START DATE: JULY 2020 - WWW.RANDOLPHSCHOOL.NET RANDOLPH SCHOOL - CARNEY SANDOE & ASSOCIATES
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Randolph School
Huntsville, Alabama
Head of School
Start Date: July 2020
www.randolphschool.net
Mission Fast Facts
Seeking Truth. Total Students: 943
Students of Color: 18.2%
Building Character. Total Faculty: 112
Nurturing All. Student-Teacher Ratio: 9:1
Average Class Size: 14-18 Students
Percent of Faculty with Advanced Degrees: 61%
Total Financial Aid: $2.9M
Students Receiving Aid: 23.9%
Overview
Spanning 68 beautiful acres on two campuses, Randolph School serves approximately 950 students
in grades K-12 in a familial and close-knit environment. With 112 faculty members working together to
offer a well-rounded and challenging curriculum, Randolph seeks to inspire students to discover and
fulfill their individual potential. The School endeavors to promote academic success, healthy social
and emotional development, critical and creative thinking, leadership and integrity, technological
literacy, and civic engagement among all its students. Universally, students, faculty, and staff agree
that the School’s close community and the student-faculty relationships are among its most defining
characteristics. As one student noted, “We’re surrounded by a lot of love and support in the Upper
School, and I always feel encouraged to do my best work. I have a huge support system of teachers,
advisors, college counselors, mentors and friends that makes each day at Randolph a joy.”
Randolph stands as a bellwether in the community. The only school of its kind in the Tennessee
Valley, Randolph provides a bridge to endless possibilities by providing its students with the skills
and structure for lifelong success, the confidence to experiment without fear of failure, and a chance
to use unlimited imagination to pursue a broader life vision. Randolph students are not only prepared
for acceptance to the higher education institutions of their choice, but also ready to flourish there.
Randolph has the resources to reach all types of learners, and this is a significant part of what makes
it such a special place. For example, through a recent, remarkable merger with Greengate School, a
school devoted to teaching students in grades 1-8 with dyslexia and other language related learning
differences, Randolph deepened its commitment to individualized learning.
At this time, Randolph seeks a Head of School to start in July 2020 who can maintain the School’s
integrity as robust, an esteemed K-12 educational program with thriving programs in athletics and
the arts, an ethos that celebrates whole-child education, and a dedication to serving an expansive
range of learners.
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School History In 1959, a group of 20 engaged citizens founded Randolph School with a handful of elementary classes in an antebellum home on Randolph Avenue, the street from which it takes its name. Within a few years, the School expanded and relocated a few miles away to a spacious, 16-acre campus on Drake Avenue. The School’s rigorous college preparatory curriculum and successful alumni rapidly became the pride of the Huntsville community. After 50 years of success, Randolph then opened its newly constructed Garth Campus to house the Upper School. Since its founding, the School has a close connection to Huntsville’s development as a science and aerospace technology hub, both in its innovative spirit and historical timing. The School From kindergarten through 12th grade, a Randolph education is designed to teach students how to think, not what to think, and the School’s Idea Path is at the core of this philosophy. The Idea Path is a faculty-developed, research-based approach to learning intended to inspire critical thought. It consists of six main components: ask, imagine, plan, create, share, and improve. These components, in turn, catalyze three types of learning: individual learning, relational learning, and learning for the greater good. Randolph holds dual accreditation from SAIS/AdvancEd and is a member of NAIS, SAIS, Alabama Independent School Association, Independent School Data Exchange (INDEX), the National and Southern Association of College and Admissions Counselors, The College Board, the National Honor Society, and the Cum Laude Society. The Search Group | Carney, Sandoe & Associates 3 search@carneysandoe.com | www.carneysandoe.com
In 2018, Greengate School (one of 15 schools in the nation accredited by the Academy of Orton-
Gillingham Practitioners and Educators and the only such school in Alabama or Tennessee) merged
with Randolph. Greengate has educated children with dyslexia and related language-learning
differences with average to superior intellectual capability since 2002. Now, as a division of Randolph,
Greengate serves students in grades 1-8 using an Orton-Gillingham approach, while also offering
students with dyslexia a full complement of co-curricular and extra-curricular school experiences. A
school of Randolph’s caliber offering an accredited Orton-Gillingham approach is an unparalleled
resource for students and families in the region.
Academics
In addition to the Greengate School division, Randolph has three traditional academic divisions:
Lower School (K-4)
Randolph’s kindergarten through 4th grade classes provide a learning environment that respects
and embraces the needs of the whole child. Lower School faculty consistently nurture creativity and
support natural curiosity in fresh, innovative ways. With programs richly steeped in the latest brain
research, Randolph’s Lower School develops the foundational skills needed to ensure children
are prepared for success and a lifelong love of learning. For Lower School students, art, music,
computer science, science lab, foreign language, library, and physical education classes are taught
by specialist teachers who love their subjects and impart their enthusiasm to their students.
