What are the responsibilities and job description for the Upper School Director position at Bentley School?
Overview
Bentley School is a thriving K–12 independent day school located on two beautiful campuses in Oakland and Lafayette, California. The school seeks a dedicated and talented independent school leader who values academic excellence, student life balance, and a strong sense of belonging among all constituencies. Bentley is an inclusive community of 650 students and 150 employees in which a shared vision of transformational learning and respect for the individual is paramount.
Opportunities and Challenges
The next Upper School Director will lead a hard-working, committed group of faculty and staff who value growth and collaboration and 300 college-bound students who evidence on a daily basis their enthusiasm for learning within and beyond the classroom.
Key Responsibilities:
- Articulate a Shared Vision for the Upper School
- Sustain and Prioritize a Balanced Program
- Strengthen Faculty Culture
- Work Collaboratively with the K–8 Director
Qualifications and Personal Attributes:
A proven track record as an Upper School leader in an independent school (or similar level of responsibility), preferably K–12; A love of high school students and a desire to engage with great energy, warmth, and humor; A deep understanding of developmental challenges and milestones;
Exceptional interpersonal and communications skills, including the ability to listen carefully and reflectively, speak confidently and persuasively, and write skillfully to the full range of school constituencies; The ability to manage an expansive agenda by delegating, appropriately calibrating the pace of change, and identifying the resources required; A track record of building a diverse, inclusive, and collaborative organization;
Strong experience with recruiting, hiring, supporting, and mentoring educators; Significant and successful classroom teaching experience and demonstrated success as an effective instructional leader and manager; Grounded and fluent in cultural competency, equity, and inclusion work;
A collaborative spirit combined with a willingness to act decisively; Strength in building and maintaining connections and community between colleagues, divisions, parents, and students; Able to manage a range of personalities with strong EQ and emotional bandwidth; A sense of humor.
