MIAMI, FLORIDA MIAMICOUNTRYDAY.ORG - Director of Middle School Position Start Date: July 1, 2021
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MIAMI, FLORIDA Director of Middle School Position Start Date: July 1, 2021 MIAMICOUNTRYDAY.ORG
DIRECTOR OF MIDDLE SCHOOL
POSITION DESCRIPTION
Mission+Values
CORE
Miami Country Day School is a college preparatory learning
community committed to educating the whole child. Through
the core values of honor, respect, wisdom, and compassion,
we prepare students to be lifelong learners. We inspire our
children to develop their intellectual, physical aesthetic social,
emotional, and spiritual potentials by valuing every student every day.
WWW.MIAMICOUNTRYDAY.ORG
Fast Facts
PK3 - 12
1 269
FO UN DE D
T U I T I ON
A S S I STA N C E
1938
ST UDEN T TO
$6M + T EACHER
TYPE
9:1
ST U D E NT S O N
CO E D
FINANCIAL AID DAY CA M PUS
18%
SI ZE
ST U D E N T S 20
OF COLO R ACRE S
45% FACULT Y
W / A DV.
DEGREES
60%
Portrait OF A
Graduate
Be intellectually curious and independent thinkers
Demonstrate confidence in their abilities and resilience in the face
of challenges and disappointments
Evidence a commitment to lifelong learning and reading in their
personal and professional lives
Demonstrate good character and make good choices
Practice honor, respect, wisdom, compassion, and mindfulness
Possess a strong work ethic in all aspects of their lives
College
Matriculation LIST
Three or More Enrolled, 2016-2020
American University
Babson College
Berklee College of Music
Boston College
Boston University
Brandeis University
Broward College
Cornell University
Dartmouth College
Duke University
Emerson College
Florida Atlantic University
Florida International University
Florida State University
George Washington University
Indiana University, Bloomington
Lynn University
Miami Dade College
Michigan State University
New York University
Northeastern University
Nova Southeastern University
Purdue University
Syracuse University
The New School
The University of Tampa
3 OR MORE MEMBERS OF THE The University of Texas at Austin
CLASS OF 2016 THROUGH 2020 Tufts University
MATRICULATED AT THE Tulane University of Louisiana
FOLLOWING UNIVERSITIES University of California, Los Angeles
University of Central Florida
University of Colorado Boulder
University of Florida
University of Maryland, College Park
University of Miami
University of Michigan
University of Notre Dame
University of Pennsylvania
University of South Florida, Tampa
University of Southern California
University of Wisconsin, Madison
Wake Forest University
EVERY STUDENT.
EVERY DAY.
Overview
For over eight decades, Miami Country Day School (MCDS)
has lived out its motto, delivering an exceptional college-
preparatory curriculum that educates the whole person.
Currently serving around 1,270 students in PreK3 to 12,
MCDS has undergone remarkable changes since its founding
in 1938. Nonetheless, the faculty and student body at this
FCIS-accredited coeducational day school are united in their
appreciation and continued respect for the school’s mission,
philosophy, and traditions. Across all grades and divisions,
MCDS’s students present themselves as creative, poised,
confident, multi-talented, and enthusiastic-truly thriving in an
environment that nurtures their intellectual, physical, emotional,
social, aesthetic, and spiritual potentials. From its nationally
ranked chess club to its national champion girls’ basketball
team, from its environmental studies center to its
Comprehensive Outdoor Education Program, Miami Country
Day School’s offerings are as exceptional as they are varied.
School History
In 1938, Mr. Luther “L.B” Sommers and Mr. C.W. “Doc” Abele
opened The Miami Country Day and Resident Schools for Boys
in what was then still a young and developing city.
Originally and elementary boarding school, MCDS grew quickly
in both size and reputation. The transition to its coeducational
day program came in the 1950’s ,60’s and 70’s, as the school
began admitting female students and boarding rooms were
turned into classrooms to accommodate rising enrollment.
