Director of Culture, Young Scholars Frederick Douglass Charter School

Posted by on December 05, 2010

[posted 12/5/10]

Director of Culture, Young Scholars Frederick Douglass Charter School

The team of leaders who successfully turned around Young Scholars Charter School seeks a Director of Culture for one of its new turnaround schools. Through the School District of Philadelphia’s Renaissance Schools initiative, Young Scholars was matched with Frederick Douglass Elementary School and charged with transforming the school into a quality learning environment. The team is proud to announce that Young Scholars Frederick Douglass Charter School is now open for the 2010-2011 school year.

This is a unique opportunity to transform a historically low-performing school into a high-quality center of learning that will positively impact the lives of previously under-served students. We are seeking an accomplished individual dedicated to transforming a school for at-risk urban students where they will flourish academically, socially and emotionally and graduate prepared to succeed at the best high schools and colleges.

The Director of Culture would be one of the leading administrators of the K-8 charter school’s founding year. Specific requirements and responsibilities of the Director of Culture follow:

Responsibilities
Lead school culture and character development
• Supervise the character development program and ensure that it systematically builds and reinforces the character strengths/attitudes/values and self-identity students need to be happy and successful.
• Do regular school culture walkthroughs to help staff maintain a high bar of excellence.
• Plan and lead trainings focused on classroom management, parent involvement & school culture.
• Make sure that SA beliefs and values are pervasive and that students understand and internalize them.
• Lead recognition and celebration events and other school-wide culture-building activities.
• Focus on students with behavior or development challenges; partner with teachers to provide extra interventions.

Build and maintain systems to build a school culture
• Ensure that school entry, breakfast, lunch, dismissal, and transitions are orderly, positive and consistent with our mission and values.
• Implement a behavior management system with meaningful incentives to reward good behavior and effective consequences to correct bad behavior.
• Monitor daily student attendance and follow-through with students/families that are absent.

Lead parent engagement activities
• Conduct family chats for new students.
• Invest in building positive relationships between the school and parents.
• Work with all teachers to ensure that they communicate regularly with parents.
• Plan meaningful opportunities for parents to connect with the school.

Serve as an active member of the school leadership team
• Serve as an active member of the school leadership team to support school-wide success.
• Work closely with the Academic Dean to support their efforts in data assessment and instruction.
• Help teacher leaders (coaches and grade level chairs) grow their leadership skills.
• Be a model of the Scholar Academies professional and core values at all times.

Skills and characteristics
• Strong instructional, classroom management and discipline skills
• Focus on a systems-oriented approach to student, classroom and school culture
• Excellent communication skills
• Proven track record of meeting extremely high standards for student achievement
• Proven management experience overseeing and coaching a team
• Strong organization and administrative skills
• Relentlessness – doing whatever it takes to ensure success
• Belief in the Scholar Academies mission and educational model
• Maturity, humility, strong work ethic, sense of humor, and grit

Educational background and work experience
• A bachelor’s degree from a competitive college or university
• At least 3 years of urban teaching experience with a track record of high student achievement

How to Apply:
All inquiries, referrals and résumés may be sent in strict confidence to jobs@phillyscholars.org. Along with a résumé, please include a cover letter stating why you find the opportunity of interest and how your experience is aligned with the Scholar Academies mission and model.

Only applicants applying electronically will be considered. No calls or faxes, please.

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