HeadofSchoolPositionStatement

WorcesterAcademyWorcester,MAJuly1,2021

THEOPPORTUNITYPositionedonahilltopinthecenterofNewEngland’ssecondlargestcity,WorcesterAcademy(WA)isadynamicurbanschool,integrallypartofitsneighborhoodandcloselyalignedwiththerenaissancecurrentlyunderwayinWorcester,Massachusetts.Uniqueamongindependentschools,WorcesterAcademyisanurbandayandboardingschoolthatisinsomewaysatypicalNewEnglandprepschool.Yetitisalsoremarkablydiverseandincludesmiddleschool,highschool,andahighlysuccessfulpost-graduateprogram,withdaystudentsdrawnfromnumeroustownsandcitiesintheregion,andinternationalstudentsfromawidearrayofcountries.Withoutstandingacademicsandexcellentprogramsinathletics,thevisualandperformingarts,andcivicinvolvement,amongothers,WorcesterAcademy,whilethriving,ispoisedtoembracethenextexcitingchapterinits186-yearhistory.

WorcesterAcademy’scampusiscenteredonastunningopengreenspace,unexpectedyetwelcomeinthemiddleofthesurroundingurban

landscape.Handsomeredbrickhistoricbuildingsthatspeakimmediatelytotheproudevolutionoftheschool,andwhichfosterandinspiretheseriousintellectualcultureofthecommunity,surroundthisgrandcentralquad.Yetitisthestudentsthatcreatetheschoolclimate;theyarejoyous,unpretentious,open,articulate,andhighlymotivated.Thefacultyisdedicatedandpowerfullydrawnbothtothelocationandeclecticismoftheschoolandsurroundingcommunities.Loyalgraduates,trustees,andpastandcurrentparentsunderpinandbolsterthereputationandresourcesoftheAcademy.

AfternearlyadecadeunderthecapableleadershipofHeadofSchoolRonCino,WorcesterAcademyisseekinganewHeadofSchoolforJulyof2021.ThispositionisideallysuitedforaleaderwillingtoembracetheexcitementthatisbubblinginWorcestertoday,alongwithacommitmenttofullengagementinaboardingschoolenvironment.Thereareexcitingentrepreneurialchallengesassociatedwiththisrole,bothintermsofinternalprogrammingandtheexternalmarketingandrelationshipsfortheschool,alongwithadaptingthoseopportunitiestoproudtraditionsandawarm,relationalschoolculture.WorcesterAcademyoffersauniquelycompellingheadshipopportunity.

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WorcesterAcademy:HeadofSchoolPosi>onStatement

HISTORYIn1834,agroupofWorcestercitizensestablishedtheWorcesterCountyManualLaborHighSchool.UndertheguidanceofIsaacDavis,whowouldserveasPresidentoftheTrusteesforthirty-fiveyears,andSilasBailey,theschool’sfirstPrincipal,theinstitutionbeganas"aschoolfortheeducationofyouthinthelanguages,artsandsciences,forpromotinghabitsofindustryandeconomy,andinculcatingtheprinciplesofpietyandvirtue."In1846,thenamewaschangedtoWorcesterAcademy,andin1869,theschoolmovedtoitspresentsiteonProvidenceStreet.WorcesterAcademy,whichnowstandsonUnionHill,isprimarilytheproductofDanielWebsterAbercrombie,Principalfrom1882-1918;underhisleadershiphistoricallysignificantbuildingsstillinusetodaywereconstructed.WorcesterAcademyisproudofitsmany“firsts”:Thefirstinternationalstudentsgraduatedin1937,thefirstAfrican-Americanstudentwasaformerslavewhograduatedin1875,andthefirstfinancialaidawardedtostudentswasintheyearoftheSchool’sfounding.Girlswerefirstadmittedinthemid-1800s,andJewishstudentswereadmittedtotheAcademydecadesbeforeother“traditional”NewEnglandboardingschools.WAremainsinspiredbytheseandmanyother“firsts.”

