| New Roads School provides an inspired college preparatory program from which an authentically diverse student population, mirroring the rich diversity of Los Angeles, develops a personal dedication to learning, a respect for independent thinking, an expanding curiosity about the world and its people, and a commitment to the common good. JOB SUMMARY
In consultation with the Upper School Director, the Upper School Assistant Director, working collaboratively with the Department Chairs, is charged with aligning the school's unique educational program with the vision of our Mission, Statement of Philosophy, and Commitments and promoting innovation in pedagogy, curriculum, and assessment. In this role, the Assistant Director, in conjunction with the US Director, will develop the capacity of Department Chairs and Faculty to deliver New Roads incomparable approach to teaching and learning. The Assistant Director will engage colleagues in substantive conversations about teaching and learning and will spearhead curriculum review and development alongside the US Director, oversee academic planning, and coordinate professional development opportunities for the Upper School. The Assistant Director will partner with the K-12 Director of Curriculum, Pedagogy, and Assessment, the Director of Community Wellbeing and Human Development, and Administrators and Faculty at the Elementary and Middle School to articulate and implement a coherent K-12 approach to curriculum, pedagogy, assessment, professional development, and Faculty professional growth process. The Assistant Director will also be responsible for assessing, drawing on data, the effectiveness of the program in achieving its aims, including the student outcomes outlined in the Statement of Philosophy. The Assistant Director reports to the Upper School Director and serves as a member of the Upper School Leadership Team. In the absence of the Upper School Director, the Assistant Director becomes the administrator in charge of the Upper School. ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Curriculum
- Maintains congruency between the School's board-approved philosophy and academic program, particularly the school's commitment to social justice, diversity, and environmental stewardship
- Educates faculty about state, national, and international educational standards and brain-based teaching rooted in the New Roads model
- Ensures that curriculum meets the needs of diverse learners
- Monitors the outcomes for students and disaggregates data for subgroups to promote reflective conversation and growth
- Supports the work of individual departments in balancing curricular traditions and priorities with significant trends and developments in their fields and the schools educational vision
- Facilitates efforts to improve curriculum coordination and innovation within and across grades
- Articulates Habits and Skills of Success across disciplines
- Stimulates curricular innovation across and within traditional disciplines, including promoting interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary learning
- Helps to develop a clear sense of the meaning of grades and what they signify: executive functions/mastery
- Leads faculty to embrace New Roads unique approach to intellectual rigor and academic excellence
- Ensures a curricular continuum throughout the K-12 program working alongside the K-12 Director of Curriculum, Pedagogy, and Assessment
- Integrates well being into the foundation of the academic program with the intent of liberating the full potential of each student
- Serves as liaison to department chairs in establishing and reviewing annual course offerings and developing new programs and courses
- Assists in the development of new course offerings when necessary and oversees the UC Approval Process
- Networks with administrators at other independent schools, public schools, and universities, both within and outside of the United States
- Publicizes within the school community the scholarship and endeavors of departments and gives recognition to exceptional achievements within departments
- Encourages teachers to construct knowledge for larger educational landscape and to engage in action research
- Reviews all proposed changes to the curriculum and provides updates on a yearly basis to the Upper School Administrative Leadership Team
- Develops instruments to evaluate the academic program, including working with students to hear their voice in this evaluation process.
- Works closely with the Upper School Dean of Students to align the curricular and co-curricular program within the framework of New Roads' educational vision
Faculty - Provides support, supervision, and instructional leadership to the entire Upper School faculty
- Creates and implements embedded professional development plan to increase capacity of the teachers to deliver the mission and an integrative classroom culture and climate
- In conjunction with the Department Chairs, develops orientation/transition program and evaluation system for new teachers, including leading New Teacher meetings
- Assists with faculty reviews/ evaluations
- Serves as a resource to teachers in matters of classroom management, teaching methods, and general school procedures
- Coordinates professional development activities (individual and collective) for the upper school faculty (including workshops, speakers, school observations, in-service training programs, and the like)
- Serves as an advisor to teachers in all matters pertaining to curriculum development, effective pedagogy, and assessment as well as classroom culture and climate.
- Observes, supervises, and helps evaluate the faculty in the development and implementation of curriculum
- Assists teachers in matching appropriate assessment instruments to the schools assessment philosophy
- Educates the faculty in the effective use of technology to support personalized and engaged teaching and learning and innovation
- Works with the Upper School Director on the hiring and retention of faculty
- Articulates with Department Chairs the program section of WASC
- Guides the use of data in improving curriculum, pedagogy, and assessment
- Works with advisors and lead advisors on articulating a coherent academic program for students
Students - With the assistance of The Director of Student Learning and The US Dean, oversees the academic programs of all students in grades 9-12
- Seeks to understand and to foster conversation about the quality of students academic experience. Towards this end, the Assistant Director is specifically concerned with such issues as homework load, reading level appropriateness, effectiveness of course projects, coordination among grade-level teachers, portfolio assessment, executive functioning, mastery, and so forth
- Works with students to provide student feedback to teachers that informs instruction and promotes growth in pedagogy, assessment, and curriculum
- Gathers student feedback to assess how well the Upper School is serving the student body.
- Ensures that standards, rubrics, narratives, and assessments empower students to drive their own improvement in learning; focusing on process and progress
Parents - Educates parents about the roles of students, parents, and teachers in the teaching and learning process within the framework of New Roads' educational vision
- Gathers feedback from parents on the academic experience of their children
- Guides teachers in using the resources of parents to enhance the educational experience of students
- Educates parents about new educational initiatives
Administration - Maintains congruence between the schools Mission Statement, Statement of Philosophy, Commitments, and all academic activities to ensure the implementation of the schools educational values and policies
- Works with the US Director to ensure that the schedule reflects the educational priorities of the Mission, Commitments, and Statement of Philosophy
- Collaborates with strategic partners to coordinate and implement new educational initiatives
- Serves as a spokesperson, in all relevant venues, for the US academic program
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