
Head Nurse
Shady Hill School, Cambridge, MA
About Shady Hill School:
Since 1915, Shady Hill, a school of approximately 530 students (PreK – Grade 8) and 90+ faculty, has been a leader in progressive education. Shady Hill is a deeply mission-driven school. We seek to develop independent, joyful and curious learners who respect their own accomplishments and those of others. We strive to be a community whose values are strong and whose teachers are unafraid to engage students in important questions. The school’s program allows children to explore their worlds and test their powers. As a school with a historical and contemporary commitment to social justice, we believe that an inclusive and equitable community is an educational and moral imperative that empowers us all. Therefore, we seek to hire teachers who demonstrate a mindset and skill set that prioritizes cultural competence, equity, and justice in their practice with students and in their work with colleagues.
A hallmark of a Shady Hill education is the Central Subject methodology. Students in Grades 3-8 engage in an assigned Central Subject, an in-depth, integrated study of a particular time or people in history. The year-long study, which emphasizes strong content, the use of primary sources, understanding of multiple perspectives, acquisition of essential skills, and self-discovery, forms the core of our curriculum. Gradeheads (classroom teachers) are responsible for developing content and implementing instruction in social studies/history, language arts, and mathematics, working closely with the performing arts and visual arts faculty to integrate these disciplines.
Shady Hill School is also a teacher training institution. Its long-standing Teacher Training Center, which brings apprentice teachers to campus each year, prepares talented people for careers in education and allows each faculty member the opportunity to be a mentor and meaningful contributor to the teaching field. Because of the school’s commitment to teacher training, the school seeks teachers with certification or a demonstrated interest in working towards certification when hired by Shady Hill School.
About the position:
Shady Hill School is seeking an experienced Head Nurse to join our team beginning in August 2025. The Head Nurse oversees all health initiatives for students and employees, and is the primary point of contact regarding students’ health for parents, faculty and outside providers. This is a full-time, in-person, exempt (salaried) 10.5 month position with paid time off during school vacations and over the summer.
Primary Responsibilities:
- Provide routine first aid to students
- Supervise and support the part-time Nurse
- Provide case management for children with chronic and/or acute health issues, including school-day communication/management, re-entry plans in case of extended absence, and communication with outside providers
- Administer medications following physician orders and at the request of parents
- Work closely with student support teams on specific children’s needs and wellness curriculum content
- Oversee all ImPACT testing and communication for student-athletes
- Prepare prescribed medications for field trips and work with faculty to follow medication administration plans
- Accompany overnight field trips as needed, and oversee of all day field trips
- Develop in consultation with school’s consulting physician all routine and emergency health protocols
- Communicate proactively with parents and faculty/staff about public health concerns or alerts
- Oversee and manage the collection process for yearly updated Student Health Information forms and physicals
- Stay current on all compliance issues and health regulations
- Comply with annual MA Department of Health reporting requirements for immunizations, asthma rates and other requirements as defined
- Obtain 1st Aid/CPR/AED instructor certification and coordinate and facilitate employee trainings
- Coordinate flu and COVID vaccine clinics for employees and SHS students and families
Required Skills and Abilities:
- Ability to work with a diversity of constituents, including students, parents, faculty, staff and administrators
- Awareness, appreciation and comfort caring for the emotional and physical health and well-being of a diverse student body including racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, language and gender identity diversity, including knowledge of best-practices for inclusive care
- Excellent interpersonal skills, including a warm and caring disposition
- Strong oral and written communication skills
- Ability to remain calm in an emergency
- Ability to use discretion in handling confidential matters
- Team player
- Strong physical assessment skills
- Must be able to navigate a multi-building campus in all weather conditions
- Must be able to bend, kneel, reach, lift and stand for long periods of time
Required Qualifications:
- BSN with current MA nursing license
- Previous School Health experience with COVID 19 pandemic protocols, testing and school management preferred
- Prior pediatric or school nursing experience
- Current CPR and AED training
- Completed MA State Training within past 3 years: Medication Administration in Schools: What School Nurse Managers Need to Know
- Prior experience with Magnus Health Portal and electronic medical record keeping
- Experience with continuous glucose monitoring (DEXCOM) and insulin pumps
To apply: Please send a cover letter and resume to: apply@shs.org. Please be sure to include “Head Nurse” in the subject line of the email.
Shady Hill offers competitive salaries and a generous benefits package, including medical, dental and vision insurance plans and paid time off. Employees must be authorized to work in the United States. Shady Hill is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. For more information on Shady Hill please visit us at www.shs.org.
Shady Hill School
