WHITBY SCHOOL MIDDLE SCHOOL HEAD - Greenwich, Connecticut Start Date: July 2022 whitbyschool.org
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WHITBY SCHOOL
Greenwich, Connecticut
MIDDLE SCHOOL HEAD
Start Date: July 2022
whitbyschool.org
MISSION
Whitby inspires a passion for learning and empowers each child to take responsibility as an open-
minded, principled citizen in a global community.
OVERVIEW
Whitby School is a pioneer for early education, committed to ensuring that every child is seen, valued,
and understood. The school is an independent, co-educational day school for students age 18 months
through grade 8, located in the historic town of Greenwich, Connecticut, within commuting distance of
New York City. At Whitby, the youngest students benefit from a Montessori education that helps them
become creative, passionate, joyful learners. In Lower School (grades 1-4) and Middle School (grades
5-8) students build on that foundation through the International Baccalaureate PYP and MYP programs.
When Whitby students head to high school, they are well prepared, self-aware, confident, and globally
minded. At Whitby, faculty and staff believe that when children are given the freedom to explore the
real-world issues and challenges around them, they will acquire the necessary skills to become lifelong
learners and compassionate global citizens.
Whitby School is seeking a dynamic Middle School Head to begin July 2022, shepherding the students
in grades 5 through 8. The successful candidate will be a forward-thinking middle school administrator
aligned with the philosophy and values of the school. Reporting to the Head of School, this senior
administrative position is responsible for providing outstanding leadership for the students, faculty, and
families connected to the Middle School and building upon the strengths of the current program.
SCHOOL HISTORY
Since its founding in 1958, Whitby School has been a beacon for child-centered education. Based on
the philosophy of Maria Montessori, the school began when a group of Greenwich families imagined
a school that would embrace a new style of teaching and learning in America. Whitby became the
birthplace of the American Montessori Society and led a revival of Montessori schools in the US.
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AT A GLANCE
Founded: 1958
Total students: 301
Total middle school students: 75
Total faculty: 65
Faculty in the middle school: 20
Languages spoken in the Whitby
community: 20+
Student/teacher ratio: 5:1
Financial aid budget: $1.1M
Endowment: $4.4M
The school continued its innovative educational leadership in 2007 with the integration of the
internationally pace-setting and highly regarded International Baccalaureate (IB) program, which
provides the foundation for the curriculum in grades 1 through 8. Whitby received IB accreditation in
Spring 2010.
THE SCHOOL
Whitby School is located on a beautifully wooded 30-acre campus in Greenwich. The international
student body represents families from approximately 20 countries. At Whitby, students are immersed
in a culturally diverse community of learners, where they are equipped with the key skills needed for
success in the 21st century. Comprised of three sections – Children’s House (18 months – kindergarten),
Lower School (grades 1-4), and Middle School (grades 5-8) – Whitby offers a child-centered education.
Students benefit from small class sizes where they are the drivers for their individualized learning.
Expert faculty nurture students’ intellectual curiosity, inspiring their love of learning, broadening their
sense of responsibility, developing critical thinking skills, and empowering them to take action in a
global community.
From the Montessori Children’s House through Middle School, Whitby provides a holistic academic
curriculum and robust extracurricular opportunities designed to develop open-minded learners with
global perspectives. The school accomplishes this through a focus on five transdisciplinary essential
skills: communication, social, self-management, research, and thinking.
A passion for lifelong learning is role modeled by the teachers at Whitby, who are diligent in pursuing
their own professional growth. Whitby is accredited by the International Baccalaureate Organization
and the Connecticut Association of Independent Schools.
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ACADEMICS
The hallmark of Whitby’s educational program is the emphasis placed on teaching students “how”
to learn. As students progress throughout the levels, they gain increasing skills and strategies that
promote self-confidence, growth, and competence. Faculty promote a culture of collaboration rather
than competition, boosting self-esteem and maximizing each child’s potential.
Middle School
Consistent with the IB Learner Profile, students learn to contextualize big ideas, critically evaluate a
range of data and perspectives, and seize opportunities for reflection that lead to their overall growth.
Whitby Middle School students pursue an IB curriculum called the Middle Years Program (MYP) that
includes science, mathematics, design, language and literature, individuals and societies, Spanish,
physical and health education, theatre, music, and visual arts. Real-life concepts are explored through
different subject areas in an interdisciplinary learning approach that fosters creativity and builds problem-
solving skills. For example, in the 6th grade unit on the science of sound waves, students explore sound
through the framework of science, music, and design.
