Location
Mountain View, CA | United States
Job description
Established: 2014 Upper and Middle School Enrollment: 150 students Lower School Enrollment: 150 students Faculty and Staff: 55 Sports Teams: Basketball, Cross Country, Volleyball School Mascot: Condor Affiliated Organizations: Khan Academy, Schoolhouse.world, KLSWichita.org RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES
The Middle School Director, a key member of the school's leadership team, reports directly to the Executive Director. In collaboration with other School Directors, they play a significant role in enhancing student programs and various learning opportunities. Beyond being a mastery-based learning visionary who inspires and motivates both students and staff, the Middle School Director is a pivotal figure in fostering a culture that embraces the belief in students' exceptional potential and advocates for a radically different approach to education.
Moreover, this candidate will have a strong knack for creative problem-solving and adaptability, essential for developing and implementing personalized educational pathways. Exceptional communication skills, both with students and parents, are crucial, as is the ability to collaboratively work with faculty and the School Directors to create a cohesive and dynamic learning environment for Middle School students.
In addition, the candidate will be expected to contribute to the broader school community, actively participating in and contributing to staff development, curriculum planning, and school-wide events. They should be eager to take on leadership roles in various initiatives and be comfortable in a fast-paced, ever-evolving educational setting. A passion for lifelong learning and a dedication to fostering a nurturing and challenging academic environment are paramount. This role is for someone who is also deeply committed to shaping the future of education by recognizing and nurturing each student's potential. Candidates with experience outside of traditional educational settings, or in a start-up school, are strongly encouraged to apply, particularly those who have managed organizations involving multiple stakeholders. This includes experience in non-profit organizations, community projects, or any leadership roles where coordination and negotiation among diverse groups were required. Such non-school experience is invaluable, as it brings a fresh perspective to managing the complexities and challenges of a dynamic educational environment. The ideal candidate will demonstrate a proven track record in effectively leading and navigating through multifaceted organizational landscapes, fostering collaboration, and driving positive change. Their ability to adapt to and thrive in situations requiring the balancing of various interests and priorities will be a significant asset in promoting a holistic and inclusive approach to education at our school.
Leadership
- Manage all of the daily operations of the Middle School program.
- Actively engage in shaping the school culture with teachers and students.
- Implement and support a mastery-based learning approach working in tandem with the founder and leadership team.
- Encourage teachers to use AI and innovative teaching methods.
- Cultivate an environment of academic excellence and intellectual curiosity.
- Lead by example, such as teaching a class.
- Oversee student discipline, including managing major infractions.
Student Support
- Manage Middle School Advisory, programming, and events.
- Support Extended Day and Summer Programs.
- Oversee partnerships with contracted organizations who may provide support for executive function skill development and student wellbeing.
- Oversee Middle School Progress Report process and other data driven solutions.
Faculty Support
- Support and mentor new faculty in the MS.
- Execute all aspects of the student and faculty schedule process.
- Collaborate with school leadership on the development of the faculty Inservice.
- Conduct MS Classroom observations and feedback, performance evaluation.
Operations and Finance
- Oversee Middle School budget and facilities use.
- Collaborate on updating school handbooks and coordinating with admissions and marketing.
- Assist admissions with enrollment processes and Middle School promotion events.
- Work with Family Association Head Rep for budget development.
HR and Staff Development
- Recruit and mentor a diverse and skilled faculty.
- Manage annual performance reviews and goal setting for team members.
Community Building and Communications
- Strengthen community ties among students, parents, and staff with the leadership team.
- Coordinate with School Directors for Family Association activities and meetings.
- Foster strong, open relationships with parents.
QUALIFICATIONS
The ideal candidate will offer most or all of the following qualifications and qualities:
Professional Qualifications
- Demonstrated passion for designing and implementing student-centered, mastery-based education models.
- A commitment to creating an environment where students participate in the day-to-day aspects of running a school.
- Ability and eagerness to serve in a collaborative school-wide role as a member of the senior leadership team.
- Experience with budgeting and aligning financial resources with student programming.
- Experience with hiring, mentoring, supporting and evaluating teachers.