Overitslong,proudhistory,WorcesterAcademyhasexperiencedtimesofprosperityandsomeperiodsofconsiderablechallenge;yettheschoolhasremainedconsistentlytruetoitscoremission,adaptedwithvisionandflexibility.Forexample,inthe1890's,tomeetthe

needsofachangingsocietyandtocomplementtheAcademy'sclassicaleducation,Dr.AbercrombieintroducedcoursesinsciencepatternedafterthosehesawtaughtinEurope.Othersignificanteventsincludethere-admissionofgirlsin1974andtheformalestablishmentofamiddleschoolin1987.Recentphysicalimprovementsincludetheadditionoffifteenacresofnewcampusspace(SouthCampus),whichiswithinwalkingdistanceofthehistoriccampus.SouthCampusishometoMorseFieldandtherecentlycompletedWAPerformanceCenter.OtherconstructionwithinthelastdecadeandahalfincludesRaderHall,theNewBalanceAthleticFields,andtherenovationofKingsleyLaboratoriesandWalkerHall.Theprogram,facilities,andcurriculumcontinuetoevolveinexcitingdirectionstothisday.

TotalEnrollment: 574studentsMiddleSchoolEnrollment: 86studentsUpperSchoolEnrollment: 488studentsCountriesRepresentedinStudentBody:13StatesRepresentedinStudentBody: 12InternationalStudents: 105UnderrepresentedMinorityStudents:≈20%BoardingStudents: 67AverageFinancialAidGrant: ≈$25,000FinancialAidBudget: $7.1millionNumberofTeachingFaculty: 86AdvisortoStudentRatio: 1:8NumberofHonorsandAPCourses: 40NumberofAthleticTeams: over50StudentTheaterProgramParticipants:80AverageClassSize: 14studentsCampusAcreage: 71Endowment: ≈$43millionDebt: ≈$18millionOperatingBudget: $24.5millionAnnualFund: $1.15millionMostRecentCapitalCampaignTotal: $52millionAveragedrivingtimetoBoston: 45minutesNumberofTrainsDailytoBoston: 20

FASTFACTS

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WorcesterAcademy:HeadofSchoolPosi>onStatement

MISSIONANDCOREVALUES

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WorcesterAcademyexiststoinstillinitsstudentsthedesiretolearnthroughoutlife,toengagepassionatelywiththeworldaroundthem,andtobehonorablepersonsofstrongandresourcefulcharacter.

CoreValues

Weareacommunity–curious,thoughtful,generous,andthrivinginourdiversity.WeembraceeachofourcorevaluesasessentialtothemissionofWorcesterAcademyandastestimonyofourbeliefsandcommitments.

Honor:Integrity,honesty,respect,fairness,andresponsibilityinformouractionsandbeliefs.Theseattributesarethefoundationsfor‘AchievingtheHonorable’(theschoolmotto)inbothourpublicandprivatelives.

Respect:Webelieveintheinherentworthofeveryperson,celebratingdifferenceinacommunityrichwithdiversegiftsandtalents.Weseekcommonalityinourrelationshipsregardlessoftitle,background,orindividualabilitiesandchallenges.Wealsoacceptresponsibilityforsustainingtheworldaroundus,fromthecampustotheglobalenvironment.

Community:Theactoflearningbringsallmembersofthiscommunitytogether.Weshareabeliefintheimportanceofservingothersthroughbothleadershipandgenerosity.Arespectfulandcompassionateapproachtocitizenshipguidesouractionsonthiscampusandinthewiderworld.

PersonalGrowth:Personalgrowthmaybemeasuredinmanyways;themostauthentic,however,iswhenwearetruetoourselves.Weseektofulfillourpotentialbybuildinghabitsofmindandbodythatpromotegrowthinknowledgeandunderstanding,abilityandconfidence,poiseandleadership.Bydoingso,wenurtureadesireforlife-longlearningandacommitmenttoexcellenceinallphasesoflife.

