T C S e , M h S d 2020 - Carney Sandoe & Associates...academic standards. In 2016, TCS launched a 1:1 laptop initiative in grades 6-8, making technology integration even more seamless

The CounTry SChool

eaSTon, Marylandhead of SChool

STarT daTe: July 2020www.CounTrySChool.org

overview

The Country School is an independent, coeducational, Pre-K through eighth grade school founded in 1934. Located on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, The Country School (TCS) has long sustained its reputation for providing a challenging academic program in a nurturing environment focused on educating the whole child.

TCS relies on its exceptional faculty to ensure each student who joins The Country School community has the chance to learn and grow academically, socially, emotionally, and morally. By fostering excellence, developing strong character, valuing diversity, and instilling a lifelong love of learning, TCS enables the growth of confident students who strive to do their best always and realize their highest potential. As a family school serving a range of abilities, The Country School builds fundamental skills and encourages students to be resilient learners and leaders, prepared for an ever-changing world.

Current Head of School Neil Mufson announced his plan to retire at the end of the 2019-2020 school year. June of 2020 will mark Mufson’s 30th year as head of The Country School. At this time, TCS seeks a new Head of School committed to helping young people learn how to learn and, in doing so, opening their own doors of opportunity. Strong candidates will have a demonstrated ability to embrace learning theories and practices that can keep a curriculum dynamic; they will also understand how and why a school is only as strong as the community it builds.

2The Search Group | Carney, Sandoe & Associates [email protected] | www.carneysandoe.com

Fast FactsSchool type: independent, coeducational, Pre-K (opening in 2019)-grade 8 day schoolStudent enrollment: 274 (excluding 20 additional students to start the new Pre-K program)Students identifying as persons of color: 20%Average class size: 16Student to teacher ratio: 9:1Students receiving financial aid: 37%Total faculty: 46Faculty who hold advanced degrees: 72%Average years of faculty experience: 15

MissionThe Country School’s mission is to provide an outstanding academic experience by adhering to simple but powerful basics: small classes, individual attention, and an appropriate level of challenge for each of learner, all in a warm and nurturing family setting.

SChool hiSTory

The Country School was founded in 1934 by a small group of parents who wanted to provide their children with the best possible elementary education. The school began in one room of a private residence with five students, and Mrs. Dorothy E. Startt taught them using the Calvert system. Mrs. Startt set a tone for the school, established a tradition of excellence, and held academic standards high. Subsequently, Mrs. Startt was asked to assume the duties of Headmistress with the founding parents serving as the first Board of Trustees.

During the 1950s, the size of both the student body and physical plant continued to increase. In 1953, 174 students were enrolled and the original section of TCS’s current red brick building, consisting of eight classrooms and a gymnasium, was built in 1959.

In 1994, with student enrollment consistently growing, the school celebrated its 60th anniversary and began an ambitious fundraising campaign to build a new library, renovate and expand facilities, and increase endowment. In 1999, The Country School Values program began.

The School began offering Spanish to Kindergartners, with the number of Spanish classes per week increasing as students progressed through the grades. TCS launched its archery program, thanks to a seventh-grade student who proposed adding the activity to the PE curriculum. In 2014, the School celebrated its 80th birthday with a brand-new website.



The SChool

Every aspect of life at TCS is driven by the ethos of the School: do your best always. This mantra informs everything TCS students do, from interacting with peers and faculty to studying and participating in class. With an average class size of 16, TCS students do not enjoy the luxury of anonymity. Thus, teachers, staff, and families are able to hold students to high standards of academic performance and citizenship and give them the supports necessary to meet those expectations.

The curriculum at The Country School is, in many ways, traditional; however, it still invites faculty to be innovative and develop interdisciplinary connections. TCS teachers are passionate about their subjects, dedicated to student success, and generous with their time and energy. They are themselves lifelong learners who create engaging, challenging, and developmentally appropriate programs.

