnificent new 143-acre Upper School campus in Hobe Sound, twenty minutes south of the original Stuart campus. At that time, both the middle and upper school communities moved to the new, state-of-the-art facility. The expansion of the School was marked by tremendous excitement and eager anticipation. The new offerings at the School’s second campus have allowed The Pine School to build a rigorous and comprehensive college preparatory program.

The most recent transformation is the consolidation of the entire school this past fall to the Hobe Sound

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Mission StatementThe mission of The Pine School is to promote academic excellence within a challenging, supportive, and moral environment that fosters the development of mind, body, and spirit.

Curriculum Philosophy Statement

The Pine School curriculum, with an appreciation of the past, cultivates curiosity within the mind, fostering joy in learning. Honing the capacity for critical and open intellectual inquiry, we ask questions and seek answers; challenge assumptions and make judgments and conclusions supported by logic and evidence. A Pine School student has a window to the world through a curriculum that combines intellectual challenge with a commitment to social responsibility.

campus. Having the School on one campus has enabled Pine to create a stronger sense of community, increase conversations among teachers across grades, and foster new opportunities for Pine’s older students to play a meaningful role in the lives of students in the Lower School.

The School Situated on a beautiful 143-acre campus on the eastern coast of Florida, the School stimulates and develops the full potential of each child – intellectually, emotionally, socially, physically, and morally. While academically rigorous, The Pine School presents a close-knit, nurturing school community that focuses on individualized instruction and open, caring relationships between students and faculty.

Through a strong traditional curriculum and a wide array of opportunities outside the classroom, students are encouraged to become self-reliant, critical thinkers as well as responsible, engaged citizens. The School’s culture at all times strives to model and instill in students that such core values as respect, responsibility, honor, and equality are compatible with the accomplishment of their personal goals. Graduates matriculate to many of the nation’s most competitive colleges and universities.

The Pine School is accredited by the Florida Council of Independent Schools (FCIS), Advanced Ed, and is a member of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS).

academicS and co-curricular ProgramS

The academic courses and co-curricular programs offered by the School have been designed with an eye toward challenging each student to develop into the best scholar, athlete, artist, and person that he or she can be. The curriculum for each grade and subject is structured to meet the needs of students at that age and stage

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of development, based on the latest brain research. Small classes enable teachers to give students personal attention and to engage all learners fully in every class session. It is the strong belief of The Pine School’s faculty and administration that every child can learn, but every child learns differently.

From Kindergarten through the Upper School, students are engaged in academics, multicultural studies, technology, sports, and athletics. They become skilled at public speaking and collaborative learning. The core of the program is a strong, traditional platform of reading instruction, writing, and mathematics. Learning specialists are available to students who need additional assistance in mastering basic skills and concepts; it is also available to students who are advanced beyond the curriculum in certain areas.

In the Lower School, a nurturing environment introduces basic academic skills enriched by computer usage and foreign language. French and Spanish are offered to students in Kindergarten through 12th grade. In the upper grades, a challenging program promotes intellectual discipline, self-discovery, and creative thinking. School uniforms across divisions provide consistency and convenience, helping students focus on the more fundamental aspects of their own development.

Building upon the well-rounded foundation provided in the lower grades, Upper School students choose from a full range of academic courses, including English, math, history, science, foreign language and fine arts. Accelerated classes at the honors level are available to students who wish to challenge themselves with more advanced scholastic material, and 19 Advanced Placement courses are available

aT a glance

Graduates of The Pine School were recently accepted at the following colleges and universities, among others:

• American University• Boston College• Brandeis University• Carnegie Mellon University• Case Western Reserve Univ.• Colby College• College of Charleston• Dartmouth College• Davidson College• Duke University• Elon University• Emory University• Franklin and Marshall College• Furman University• Gettysburg College• Johns Hopkins University• McGill University• Middlebury College• New College of Florida• New York University• Pepperdine University• Quinnipiac University• Reed College• Rice University• Savannah Coll. of Art & Design• Sewanee: Univ. of the South• Skidmore College• Stanford University• Stetson University• Swarthmore College• Syracuse University• The American Univ. of Paris• Tulane University• U.S. Air Force Academy• University of Chicago• University of Notre Dame• University of Virginia• Vanderbilt University• Williams College• Yale University

across the curriculum. Students also choose from an extensive selection of clubs and extracurricular activities. More than a dozen groups and activities are available at present, with more being offered as enrollment grows. From Debate to Jazz Ensemble to Beta Club, leadership opportunities abound, particularly for those students with the initiative to organize new activities that spark their interests. Beautiful arts and sports facilities on the new campus make it possible to offer 16 varsity sports and six performing ensembles.

The best place to find detailed descriptions for every grade and department is on the School’s comprehensive website, www.thepineschool.org. Character education, service learning, co-curricular activities, and off-campus education are described in depth.