The Upper School was added in the late 1970’s and MCDS
graduates its first senior class in 1981.
Miami Country Day School still occupies its original campus
north of downtown Miami, but the facilities inhabited by
the founding class of seven boys were quite different from
what MCDS students enjoy today. While much has changed
at MCDS since 1938, the school has retained the holistic
approach to learning embraced by its founders, balancing
rigorous academics with athletics and cultural enrichment to
produce well-rounded and civic-minded young adults.
THE SCHOOL
Over the course of 80 years, Miami Country Day School has
built a reputation of excellence in South Florida. The dedicated
team of 178 faculty at MCDS is composed of committed
stakeholders: teachers appreciate small classes sizes, cherish
autonomy in the classroom, and feel fully supported by the
administration. Across all divisions, a classical liberal arts
curriculum is enhanced by a number of specialty programs
that promote hands-on learning and whole-child engagement.
With the rise of new media in recent decades, MCDS has
embraced technology as an invaluable tool to improve
educational practices, while holding fast to its commitment to
ACADEMICS IN THE MIDDLE SCHOOL
Miami Country Day School offers a college-preparatory
curriculum that seeks to educate the whole person.
Building off of the foundations built in our Lower School
program, the Middle School extends learning to deepen the
students understanding of skills and concepts through a focus
on the application and transfer of knowledge, so that our
students know how to use information and question its
relevance to their learning and life. A veteran faculty teach and
mentor students to become skilled, critical thinkers so that they
learn the importance of consistently asking why, how, and what
if, in order for young adults to make connections between their
THE ACADEMIC PROGRAM learning experience and the real world. In turn, our middle
IS CHALLENGING, FOCUSING school students begin to develop their independence, identity,
and sense of purpose. By combining traditional middle school
ON CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS AND coursework with a well-developed elective program rooted
THE APPLICATION OF CONTENT. in areas such as the arts, technology, leadership, and outdoor
education, students have the opportunity to grow, explore,
and personalize their middle years. Additionally, students are
encouraged to join an athletic team, learn to play a musical
instrument, build a robot, take part in a theatrical Production,
develop a service project, or take part in one of our many clubs.Signature
IBELONG ADVISING PROGRAM
iBelong in the Miami Country Day Middle School was founded
in 2013. By focusing on dialogue, iBelong works to create an
Programs
atmosphere of understanding and inclusivity that will translate
into an overall better educational experience for all of our
students.
It is the mission of iBelong to inspire members of the
community to look out for one another. Through effective
communication, students will understand each other better
and nurture the value of empathy, in the hopes of creating an
inclusive community. iBelong is built around two basic ideas:
coffeehouse, and support.
• Coffeehouse is a symbol of open discourse and free
thinking where once a month students participate in
vigorous discussions on all types of topics.
• With support from faculty and administration, students
recognize more and more that the adults on campus care
about their unique experiences. Classrooms and offices
around campus should always be safe places where
students can come to adults.
SERVICE LEARNING
Service learning is key to community service at MCDS and
is an important contributor to one of our core values:
compassion.
Every student is involved in two service projects with their class
during the school year, such as working with the lower school
students, cleaning an area of the campus, and writing letters to
our troops and more.
GATEWAY JR
Through hands-on and experiential education, GATEway Jr.
prepares our students (our “GATEmates”) to be lifelong learners
and true global citizens. The program has taken students on
experiences in numerous countries across the Caribbean.
Our GATEway Jr. students (grades 6-8) participate in cultural
seminars during their time abroad. This opportunity serves as a
platform for our students who matriculate to the Upper School
to continue to work on a global studies endorsement.
LEARNING RESOURCES PROGRAM
Our Learning Resource Program embraces that there are all
kinds of minds and that we all learn differently. This program is
for students with documented learning differences, believing in
the potential of all students by recognizing and celebrating their
learning intelligences. The program provides a personalized
learning/teaching environment that is student-centered with
innovative teaching approaches.