Challenge:Attainingexcellenceinachangingglobalenvironmentrequiresadaptability,creativity,andintellectualcourage.Weseekrelevanceinourwork,andprovidearigorousyetnurturingenvironmentinwhichweallmaythrive.Wevaluehardworkandthedisciplinedapplicationofknowledgeandskillsinourlearningandinstitutionalpractices.

WorcesterAcademy:HeadofSchoolPosi>onStatement

LOCATIONANDCOMMUNITY

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WorcesterAcademyiscloselyalignedwiththedynamicspiritandprocessesofrevitalization,repurposing,andinnovationcurrentlyunderwayintheCityofWorcester.RightdownthehillfromtheAcademy,theWorcesterRedSox(theTripleAminorleagueaffiliateteamfortheBostonRedSox)areconstructinganewbaseballstadium;thatentiredistrictisbrimmingwithnewbusinessesandpossibilities.TheSchoolis,infact,oneoftheofficialpartnersoftheteam,withwaystoinvolvetheWAstudentscurrentlybeingexplored.DowntownsectorsofWorcesterarewitnessingnewconstructionand,evenmoreprominently,thespectacularrepurposingofoldmills,warehousesandfactoriesasresidences,artisanalcenters,galleries,businesshubs,restaurantsandaccommodations.TheGreaterWorcesterareaboasts12universitiesandcolleges,manywithinonlyafewmilesoftheWorcesterAcademycampus,andmostofthemofferingpossibilitiesforpartnershipsandlearningopportunitiesforstudentsandteachers.Worcesteralsohasexciting,expandingartsandtheaterscenes;worldclassmedicalresearchandcarefacilities;arapidlyexpandingbiomedicalresearchandbusinesssector;andanairportthatoffersconnectionsaroundthecountryandtheglobe.

Perhapsmostsignificantly,WorcesterAcademystudentsprovidetensofthousandsofservicehoursinthecityandsurroundingcommunities.While

muchofthecentralcampusissurroundedbyanopen-gatedwall,actuallythereisnobarriertotheengagementofstudentsandfacultyintheneighborhood.TheSchoolhasapowerfulsensethatitsfuturemustbeevenmorecloselyalignedwithWorcester’sburgeoningopportunitiesandrisingtrajectory,andthenextHeadofSchoolmustbepreparedtobedeeplyengagedinthatendeavor.

WorcesterAcademy:HeadofSchoolPosi>onStatement

THEPROGRAMAt186yearsold,WorcesterAcademyseesitselfasatraditionalNewEnglandprepschool,albeitonewhoseprogramisanythingbutstuckinthepast.Studentsarewellpreparedfortheacademicchallengesofcollegewithagreatsenseoftheirplaceintheworldandtheirpotentialimpactonit.Intheclassroom,studentsareengagedbyexperiencedanddedicatedfacultywhoaresubjectareaspecialistsanddedicatedtotheintellectualdevelopmentofadolescents.Smallclassesandcloseteacher-studentrelationshipsallowfacultytodivedeepintotheirsubjectmatterandsupportstudentstoexcel.Studentsfromthelocalarea,acrossthecountry,andaroundtheworldmakeforawonderfulmixofexperiences,interests,andoutlooks.EverythingaboutWAfeelsgroundedintherealworld,includingtheacademicprogram.InarecentsurveytounderstandWorcesterAcademy’s“NetPromoterScore”(ameasureoflikelihoodforstudents,parents,alumni,andteacherstorecommendtheSchool),thethird-partyresearchfirmconductingthestudynoted

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WorcesterAcademy:HeadofSchoolPosi>onStatement

WorcesterAcademyreceivedthehighestscoresithasseeninitsworkwithover300schools.

