head of school position statement the rashi school · the headship at rashi is a position of...

HEADOFSCHOOLPOSITIONSTATEMENT

THERASHISCHOOLDedham,MAJuly2019

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village,developingprofoundmultigenerationalrelationships.Second,Rashifostersadeepcommitmenttotikkunolam(repairingtheworld);socialjusticeisintegratedthoroughlyandthoughtfullyacrossthecurriculumandprogramming.Everyaspectofachild’sexperienceatRashiisunderpinnedbyasuperbfacultythatseekstoliveandteachthemissionandcorevaluesoftheSchool,andwhoare

mastersoftheartofteachingandtheestablishmentofhighacademicexpectations.TheheadshipatRashiisapositionofsignificanceinthewiderBostonJewishcommunityandtheSchoolhasenjoyedtremendoussupportfromthatcommunityovertheyears.

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OVERVIEW

TheRashiSchoolisanindependentschoolthatmasterfullyblendsaninspirationalandchallengingacademicprogramwithacommitmenttotheformationofJewishidentityandvaluesforelementaryandmiddleschoolagechildren(gradesK-8).FoundedandsustainedintheReformJewishtradition,Rashihasapluralisticculture,welcomingstudentsfromarangeofbackgrounds,buildingcommonpurposethroughcommitmenttocorevaluesoflimud(learning),tzedek(justice),kehillah(community),kavod(respect),andruachelohim(divinespirit).Aboveall,Rashiisajoyfulcommunitycenteredonkindness,curiosity,aspirationandcompassion.RashiseeksanewHeadofSchoolforJulyof2019whocanfurtheritsmissionandleadoneoftheoutstandingschoolsofitstypeinGreaterBostonandinthecountry.Locatedonastate-of-the-artcampus,inabuildingthatwascompletedin2010,TheRashiSchoolisnestledintoabeautifulcorneroftheNewbridgeontheCharles–HebrewSeniorLifedevelopmentinsuburbanDedham,Massachusetts,closetotheBostoncityline.TwosignatureprogramsdistinguishTheRashiSchool.First,Rashitakesfulladvantageofitsaccesstothewisdomandperspectiveoftheseniorswhoresideinthis

THE RASHI SCHOOL HEAD OF SCHOOL POSITION STATEMENT

BASIC FACTS ABOUT RASHI

Grades: K-8Numberofstudents: 265Morningbusroutes: 5OperatingBudget: $9.4MFacilitysize: 82,000squarefeetAnnualFund2017-18: $1,204,482Capitalcampaigncompletedin2014: $30millionLargest2capitalgiftsin2017-2018: $500,000Currentcapitalcampaigngoal: $18millionAmountraisedtodateincurrentcapitalcampaign: $6,500,000FinancialAidbudget: $2.3MStudentsreceivingfinancialaid:38%oftotal enrollment

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onthecampusofNewbridgeontheCharlesin2010.ThislocationhasenhancedRashi’sabilitytoachieveitspromiseofprovidingatop-notchsecularandJewisheducationinsupportofitsdistinctmissionandvalues.RashiisnowrecognizedamongthebestK-8independentschooloptionsintheBostonarea.Becauseofitsuniquelocationandclearmission,Rashiismorethanaschooltoitsstudentsandfamilies;thereisasharedsenseofpurposethatbindsthecommunityandsupportsthestudentsintheiracademicandpersonalpursuits.

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HISTORY

FounderRabbiHenryZoobandagroupofdedicatedrabbisandcommunityleaderssawtheneedandhadthevisionforaReformJewishDaySchoolintheBostonarea.TheybelievedthatJewswhosharedaprogressiveapproachtoJewishlifeneededaplacewheretheirchildrencouldreceiveanexcellenteducationthatintegratedJewishandsecularstudies.In1982,RabbiZoobformedacommitteetoexplorethepossibilityofbeginningjustsuchaschool,andfouryearslater,in1986,TheRashiSchoolopenedinNewtonwith16studentsinkindergartenandfirstgrade.Rashigrewthroughthelate1980sandearly1990s,andin1986aMiddleSchoolwasaddedtoservethegrowingpopulation.Thecorevalues,groundingRashiinbothsecularandJewishethics,wereaddedin1999,andtheSchool’sreputationforacademicexcellencecontinuedtogrow.In2006,thetraditionofthe8thgradeclasstravelingtoIsraelwasaddedtotheprogram.OverRashi’salmost40yearsofexistence,itoccupiedseveraldifferentbuildingsinthewesternsuburbsofBostonbeforemovingintoitspermanenthome


