School Description

The French American School of Silicon Valley (FASSV) provides a multi-lingual, well-rounded education for its students. They pride themselves on the strength of their faculty, the diversity of their student body, and their cultural richness. The French American School of Silicon Valley is a great place to learn and work. FASSV is seeking a committed, innovative, and conscientious leader to join them as Director of Upper Campus. 

FASSV has two campuses in Silicon Valley. The Lower Campus is in Sunnyvale, CA and the Upper Campus is located in Santa Clara, CA. They are approximately 5 miles apart. The French American School is proud to serve families with students from Pre-school age through 8th grade.  

FASSV’s teachers, administrators, and staff are dedicated to the academic success and social-emotional well-being of all their students. Students are exposed to a rigorous academic multi-lingual curriculum, as well as mindful awareness practices. FASSV has a history of academic success and continues to work towards excellence.  

Mission and Values:  

The mission of the French American School of Silicon Valley is to provide our students with an  academically excellent bilingual and bicultural education that empowers them to succeed in both the French and American education systems and to fully realize their potential as global citizens.  

The core values that guide our work and reflect what we strive to foster in our students include:  

• Critical Thinking  

• Academic Excellence  

• Respect  

• Life-long Learning  

In support of the FASSV mission and values, we are committed to:  

• Creating a cooperative, interactive, and challenging learning environment 

• Attracting and developing high-quality dedicated staff who focus upon and meet the needs of students as individuals 

• Integrating our French and American programs beginning in the preschool years to meet the language needs of students with their diverse linguistic backgrounds.  

Strategic Priorities and Opportunities:

As the Upper Campus division is still in its nascent stages, the Director will be a critical part of a team that will continue to develop the academic and extracurricular program while growing its student body. As such, the following priorities and opportunities are important focus areas for the new Director and the school:

• Grow the division to 30 students in the next 3-4 years in partnership with school leaders and the Lower School. 
• Clearly articulate the division’s offerings and strengths to current parents and prospective families.
• Support and develop faculty and staff to build a sustaining culture with an eye to retention.

Position Overview: 

The Director of Upper Campus is a key academic and administrative position in the school and ensures that the Middle School’s academic program and activities reflect the school’s mission.  

This position is responsible for fulfilling the requirements of the school accreditation and licensing agencies, including the guidelines of the French Ministry of Education and the CAIS (California Association of Independent Schools). This administrator is responsible for all the operations of the Middle School.  

The Director of Upper Campus manages the campus that supports grades 4-8 while also managing faculty for Middle School spanning grades 6-8. Using continuous improvement practices, the Director of Upper Campus is responsible for optimum implementation and harmonization of the 50/50 French/English curricula and the methods in the Middle School. The person in this role works in consultation with the Head of School and the Assistant Head of School regarding all major decisions in the Middle School and across the Upper Campus.  

As the leader of this small but growing division, the next Director of Upper Campus must have an entrepreneurial spirit, be proactive, and have the ability to anticipate the needs of the division. As part of a highly functioning, collaborative team, the next Director must embrace the idea of “wearing different hats” as they face a variety of different tasks associated with a dynamic school. 

The Director of Upper Campus will be responsible for supporting a committed faculty and staff in service to providing the best education for their students. Along with the teachers, the Director interacts frequently and collaboratively with engaged parents who have high expectations of the school and their children’s education. Thus, the ability to connect and communicate well, and oftentimes bilingually in French and English, is crucial to this role. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: 

Supports effective and professional communication among the school community:

• Clarifies expectations  
• Organizes events and related staff and teacher participation such as back-to-school night, parent-teacher conferences, and open houses  
• Manages report cards  
• Organizes faculty meetings  

Leads and supports Middle School faculty and staff:  

