Associate Head of School

Job Title: Associate Head of School

Supervisor: Head of School

Regular Daily Schedule: 8:00 a.m - 4:00 p.m

Calendar to Follow: 12 Month

Status: Exempt

Summary of Duties and Responsibilities

Purpose:

To serve as the chief administrator of Cooke School K-12 program in developing and implementing policies, programs, curriculum activities, and budgets in a manner that promotes the educational development of each student and the professional development of each staff member in accordance with the Vision, Mission, Values, and strategic plan of the Cooke School and Institute.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Policies and Procedures

• Conceptualizes the broad goals of the school and plans accordingly to ensure that procedures and schedules are implemented to carry out the total program. These goals are to be consistent with the Cooke Schools Strategic Plan
• Ensures that the program is conducted in a manner that is compatible with Cooke School policy and procedures: the NYSAIS accreditation standards, and applicable Federal, State, and City regulations. The Associate Head defines the responsibilities and accountability of staff members and develops plans for interpreting the school program to the community
• In collaboration with the program coordinators, facilitates the professional growth of the school staff to enhance the quality of the instructional program, through differentiated supervision and opportunities for continuing professional development and provides for their input in the school program
• In collaboration with the program coordinators, identify the annual objectives for the instructional, therapeutic, transition, and extracurricular objectives of the program
• Establishes, implements, and evaluates procedures used to carry out the daily routine of the program
• In collaboration with the program coordinators, evaluates student progress in the instructional, therapeutic, and transition programs by means that include the maintaining of up-to-date student data
• In collaboration with the program coordinators encourages the use of community resources, interprets the school program for the community, and our supporters, and maintains communication with community members and our partners
• Manages the purchase and use of materials, supplies and equipment for the program that are necessary to carry out the daily school routine
• Ensures compliance with all applicable health and safety regulations and that the facilities are a healthy and safe environment for all
Ensures that all records, forms, and other documents are maintained in accord with the policy and procedures of the Cooke School and in accord with Federal and State regulations

Public Relations and Communications

• Serving as the face of the K-12 program, Associate Head takes the lead role in representing Cooke School to local, regional, and national organizations.
• Maintains high visibility within the school through classroom visits, attending conferences and other meetings when appropriate, attending board meetings and school wide functions.
• Collaborates with members of the Upper, Middle and Lower School Teams in the development of goals, plans, and policies
• Maintains communication with and seeks assistance from the administration of Upper, Middle and Lower School and their peers to improve performance. The Administrative Coordinator maintains good relationships with students, staff, and parents.
• Oversee, delegate and manage parent communication, opportunities for engagement/learning, and timely feedback.
• Fostering communication between and among all major stakeholders; faculty, administrative staff, assistant teachers, parents, students, and trustees.

Operations and Planning

• Managing the school on a day to day basis
• Overseeing and assisting with all aspects of day to day, annual, and long range operations
• Overseeing and assisting in developing, implementing, and evaluating all educational programs
• Facilitating the articulation of strategic plans
• Participation in the preparation and implementation of promotional and marketing materials
• Reviewing and implementing appropriate health, safety, and security measures

Personnel

• Promoting an internal organization that permits effective communication amongst staff
• Creating and nurturing an appropriate and effective management team
• Supporting coordinators in supervising, evaluating and providing professional development opportunities for staff
• Maintain responsibility and authority for personnel decisions (hiring, development, and termination) conducted in collaboration with others as appropriate.

Physical Requirements

Able to maintain the physical capacity required to navigate the school environment and to ensure the safety of the students; the ability to

• walk, run, sit, and stand
• move rapidly forward, backward, and laterally
• bend and stoop
• push, pull, and lift

Education and Experience

• School Building Leadership Certification preferred or PhD degree in a related field
• 10 years of leadership experience
• Deep knowledge of current best practices in curriculum design, assessment, and pedagogy
• Proven ability to lead and motivate teams, build consensus, and make strategic decisions
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to effectively communicate with students, parents, faculty, and administrators
• Strong interpersonal skills, including empathy, active listening, and conflict resolution
• Commitment to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion within the school community
• Ability to work effectively with colleagues across different departments and divisions
• Capability to develop and implement long-term strategic plans for the school
• Deep understanding of specific academic disciplines or areas of curriculum development

• Experience with student support services, extracurricular activities, and student discipline
• Knowledge of school operations, budgeting, and facilities management

Professional Development

All Cooke staff are responsible for developing a professional growth plan with their supervisor. Staff training is an integral part of the Cooke School and as such is a requirement of the job. All staff must at a minimum: attend all scheduled Staff Development activities throughout the year and participate in staff orientation scheduled for the last week in August.

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy Statement

The Cooke School and Institute provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty, or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws. Cooke complies with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment in every location in which the a has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.