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College Placement
Randolph graduates from the past
three years have matriculated at the
following institutions:
Agnes Scott College
American University
Auburn University
Butler University
Carnegie Mellon University
Case Western University
Clemson University
Davidson College
Duke University
Elon University
Emory University
George Washington University
Georgetown University
Georgia Tech
Johns Hopkins University
Lehigh University
Middlebury College
Middle School (5-8) Mississippi State University
As in Lower School, the Middle School faculty and Morehouse College
curriculum nurture students’ natural curiosity so that they Northwestern University
evolve into confident learners. Middle School students Occidental College
learn in an environment where they feel safe to explore Penn State
new ideas, express themselves creatively, and engage Princeton University
in team sports. School leaders and parents strive to work Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
together to know and support every child and share with Savannah College of Art and Design
Randolph’s students a commitment to a culture of trust Sewanee: The University of the South
that values integrity and self-discipline. Smith College
Texas Christian University
Upper School (9-12) Tufts University
Randolph’s Upper School offers a rigorous academic Tulane University
program, a wide range of extracurricular activities, a University of Alabama
nurturing environment, and a culture of trust. As they University of Arizona
progress, students are given the freedom to make choices University of California, San Diego
that best fit their interests and tailor their time at Randolph University of Denver
to their curiosity and goals. Randolph’s extracurricular University of Miami
opportunities enrich the academic experience and University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
encourage all students to discover strengths and interests University of San Francisco
while pursuing their passions. Vanderbilt University
Villanova University
In the realm of academics, Randolph seeks to offer Wake Forest University
its students opportunities to challenge themselves. In Wellesley College
2018, nearly every graduate took at least one Advanced
Placement (AP) course, and about two-thirds of the
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graduating class took at least three AP courses. Virtually all Randolph graduates attend four-year colleges, and Randolph’s College Counseling office is designed to support each student as they prepare for college and more. Starting junior year, students meet regularly in group and individual sessions to understand the admissions process and how to find the right fit for their university experience. Approximately half of the students in Randolph’s last two graduating classes earned a composite score of 30 or higher on the ACT. One-hundred percent of Randolph students who seek merit-based financial aid receive it. Signature Programs Beyond a relatively traditional academic curriculum, Randolph students are encouraged to engage in experiential learning through several signature programs: Interim Week provides students the opportunity for enrichment, travel, service and/or career exploration. Younger students have opportunities to take elective classes that reinforce curiosity in science, art, literature, and math, while older students take a wide array of national and international trips, shadow various careers, and pursue service opportunities both locally and globally. Examples of class trips include Williamsburg (4th grade), Washington D.C. (8th grade) and Chicago (9th grade), which provide reinforcement of the School’s curriculum at different ages. Randolph Connect is a schoolwide program born out of the School’s most recent strategic plan and is designed to build durable relationships between Randolph’s students, alumni, and faculty with the talented and creative individuals who live in the Huntsville community. Through Randolph Connect, the School seeks to enhance independent research, internships, career exploration, experiential education, and other real-world learning opportunities by collaborating with individuals, businesses, The Search Group | Carney, Sandoe & Associates 6 search@carneysandoe.com | www.carneysandoe.com
nonprofits, government entities, military, and other institutions in the Huntsville metropolitan area. Randolph students engage in meaningful service partnerships with community-based groups throughout North Alabama. Individuals, teams, groups, and classes form long-term relationships with local organizations like Village of Promise, the Boys and Girls Clubs of North Alabama, Manna House, and the North Alabama Land Trust. The Upper School devotes two days each year to community learning, and the program is coordinated by a student-led Youth Leadership Council. The Randolph School Summer Internship Program is a one-month opportunity to gain real world experience working in a professional setting in local businesses, research institutions, and governmental agencies. Participation is competitive with ~25 positions available for students entering 11th or 12th grade. Arts and Athletics Woven into each grade’s curriculum, the arts influence the intellectual, cultural, and creative growth of each Randolph student. No matter the course or age-level, Randolph arts emphasize process and expression in order to challenge students to discover their own creative spirits and voices. The arts program strategically builds on itself. Kindergarten students begin by exploring line, shape, color, and texture, the tools through which the language of art develops. As Randolph students grow and master the fundamentals, they move toward more personal expression. They may join the band or choir, or they may take courses in art history, painting, drawing, two-dimensional and three- dimensional art, ceramics, photography, and theater. Randolph offers a sophisticated AP program for juniors and seniors where they may produce their own design portfolios. Whatever the artistic journey, students emerge with greater insights into The Search Group | Carney, Sandoe & Associates 7 search@carneysandoe.com | www.carneysandoe.com
