Position and profile description
Background
The Innovate Manhattan Charter School (IMCS) is seeking applicants for the Head of School.
This position will start on 01/01/2011, and will therefore include an 8-month, full-time planning
period for the opening of school.
IMCS has applied to open in Community School District 2 in September 2011. It will initially
open with 132 students in grades 6 & 7 and then expand to grade 8 and 198 students in 2012.
IMCS is partnering with Kunskapsskolan International AB (KIAB) to provide a unique and
comprehensive program of personalized education– the KED program.
IMCS is organized around the student and his/her personal knowledge goals and learning
strategies. Our teachers, curriculum, time, facilities and the Learning Portal are all resources to
meet the students’ needs. Key components of IMCS include:
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Fifteen minute teacher-lead coaching sessions each week for each student, monitoring
and supporting the student’s progress towards reaching their academic goals;
Personalized schedules and access to the curriculum via Step courses (where students
enter and study at their ability level) and Theme courses (which students study in an
integrated approach with their grade groups);
Varied learning opportunities throughout the day that can include communications
sessions, workshops, lectures, seminars, labs, and base group sessions;
Open, transparent, and flexible work spaces rather than only classrooms;
The web-based Learning Portal that includes all the curriculum and materials, the
educational documentation system (EDS), and 24-hour access; and
Significantly more direct-contact time for teachers with their students, as teachers do not
have to devote hours to creating original curriculum, but rather access it through the
Portal.
For more information on the KED approach to education, please go to:
www.kunskapsskolan.com. KIAB will provide the pedagogical approach to IMCS, but will not
manage the finances or operations of the School. The IMCS Board of Trustees employs the Head
of School and all staff, and the School is a non-profit, independent entity.
Position and responsibilities
Planning
In the planning phase, from January-August 2011, the Head of School will be involved in the
following:
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Training in the KED program, including direct professional development on-site in
Sweden;
Hiring and training of school staff;
Adaption of school pedagogical process and procedures from the KED program;
Development of school operational processes and procedures;
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Supervision of the Coordinator and Business Manager, who will start in April/May 2011;
and
Supervision of the School’s operational start-up.
In the planning phase, the Head will receive support from the Kunskapsskolan USA Project
Manager and Learning Portal Manager.
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Pedagogical Leader: The Head of School safeguards and interprets IMCS’s coherent
program for personalized learning. This means that the Head is foremost a pedagogical
leader, with authority based on his or her strong merits in educational development and
pedagogy. In particular, the Head must be strongly dedicated to the vision and mission of
the school and to its education program.
As a pedagogical entrepreneur, the Head of School will lead the continuous development
and implementation of curriculum and tools such as the Learning Portal.
In order to succeed in this strong focus on pedagogical leadership, we will liberate the
Head of School from as many regular administrative tasks as possible and give them to
the “Coordinator,” whom the Head will supervise. The Coordinator’s daily
responsibilities include administrative management, admission issues, family contacts,
and planning and non-educational processes.
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Performance Leader: IMCS’s program is based on the combination of a high degree of
freedom and flexibility for individual students to choose their paths and methods of
learning combined with a strong focus on academic requirements and performance.
Therefore, an understanding of and experience in performance-based accountability
systems is essential, and we will find foundational the Head’s conviction regarding the
importance of processes and accountability.
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Organizational Leader: A core of our educational program is the extensive use of welldeveloped processes, procedures, and concepts so that teachers’ time is liberated to work
directly with students. The Head of School has to lead the development and adaptation of
these in the School and must have the ability to do so in an intelligent way, as the School
embraces the concept of continuous improvement. The Head will prepare the budget for
each academic year in accordance with the Board’s policies and responsibly supervise its
implementation.
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Team Leader: At IMCS, teachers have multiple roles – as coaches, subject specialists
and curriculum developers. This demands a high degree of teamwork. A central duty of
the Head is to create a team of strong staff who work together well for the well-being of
the students. All staff in the school will be treated with the same philosophy of
accountability, individual recognition and responsibility, adaptation to proven processes
and methodology as the students. The Head of School will be the guarantor of that
culture. As the team leader, the Head is the nexus for inspiration and encourages
innovation and leadership within the pedagogical framework from the various
stakeholders.
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Student and Family Collaborator: Our educational program depends on close
collaboration with parents and families. Being an unconventional yet coherent, it calls for
explanation and communication to staff, families, community and other stakeholders.
Communicative and interpersonal skills are essential.
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Networking Leader: The IMCS Head of School will lead the staff, students, and
families in connecting to the KED network of schools across the globe. The Head of
School will be a person who is curious about other cultures and the international
interconnections of the past, present, and future, and who will strive to make productive
and on-going connections with his or her colleagues in the KED network. IMCS is the
first school based on the much-acclaimed KED program in the U.S. The school will be
subject to extensive attention and curiosity from policy makers, researchers, educators
and families. The applicant therefore needs strong interpersonal skills and has a dedicated
interest in presenting and publicly representing the school.
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Technological Leader: The usage of computers and web technology is a strong
component of IMCS and the successful Head should be both experienced in and curious
about the use of technology in the schools.
Desired Skills and Personality
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IMCS requires a pedagogical leader with the vision to resist and reject traditional
structures who at the same time is willing to lead the pedagogical vision and mission of
the school as described above.
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The core of the KED program implemented by IMCS is the recognition of every child as
a unique individual with a capacity to reach beyond their own expectations. The interest
and dedication to the students should be strong and always present.
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The KED program enables teachers to spend more time with students and produce strong
academic outcomes by the rigorous implementation of systems and processes for
management and accountability. The applicant should have a strong conviction of the
importance of structural processes and systems and an attention to detail in
implementation and follow-up.
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IMCS is a start-up in the U.S although based on extensive experience in other countries.
This calls for higher than average entrepreneurial skills combined with an interest in
innovations based on empirical experience in educating youth.
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The KED program will initially represent a new way of working with the school’s staff.
The ability to communicate, inspire, and follow up with therefore be crucial.
Reporting lines
The Head of IMCS reports to the Board of Trustees.
Experience
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At least five years teaching experience
At least two years of experience in school leadership and management
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Experience in accounting and budget work
Computer skills
Compensation and other conditions
Compensation TBD but will highly competitive. Benefits to be determined.
How to apply
Please respond with a cover letter describing your educational and leadership ambitions
as well as a resume in Word format to: careers.kedschoolsusa@gmail.com.