Head of Upper School

Fields of Expertise: Curriculum Developer ,  High School ,  Science ,  Math/Physics ,   
Salary: Negotiable
Abaarso Network

Details: Founded in 2009, the Abaarso Network enables transformative change in Somaliland, East Africa, through educating and empowering the human capital needed to achieve ethical and effective development. The Network includes three world-class educational institutions that provide high-potential students with critical access, support, and leadership development: Abaarso School of Science and Technology, Barwaaqo University, and Kaabe Schools.
Abaarso School is an internationally recognized 7th-12th grade co-ed boarding school outside of Hargeisa, Somaliland featured on 60 Minutes, in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Huffington Post, MSNBC, and Forbes. Abaarso School is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC).
Job purpose
The Head of the Upper School is a senior academic position at the Abaarso School. The Head work in partnership to oversee the management of all day-to-day academic programs in grades 9-12, ideally splitting the grades to ensure an equitable partnership and appropriate coverage of the Upper School population. They are the immediate supervisor to all faculty members within the upper school and take responsibility to ensure all teachers create safe, inclusive, and productive classrooms that emphasize the core values of the school and follow all school policies. The Head act as coaches and mentors to faculty as they develop them one-on-one.
The Heads are the main communicators and enforcers of academic policies to the US community. They collect data from regular classroom assessments and major school exams to create intervention or enrichment plans for students. They also work with Upper School students on a daily basis by seeking feedback, managing minor conflicts, enforcing discipline, and providing explanations for academic school rules and decisions.
As the Head you will ideally specialize in either the humanities or STEM disciplines and will act as the go-to for teachers with questions related to that field. The Co-Heads are responsible for maintaining and updating the curricula in collaboration with the Head of Academics.
The Head will collaborate with the Director of Academics on all major upper-school decisions. They play a role on the senior admin team, bringing the perspective of the day-to-day running of the upper school into the context of major school decisions and events.
Job duties and responsibilities
Management and Training of Faculty
Manages a team of upper school teachers through regular weekly checks-ins and regular departmental and grade level meetings. Acts as the immediate mentor and coach of all faculty in the upper school.
Cultivates a positive, safe, fair, and inclusive atmosphere within all upper school classrooms.
Ensures all teachers create student-centered classrooms with clear expectations or behavior, a variety of engaging activities, a high level of critical thinking, respect for the culture, and utilization of differentiation to meetthe needs of different learners.
Ensures all faculty members in the upper school adhere to all academic policies covering classroom
management, grading amount and deadlines, class averages, lesson planning, and expectations for professional behavior.
Sets agendas for weekly check-ins meetings with teachers to seek updates and provide feedback regarding classroom management, grading, assessment, and position within the curriculum
map.
Addresses any questions or concerns brought up by faculty during check-ins and helps faculty problem solve minor day to day issues. Keeps regular records of meeting action plans.
Leads regular faculty grade level meetings and departmental meetings by setting agendas and structure in collaboration with the Director of Academics. Facilitates conversation and takes notes for follow-up and action plans.
Conducts regular 15 minute classroom observations on a regular basis. Uses a rubric to assess teachers. Sets up post-observation meetings for feedback and creates reasonable suggestions for improvement. Records all observations and feedback and updates the Director of Academics on a regular basis.
Matches faculty with other faculty members to observe for peer observations.
Assists in the creation and leading of professional development workshops for the faculty in collaboration with the Director of Academics as needed.
Assists in leading sessions during faculty orientation and helps onboard new faculty members into the school through the year.
Day-to-Day Management of the Upper School
Acts as the immediate go-to for all student and faculty questions regarding academic programming in the upper school.
Communicates all school academic policies with explanations (including changes) to the US students body through assemblies, special afternoon meetings, or emails. Ensures students have read the student handbook.
Mediates and solves all minor conflicts in upper school classrooms (student-student, student-teacher)