COEP – COMPREHENSIVE OUTDOOR
EDUCATION PROGRAM
COEP begins in 5th grade and continues through Middle
School. It is an exciting, experiential program that serves as an
outstanding part of enrichment and electives. They can also opt
for overnight camping opportunities and day trips to nearby
wildlife and nature reserves. The canal that borders the school
also becomes a classroom through canoeing and studying the
health of that ecosystem.Arts+Athletics ARTS The arts program is all about empowering students and challenging them to push themselves as artists and performers. Our arts students make things happen on the stage, behind the scenes and in our Center for the Arts gallery. From dance and theater performances to concerts and more, our students are participants in creating and exploring their artistic potential. ATHLETICS Our athletics help to foster team-building skills, problem solving skills, self-discipline and self-confidence. The program also promotes a healthy lifestyle with physical activity. Through the development of these skills it is believed that our student athletes will become confident, contributing members of the community. While they are developing their character, they are also learning the techniques to become skilled in any of the many sports we offer. AUXILIARY AND EXTRACURRICULAR PROGRAMS Our auxiliary programs are comprised of after school clubs, aquatics, summer programs and our Student Success Network. We offer options for children with various interests which run over the course the year and camps that take place throughout the summer. ENTREPRENEURSHIP INITIATIVE Our students of all ages are empowered to take their ideas, products and businesses to the next level. We’ve built a dedicated program at Miami Country Day School for Innovation, Creativity and Entrepreneurship. AQUATICS Our swimmers are more than just a team, they are a family. Through training and guidance, swimmers gain lifelong skills in a fun and safe environment.
Campus
A multi-level Media Center, complete with library, computer
facilities, and the latest communication technologies including
an impressive broadcast studio, has become the heartbeat of
the campus. The Center for the Arts includes a 650-seat
auditorium, exhibit spaces, a dance studio, and a ceramics
patio, among many features. The 36,000-square-foot facility,
which also includes a 300-space parking garage, is the result of
a $16.5million campaign. The collegiate-level athletic facilities
include a modern Aquatic Center with a 25-yard outdoor pool,
the J. Calvin Rose Athletic Center, and the Koch Athletic
Complex, featuring one of Florida’s finest artificial surfaces for
football, soccer, and lacrosse.
Miami
The fourth largest urban area in the nation, Greater Miami is
home to over 5.5 million people. The majority of Miami’s
residents have immigrated-or are born to parents who
emigrated-from Hispanic countries in the Caribbean and
Central and South America. The result is a unique, eclectic
and vibrant community amidst a tropical landscape unlike any
other in the country. From its food and music to its art and
architecture, Miami is truly a cultural melting pot.
The campus of Miami Country Day School is located just
north of downtown on the edge of Miami Shores. A primarily
residential, independently governed community, Miami Shores
is home to Barry University and features its own country club,
golf course, historic library, community center, and beautiful
THE SCHOOL’S 22-ACRE, waterfront views of Biscayne Bay.
BEAUTIFULLY LANDSCAPED
CAMPUS PROVIDES EXCEPTIONAL
FACILITIES FOR LEARNING
AND RECREATION.The Position
MIDDLE SCHOOL
DIRECTOR
OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES
Miami Country Day School serves the Miami area with a rich heritage complemented by its dynamic
future. For the 2019-2020 year, the school welcomed its first female Head of School, which – in conjunc-
tion with recent investments in the school’s physical campus – has re-energized the innovative mindset of
the administrative leadership team. The next Director of Middle School will have the opportunity to further
ignite transformation focused on infusing the Division’s programs with innovative teaching techniques
while working in collaboration with the school’s leadership and peer Directors in Lower and Upper School.
Our Middle School boasts a vibrant environment where students make connections between schoolwork
and the real world as they develop their independence and identity. The beloved outgoing Director of 15
years has long advocated for an environment that promotes the notion that middle schoolers should be
middle schoolers – not big lower schoolers or little upper schoolers. While the Middle School has such a
strong and stable identity, this is an opportunity for a new leader to expand on the divisions’ strength.
