Upper School Director and IB Diploma Program Coordinator

Kennedy International School•New York, NY

10d

About The Position

Kennedy International’s Upper School serves approximately 75 students in Grades 6–12, many from francophone backgrounds. The school offers a bilingual and multilingual learning environment. In Grades 6–8, students participate in a bilingual English/French program accredited by the French Ministry of Education, with 70% of instruction in French and 30% in English. Grade 9 students follow either a French-accredited program leading to the French Ministry’s Brevet Diploma or an international pre-IB Diploma Programme (DP) track taught predominantly in English. By Grade 10, all students enter the pre-IB DP program and take courses in English and French in preparation for the IB Diploma, which also offers courses in both languages. The Upper School Director is a member of the School Leadership Team, initially reporting to the Associate Head of School and ultimately to the Head of School. The Director collaborates with the Associate Head of School (P–12), who oversees French Ministry compliance, francophone faculty recruitment, and French program requirements. The Director oversees the Upper School team, including the French-speaking Dean of Students, an Administrative Assistant, and approximately 20 Anglophone and Francophone faculty members. French fluency is an advantage but is not required; the school’s working language is English. The role combines leadership of the Upper School with coordination of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. The Director leads faculty and staff, oversees daily operations and curriculum, supports student academic and personal development, engages with families and the wider school community, and ensures alignment with school policies and goals. As IB DP Coordinator, the role oversees curriculum development, teacher qualification and training, internal assessments, student examination registration, examination administration, program communications and documentation, and the program’s development and authorization renewal process. This is a full-time, exempt position. The application deadline is December 1, 2026, and the start date is August 1, 2027.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required.
Minimum of 5–7 years of successful upper school teaching experience.
Minimum of 3–5 years of experience in educational leadership, department leadership, or school administration.
Demonstrated experience with the International Baccalaureate curriculum, preferably in an authorized IB World School.
Strong understanding of IB philosophy, curriculum framework, assessment practices, and academic expectations.
Experience in curriculum planning, development, implementation, and evaluation.
Proven ability to supervise, mentor, evaluate, and support faculty in maintaining high academic standards.
Strong knowledge of student development, academic advising, classroom management, and student well-being.
Excellent organizational, communication, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills.
Ability to work collaboratively with faculty, students, parents, and school leadership.
Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, intercultural understanding, and international-mindedness.
Ability to balance strategic educational leadership with daily academic and administrative responsibilities.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in Education, Educational Leadership, Curriculum and Instruction, or a related field.
Fluency in French.

Responsibilities

Lead, mentor, and evaluate Upper School faculty and staff, fostering professional growth and a collaborative, positive environment.
Manage day-to-day Upper School operations, including schedules, events, and stakeholder communication.
Oversee the design, implementation, and evaluation of the Upper School curriculum.
Promote academic rigor and innovation while ensuring students are appropriately challenged and supported.
Collaborate with the Dean of Students and faculty to address students’ academic, social, and emotional needs.
Foster respect, integrity, and responsibility, integrating character education into school life.
Design and implement professional development aligned with the school’s educational goals and priorities.
Conduct regular faculty and staff observations and evaluations, providing constructive feedback and support.
Serve as a primary contact for Upper School parents, address concerns, communicate effectively, and build partnerships.
Collaborate with admissions to evaluate prospective students and support new families’ transitions.
Organize and participate in events that build community among students, parents, faculty, and staff.
Develop, enforce, and review policies and procedures supporting a safe, inclusive, and productive learning environment.
Use data to assess student performance, inform decisions, and track progress toward goals.
Work with the Head of School and other division heads to ensure alignment and coherence across divisions.
Oversee curriculum development within the IB Diploma Programme.
Ensure teachers are appropriately qualified and trained according to IB requirements.
Organize internal assessment in accordance with IB Diploma Programme criteria.
Maintain records of IB-related communications, forms, documents, and reports.
Ensure students are registered for examinations.
Ensure appropriate administration of written and oral examinations, including scheduling, invigilator training, and preparation of exam materials.
Lead promotion and development of the IB Diploma Programme within and outside the school.
Oversee the five-year program authorization renewal process when applicable.