- Familiarity with Khan Academy tools and the use of AI in educational settings.
- Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and its role in school culture, curriculum, and admissions.
- Support the growth of the Middle School from 50 to 75 students with the addition of the 6th grade program in the Fall of 2025 .
- Effective communicator.
Leadership Style
- A collaborative, consensus-building leader who actively solicits input; listens well; communicates with inspiration and clarity; and effectively delegates and empowers staff.
- A team-builder who will invigorate Middle School culture.
- A proponent of thoughtful innovation and clarity of priorities.
- Visible, communicative, approachable, and responsive.
Personal Qualities
- Puts the best interests of students and teachers first.
- Intelligent, reflective, well spoken, and upholds the highest levels of integrity and impartiality.
- Warm, supportive, and consistent.
- Eager to engage actively with teachers, students and parents.
- Willingness to relocate to Mountain View, CA.
2024-25 SPECIAL INITIATIVES
- In collaboration with the middle school team and the Lower School Director, co-lead the Middle School Transition Working Group, focusing on a smooth and effective transition of the 6th grade to the Mountain View Campus and the Middle School program for Fall 2025.
- Play a pivotal role in the accreditation self-study renewal process.
- Participate actively on the Long Term Facilities Planning Committee.
- Collaborate with the other School Directors to align processes and programming effectively.
APPLICATION PROCESS To apply, please submit the following:
- A cover letter expressing interest in and qualifications for this position.
- Current resume.
- A list of five professional references with name, relationship, phone number, and email address. References will not be contacted without the candidate’s permission.
Please do not contact the school directly. Please see full opportunity statement at
.
Khan Lab School in Mountain View, CA, has engaged DovetailED to lead a search for a Middle School Director beginning July 1, 2024. Interested candidates should review the opportunity statement and submit a cover letter, resume, and list of references with contact information as a single PDF document to DovetailED President Zack Lehman at
[email protected] . Please refrain from contacting the school directly.
Compensation and Benefits
- The salary range for this role is: $125,000 - $145,000. Actual salary will take into consideration a candidate's years of experience, education, professional experience and skills.
- Comprehensive health, dental, and vision benefits.
- Discretionary Time Off (DTO).
- Paid holidays and sick time per the employee handbook.
Start Date
The school occupies two campuses
- Upper School Campus: 1200 Villa Street, Mountain View, CA 94041
- Lower School Campus: 3233 Cowper Street, Palo Alto, CA 94306
Khan Lab School is an EOE and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, place of national origin, sex, age, veteran status, sexual orientation, physical handicap, or any other category which may be protected by applicable state or federal law in its employment practice.
About Khan Lab School
ABOUT KHAN LAB SCHOOL
Located in Mountain View, California, Khan Lab School (KLS) is a non-profit, mastery-based school founded by Salman Khan in 2014 to extend Khan Academy’s student-centered philosophy into a physical school environment. Furthering his vision for Khan Academy, Khan wrote and published The One World Schoolhouse, in which he argues for mastery-based, blended, and mixed-age learning coupled with a departure from traditional letter grades. Today the KLS community is bringing that vision to life on its own campus and also sharing knowledge within education more broadly.
We currently serve 174 students ages 5-18. In each academic area at KLS, progress is decoupled from age; the time it takes a student to finish a course will vary but the depth of mastery is constant. We believe that students cannot “master” a course by performing well on one assessment. Instead, students are expected to demonstrate mastery of all skills and content before they can obtain foundational credit, thereby reducing the number of “gaps” in their education.
Every student is assigned to a mixed-age cohort, which they can expect to be part of for two to three years. There are currently ... six cohorts across the school. Students also partner with faculty to explore their passions and deepen their learning. The quality of learning remains high but as a lab school, instructional methods are constantly being reimagined and tested. Learning is supported through weekly 1:1 advising, real-world application, and a culture that fosters student agency. Faculty and students do not simply adhere to the status quo in education. As a lab school, KLS is a model for innovation in education.
To learn more about us, please visit our website:
Show more
Show less
Connections working at Khan Lab School
Job tags
Salary
