Job Summary
Position Overview
The Head of Academics is the academic and administrative leader and has overall responsibility for the day-to-day operation of the English Stream High School. The Head of Academics effectively directs school programs, including academics, co-curricular, and community service programs. The Head of Academics fosters a challenging educational environment that strives to support, care for, and nurture each student and helps develop each student's academic, physical and emotional growth.
The Head of Academics is responsible for the operation of the IEB stream in accordance with the mission of the school and the strategic goals as determined by the Board. He or she works in close cooperation with the Heads of the NSek / English Middle School, the Head of Abitur German High School, the Pedagogical Head, the Deputy Headmaster and the Headmaster.
The Head of Academics sets a standard of excellence for all aspects of the school's program, including attracting, recruiting, motivating, and supporting an outstanding and diverse faculty. The Head of Academics plays a role in the accreditation process and helps to ensure the school's professional standing.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Is primarily the learning leader for the NSC (IEB) stream of the school
- Champions the implementation of the strategic plan and the school’s initiatives
- Builds a collaborative learning culture within the school
- Directs the NSC (IEB) stream curricular objectives and professional learning goals
- Plans and implements an expert schedule that ensures that each student receives the full benefit of the program (both curricular and co-curricular) and is financially responsible
- Provides, in co-operation with the Pedagogical Head, a consistent and continuous school-wide focus on student achievement and assessment and uses appropriate data and benchmarks to set, monitor, track and evaluate individual student progress
- Collaborates with the Heads of the NSek / English Middle School to ensure a seamless transition of learners from Middle School to High School through a consistent teaching strategy
- Understands the admissions process at highly selective universities
- Oversees the coordination of assessment and ensures the timely reporting of this to parents
- Manages change and encourages innovation, communication, and healthy risk-taking
- Promotes an environment focused on the school values of Diversity, Inclusion, Responsibility
- Drives Innovation and Adaptability
- Understands how to best lead learning programs for an inclusive and diverse student population
- Ensures that all stakeholders are fully informed on IEB matters
- Assist in prize giving events and ensure certificates and awards are prepared for the learners
Staff Development
- Collaborates with faculty on individual goals and provides a timely and thorough analysis of faculty performance
- Assists in the recruitment, evaluates, and develops high quality, committed faculty and staff
- Establishes professional development needs within the strategic plan and the school’s goals
- Promotes staff growth through using data, developing positive relationships, and creating a safe environment for honest and reflective professional dialogue
Communication
- Communicates effectively with the divisional faculty and staff to ensure alignment and collaborative decision-making process
- Maintains regular written communication with faculty, parents and students
- Articulates the school program and initiatives through parent conferences and other venues as needed
- Understands and effectively articulates the school's values, strategic plan, policy and established procedures
- Oversees procedures for reporting student progress to students and parents on a regular basis
- Collaborates effectively with the Admissions and Communications team regarding local and global marketing and communication needs
- Is accessible to the school’s students
- Promotes growth of student leadership and school spiri
Management
- Understanding of IEB assessments as well as transcript documentation for ease of access to universities globally
- Co-operation with the counselling team to ensure proper academic counselling and college and career counselling, allowing students access to their best fit universities
- Developing an annual budget for academic program of the English High School
- Managing and being accountable for the English Stream’s annual budget, ensuring appropriate resources are in place to support learning
- Ensuring all stakeholders are empowered to contribute to the budgeting process, identifying priorities and curriculum needs
- Demonstrates strength in documentation and focuses on clarity, consistency and coherence
Innovation
- Demonstrates a willingness to be a risk-taker in re-imagining educational courses, spaces and structures
- Develops learning opportunities for students in areas such as STEM, Entrepreneurship, Sustainability, and areas aligned to future workforce needs
- Is a force for positive and innovative change where opportunity exists
School Community
- Supports Parent engagement and parent volunteerism within the school
- Promotes of sense of school belonging among parents, students, and teachers
- Is visible at school and community events
- Contributes to the building of an annual calendar rich with opportunities for parents, students, and teachers to engage in activities at the school
Required Qualifications and Experience
- SACE registered. Minimum of bachelor's degree in education or similar. Master’s degree preferred
- Minimum of 7 years teaching experience
- Minimum of relevant teaching qualification in one subject offered at the school
- Successful experience as Head of Academic or Head of Department or similar / relevant management positions in an independent IEB school setting
- Demonstrated excellence in leading people, managing processes, and improving learning
- Exceptional knowledge of best practices in curriculum, assessment, pedagogy, and data-driven decision-making
Commencement date: January 2023 or sooner (Negotiable)
Should you meet all mentioned requirements, kindly send a letter of motivation including your suitability for the position, accompanied by a CV naming three referees, via email to diane@abcworldwide.com by no later than 27th May 2022.