TheMiddleSchool,locatedinRaderHallandservinggrades6-8,focusesonchallenge,fun,andpurpose.Studentsaresupportedtobuildtheiracademicskillsinaproject-basedprogramthatencouragesthemtostudytopicsin-depth.Collaborativeprojects,fieldtrips,outsidespeakers,andonlineresourcescombinetoallowstudentstomastercorecontentandgainvaluableinsightintohowtheylearn.AstrongadvisoryprogramiscriticaltoreinforcingtheAcademy’scorevaluesofhonor,respect,community,personalgrowth,andchallenge.Outsideoftheclassroom,middleschoolersatWAarepassionatelyandactivelyengagedinmanyvariedactivities,includingathleticsandservice.Thereare14athleticteamsonwhichtoplayaswellasafter-schoolclubsrangingfromprogrammingtosailingandultimateFrisbee.TheMiddleSchoolisalsoconnectedtothecommunitythroughanongoingpartnershipwithaneighboringpublicelementaryschoolandannualMarketProject,exploringethnicmarketsinWorcester.

TheUpperSchoolprogramisdiverse,inspiring,andchallenging.Studentstakeclassesineachofthe5majoracademicsubjectareaseveryyearandchoosefromextensiveperformingandvisualartsofferings.HonorsandAPsectionsexistacrossthecurriculumforstudentsseekingextrachallenge.Learningishands-on,collaborative,andfocusedontheapplicationoflessonslearned.Studentsin9thand10thgradehavecore

classes,andstudentsin11th,12th,andPGyearsareabletochoosefrommanyexcitingelectivesineveryacademicdiscipline.TheCenterforLearningprovideslearningsupportforstudentswithdiagnosedlearningneedsforanextrafee.TheartsareavitalpartoflifeatWA.With30+offeringsandahighlyskilledfaculty,theprogramaccommodateseverystudent’sneedsandinterests.Firstclassfacilitieshelptoinspirestudents’workinboththevisualandperformingarts.Manystudentsfarexceedtherequirements,motivatedtoexplorenewareasofinterestorgofurtherindepthinafavoritemedium.

Withalongstandingtraditionofofferingapost-graduateyear,WAenjoysawell-deservedreputationforenablingpost-gradstudentstofullyunlocktheirpotentialinacademics,thearts,andathletics.Itisayearoffocusthathelpstobringstudents’passionstotheforefrontandbuildontheskillsthatleadtosuccessincollege.Becauseoftherichofferingswithinthecurriculum,PGsareabletodesignaprogramwithjusttherightamountofchallengeandsupport.

Demonstratinghowtheirlearningcanbeappliedoutsideoftheclassroom,allseniorspursueprojectsinanareaofinterestinoneofsixcategories:careerexploration,masterworks,capstone,servicelearning,discovery,andlearningpracticum.TheGraduationProjecttopicsareasvariedastheinterests,experiences,andtalentsofWAstudents.Recentprojectshaveincludedblacksmithing,engineeringapianoplayerusingrobotichands,utopianarchitecture,3Ddesign,composingandrecordinganalbum,andcityscapepaintinginfourstyles,tonamebutafew.

AthleticshavelongbeenasignatureofWorcesterAcademy’sprogram.With50+teamsin17differentsports,thereistrulysomethingforeveryone,fromtheaspiringDivision1athletetothosewhowanttodabbleinsomethingnew.Worcester’svarsityteamsoftencompeteforleagueandNEPSACtitles.Theprogramissupportedbyexcellentcoachesandoutstandingfacilities,includingDanielsGym,MorseFieldandGaskillField(bothwithinwalkingdistanceofcampus),andNewBalanceField(5milesaway).WAalsopartnerswithlocalvenuesforicehockey,skiing,andcrew.