FaciliTieS, SeTTing, and locaTion

The Pine School is located in Martin County on the east coast of Florida, approximately 30 minutes north of West Palm Beach. The rolling, wooded terrain of the campus includes a 68-acre nature preserve and lake.

Located in one of the richest ecological areas in the county, the entire campus is an environmental oasis where students can study and explore in a hands-on setting. State-of-the-art facilities include 28 classrooms nestled in “pods” for humanities, arts, and sciences. The campus is equipped with computers, wireless connectivity, and Smartboard technology, a multi-media center, three science labs, and an Apple TV.

There are also two basketball/volleyball courts, a weight room, two lacrosse and soccer fields, an outdoor recreational area for basketball and tennis, art and performing arts areas, and a full service dining hall.

For the third consecutive year, The Pine School has been named a “Green School of Quality.” While the School is committed to ensuring that fully 45 acres of the campus will be left in its natural state—housing gopher tortoises and Indian middens—future plans for the site include the possible addition of tennis courts, an aquatic center, or additional athletic fields for the School and greater community.

STudenTS

The Pine School students are a thoughtful, engaged, and diverse group of learners. Because the School has such a close-knit, family atmosphere, most of the students have grown up together as they moved through the grades into the relatively new Upper School. Inherently a family school, The Pine School admits students with a range of learning styles and abilities.

The Pine School embraces diversity. Individuals receiving financial aid represent 30% of the greater student body. A program that brings international students to study at Pine has further increased the School’s diversity and global perspective.

Students in all divisions at The Pine School are taught to take responsibility for themselves and their work. They are also taught to care for one another, infusing the campus with strong feelings of camaraderie and community as older students watch out for younger ones. A U-Knight program pairs students from all grades

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for a variety of activities. In the Ambassador Program, returning students extend a warm and friendly welcome to new students and “show them the ropes.”

FaculTy

Members of The Pine School faculty are leaders in their fields, recruited locally and globally for their abilities, accomplishments, dedication, and creativity. Numbering 68 faculty in all with 39 full-time teachers, 52% of the faculty holds advanced degrees (master’s degrees or special training). The Pine School’s faculty is known for its closeness, its attentiveness to students and to one another, and its loyalty and commitment to the School. The next Head will want to ensure that future faculty and administrative hires are of the highest possible quality.

FinanceS and develoPmenT

The School’s finances have been carefully and strategically managed in recent years. With an annual budget of $6.7 million, the School allocates $900K in financial aid. The School’s long-term debt is $6.4 million.

Philanthropic support, a longstanding factor at Pine, has been increasing in total dollars raised and in significance. With $5.15 million raised toward the goal of $7 million, the uKnight campaign is raising funds to support the construction of a new performing arts stage and multipurpose facility at the School. The plan, which includes the addition of fine arts classrooms and expanded gym space, will be critical to ensuring that The Pine School is able to grow and flourish in coming years.

The School has also experienced success raising funds for an endowment, reaching $1.84 million of its $2 million goal. The School also raised an additional $659,000 last year through a variety of means, including the Annual Fund.

board oF TruSTeeS

The Board is a working board comprised of 17 highly dedicated individuals from a broad range of professional backgrounds and interests. Its committees—Executive, Governance, Development, Finance, and Buildings & Grounds —provide a sound basis of support for the Head of School and the well being of the institution. The trustees are current parents, community leaders, and alumni/ae parents whose purpose is to partner with the Head to ensure that The Pine School helps current and future students to thrive in college and in life.

hobe Sound, FloridaHobe Sound, a small seaside community on Florida’s Atlantic Coast, is located just north of the Palm Beaches, and south of Stuart and Port St. Lucie. To the east, the Indian River separates Hobe Sound from Jupiter, an island town that attracts tourists to its pristine beaches and golf courses year-round. Also home to Jonathan

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Dickinson State Park and the limestone-studded beaches of Blowing Rocks Preserve, Hobe Sound offers nature lovers and outdoorsy types a wide range of activities and things to explore.

The town’s name derives from Spaniard settlers’ pronunciation of Jobe, or Jove, Indians, who lived in the area. Henry Flagler’s railroad, built at the turn of the 20th century and responsible for most of South Florida’s settlement, passed through Hobe Sound. During a resulting land boom in the 1920s, there was a short-lived attempt to convert Hobe Sound into a Greek-styled town for the production of motion pictures. The plan died out due a hurricane and the subsequent Depression, but Hobe Sound’s Greek street names survived.

