St. Mary s Academy Englewood, Colorado stmarys.academy High School Principal July 1, 2018 Faith, Community, Justice, Respect Mission Statement: St. Mary s Academy fosters excellence in each child through academic achievement, spiritual development and service. The Loretto School Values of faith, community, justice and respect provide the foundation for students to be powerful agents of change. St. Mary s Academy (SMA), a Catholic independent school sponsored by the Sisters of Loretto, is conducting a national search for a new High School Principal. The high school has been led for the past twenty-one years by Kathryn McNamee. During her tenure, Ms. McNamee has implemented numerous initiatives and led with vision that has added to St. Mary s reputation as the preeminent all-girls high school in the West. Building on Ms. McNamee s accomplishments, the school seeks an experienced educator whose inspirational leadership is student-centered and will ensure an excellent academic program. The Principal will embody the Loretto School Values, which are grounded in spirituality and dedication to the education of young people. St. Mary s Academy is comprised of three schools: the Lower School is co-ed Junior Kindergarten through grade 5; the Middle School is co-ed grades 6-8; and the High School is all-girls. SMA is the only all-girls high school in Colorado. Students come from the greater Denver metro area and are of various religious, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds. The High School Principal reports to the President of SMA and works collaboratively with the school s Administrative Team, which consists of the President, Director of Advancement; Director of Admissions; Chief Financial Officer; Director of Marketing and Communications; Director of Facilities Management; Middle School and Lower School Principals; Director of IT and Director of Loretto Projects/Historian. Enrollment for 2017-18 is as follows: 261 girls in grades 9-12; 213 boys and girls in grades 6-8; 207 boys and girls in Junior Kindergarten through 5 th grade. There are 82 faculty members and 20 staff on campus; 60% of faculty hold advanced degrees. Forty-four percent of families are Catholic and 31% of the student body are students of color. The school is accredited by the Association of Colorado Independent Schools (ACIS) and is a member of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) and the National Coalition of Girls Schools (NCGS). Other affiliations include the National Catholic Education Association (NCEA), 3A Metropolitan League, the Colorado High School Activities Association and the Online School for Girls. 1
HISTORY OF ST. MARY S ACADEMY In 1864, three Sisters of Loretto left Santa Fe, New Mexico, by mail coach to open St. Mary s Academy in Denver, having been invited by Father Joseph P. Machebeuf, who became the first Bishop of Colorado. The school opened as a select school for girls in a wooden, two-story building, with boarders and day students. St. Mary s Academy awarded the first high school diploma in the Colorado Territory in 1875. From its beginnings, diversity was seen and celebrated, as SMA s founders followed the clear and inclusive Rules for the School, dating from Loretto schools of the early 1800s No Denomination is refused, if willing, to observe the Rules of the School--The other Denomination will suffer to be friendly; invited in the School, they are to be present at every exercise & to behave, if not in a Religious, at least in a civil manner. This respect for others not of the Catholic faith but sharing in the desire for knowledge has been a hallmark of the St. Mary s Academy campus for more than 150 years. Since its opening, SMA relocated several times and has been at its present location on South University Boulevard since 1951. In the early 1970s, a separate Middle School was established and both the Lower and Middle Schools became co-educational. The governance model changed to a Board of Trustees to include lay persons as well as Sisters. The 1980s were a time of significant growth, in terms of facilities as well as the establishment of the Children s Center (later renamed the Early Learning Center). In 1999 and 2000, the US Department of Education recognized the Lower and High Schools as Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence, respectively. In 2016 the Lower School was again recognized as a Blue Ribbon School of Excellence. Throughout the years, the school has graduated thousands of women who, like the founders, are pioneers and risk-takers. Recently, the school embarked on a $10 million capital campaign for construction of the Community Center as well as building endowment and improvements to the three schools. The recently completed Community Center includes a lunchroom and gathering area for students, parents, faculty/staff, trustees and the broader community, with a panoramic view of the campus and distant mountains, and additional classrooms and office space. In keeping with the key Loretto focus on