themselves and a greater appreciation of the creative forces that shape our world and its cultures. Randolph athletics focus on commitment, balancing autonomy with responsibility, and discipline. The goal is to provide a framework for reaching one’s full potential in every endeavor. Randolph provides students in grades K-6 the opportunity to explore and develop skills for team sports in a healthy and nurturing environment. The Randolph Raiders team sports begin in 7th grade and evolve to varsity level in Upper School. Sports offered include baseball, basketball, bowling, cross country, dance, football, golf, swim and dive, cheer, indoor and outdoor track, soccer, tennis, volleyball, and wrestling. In addition, lacrosse and mountain biking are offered as club sports. Randolph’s athletic program continues to grow and develop, with all Fall 2018 varsity sports reaching post-season competition and every year a number of athletes signing to participate in athletics at the college-level. School Life Recently, Randolph made adjustments to its program to strengthen its school culture of support and inclusion. The 2018 merger with Greengate School has amplified the resources available to Randolph students with language-based learning differences and has made Randolph a place where all types of learners can learn in symbiosis. Additionally, the launch of the Tailored Tuition initiative last year means that a Randolph education is affordable to as many families as possible in the Tennessee Valley who are aligned with Randolph’s mission and aspirations. The K-12 Honor Code is another avenue by which Randolph purposefully sustains a culture of trust and respect. From the earliest grades, students are challenged to develop an understanding The Search Group | Carney, Sandoe & Associates 8 search@carneysandoe.com | www.carneysandoe.com
that all choices have consequences and that trust in each other liberates every student to reach for excellence. These core beliefs are the foundation for teaching and learning about character at Randolph. A student-led Honor Council holds every student to a high standard of integrity by making clear that all in the Randolph community are expected to tell the truth, complete their own work, and respect what belongs to others. Randolph also encourages each student to make his or her Randolph experience their own through choice of electives and activities, Interim, and independent research opportunities. These activities encourage students to become more responsible, organized, and focused while pursuing their passions. Campus Randolph School is situated on two beautiful campuses, the Drake Avenue campus, housing the Lower, Middle, and Greengage Schools, and the Garth Road campus, home of the Upper School. They are within a mile of each other in Southeast Huntsville, Alabama. Between the two campuses, there are multipurpose collaborative learning and performance spaces, fitness and weight training rooms, three heavily used libraries, two gyms, outstanding athletic fields, and an arts center, all situated on 68 beautiful acres. The Search Group | Carney, Sandoe & Associates 9 search@carneysandoe.com | www.carneysandoe.com
Huntsville, Alabama Incorporated in 1860, Huntsville is a city in the Appalachian foothills of northern Alabama. The city is nicknamed “The Rocket City” for its close history with U.S. space missions; the U.S. government relocated a team of German rocket scientists to the area and opened a NASA center (Marshall Space Flight Center) that would design the Saturn V, the rocket that sent Apollo astronauts to the moon. Today, the city successfully combines the rich heritage of Southern hospitality with innovative high-tech ventures and cultural diversity. Huntsville has been the fastest-growing metro area in Alabama for over a decade and is projected to become the largest metro area in the state by 2022. Because of the high-tech and defense sectors, many of the area’s residents hail from other parts of the country and the world, making Huntsville a more vibrant and diverse community than other similarly sized metro areas in the Deep South. Huntsville lives up to its venerated name in every category of civic excellence: art, science, economic strength, community engagement, resourcefulness, progress, and quality of life. Madison and Limestone counties, which contain the Huntsville metro area, have among the highest median incomes in the state. Major employing industries in Huntsville include military/aerospace and defense, biotechnology, medical, education, aeronautics, research, telecommunications, and local government. Over 70 Fortune 500 companies have offices in Huntsville, while global tech startups are becoming increasingly plentiful during the area’s “high-tech growth spurt.” With its botanical gardens, symphony orchestra, museum of art, U.S. Space and Rocket Center, children’s history museum, and minor league sports teams, Huntsville is somewhat unique for a city of its size. The Search Group | Carney, Sandoe & Associates 10 search@carneysandoe.com | www.carneysandoe.com
Three universities support the city’s growing tech boom. The University of Alabama in Huntsville is
the largest university in the greater Huntsville area serving more than 7,700 students. Approximately
half of graduates earn a degree in engineering or science, making it one of the larger producers of
engineers and scientists in the state. It also ranks among the top 75 public research institutions in
the nation. Additionally, Alabama A&M is the oldest university in the area, dating back to 1875 and
Oakwood University, a small, Seventh-Day Adventist school, has consistently been named by the
U.S. News & World Report in their listing of regional colleges in the South.