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CAMPUS

Since2010,Rashihasenjoyedapurpose-built,state-of-the-art,LEEDstandard,82,000squarefootfacilitytosupportitsacademicandextracurricularprograms.Rashimakesgooduseofits162acreplotoflandaspartofNewbridgeontheCharlesinDedham.Thereisaspectaculartheaterthatcomfortablyfitstheentireschool,aSukkatShalomcommunityspace,aBeitMidrashforprayerandholidaycelebrations,andalarge,light-filledcafeteria.Technologyisinabundancethroughoutthebuilding.Outside,inadditiontobeautifulhikingtrailsandaccesstotheriver,therearetwoplaygrounds,twooutdooramphitheaters,andfieldsforsoccerandbaseball/softball.Thefacilitiesalsoinclude:

• State-of-the-artclassroomswithinteractivewhiteboards.

• Afullyequippedsciencelab.

• A6,000-volumelibrary.

• Anartstudioanddedicatedmusicroom.

• Aregulationsizegymnasium,sportsfields,andtwoplaygrounds.

• Anoutdoorclassroom/assemblyspace.

• Adedicatedroomforbeforeandafterschoolprograms.

InadditiontobeingahomeforRashistudents,thenewfacilityisacenterforJewishlifeandlearning,parentmeetings,andeveningcommunitymeetings.

MISSION

TheRashiSchool’smissionarticulatesitscommitmenttocombiningthebestofindependentschoolandReformJewishdayschooltraditions.Thisisreflectedclearlyinitsprogramandpeoplewiththeintentionofinspiringitsstudentsaschildrenandshapingwhotheywillbecomeasadults:ThemissionofTheRashiSchoolistoprovideadynamic,child-centeredprogramofacademicexcellencethatintegratesrichsecularandJewishstudiescurriculaandnuturesinitsstudents’criticalmindsandcompassionatehearts.Further,Rashi’scorevaluesofLimud(learning),Tzedek(justice),Kehilla(community),Kavod(respect),andRuachElohim(divinespirit)bindtheschoolandareinscribedboldlyonthewallsofeveryclassroomasaremindertoall.Asaresultofitscommitmenttoitsmissionandcorevalues,Rashistudentsdevelopstrongsensesofpersonalidentity,commitmenttosocialjustice,andethicalpurposethatapplytoeveryareaoftheirlives.


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GOVERNANCE

Thereare24votingmembersoftheRashiBoardofTrusteesandonenon-voting,permanentmember.TheHeadofSchoolandtheImmediatePastPresidentserveasnon-voting,exofficiomembers.ThePresidentmayappointuptotwoad-hoc,non-votingmembersoftheboard.Yachad,theparentorganization,hasonevote;thetwoco-chairssharethatvote.Termsarethreeyears,andtrusteesmayserveamaximumofthreeconsecutiveterms.Sixtypercentofthevotingtrusteesarecurrentparents,whichisthepercentageallowedbytheby-laws.Theby-lawsfurtherstatethatagoalistohavelessthan50%ofvotingtrusteesbeparents.Overall,theBoardisamixofparents,grandparents,andcommunityleaders.

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Currentlytheboardmeetsbetweensixandninetimesperyear,withmostoftheworkbeingdoneincommittees.Therearesixstandingcommitteesoftheboard:Executive,BudgetandFinance,Development,Governance,Audit,andHeadSupportandEvaluation.TheExecutiveCommitteeincludesfiveofficers,committeeheadsanduptotwoappointees.Officertermsarefortwoyears,withamaximumoftwotermsinthesameposition.TrusteestaketheirresponsibilitiesseriouslyandarededicatedtotheSchool.Asaresult,theBoardfunctionsatahighlevel,payingattentiontotheneedsoftheSchoolwhileatthesametimebeingrespectfulofdistinctionsbetweenboardandadministrativeroles.


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Inadditiontoacademics,theRashieducationalprogramemphasizessocializationandengagementwiththelargercommunity.Beginninginkindergarten,studentsstrengthentheirself-confidencebyappearingingrade-leveldramaticproductions.Theyengageintzedakah(thejoyofgiving)inage-appropriateways.

UpperSchool,Grades5-8UpperSchoolisatimeformiddleschoolstudentstoexploremorecomplexideasandconceptswhiledevelopingindependenceaswellas

personalandacademicresponsibility.Teachershelpstudentsapproachtasksandmanagetime,guidingthemtogainabetterunderstandingofthemselvesaslearners,andencouragingthemtoadoptstrategiesandapproachesthatbestsuittheirlearningstyles.StudentsdevelophigherlevelthinkingskillsandapplythemtotheacademicchallengesprovidedintheUpperSchool.