Today, approximately 12,000 people reside in Hobe Sound. In addition to the area’s natural beauty, residents enjoy proximity to West Palm Beach and the surrounding areas, which offer ample shopping, dining, and entertainment options. A recent report from Realty Trac named Hobe Sound the #1 beach town based on housing costs, while Stuart, located just 12 miles north, was recently voted #1 on Living Coastal Magazine’s 2016 list of America’s Happiest Seaside Towns.

challengeS and oPPorTuniTieSPine is in its strongest position in the last 10 years. With its founding in 1969 and its relatively recent opening of the high school, Pine is at once a mature school and a young one. In many ways, the next Head will work with the community to complete the founding of the School as a newly reconstituted K-12 school on the Hobe Sound campus. In that role, the Head will work with the School’s leaders to ensure that existing programs are of the highest quality; s/he will also evaluate whether to implement new programs that are consonant with school’s values and able to increase Pine’s distinctive identity in the marketplace.

Enrollment poses a challenge for the next few years. As such, the next Head will help the School to clarify further its identity and communicate it clearly to current and prospective families. Faced with stiff competition from large, public elementary schools, the School must focus on expanding enrollment at the School’s main entry points in particular.

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As a family school, Pine admits students with a wide range of abilities. The next Head will want to clearly define the range of abilities Pine can successfully serve, and ensure that there is sufficient support to enable all students succeed at Pine.

Pine’s location in Hobe Sound provides the School with a spacious, lovely campus that is close to nature—the antithesis of the glitz or glamour often associated with other area schools. The location also poses a challenge for growth, however, as the School often goes unseen and thus unknown to nearby communities. The next Head of School will work with the Board and senior administration to find ways to bring more people to Pine’s campus, and to expand the School’s visibility in communities with families who may be interested in sending their children to Pine. These efforts will require that the Head act as a visible spokesperson and ambassador in the neighborhoods and communities that are important to Pine’s future.

The strong sense of community at The Pine School requires that the next Head establish strong relationships with all constituencies of the School by being a visible presence in the life of the School. The next Head of School will need to maintain clear communications with faculty and staff, parents, and the Board to support the school’s sense of community and a shared purpose.

In order to have the time for the Head to be present in the School community and fulfill all other expectations of the role, the next Head will need to delegate effectively the day-to-day operations of the School to other leaders.

In recent years, Pine has been particularly effective at raising major gifts and encouraging planned gifts. Increasing philanthropic support for the operating budget and the endowment are major priorities for the School. The next Head will play a critical role in the engagement and solicitation of prospective major donors.

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deSired QualiTieS and QualiFicaTionS oF The nexT head oF School

ProFeSSional QualiTieS

The Board of Trustees and The Pine School community are interested in all candidates who possess excellent organizational, strategic, interpersonal, communication, and community-building skills. The most promising candidates will be able to demonstrate most, if not all, of the following:

• Willingness to join The Pine School community as an active and visible presence in the life of the School and the surrounding community.

• A deep understanding of important trends in education and the ability to combine that understanding with an appreciation for Pine’s values, in order to articulate a compelling vision for Pine’s future.

• Ability to think and act strategically about the School’s program, finances, and enrollment. • Effective communication skills to refine and articulate the School’s identity and message, as well as its

policies and procedures, so that organizational structures and strategies are apparent and effective.• Excellent administrative skills with the commitment to delegate appropriately and hold everyone

accountable, serving first as a role model of self-awareness and honest personal evaluation.• A warm, approachable presence that invites and respects the views of others, yet is able to be decisive

when needed. • Ability to work closely and comfortably with the Board of Trustees to build a true partnership in governance

and leadership. • Comfort in and commitment to serving as an active ambassador for the School locally and in Palm Beach

County in support of stronger community relations, admissions, and fund raising. • Understanding of an effective external affairs program, which includes admissions, fundraising, college

placement, and broader community involvement. The successful candidate must be comfortable asking for financial support and have a commitment to developing a culture of philanthropy.

PerSonal QualiTieS

The favored candidate is an approachable, outgoing, energetic, confident person of keen intellect and strong emotional intelligence. S/he will exhibit fine personal values, courage, and deep integrity, and will enjoy developing and guiding The Pine School community. The School will be best matched by a leader with heart—someone with a down-to earth, hands-on style and a sense of humor. The small-town atmosphere in Martin County requires someone who connects easily with parents, teachers, staff, and students, and whose vision and energy unite the community in support of the School.

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To aPPlyInterested and qualified candidates should electronically submit as separate documents— preferably PDFs—in one e-mail, the following materials:

• Cover letter expressing your fit with the values and needs of The Pine School• Current résumé• Statement of educational philosophy and practice • List of five references with names, phone numbers, and email addresses of each to:

bob Fricker | beTh dieTz

bob.fricker@carneysandoe.com | beth.dietz@carneysandoe.comSenior Search Consultants

carney, Sandoe & aSSociaTeS

44 Bromfield Street, Boston, MA 02138www.carneysandoe.com

Search calendarPlease note the following important dates:

• June 26 Applications Due• July 30 Search Update• August 13-14 First Round Interviews• Mid-September Finalists Visit