Those who are part of the TCS community know that relationships are the foundation of daily life. The relationship between student and teacher is, perhaps, the most important at TCS. Teachers know every single one of their students (e.g., their strengths, weaknesses, family life) and use that knowledge to differentiate coursework strategically. By doing so, they bring out the best in those who are struggling, challenge the ones who are excelling, and still connect with kids in the “middle.” At TCS, all children are drawn into being active members of their class, and there are numerous ways in which students can shine. TCS believes that when students feel seen, they will rise to meet expectations.

Diversity and the celebration of diversity play essential roles in the curriculum and school culture at TCS. The School’s Diversity Statement captures why and how diversity is a daily pursuit: The


diversity of our students, families, faculty, trustees, and staff enriches the inclusive and equitable community that is The Country School. We respect all people, recognizing the qualities that make each of us uniquely human, while also embracing our commonalities. The school expects the values of moral courage, empathy, and compassion to guide us all as we strive to foster inclusion, to model flexibility, and to prepare our students for engaged citizenship in a complex and dynamic world.

The Country School holds the following accreditations and memberships: Association of Independent Maryland and DC Schools (AIMS), National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), Elementary School Heads Association (ESHA), and Association of Independent School Admission Professionals (AISAP).

aCadeMiCS

Traditional in content but innovative in pedagogy, the curriculum introduces TCS children to the joys of learning and achievement.

Language ArtsThe language arts program teaches students to read confidently, write effectively, and communicate in an articulate manner. Language arts skills (e.g., grammar, spelling, writing) are taught in every grade daily and are designed to maintain the student’s confidence at his or her ability and performance level. The foundations of reading are taught in Kindergarten through third grade by using a modified whole language approach with a strong emphasis on phonics. From fourth grade through eighth grade, the emphasis is more on content via various type of literature.


MathematicsThe primary goals of the mathematics program are to develop a strong foundation in the basic skills, to acquire sound computational and problem-solving abilities, and to cultivate strong thinking skills. The program honors the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics goals for mathematics education. Kindergarten through fourth grade follows a curriculum provided by Envision Mathematics, which stresses a sequential development of concepts and skills. The Upper School mathematics curriculum is concept driven and exposes students to a broad range of mathematics topics. Math grouping is heterogeneous in the Lower School and grade five, and homogeneous in grades six through eight.

ScienceThe science program is a challenging, structured, well-rounded curriculum that provides a basic understanding of the areas of ecology, earth, life, physical, and health science. The hands-on nature of the program ensures a child-centered approach that stresses following directions, making predictions, assessing results, and drawing conclusions. There are two main objectives of the program: learning to find answers to problems using available resources and testing theories through hands-on activities and laboratory investigation.

Social StudiesIn social studies, students develop problem-solving skills that enable them to explore and investigate their heritage and learn how they fit into a global community. Theme progression through the Lower School includes Me and My World, My School and My Family, My Community, Our Community and Beyond, and Regions of Our Country. Fifth graders explore U.S. history, laying a foundation for deeper investigations of those topics in seventh grade. Sixth graders study ancient cultures, and eighth graders examine historical concepts in modern contexts.

Spanish and LatinSpanish instruction begins in Kindergarten, with classes twice a week. Students use puppets and songs to get comfortable with the new sounds, while playing games and learning about Latin American culture. Throughout, students learn the basics of how to read and write as well as how to speak and understand the oral language. They are exposed to the cultures of Spanish-speaking countries through celebrations, music, and observances of Hispanic traditions such as Día de los Muertos and Las Posadas.

Latin is offered to seventh and eighth graders. Students learn the basics of translation both from Latin to English and from English to Latin. They also explore the massive influence that the Latin language has had on the development of the English language.

TechnologyStudents learn to use technology as a tool for accessing, organizing, and presenting information while developing critical thinking and reasoning skills to solve everyday problems. The program offers a balanced, flexible curriculum that provides a firm foundation in computer basics and literacy. Essential skills in reading, language arts, mathematics and the sciences are reinforced, and learning strategies are explored in an innovative environment. Technology has moved from the “computer lab” to the classroom. Each subject and grade have built into the regular curriculum a variety of technology related projects that allow the use of the latest technology while still meeting traditional academic standards. In 2016, TCS launched a 1:1 laptop initiative in grades 6-8, making technology integration even more seamless.