WorcesterAcademy:HeadofSchoolPosi>onStatement

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WorcesterAcademy’shilltopcampusprovidesanappropriatelytranquilspotforlearningwithinabustlingcity.WithseveralredbrickbuildingsthatdatebacktotheAcademy’searlydayssurroundingthelargegreenspaceatitscenter,thereisasenseofhistorytothecampus.Ofcoursemanyupdatesovertheyearsmakethebuildingsinspiringplacestolearnandcomfortableplacestolive.WalkerHall,thefirstbuildingoneencountersoncampus,hasbeenrecentlyrenovatedandisaLEEDcertifiedshowpiece,housingbeautifulclassroomsandartstudiosaswellasadministrationoffices.Fourdormitories-Dexter,Stoddard,Haydon,andDavol-houseboardingstudents.WarnerTheater,builtin1932intheornatestyleoftheday,isaspectacularsettingformusicandtheaterperformances.Therecentlyadoptedcampusmasterplancallsforanewathleticfacilityanddininghallamongotherupgradesthatwilladdtobothcommunityandprogramming.

THECAMPUS

OPPORTUNITIESANDCHALLENGESThenextHeadofWorcesterAcademyshouldbepreparedtoworkinpartnershipwiththeBoard,faculty,staff,andadministrationto:

• ArticulateacoherentandcompellingidentityandvisionfortheSchoolinanincreasinglycompetitiveenrollmentenvironment;

• TakefulladvantageoftheAcademy’suniqueurbanlocationandWorcester’srenaissancemoment;

• CultivaterobustpartnershipswithingreaterWorcesterthatwillservetogroundtheexperienceforstudentsinreal-worldexperiencesandfulfillasenseofpublicpurpose;

• RaisetheAcademy’sexternalprofiletoensurelong-termsustainabilitythroughrobustfundraisingandenrollmentmanagement;

• CommunicateeffectivelywithallconstituentsoftheSchool;

• EnsurethattheAcademyhasefficientandeffectivemanagementsystems,informedbybestpractice;

• LeveragetheAcademy’suniquediversitytoensurethatitisinextricablytiedtoacademicandprogrammaticexcellence;

• Inspirecontinuedprogramexcellencewithacademicachievementatitscenter.

WorcesterAcademy:HeadofSchoolPosi>onStatement

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QUALIFICATIONSANDQUALITIESOFTHENEXTHEADOFSCHOOL

APPLICATIONPROCESSWorcesterAcademyhasretainedthefirmResourceGroup175tosupportitssearchforitsnextHeadofSchool.Ifyouwishtosubmityourapplicationmaterials(whichincludearesume,coverletter,educationalphilosophyandoneotherwritingsample),pleasedosoattheresourceGroup175website:

h"ps://rg175.com/candidate/signup

Deadlinetoapply:May18,2020

Forinquiriesorifyouwouldliketonominateacandidateforthisposition,pleasecontactbothoftheResourceGroup175consultantsworkingwithWorcesterAcademy:

TonyFeatherstontfeatherston@RG175.com

AND

BobHendersonrhenderson@RG175.com

Asuccessfulcandidatewillbeabletodemonstratethefollowingskills,values,andexperiences:

• Commitmenttoeducationalexcellenceandthecapacitytoleadthecontinuingdevelopmentofcurriculumandprogrammingacrossgrades6through12andpost-graduate;

• CompellingcommunicationskillswiththeabilitytocaptivateotherswithWorcesterAcademy’sstoryandvisionforthefuture;

• Empatheticleaderwhocanstriketherightbalancebetweenmaintainingawarm,approachablepresencewithbeingclearanddecisive;

• Effectivemanagerandsystemsthinkerwhoknowsbestpracticeandhastheexperiencetosetclearexpectationsandstandardsforaccountability;

• Aschoolpersonwhoappreciatesallthecomplexitiesandjoysofleadingadynamicdayandboardingschool;

• Effectiverecruiteroftalentandsupporterofexcellenceamongfaculty,administration,andstaff;

• Commitmenttoandexperiencewithleadingadiverseandinclusivecommunityandtheabilitytohelpotherslearnfrommomentsofmisunderstandingorconflict;

• EagerandeffectivefundraiserwhocaninspireotherstosupportWorcesterAcademy’slong-termsustainability;

• Optimismandtheabilitytoinspireothers.