Fifthgradersaregraduallyintroducedtoamiddleschoolmodel,withafewsubjectstaughtbyspecialistsbutstillwithintheframeworkofonehomeroomteacher.StudentsparticipateinsomeculturalandathleticprogrammingintheUpperSchoolprogram,andtakeonleadershiproleswithintheLowerSchoolcommunity.

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CURRICULUM AND PROGRAM LowerSchool,GradesK-4LowerSchoolteachershelpstudentsacquirefoundationalskills,thebuildingblocksoflearning.Childrenlearntoread,andthentheyreadtolearn.Theygainskillsbypracticewithwritingandcomputation,andtheygrowtounderstandtheworldaroundthemthroughobservation,explorationandinquiry.

Thematicunitsprovidemanyopportunitiesforintegratingscience,socialstudies,languageartsandJewishstudies.Teachersintroducestudentstoresearchskillsandtheywritebriefreportsongrade-specificcontent.Childrengrowaswritersandlearntoworkbothindependentlyandwithclassmatescollaborativelyinsmallgroups.

Rashihasastrongcommitmenttodifferentiatedlearning.Thefacultymakeseveryefforttodifferentiatethecurriculumtoaccommodateeachchild’slearningstyle.TheSchoolgroupsstudentsaccordingtoreadinessformathandHebrewbeginninginthirdgrade.Thesegroupsareflexibleandbasedonpre-assessmentsthatstudentstakeatdifferentpointsintheyear.Therecanbemovementbetweenthesegroupingsingradessixthrougheight.

THE RASHI SCHOOL

HEAD OF SCHOOL SEARCH


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Studentsingrades6to8traveltodifferentteachersforeachsubject.Therearehigherexpectationsforthesestudents,whoareencouragedtotakerisks,askprobingquestions,seekanswers,andpresenttheirlearninginorganizedandcreativeways.Rashi’smiddleschoolenvironmentisanidealplacetobeanadolescent–asmall,close-knitkehillah(community),wherestudentsdeveloptheirownidentityaswellasstrongconnectionswithteachersandclassmates.

Rashihasanimpressiverecordofsecondaryschoolplacement.Morethanhalfofthegraduatesinthepastfewyearshaveattendedindependentsecondaryschools,withroughlyhalfofthoseattendingJewishschoolsandtheotherhalfattendingsecularindependentschools.ManyRashigraduatesenrollinsuchoutstandingschoolsasGannAcademy(Jewish),MiltonAcademy,BuckinghamBrowne&Nichols,NobleandGreenoughSchool,BeaverCountryDaySchool,BostonUniversityAcademy,RoxburyLatinSchoolandPhillips

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Academy(Andover),amongothers.Otherstudentsenterrigorouspublicschoolprograms,aswellasBostonexamschools.

JewishStudiesRashistudentslearninanatmosphereinfusedwithJewishvalues.TheSchool’saffiliationwiththeReformMovementinformsitspractice,thoughtprocessesandcelebrations.SchoolfamiliesparticipateinawiderangeofJewishobservances.RashistudentsbecomeproudandknowledgeableJewswithstrongJewishidentities.Throughformalandinformallearningexperiences,includingfamilyeducationopportunities,observanceofholidaysandregularprayer,studentsareguidedtoanunderstandingof,andappreciationfor,therichnessofJewishlife.

TheSchoolbelievesthatunderstandingJewishpracticesandobservanceswillhelpfamilieschartaspiritualpaththathasintegrityandmeaningforthem.TheSchoolshareswithstudentsdifferentcustoms,lawsandunderstandingsofJewishcultureandobservance.Asidefromthecommunalobservances,howafamilypracticesisapersonaldecision.RashiwelcomesandembracesinterfaithfamilieswhohavemadethechoicetoraiseJewishchildren.InaccordancewiththeReformMovement,theSchooldoesnotdistinguishbetweenchildrenofJewishandnon-Jewishmothers.


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THE RASHI SCHOOL

HEAD OF SCHOOL POSITION STATEMENT

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Tefillot(prayers)andholidaycelebrationsarebasedontheliturgyoftheReformMovement.Studentsareencouragedtoexploreandtocultivatetheirownspiritualitythroughquestioning,thinkingandre-thinking.EncouragingdiscussionhasbeenthestandardfortheJewishpeopleforcenturiesandaparticularhallmarkoftheReformMovement.