Huntsville has been recognized by Forbes, Bloomberg, the Wall Street Journal, and many other
publications as one of the top ranked cities in the U.S. related to cost of living, salaries, STEM,
business climate, growth, and innovation. In 2016, Huntsville was named the “#1 Best Affordable
Place to Live” by Livability and the “#2 American City to Work in Tech” by SmartAsset, adding to an
already long list of accolades.
Huntsville’s city center has become an exciting, vibrant area with a burst of new construction
downtown has led to more shopping, dining, and living options than ever before. In fact, just west of
downtown, a defunct cotton mill became a bustling arts center, and craft breweries and bars have
sprung up in a renovated former middle school.
As a complement to all of this, Huntsville’s close proximity to mountains and parks—including the
2,140-acre Monte Sano State Park—provide outdoor enthusiasts innumerable activities. Within
Huntsville are more than 65 parks covering a combined 3,000 acres. Parks range from small green
spaces to large multi-use areas that feature a full range of activities and equipment. Additionally, a
greenway system provides nearly 75 miles of greenways and trails throughout Huntsville. Situated
between the world-class cities of Atlanta and Nashville, Huntsville truly is a gem of a city.
Opportunities and Challenges
Randolph’s next Head of School will benefit from an institution characterized by a strong, collegial,
and collaborative faculty dedicated to the education and well-being of bright, motivated, and
enthusiastic students who enjoy learning. Relationships among the constituents of the school—
including faculty, parents, and students—are strong and valued. The academic program is rigorous
and challenging with a rich and varied curriculum. The school boasts a well-rounded program of
academics, arts, and athletics; a balance of progressive teaching with tradition; and a distinguished
reputation. The Board of Trustees is engaged, supportive, and mission-focused and committed to a
productive partnership with the next Head in charting Randolph’s next chapter and addressing the
need for:
• continuing to strengthen and differentiate the learning experience offered by Randolph,
in keeping with the its strategic vision of unique, individualized and challenging learning
experiences;
• actively championing the School and promoting Randolph in the external community as a
compelling top-tier opportunity among the many local school options;
• increasing development efforts and ongoing fundraising;
• enhancing the Lower and Middle School campus and accommodating the need for increased
enrollment in the 7th and 8th grades in particular where the demand is greatest; and
• working to determine optimal pacing and implementation of a campus enhancement plan to
create more usable space.
The Search Group | Carney, Sandoe & Associates 11 search@carneysandoe.com | www.carneysandoe.comDesired Qualities and Qualifications
The School seeks a committed and engaged Head of School to lead a school built on a foundation of
warmth, trust, and support for one another. A vibrant and healthy school, Randolph has maintained
and enhanced its reputation in the greater Huntsville community through the years while remaining
true to its mission, core values, principles, and tradition. The School is interested in candidates who
have the following qualities and qualifications:
• A visible, engaged person whose presence in the daily life of Randolph School sets a tone of
high expectations, while also conveying support for and interest in all members of the School
community;
• A leader who is relatable, approachable, a good listener, and an excellent communicator to
students, parents, faculty and staff;
• A prominent ambassador, effective communicator, and relationship builder in the local community
with a talent for telling the Randolph story in order to generate positive impressions, excitement
in the community, and growth in enrollment;
• A leader possessing energy and vision, who will work with the Board on the School’s financial
sustainability as it relates to endowment, future capital campaigns, and ongoing fundraising;
• A leader who will energize, support, mentor, and inspire faculty and staff in their work and
commitment to the mission of the School;
• A dedicated partner with the Board who will help ensure strong Board leadership and engagement.
The Search Group | Carney, Sandoe & Associates 12 search@carneysandoe.com | www.carneysandoe.comTo Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should submit electronically in one email and as separate documents
(preferably PDFs) the following materials:
• A cover letter expressing their interest in this particular position;
• A current résumé;
• A statement of educational philosophy and practice;
• A list of five professional references with name, phone number, and email address of each (references
will not be contacted without the candidate’s permission) to:
Bill Clarkson
Senior Consultant
bill.clarkson@carneysandoe.com
Beth Dietz
Senior Associate
beth.dietz@carneysandoe.com
Marguerite Lloyd
Senior Consultant
marguerite.lloyd@carneysandoe.com
The Search Group | Carney, Sandoe & Associates 13 search@carneysandoe.com | www.carneysandoe.comYou can also read
