Director of Curriculum and Instruction

Royal Palm Academy is a joyful, vibrant, independent, and family-oriented Catholic PK-8 school located in beautiful Naples, Florida. We have 315 students, 38 teachers and assistants, and 10 staff members. Our mission is to partner with families to provide an education of rich academics with Catholic formation. Royal Palm Academy teaches the mind, educates the heart, and forms the character of tomorrow's leaders. This mission is pursued through the development of the whole person, integral formation, which encompasses the commitment to teach, to educate, and to form our students.

Royal Palm Academy is seeking a full-time, 12-month, senior administrative leader to join our team as the Director of Curriculum and Instruction. This position reports directly to the Head of School, and is responsible for the direct supervision of all teachers and assistants (35+ direct reports) and supervising day-to-day school operations. This position serves as the Senior Administrator in Charge in the absence of the Head of School. Strongest consideration will be for Catholic candidates who have direct administrative leadership experience in a private, Catholic, K-8 school.
This position is ideally suited for candidates with K-8 Principal experience, or for candidates who are seeking a Principal-level position in terms of scope, leadership, and overall responsibility.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
• Minimum of post-graduate degree in Curriculum and Instruction, Education Leadership, or related field.
• Must be a practicing Catholic in good standing.
• Must be a passionate supporter for advancing the mission of Royal Palm Academy and Catholic Education.
• Must be willing to enthusiastically support our school mission: "Royal Palm Academy partners with families to provide an education of rich academics with Catholic formation. We teach the mind, educate the heart, and form the character of tomorrow's leaders."
• Must have a minimum of 5+ years of direct K-8 school experience (Private, Independent, or Catholic school experience is strongly preferred).
• Willingness to evenings or weekends, on an as needed basis, to fulfill administrative leadership responsibilities for the school.
• Willingness to fully integrate as a school leader into the life of our school, student life, and family community.

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE:
• Responsible for the direct supervision, yearly evaluation, and leadership for teachers and teacher assistants (35+ direct reports).
• Supports the Head of School in ensuring the overall safety of our program for teachers, students, parents, and guests on campus.
• Testing Coordinator, Student Placement, MAP testing. Responsible for all elements and implementation of these programs, including admissions testing.
• Serves on the admissions committee, evaluates prospective candidates for their potential to achieve reasonable academic success in our program, and makes a recommendation for acceptance or non-acceptance.
• Makes a recommendation for all students on the promotion or retention.
• Oversee a periodic review of our curriculum to ensure that it meets our standards for academic excellence and is appropriate for our student population and strategic plan.
• Responsible for the morale of the faculty. Serves as the primary administrative leader for faculty needs, professional development, growth, supervision, training, and support.
• Responsible for coordinating with teachers to help ensure a fair management of student workload, holding teachers accountable for collaborating and coordinating major quizzes, tests, and papers, and reviewing due dates to make sure they are keeping with our school mission and supporting a healthy family life for students.
• Responsible for overseeing an appropriate homework load that is age and grade level appropriate.
• Ensuring a high level of customer service and communication is being provided to our families by all teachers.
• Monitor, supervise, plan for, and approve all requests for classroom supplies and inventory of academic materials.
• Collect and ensure preparation of emergency lesson plans.
• Provides leadership support to the Head of School as needed.

ESSENTIAL SKILLS, DUTIES, AND RESPONSIBILTIES INCLUDE:
• Provides visible leadership in the classrooms and on campus in the daily life of the school.
• Frequent review of grade books, lesson plans, unit plans, and classroom observations, to ensure a high-quality delivery of our academic program.
• Sets a leadership example with regards to punctuality, professional dress, written and oral communication, and customer service.
• High level of professional initiative and follow-through.
• Very adept at managing conflict and resolution, with teachers and parents.
• Capable of managing multiple priorities, delegating, overseeing multiple projects simultaneously, and dealing with the ordinary chaos of a school environment.
• Excellent oral, written, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality
• Cheerful demeanor and have a sense of humor
• Basic Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) experience required.

PHYSICAL, MENTAL, AND EMOTIONAL DEMANDS INCLUDE:
• Ability to perform repetitive physical tasks such as computer keyboarding, writing, and reading
• This position is required to set up for events, assist during events, and help break down events.
• The ability to lift, carry, move, up to 25 pounds; ability to assist during events.
• Must be able to make quick decisions.
• Must be calm in stressful situations.
• Must be able to multitask and prioritize tasks.
• Must work well independently as well as part of a team.
• Must possess a very high level of attention to detail
• Must be flexible and work occasional evenings and weekends
• Must be able to handle prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer

APPLICATION PROCESS:
Candidates apply by email and submit 3 separate PDF documents to the Head of School, Michael Bussman, at [email protected] Applications must be received by March 1. No phone calls or mailed applications will be considered. Submit the following three documents, as separate files, each in PDF format:
1. A cover letter, no longer than two pages
2. A resume or CV, no longer than two pages
3. A personally written essay, no longer than one page, titled, "My Catholic School Leadership Philosophy", submitted in PDF format. This is an open-response essay and writing sample.

Additional screening assessments or writing samples may be requested of candidates. Selection of top candidates for a first round interview will be made by March 3. First round interviews will be conducted via Zoom with a committee of teachers, with a goal to identify finalists by March 13. The final interview will be with the Head of School and members of the administrative leadership team, with a goal of offering the position by March 30.

SCHOOL WEBSITE: www.RoyalPalmAcademy.org

SCHOOL MISSION: The Mission of Royal Palm Academy is to partner with families to provide an education of rich academics with Catholic formation. We teach the mind, educate the heart, and form the character of tomorrow's leaders.

SCHOOL MOTTO: Semper Altius (Always Higher)