Tefillah(prayer)groundsstudentsintheJewishtraditionwhileenhancingtheirspirituality.Theunderstandingofprayeranditsintentionhelpsstudentsachieveasenseofself-worthandacommonbondwithothermembersoftheJewishcommunity.Studentsparticipateinminyan(morningweekdayprayer)onceortwiceaweek.TheentireRashicommunity,includingmanyparents,endstheweekwithajoyfulKabbalatShabbatonFridayafternoons,filledwithsong,storytellingandsharingofspecialevents,allowingtheSchoolweektoendwithaShabbatconsciousness.HolidaycelebrationsareintegratedintothelifeoftheSchoolinawaythatiseducationalandexperiential.

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JewishlifeatRashiincludesinstillinginstudentsdeeploveforIsraelandeasewithwritingandspeakingmodernHebrew.RashistudentslearnaboutIsraelicultureandhistory.TheirRashiexperienceculminatesintwomifgashim(gatherings)withtheirIsraelifriendsfromtheirsisterschoolinHaifa.RashihoststheIsraelistudentsforaweek,andRashi8thgraderstraveltoIsraelwiththemfortwoweeks.

RashistudentsdevelopaloveofTorahstudyforitsownsakeandembraceitasaninspiringresource,informingtheirvalues,moralcommitments,andwaysofexperiencingtheworld.LearningtextatRashiisexperientialaswellastextualandlinguisticinfocus.ThegoalsforthestudyofTorahareforstudentstobecomeindependentandliterarilyastutereadersofbiblicaltextinHebrew,tobeengagedinthelearningofancient,rabbinic,andmodernmodesofinterpretationofbiblicaltext,andtoseethemselvesasalinkinanongoingchainofinterpretation.


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Co-CurricularRashi'sUpperSchoolprogramisrichinco-curricularopportunities,including:

• Dailymeetingsinsmalladvisorygroupshelpyoungadolescentsdevelopsocialskillsanddiscussissuesthatareimportanttothem.

• StudentsparticipateinovernightJewish-themedoutdooreducationexperiencesandtripstoWashington,D.C.tostudyUnitedStatesgovernmentandAmericanhistory.

• EighthgraderstraveltoIsrael,wheretheyjoinstudentsfromHaifa’sLeoBaeckSchoolfortwoweeksofexploration,self-discovery,andfriendship.

• Artsofferingsincludeelectivesinmusic,art,Israelidance,andtheatre,includingaward-winningparticipationintheMassachusettsStateDramaFestival.

• Competitiveinterscholasticgirls'andboys'teamsinsoccer,basketball,andbaseball/softballareopentostudentsingradesfivethrougheightatallabilitylevels.

GraduatesofRashiarecapable,confident,self-awarelearnerswhotakeonleadershiprolesinacademicsettingsandinsocialjusticeopportunitiesintheircommunities.Academicallymotivatedanddeeplyskilled,Rashialumnithriveatthemostchallengingindependent,Jewish,andpublichighschools.

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SocialJusticeRashistudentsunderstandthatsocialjusticeisfullyintegratedintotheSchool’swayofthinking,behaving,andinteractingwithothers.Itconnectstoalmosteverythingtheystudy.Tzedek(justice),oneofRashi’sfivecorevalues,istheheartofthecurriculumandanessentialpartoftheSchool’sidentityasacommunity.ThecommitmenttoTzedekemanatesfromtheReformJewishtradition,whichteachesthatallcreationhasonesourceandthathumankindiscreatedintheDivineimage.Tikkunolam(repairingtheworld)

ispartoftheSchool’ssacredmission.TheRashisocialjusticecurriculumconnectsintimatelytootherkeycharacterdevelopmentgoalsofaRashieducation,including


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MultigenerationalProgrammingTheRashiSchoolisuniqueinthatitsharesacampuswithaHebrewSeniorLifefacility,offeringmanyopportunitiesformultigenerationalconnections.Rashihasastrongrelationshipwithitsneighbors,theresidentsandstaffofNewbridgeontheCharles.RashistudentsandfamiliesgotoNewbridgeonaregularbasisforavarietyoflearning,social,andholidayactivities,whileNewbridgevolunteerscometoRashitoworkinclassroomsandthelibrary,andtoserveastutorsandmentors.

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democraticleadership,citizenship,criticalthinking,andawarenessofthediversesocialforcesintheworld.Socialjusticemeldswitheveryappropriateaspectofthecurriculumaswellasactivitiesinthebroaderschoolcommunity.TheSchoolconstantlyseeks,identifies,exploresandhighlightsactsofsocialjusticethatoccurintheworld.Workwitheachgradeisthoughtful,deliberate,relevant,developmentallyappropriate,presentedwithinaspiraledcurriculumandalwaysbasedonJewishtext.Studentsderivemeaningfromtexts,whichwerewrittenthousandsofyearsago,byexaminingthemcriticallytofindrelevancetotheirlivestoday.