Writing ProgramThe writing program, which begins in Kindergarten and spans to eighth grade, stresses the importance of following a recursive sequence of brainstorming, thinking and planning, rough drafting, revision,


proofreading, and final composition. In addition to helping students learn to convey their thoughts through concise, effective, and vivid prose and speech, all students are published every year in one of the school’s literary magazines. The Lower School’s print magazine, Cougar Cub, is published twice a year, and the Upper School’s online magazine, Cougar Online, is published four times a year.

Outdoor EducationThe Outdoor Education programs in the Upper School are among the most impactful and celebrated that TCS offers. Fifth graders spend a day in the fall and a day in the spring on the Lady Maryland, a replica of a Chesapeake Bay pungy schooner, which sails as part of the Living Classrooms Foundation’s educational fleet, providing hands-on, multidisciplinary educational programs.

Sixth graders spend two-and-a-half days and two nights at Camp Silver Beach in Jamesville, Virginia; seventh graders spend two-and-a-half days and two nights at Echo Hill Outdoor School where they participate in sensory exploration classes, sleep in canvas platform tents, eat in an outdoor dining hall, and learn in the outdoors. Small, hands-on classes provide opportunities for students to explore the forest, meadows, ponds, streams, swamps, marshes, beaches, fields, farms, towns, and waters of the Chesapeake Bay.

Eighth graders spend three days and two nights at Camp Horizons in the Shenandoah Valley. The Outdoor Learning Center at Horizons offers programs meant to expand and enrich classroom learning opportunities, while offering field-based learning in areas such as geology, environmental studies, biology, archaeology, history, and earth science. Horizons also offers programs focusing on non-traditional learning in areas such as communication, cooperation, decision-making, conflict resolution, self-esteem, trust, and creativity.



viSual arTS and MuSiC

Art genres, various media, and techniques that encourage creative expression in the visual form are integral parts of the TCS curriculum. While creating art is important, the program also emphasizes the development of the children’s awareness of beauty, ability to recognize good quality design, and appreciation of their visual world by studying the elements and principles of art. Students in the Lower School are introduced to a variety of media and techniques, are exposed to great artists and their works, and are encouraged to be self-expressive. In the Upper School, students are involved in a more in-depth study of art appreciation while they are allowed more independence and flexibility in their choices of media and materials.

The music program introduces students to a variety of musical styles, periods, cultures, and forms of musical expression, all while cultivating an awareness, curiosity, and appreciation for music. Students have the opportunity to study music both through performance and music appreciation. Music performance gives students an opportunity to build musicianship and confidence vocally and on a variety of instruments based on age and grade level. As a complement, Music Appreciation gives students an opportunity to build musicianship and confidence through music theory and a concurrent study of musical genres, styles, and eras.

PhySiCal eduCaTion and aThleTiCS

The mission of TCS physical education is to encourage all students to sustain regular, lifelong physical activity as a foundation for a healthy, productive, and fulfilling life. Students are provided with a learning environment that is modified, when necessary, to allow for maximum participation.


The classes can take on many different configurations; for example: some units are divided by gender, some are co-ed, some are based on ability or learning style, and some are for developing cooperative skills or other syllabus goals.

Once students reach Upper School, they have the chance to compete on interscholastic athletic teams that promote physical fitness and skill learning while providing the opportunity to develop positive attitudes through a supportive team experience. Teams are participatory in nature and every 6th-8th grade child who wants to play on a team may do so. In the fall, boys and girls play soccer, girls play field hockey, and golf is offered, including 5th graders as well. In the winter, both boys and girls play basketball, while in the spring they both play lacrosse.

