Director of Middle School

Grace Church School•New York, NY

44d•$175,000 - $210,000

About The Position

Grace Church School seeks a Middle School Head who leads with clarity, empathy, and joy and demonstrates qualities of excellent leadership, including the ability to: communicate clearly with a broad range of constituencies; demonstrates cultural competency; understand Grace’s curriculum and support teachers in its effective implementation; cultivates trust through consistency, transparency, and care. Grace is seeking someone who is flexible, discreet, and has a sense of humor—someone who exudes warmth and delight in the daily life of the division. This person should be able to navigate difficult conversations with openness, honesty, and steady guidance. They should bring a strong and thoughtful approach to student discipline, grounded in helping children learn, repair, and grow. Whether in classrooms, hallways, or the dining room, they should model a “hands-on,” present leadership style. Most importantly, this person understands that the process of learning matters as much as the product. They attend to students’ academic, social, and emotional development with equal care, creating a space where children feel safe, known, and supported as they navigate the inevitable teachable moments of adolescence. They should be supportive and confident, able to hold boundaries with compassion, and committed to helping students become their best selves. The ideal candidate stays steady under pressure, brings a hopeful, growth-minded outlook, and truly delights in the everyday joys of Middle Schoolers. Its specific duties include but are not limited to: Providing administrative oversight of the Middle School (Grades 5-8). This includes managing the faculty, organizing classes, monitoring curriculum, hiring substitutes, supervising the production of report cards, monitoring the scheduling of field trips, working with the Head of JK-8 to develop academic schedules, create class rosters, and oversee community block activities. Teaching of academic classes and modeling best practices in the classroom; In collaboration with the Dean of Faculty, conducting classroom observations of teachers and providing constructive feedback and coaching; In collaboration with the Dean of Faculty, leading the hiring teams for open Middle School positions, facilitating the process with an understanding of school policies and best practices around equity, fairness, and anti-bias; Lead all Middle School faculty meetings; Attend and help organize Middle School Chapel services; Maintaining standards for appropriate Middle School conduct; Monitor the academic, social, and emotional progress of every student in the division in partnership with the Deans, Learning Specialist, and Counselor. Serve on the JK–8 Guidance Committee; Serving on the school-wide committees as assigned by the Head of School; Interview and assess applicants to the Middle School, working closely with the Admissions team; In partnership with the Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and the Office of Community Engagement, working to support and advance the institutional commitment to dignity, belonging, and the school’s Episcopal identity; Working with the Communications Department to produce communications for parents in the Middle School Division; Work seamlessly with faculty in all divisions, understanding how to advocate for the priorities of one division with an understanding of the needs and priorities of the whole school.

Requirements

Middle School teaching experience in an independent school
advanced degree
some administrative experience

Responsibilities

Providing administrative oversight of the Middle School (Grades 5-8). This includes managing the faculty, organizing classes, monitoring curriculum, hiring substitutes, supervising the production of report cards, monitoring the scheduling of field trips, working with the Head of JK-8 to develop academic schedules, create class rosters, and oversee community block activities.
Teaching of academic classes and modeling best practices in the classroom
In collaboration with the Dean of Faculty, conducting classroom observations of teachers and providing constructive feedback and coaching
In collaboration with the Dean of Faculty, leading the hiring teams for open Middle School positions, facilitating the process with an understanding of school policies and best practices around equity, fairness, and anti-bias
Lead all Middle School faculty meetings
Attend and help organize Middle School Chapel services
Maintaining standards for appropriate Middle School conduct
Monitor the academic, social, and emotional progress of every student in the division in partnership with the Deans, Learning Specialist, and Counselor.
Serve on the JK–8 Guidance Committee
Serving on the school-wide committees as assigned by the Head of School
Interview and assess applicants to the Middle School, working closely with the Admissions team
In partnership with the Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and the Office of Community Engagement, working to support and advance the institutional commitment to dignity, belonging, and the school’s Episcopal identity
Working with the Communications Department to produce communications for parents in the Middle School Division
Work seamlessly with faculty in all divisions, understanding how to advocate for the priorities of one division with an understanding of the needs and priorities of the whole school.