The next Director of Middle School must:
• Champion a “One School” approach rooted in collaboration across divisions and driven
by a new strategic plan centered around innovation
• Align, advance, and live by Miami Country Day School’s commitment to Diversity, Equity,
and Inclusion by implementing concrete strategies to promote learning that represents and
celebrates the identity of every student
• Direct and guide the evolution of the division and its academic schedule by identifying
and optimizing opportunities for student-centered learning and exploration to meet the needs
of a new strategic plan
• Work collaborativily with the other divisions to develop an academic schedule that optimizes
student-center learning both in and out of the classroom
• Understand and embrace the use of Understanding by Design as a framework to help
organize and create new curriculum and programs to ensure each yields age appropriate
and intentionally designed outcomes
• Expand elective offerings that encourage students to explore potential passions and interests,
tapping into their natural sense of curiosity and wonder
Competencies and Characteristics:
The Director of Middle School will be an experienced school leader prepared to manage the day-to-day
programs within a sophisticated independent school in a major urban center. S/he will be eager to serve
as an inspirational advisor for the Division’s faculty, students, and parent community. S/he will be excited to
embrace the distinctive climate and culture of Miami, a vibrant metropolis with deep historical roots and
profound influences from Europe and South America. More specifically, the next Director must be:
• A proven educator who leads by example: This person is honest, articulate, forward thinking,
and an active presence in the daily routine of the Middle School student.
• A visionary thinker who brings innovative ideas to life: Through passion and inspiration, this person
embraces and encourages continued professional growth in the faculty. They are a motivational
example of continuous improvement, risk-taking, and reflective thinking.
• A community builder with high degrees of emotional intelligence: This person is appropriately
transparent throughout communications, empathetic, kind and patient, and able to connect with
students, parents, faculty and administrators with confidence, compassion, and clarity.
• A highly collaborative colleague who seeks alignment: This person engages with leaders across
the divisions of the school to create a unified approach to learning.The Position
MIDDLE SCHOOL
DIRECTOR
Qualities and Qualifications
• A master’s degree required, preferably with experience in Middle School teaching
and administration.
• A belief in the school’s mission, leadership, professional development,
and commitment to creating an equitable and inclusive environment for
Every Student, Every Day.
• A broad yet deep knowledge of both traditional and innovative curricular and
pedagogical trends, current best practices in teaching and learning, and the use
of technology to evolve the foundation of new curriculum.
• An understanding of and passion for early and mid adolescent development.
• A highly energetic approach to navigating a demanding, fast-paced environment.
• An intuitive leadership style with a sense of humor, an empathetic heart, and a
courageous spirit to engage faculty, students and parents in ways that enhance their
capacity to feel known, honored, and heard.
• A highly reflective attitude, dynamic and flexible with the capacity to objectively
self-evaluate through personal analysis and build clear strategies for growth
and development.
• An intuitive leadership style with the capacity to persuade and influence rather than
direct people to adapt and change.
• An infectious excitement and enthusiasm that cultivates a community who loves learning.
• An eagerness to champion risk takers and provide feedback that allows equally for
success and failure while encouraging reflection for growth.
Search Process and Application Requirements
Acting on behalf of Miami Country Day School, Carney Sandoe and Associates is actively recruiting
well-qualified educational leaders for this appealing career opportunity.
Applicants should submit the following:
• Formal letter of application for the position;
• Current resume;
• Statement of educational philosophy and practice;
• List of at least five references with name, title, phone number and e-mail address of each.
Interested and qualified candidates should submit electronically as separate documents, the
materials to John Faubert ( jfaubert@carneysandoe.com) and Namita Bhattacharya
(namita.bhattacharya@carneysandoe.com) .
After an initial review of applicants, the Search Committee will conduct interviews with selected
candidates. Finalists will be invited to Miami Country Day School for a more comprehensive series
of interviews shortly thereafter.You can also read