SChool life

Helping Others, Helping Ourselves (HOHO)The HOHO program is a community service effort that involves all TCS students and puts the School’s Diversity Statement into action. The program’s goal is to allow students to become a part of something bigger than themselves, while learning that a part of individual human responsibility is to help others. TCS has seen its HOHO program help students develop greater empathy, learn about long-term commitment, and understand that material goods are not paramount.

To give the HOHO program life, TCS teachers work with their students to identify meaningful service projects. While first graders may visit local preschools and daycares to read to 2- or 3-year-olds, seventh graders visit The Benedictine School to play soccer with its residents. Sixth grade recently helped CarePacks set up and organize its new location, while second grade cleaned up trash in Sailwinds Park. The students take a significant role in shaping each grade level or advisory group’s efforts, and activities are hands-on and ongoing in nature.


Life SkillsLife Skills is a key part of Upper School at TCS; it is candid in nature and a significant piece of TCS’s whole child education. Designed to help students gain insight into their intellectual, social, emotional, and physical growth, the courses build upon the previous grade level and cover a vast array of topics including but not limited to: self-perception, alcohol, tobacco, drugs, mental health, decision making, eating disorders, money matters, violence in media, study skills, and social skills. Students benefit from guest speakers who present on topics such as CPR, smoking and public health, sexual harassment, domestic and dating violence, and reproductive health.

K/8 Buddy ProgramThe Kindergarten/Eighth Grade Buddy Program at The Country School partners an eighth-grade student with a Kindergartener for the school year, helping to cultivate a uniquely cohesive school community. After the first week of school, the eighth graders meet their kindergarten buddies in the front hall in the morning and walk with them to their classroom. Throughout the year, the students work together on holiday projects, read and play together, and enjoy one another’s company at school events such as the Halloween assembly, the holiday breakfast, Grandparents Day performance, and ice cream socials.

School SpiritSpirit at TCS is not just about competition or sport; spirit is another way in which TCS fosters a remarkably strong school community. Dorothy Andrew Day, the school’s “field day,” was named to honor Mrs. Andrew who retired in 1984 after teaching at The Country School for 33 years. On this day, the whole school comes together for students to compete on the “Black” and “Gold” teams, in the spirit of sportsmanship and friendly competition. A beautiful tradition—and a highlight of Dorothy Andrew Day—is the Amelia Mufson Run For The Colors, a relay race honoring a Country School second grader who died in 2002.


eaSTon, Maryland

Easton, named “the 8th Best Small Town in America,” is located in Talbot County on the Chesapeake Bay. An arts and cultural center with a population 17,000, Easton is perfect for those who love living in a small town that offers the best of many worlds: access to large metropolitan areas like Baltimore, Annapolis, Washington, and Wilmington; good health care from a strong local hospital and medical community; casual and gourmet dining; shopping for all budgets, from collectibles to fine antiques; eclectic art galleries; several public golf courses; an historic Town Center with Colonial and Victorian architecture; and an active local community that welcomes new ideas and enthusiasm. Easton offers visitors and residents a chance to enjoy a rich history coupled with an exceptional landscape.

Easton boasts a breadth of art, entertainment, and outdoor options. The Avalon Foundation, and its 1920s art-deco theater, supports the largest arts organization on the Eastern Shore of Maryland enriching the lives of over 100,000 people each year through nearly 300 events, performances, educational programming, and celebrations. Easton is home to Plein Air Easton, the largest and most prestigious outdoor painting competition in the United States. The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum is dedicated to preserving and exploring the history, environment, and culture of the entire Chesapeake Bay region. The Academy Art Museum houses several renowned permanent collections, and its vibrant concert and lecture series attracts top musicians, authors, and scholars from throughout the world. Additionally, there are various festivals and holiday events throughout the area to sample as well.