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HIGH SCHOOL
MATRICULATION
Students from the Classes of
2015-2021 have matriculated at
the following high schools, among
many:
Academy of Information,
Technology & Engineering
American School of Paris
Berkshire School
Blair Academy
Brighton College UK
Brunswick School
Columbus Academy
Eastside Preparatory School
Emma Willard School
The Ethel Walker School
Fairfield College Preparatory
In the classroom, Whitby capitalizes on innovative School
technologies that enhance teaching and learning, and the 1:1 Fox lane High School
laptop program is complemented by ongoing conversations Greenwich Academy
on digital citizenship. Greenwich Country Day School
The Gunnery
A Secondary School Counseling Program at Whitby helps Hackley School
each student find the “best fit” in his or her next academic Het Amsterdams Lyceum
environment. Using an individualized approach, Whitby Hopkins School
works with students and parents to explore options that meet International School of Krakow
the academic and extracurricular interests of the student. J.M. Wright Technical High School
Students receive guidance in writing essays, preparing for Kimball Union Academy
interviews, and completing applications. Marymount School of New York
The Masters School
Middlesex School
Milton Academy
THE ARTS New Fairfield High School
Oscar Romero College Belgium
Whitby students participate in several arts programs,
Peddie School
allowing for skill development in self-expression and creative
Phillips Academy Andover
thinking. Students learn from arts faculty with advanced Pomfret School
degrees in interdisciplinary teaching and methodology. Rye Country Day School
Visual arts include 3D design and printing, painting, Sacred Heart Greenwich
ceramics, architecture, and jewelry making. Salisbury School
St. Luke’s School
For students who enjoy theatre and music, the Performing Westhill High School
Arts program offers options to pursue musical instruments The Windward School
or participate in annual musical productions
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COCURRICULAR PROGRAMS AND COMMUNITY SERVICE
Whitby’s educational program is designed to meet the needs of the whole child—cognitively, socially,
emotionally, and physically. Thus, the school offers a mission-driven co-curricular program that provides
a full range of courses and activities to complement the students’ academic school day. Activities for
students are a required part of the school program.
Students participate on athletic teams as part of the Middle School Fairchester Athletic Association. All
students have access to a variety of clubs and electives, such as Montessori Model United Nations,
MATHCOUNTS Team, and Outdoor Club.
Service as action is an integral part of the Whitby experience. Whitby’s comprehensive Community
Service program aims to expand students’ view of themselves and the world, develop empathy and
leadership skills, and come to understand that through their individual actions they can positively
impact the lives of others. From a buddies program in Grade 6 where students take on a mentor role
with Primary students, to leading a grassroot effort to ban single use bottles or engaging in service
trip in Grades 7 and 8, students have countless opportunities to get involved in their communities and
beyond.
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GREENWICH, CONNECTICUT
Known as the “gateway to New England,” Greenwich is a charming coastal town with a rich history
and culture nestled along the Long Island Sound in Fairfield County. Just a short 50-minute train ride
to New York City, Greenwich has just over 62,000 residents and maintains a small town feeling with
quaint streets and town greens.
Outdoor enthusiasts enjoy the 32 miles of shoreline with gorgeous beaches and an abundance of
parks and hiking trails for horseback riding and biking. History and art lovers actively participate in the
annual Greenwich International Film Festival as well as attend the beloved Bruce Museum of Arts and
Science, which has garnered global acclaim for its art exhibitions.
As the largest town on Connecticut’s “Gold Coast,” Greenwich is home to many financial firms and
enjoys numerous urban comforts and conveniences including renowned schools, a rich cultural scene,
and seemingly endless shopping and dining options.
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CORE RESPONSIBILITIES
The Middle School Head reports to the Head of School and supports the students and faculty in grades
5-8, overseeing all aspects of the Middle School. Core Responsibilities will include the following, among
others:
• Creating a safe, positive, and responsive learning environment, consistent with the needs of
adolescent and pre-adolescent students;
• Recruiting, hiring, retaining, supporting, and evaluating MS faculty;
• Providing effective leadership of the curriculum, consistent with the International Baccalaureate
MYP program;
• Supporting faculty with curriculum planning, curriculum implementation, and pedagogy;
• Supporting the admissions process, enrolling and retaining mission-appropriate students;
• Partnering with parents through proactive communication, educational opportunities, and parental
involvement in MS programs; and
• Teaching one class, as required by the Head of School.
OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES
The next Middle School Head will work with an experienced and dedicated faculty and will benefit from
a tight knit community, schoolwide commitment to continuous improvement, and exceptional academic
program. The priorities, opportunities, and challenges ahead include:
• Communicating the value proposition of Middle School to both internal and external audiences,
supporting the recruitment and retention of mission-appropriate students;
• Employing an innovative and entrepreneurial mindset to grow the Middle School student body (to
100+ students) and program in ways that reflect evolving best practices in teaching and learning;
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• Developing systems and processes for increasingly efficient operations, so that faculty can maintain
their focus on providing an exceptional student-centered academic experience;
• Building community within the Middle School and across academic divisions (Children’s House,
Lower School) and stakeholders at Whitby; and
• Consistent with Whitby’s commitment to continuous improvement, supporting the professional
growth of faculty.
DESIRED QUALITIES AND QUALIFICATIONS
The most competitive candidates will offer most of the following qualifications and qualities:
• Delight in working with Middle School age children and the teachers and parents who care for them;
• Experience and/or alignment with the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program (MYP)
and a commitment to student-centered teaching and learning;
• Experience leading and managing adults;
• Exceptional interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate with confidence, inspiration, and
clarity across a wide range of audiences;
• Knowledge of child-development and the learning needs of children in grades 5-8; and
• A dynamic, charismatic, energetic, and joyful spirit.
CARNEYSANDOE.COM 9TO APPLY
Interested and qualified candidates are invited to contact the consultant in confidence. As the search will
move quickly, candidates are encouraged to submit the following materials as separate PDF documents
to Marsha Little as soon as possible:
• A cover letter expressing their interest in this particular position (including specific discussion of
alignment with the IB MYP philosophy); and
• A current résumé.
Marsha Little
Search Consultant
marsha.little@carneysandoe.com
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