Jobs

Beaver Country Day School—an independent day school located just outside of Boston, serving grades 6-12—seeks a creative, innovative, and forward-thinking Middle School Director of Engagement and Inclusion. This is a full-time position for the 2023-2024 school year that will report directly to the Director of Middle School and the Chief Engagement and Inclusion Officer.

About Our School & Our People:

We are not your typical independent school. Education is not traditionally seen as forward-thinking. But that’s not the case at Beaver. We welcome change and seek feedback to continuously improve. Our “Launch, Test, Refine” mindset promotes flexibility, risk-taking, open-mindedness, and innovation. Our business is providing a future-focused education rooted in real-world context and experience and our clients are our students.

The Beaver mindset and approach to teaching place our students at the center of learning experiences in all settings, curricular and co-curricular.

• Our students in grades 6-12 are interesting and passionate individuals, who, above all, are genuinely happy to be at Beaver. We provide students with opportunities to be co-creators of their learning, making it a deeper, more meaningful experience.  We are committed to providing an educational environment in tune with the real world and doing authentic work.

• Our teachers and educational leaders are committed to—and excited about— expanding the nature of school, and igniting and fueling the passions of all our students.

• Our mindset is to make excellent mistakes, launch/test/refine, and not be defined by binary thinking. Instead, we look to approach things from a both/and outlook: tradeoffs don’t have to be the answer and instead, that’s where creativity comes in. We are a community of creative thinkers and doers.

• Our values include collaboration, partnership, and above all, creating a diverse, inclusive, and equitable environment for our community. This work is a priority and steadfast commitment. It is never “done”, and we will always make decisions with this at the core of who we are. For all Beaver students to feel a sense of belonging, it’s important that they see themselves reflected in the community, curriculum, and all our programming. 

• Our goal every day is to create a school that is making an impact – for our students, and for education as a whole. We don’t take that work lightly, we need people that are relentlessly committed to it and excited to do this work—together. 

Approach to teaching and learning:

The successful candidate will have a commitment to:

• Aligning the work to the BVR Mindset and New Basics as critical to the Beaver Student Experience

• A future-focused education with an understanding of the complexity and ever-changing nature of the world our students are inheriting

• A “next practice” mindset that understands how teaching and learning are changing and how practices should adapt

• Student-centered, culturally proactive, and responsive pedagogy in which all students are met where they are, and see themselves represented and valued

About the Position:

The Middle School Director of Engagement and Inclusion will communicate and collaborate regularly with students, teachers, staff, administrators, families, and outside specialists for professional learning to enhance student learning and professional growth. The Middle School Director of Engagement and Inclusion will also work to evolve and leverage our institutional systems that impact the teaching and learning experience of all members of our school community. Additionally, the Middle School Director of Engagement and Inclusion will also identify resources and support for professional learning, professional development, and community engagement opportunities. The Middle School Director of Engagement and Inclusion will report directly to the Director of Middle School and the Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer.

SUPPORTING THE PEOPLE

Supporting Students (with a focus on affirming identity, building community, and cultivating leadership skills*)

• Work with students one-on-one and in small groups to better understand individual students and foster connection in the community

• Gather data through classroom observations and conversations with students

• Provide 1:1 and small group check ins as needed

• Help students understand how to navigate Beaver, self-advocate, and develop leadership skills

• Guide students to reflect and set their own goals for their learning and growth

• Co-lead Middle School Student of Color affinity group

*Based on Beverly Daniel Tatum’s ABCs of Representation in Education

Supporting Teachers and Staff  (with a focus on teacher practice to improve student belonging, engagement, and learning)

• Observe teachers and students in class to provide feedback  to improve pedagogy, inclusive classroom practices, and wise feedback (not evaluative)

• Work with teachers to review/reflect on assignment expectations and curriculum materials

• Collaborate with Hiatt Center team to recommend classroom and curriculum resources that explore identity, diversity, justice, and action

• Share resources and strategies with faculty to focus on affirming identity, building community, and cultivating leadership skills

• Support teachers as they  develop methods for creating inclusive and engaging classroom experiences

• Design and deliver in-house professional development sessions

Supporting Middle School Administration  (with focus on student learning/engagement, teacher practice, and leveraging/improving systems to learn about students and enhance learning and feedback)

• Share observations of student learning and experience and teacher practice with Director of Middle who observes and evaluates teachers

• Share observations of individual students with Middle School Administration

• Create and/or staff workshops for MS Student Programs (for orientation, conference prep days, etc.)

• Create and oversee the implementation data collection

• Share information for 8/9 Transition

• Collaborate with Middle School Counselor to coordinate advisory curriculum in with a focus on developing student’s sense of character, embracing identity, and creating a stronger sense of community

Supporting Families

• Discuss individual student needs with parents/caregivers

• Facilitate communication among parent/caregivers, teachers, and outside professionals

• Serve as a 7th grade advisor

• Coordinate and support family events with other BVR administrators

Partnering with Outside Specialists for Professional Learning

• Collaborate to design professional learning for the BVR Middle School community

• Build and maintain relationships with outside professionals and thought leaders

SUSTAINING THE SYSTEMS

Formal Feedback, Data Review, & Next Steps (in collaboration with MS Admin)

• Collaborate with members of the Beaver community to support and prompt equitable practices in teaching and learning

• Assess sustainable equity of institutional practices and endeavors

• Collect and manage survey data from students, families and teachers

• Collect data and monitor effectiveness of professional learning within BVR Middle School

• Send “next steps” follow up emails to faculty, advisors, and MS Admin after middle school faculty meetings

Schedules and Spaces 

• Support schedule designs and use of time to ensure effective BVR experience for all students.

ADVANCING PROFESSIONAL LEARNING, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

• Keep abreast on best practices in teaching and learning, particularly as related to affirming identity, building community, and cultivating leadership skills

• Curate and distribute learning opportunities and resources

• Explore professional speaking engagements

QUALIFICATIONS

Strong candidates will possess the following qualifications:

• A minimum of five years of experience leading diversity, equity and inclusion work in educational institutions

• Participation in in-depth training in diversity, inclusion and multicultural practices

• Strategic thinking skills, with a record of accomplishment in the implementation of effective and sustainable academic and affective programs in diversity, equity, inclusion and anti-racism in school settings

• Community building skill set and the capacity and interest to work with a broad spectrum of learners to build cross-cultural skills and understanding in all constituencies — students, parents, employees, trustees, and other members of our school

• Strong oral and written communication skills, including public speaking and experience leading diversity and inclusion trainings and developing cross-cultural skills in others

• A Bachelor’s degree is required, Master’s degree preferred

Additional things to know

• Generous Benefits (Health, Dental and more). For more information visit our website 
• Breakfast and lunch provided, as well as coffee and snacks.
• Free parking, and close to the green line T