Rich opportunities for outdoor recreation are available at the nearby Pickering Creek Audubon Center and Adkins Arboretum, and The Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries provide a beautiful setting for everything from relaxing boat rides to pivotal marine biology research, canoeing, kayaking, and

http://pleinaireaston.com/


crabbing. One of the marquee events in Easton is the annual Waterfowl Festival, a grand-scale celebration of “nature as muse.” For nearly 50 years, the Festival had been lauded as a bustling celebration of local art, cuisine, flora, and fauna, and has drawn volunteers and attendees from all reaches of the Eastern Seaboard.

oPPorTuniTieS and ChallengeS

The Country School looks ahead to an exciting future, where there are significant opportunities awaiting the next Head of School. The School sees these future challenges as opportunities to advance the institution. Specifically, the new Head will have the opportunity to:

Lead and inspire: The School community looks for a leader who values excellence, who can guide curriculum and program enhancement, lead strategically, and foster a balanced sense of mission to enrich and further define The Country School.

Make a significant and ongoing difference: The School values excellence. The community is poised to welcome a new leader who will bring a thoughtful, collaborative, energetic, enthusiastic, joyful, and “best practices” mindset to The Country School.

Build upon dynamic programs: The next Head will enjoy overseeing a curriculum taught by a devoted and talented faculty as well as a dynamic, newly constructed academic building and recently renovated learning areas. The community relishes the impact these programs and new spaces will have on teaching and learning.

Support faculty and staff excellence: The new Head will be called upon to bring a strong and consistent level of support to a gifted and dedicated faculty and staff, who are excited about The Country School’s future and proud of its traditions.

Manage enrollment: The School desires in its next leader an individual who can implement strategies to recruit and retain students in a historic and close-knit bayside community. The next head will be asked to communicate the value of a Country School education and differentiate it from its competitors. The future Head will need to articulate and lead others in advancing the School’s story and value proposition.

Continue the work of financial sustainability: The Head will ensure that the School remains fiscally sound while exploring ways to enhance the School’s financial position and invest in its faculty and program.

Inspire philanthropy: The next Head of School will be asked to work with the Board of Trustees to raise funds, which include increasing annual giving as well as other future fundraising initiatives.

Work closely with an engaged Board of Trustees: The new Head will enjoy the support of a devoted Board of Trustees; a Board that understands “best practice” governance and commits to working collaboratively with the Head of School.


deSired QualiTieS and QualifiCaTionS

The next Head of School will have the privilege of leading an outstanding educational institution and partnering with a highly professional, dedicated faculty and staff. The community is eager to find a leader who relishes working with young people, who enjoys the challenge of leading a school located on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, who can continue to build community and a unifying vision, and who wants to lead the School for years to come.

The next Head of School will be able to:• Express a deep appreciation for The Country School’s core values;• Lead with integrity, ethics, and strong character while also being empathetic and approachable to

ensure that the community remains welcoming, caring, and relational;• Communicate and connect with the entire School community to tell The Country School story;• Inspire the community and share a strategic vision for the future of The Country School;• Engage daily with faculty, staff, and students and be actively visible on campus and in the

community;• “Wear many hats” in a Pre-K through 8th grade setting and understand that in such a community

“no job is too small;”• Have an infectious enthusiasm for the education of children;• Possess a collaborative problem solver style but also be courageous in making difficult decisions;• Listen intuitively;• Demonstrate financial acumen;• Be knowledgeable and enthusiastic about fundraising and institutional advancement.

Additionally, the following professional qualifications are sought:• Unquestioned leadership skills, a strong teaching background, and a successful track record of

increasing responsibilities;• Knowledge of educational trends and issues;• A profound commitment to educating children.

To aPPly

Interested and qualified candidates should submit electronically in one email and as separate documents (preferably PDFs) the following materials:

• A cover letter expressing their interest in this leadership position;• A current résumé;• A statement of educational leadership;• A list of five professional references with name, phone number, and email address of each

(references will not be contacted without the candidate’s permission) to:

Charlie BrittonSenior [email protected]

Rice BryanSenior [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

Documents

T C S e , M h S d 2020 - Carney Sandoe & Associates...academic standards. In 2016, TCS launched a 1:1 laptop initiative in grades 6-8, making technology integration even more seamless