Learningisactualizedthroughmitzvoth(gooddeeds),whichmakestheconceptoftikkunolam,orrepairingtheworld,tangibleandvisibleforstudents.Rashiemphasizesthatevenchildrencanmakeadifferenceintheworld,andtheSchoolsupportseachstudent'seffortstoidentifyaproblemofparticularinterestandtoapplyhisorheruniqueskillstohelpaddresstheproblem.

THE RASHI SCHOOL

HEAD OF SCHOOL POSITION STATEMENT


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• Providingclear,decisiveleadershipfortheRashicommunity,whilealsoestablishingproductivecollaborativerelationshipswithineveryconstituencyoftheSchool;

• Workingcloselywiththefacultyandadministrationtoenhancethequalityofthecurriculum,pedagogyandoverallprogramoftheSchool;

• Stabilizingenrollmentbyreducingattritionandbyincreasingthesizeoftheadmissions“funnel”attheoutsetoftheprocess,aswellastheyieldofadmittedstudents;

• Movingaheadsuccessfullywiththecapitalfundraisingeffortcurrentlyunderway,andadvancingtheoverallfinancialcircumstancesoftheSchool;

• Bolsteringtheenthusiasticconfidenceandsenseofunitedpurposeamongthefaculty;

• AssumingaleadershiproleofsignificanceintheGreaterBostonJewishcommunity;

• Developing,withtheBoardofTrustees,andarticulatingthenextstrategicvisionforthefutureoftheSchool.

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CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES ThereareanumberofchallengesconfrontingTheRashiSchooloverthenextseveralyears.Thesechallenges,however,alsorepresenttheopportunitiesforleadershipforthenextHeadofSchool.Thesechallengesinclude:

• BolsteringtheSchool’sidentityandmarketpositionasoneoftheoutstandingelementaryandmiddleschooloptionsintheGreaterBostonarea;

• RepresentingandarticulatingeffectivelythemissionandcorevaluesoftheRashiSchoolinternallyintheRashicommunityandexternallyinthemetropolitanregion;

• ServingasaneffectivespokespersonfortheuniquebalanceofrigorousacademicpreparationandJewisheducationwithintheRashiprogram;


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THE CANDIDATE ThesuccessfulcandidatefortheheadshipofTheRashiSchoolwilllikelyexhibitthefollowingcharacteristics,qualitiesandexperiences:

• Anadvanceddegree,alongwithpassionforlifelonglearningandloveofeducation;

• Loveforchildren,appreciationforteachers,anddesiretobepartofadynamicK-8school;

• Asuccessfulrecordofleadershipinpreviouspositions;

• DesiretobeimmersedinJewishlife,learningandculture;

• Demonstratedskillinthemanagementofcomplexorganizations;• Outstandingoralandwrittencommunicationskills;

• Financialacumen;

• AlignmentofpersonalvalueswiththemissionandcorevaluesofTheRashiSchool,anddesiretoadvanceandmodelthemissionandcorevaluesbothwithinandoutsidetheRashicommunity;

• CapabilityandwilltoinspirethegenerousandpassionatesupportoftheextendedRashicommunityfortheSchool,aswellastogarnersupportandenthusiasmforRashifromindividualsandinstitutionsoutsidetheSchool.

• AbilitytodevelopandcommunicateacompellingvisionforthestrategicfutureoftheSchool.• Theskill,will,vigorandenergytoworkeffectivelyandcollaborativelywithtrustees,administrators,

teachersandparentsinpursuitofambitiousinstitutionalgoals;• Demonstratedabilityasaneffectivedeveloperandmentorofprofessionaltalent;

• Willingnessandskilltoleadtheongoingevolutionofthecurriculum,pedagogyandprogramoftheSchool;

• Willingnessandskilltoleadandshapefundraisingefforts,andthecapacitytoinspirestrongdevelopmentleadershipandteams;

• WillingnessandskilltoshapetheongoingmarketingendeavorsoftheSchool;

• Approachabilityandoutstanding“peopleskills:”

• Desiretobeavisible,engaged,optimisticpresencewithintheRashicommunity;

• Capacitytomodelinspirational,collaborativeanddecisiveleadership;

• Theabilitybothtodelegateappropriatelyandtoholdothersaccountableforperformanceandfulfillmentoftheirresponsibilities.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Interested candidates should sendacoverletter,resume,statementofeducationalphilosophyandanadditionalwritingsample—inonePDF—toboth:

RobertP.Henderson,Jr. AND [email protected] [email protected]

Application Deadline: October 29, 2018


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