• Supports and communicates school pedagogical values, practices, and professional standards
• Provides faculty with information regarding professional development expectations and opportunities 
• Encourages faculty members to pursue professional development, as needed 
• Organizes in-house presentations and workshops for faculty to promote discussion and learning
• Assists and supports the Head of School with hiring faculty and staff for the Middle School division  
• Manages the performance of Middle School teachers according to the standards and timetable outlined in the Employee Handbook  

Supports students’ progress:  

• Meets with teachers and parents regarding student’s academic progress  
• Works closely with the Assistant Head of School to facilitate student retention and transition from 5th to 6th grade  
• Manages the development of Individualized Academic Support Plans for Middle School students, communicates to families, and implements plans  
• Organizes Middle School remediation resources to support students  
• Establishes and participates in community service activities  
• Works with the advisor concerning students’ academic needs, monitors their progress, facilitates discussions of students’ progress during meetings, and Conseils de Classe
• Follows up on remediation plans for students experiencing difficulties 
• Oversees the student council

Supports effective student discipline:  

• Across the school community, promotes a common understanding of expectations of student behavior and academic performance  
• Supports teachers, as necessary, with all student discipline  
• Meets with students, when requested by a teacher or parent, to address academic or behavioral difficulties  
• Engages and monitors parental support of student discipline issues, as necessary  

Ensures the effectiveness of French and English academic programs:  

• Supervises the periodic review of both curricula performed by French and English Program Directors  
• Ensures the integration and harmonization of curriculum between English and French programs, consistent with the methods and standards established in the lower grades  
• Manages the appropriate implementation of both French and American standardized evaluations  

Ensures smooth Middle School operations:  

• Manages the assignment of students to their classes  
• Designs schedules for classes, teachers, and supervision  
• Manages all aspects of day and overnight field trips  
• Approves instructional materials and instructional expenses within budget limit
• Assists in developing and editing communication material in French and English, and with producing articles for the school’s weekly newsletter as necessary
• Supervises collection of accurate attendance, health, and academic records
• Coordinates the substitute teacher process  
• Supervises the integrity of the school database and coordinates with other departments
• Manages the annual graduation ceremony for 5th and 8th grade  
• Performs other duties as assigned by the Head of School 

Working in Santa Clara, California

Santa Clara, where the Upper School is located, is situated in the heart of dynamic Silicon Valley, a hub of technology and innovation. With almost 20 square miles of tree-lined neighborhoods, thriving commercial and industrial centers, and 300 days of sunshine each year, Santa Clara is an ideal location for individuals, families, schools, and businesses to thrive.

Work Environment: 

This position functions indoors, in an office setting at times with much movement throughout the day in the completion of the various tasks this job requires, including potential off-campus events. There is a lot of interaction with children and staff throughout the day. Work Location: In-person. School type: non-profit, co-ed, multilingual, private school. 

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work: 

This is a full-time, exempt position. Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 am - 6 pm. Year round. Extended hours may be necessary at times to cover staffing needs. Work may include occasional evening and weekend events, when necessary.  

Required Qualifications: 

• 3-5 years of classroom teaching experience, preferably in the middle grades
• Bachelor’s Degree  
• Teaching Credential
• Fluent in French (or at a minimum has an intermediate level of written and conversational French) as well as knowledge of French culture  
• Minimum of one-year work experience in a dual-language immersion learning environment
• Strong leadership experience  
• Previous academic administrative experience  
• Ability to successfully lead and navigate sensitive matters while maintaining confidentiality
• Comfortable working with diverse faculty, student, and parent populations
• Excellent interpersonal skills, and an ability to build trust and maintain positive relationships with others  
• Strong verbal, written, and presentation skills 
• Self-motivated, flexible, and able to work as part of a team 
• Detailed-oriented with strong prioritization and time management skills
• High level of organization 
• Adaptable problem-solver  
• Innovative and creative thinker 

Preferred Qualifications 

• Master’s degree preferred  

This job description is not necessarily a comprehensive definition of the post. It may be subject to modification or amendment at any time.  

About French American School of Silicon Valley

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