The Anchor School is a village of educators, families, and community members that partners with 6th through 12th grade students who are developing the knowledge, skills, and confidence they need to thrive in school and beyond. Through our commitment to excellent instruction, community partnerships, and holistic student development, we cultivate anchors that build a more just and equitable future.

Role & Responsibilities

We are seeking a passionate, detail-oriented, mission-driven, Director of Middle School who is great with people and understands that the foundation of a great school starts with great instructional leadership. The Anchor School is committed to our students and families who expect a safe and supportive learning environment where all students can thrive. Our instructional leadership team builds a sense of community within our school and ensures our teachers have the resources, training, and support they need to deliver excellent instruction to every student. As the instructional leader of the middle school, the DMS direct our teaching faculty towards a unified vision of instructional excellence, support our school with compliance, build relationships with families and students, and cultivate community-based partnerships. This role, analogous to a principal in other schools, allows students and teachers to thrive in the classroom.

The Director of Middle School at The Anchor School will be on the leadership team of the school and shall carry the responsibility of organizational effectiveness within the boundaries of the annual operating budget and through the organizational structures set forth in the by-laws of the organization. At a minimum, the responsibilities of the Director of Middle School shall be:

Instructional Leadership

• Direct the instructional vision for the middle school, including the curriculum and instructional methods, professional development, assessment, and evaluation structures.
• Execute onboarding, training, development, and supervision of all employees of the middle school – including delegation therein.
• Participate in all hiring decisions for the middle school.
• Deliver an academic program, school climate, and school culture which ensures the rights of all middle school students and families are met.
• Analyze middle school student subgroup data to ensure equitable practices.
• Implement feedback and evaluation systems in the middle school, as defined by the instructional leadership team.

School Management

• Carry out the mission, vision for equity, and purpose of the middle school.
• Manage middle school operations and monitor key performance indicators.
• Ensure that resources are distributed equitably and in fidelity with the budget.
• Serve as a liaison between the middle school staff and the head of school.
• Serve as a liaison between the middle school staff and the high school staff.
• Communicate the operational needs of the middle school to the Director of School Operations.
• Train and support the performance of the middle school instructional staff.
• Monitor all safety procedures, including development and communication of school's safety/emergency plan, school entry and exit transitions.
• Support and provide input in the logistical planning of school-wide events.
• Identify needs for technological integration and training.
• Develop, document, and train staff in all instructional systems and procedures.
• Plan and implement school culture-building initiatives with the Head of School.

Community-Based Partnerships

• Cultivate relationships with strategic partners who have agreed to advance our mission in the middle school.
• Identify potential place-based project course partners in the middle school curriculum.

Families and Students

• Support the holistic development of middle school students.
• Advise 12-15 students per year.
• Ensure adequate enrollment at school site and, as required, lead the enrollment process by working with the school leadership, teachers, and administrative team to meet enrollment targets.
• Implement an annual enrollment campaign for students, including engagement in local marketing initiatives, and demographic analysis.
• Cultivate positive relationships with every student and family within our learning community.

Compliance

• Monitor, in collaboration with other members of the leadership team, the MTSS process.
• Prepare and communicate academic-achievement related reports for TAS and other entities.
• Ensure compliance with student records related to health and academics.
• Ensure alignment between the mission of the school, the key design innovations of the school, and the instructional practices within the school.

The Director of Middle School will perform all other duties that support teachers, students, and the administration of The Anchor School. The foregoing statements describe the general purpose and responsibilities assigned to this job and are not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties that may be assigned or skills that may be required.

Start Date: July 1, 2023

Starting Salary Range: $70,000 – $80,000

Other Benefits: We offer a competitive compensation package and comprehensive health benefits. Our employees are eligible for Teacher Retirement System of Georgia (TRS) membership in accordance with Georgia law. All staff members are equipped with the tools needed to succeed, including relevant and quality professional development, laptop computer, email, and all necessary supplies.

Reporting Structure: The Director of Middle School reports directly to the Head of School.

Hours: This will be a full-time position starting in July of 2023.

Qualifications:

The ideal candidate has an advanced degree in education, leadership, business administration, or some other related field and five or more years of experience in instructional leadership capacities (i.e. teaching, department or grade-level leadership, assistant principal, dean) or nonprofit leadership capacities (i.e. director or senior level nonprofit leadership). The candidate must be able to demonstrate alignment to the mission and vision of the school, a commitment to community stakeholder engagement, and an entrepreneurial style of leadership in the founding years of the school.

• Record of producing dramatic, demonstrable student achievement gains or comparable results in their current field, required.
• 3-5 years of experience in middle school settings, preferred.
• Instructional coaching experience, required.
• Proficient in Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, Word, and Outlook, required.
• Highly organized and efficient.
• Strong communicator and collaborator.
• Able to problem solve and think creatively about establishing systems and structures for new school.
• Has demonstrated ability to manage cross-functional teams.
• Able to coordinate multiple moving parts, and multiple tasks, on a daily basis.
• Background check passed, required.
• Educational Leadership certification/endorsement (or on path to earning), required.

Equal Employment Opportunity: The Anchor School provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

Next Steps: Provide resume and cover letter to Josh Pinto Taylor. Applications are reviewed as they are received, and candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. For more information, please visit our website: www.anchorschool.org.