sustainability, geothermal design was introduced in the Community Center, which allows for 60% less energy use in the building. In addition, this past summer, the school completed a $2.6 million renovation of the high school, which included updated classrooms, new conference rooms, and a new café and outdoor patio. St. Mary s Academy is the oldest of the three contemporary Loretto secondary schools for women. Nerinx Hall in St. Louis, Missouri, and Loretto Academy in El Paso, Texas, which is also coed K-grade 5, presently exist with SMA to continue the tradition of academic excellence in women s education. At the conclusion of each academic year, student leaders from the three schools meet to share their insights and experiences with each other and to formulate a shared understanding of their roles and responsibilities as Loretto students. Throughout its history the charism of the Sisters of Loretto has permeated SMA s life. Much of the credit for this belongs to the school s leadership, dedicated lay staff, the guidance of the Board of Trustees, and a few Loretto members. 2
SMA is very much a progressive, inclusive, Catholic community mirroring both the intent of the founding Sisters and reflecting Loretto s reality today as Loretto Community, which incorporates the vowed Sisters and lay Co-members who espouse the mission. The Loretto School Values of faith, community, justice and respect are foundational to St. Mary s Academy in fulfilling its mission and living its Loretto heritage. The school s faith identity is multi-faceted, yet deeply rooted. Faculty and staff play an important role in articulating this identity to people both within and outside of the community. PROGRAM The programs of the three schools are guided by the desire to provide not only an excellent academic program but also one that is imbued with Loretto values. St. Mary s Academy provides an education of the highest form, integrating the mind, body and spirit. Students are empowered to develop and encouraged to use their unique gifts as they become self-confident, faith-filled adults who will go out and make a positive difference in the world. The all-girls high school at SMA fosters the holistic growth of young women by requiring serious study in all core disciplines as well as providing extensive opportunities for personal development through participation in athletics, the fine arts and community service. The interdisciplinary focus of math and science departments emphasize the inherent logic in both disciplines and challenges students to acquire the habit of thinking critically and analytically. Humanities coordinates English, social studies and religious studies. The World Visions program for 10 th grade is centered on crosscultural studies and presented through this interdisciplinary approach. World languages include Spanish, French, Mandarin and American Sign Language. Fine Arts requirements, both visual and performing arts, promote competency in the skills of various media. Studio work, choral and instrumental ensembles and theatrical productions encourage students self-expression and appreciation for the work of their peers and other artists. The athletic program provides opportunities for interscholastic team play for the young women through the Metropolitan League of the Colorado High School Activities Association. Competitive offerings include basketball, cross country, field hockey, lacrosse, golf, swim and dive, track and field, softball, volleyball and soccer. The Community Service program at the high school strives to provide students with an opportunity to begin fulfilling the commitment to love, to learn from those we serve, and to discover the best in ourselves and our ability to make a difference in the lives of all people. Although there is a 100-hour graduation requirement, virtually all of the young women surpass those hours with their commitment to service. They work directly with people being served by the chosen agencies, facilitating an exchange of talents. SCHOOL COMMUNITY The entire school community clearly embraces the Loretto School Values of faith, community, justice and respect. Educational excellence, along with the Loretto identity, permeates all aspects of school life. Committed to diversity on campus, St. Mary s Academy is the first school to partner with The Challenge Foundation in Denver, a local non-profit organization that serves high-achieving students from low-income backgrounds. The foundation identifies students who are capable of performing in a rigorous college preparatory program and supports them from grade 6 with tuition assistance, mentoring, family support and other wrap-around services to ensure student success. Parents emphasize the strong sense of community, reporting that the school promotes the dignity and individuality of each student. They point to the nurturing culture that is able to co-exist with an academically challenging program. Students are happy and joyful, connecting with each other in peer groups as well as across divisions. They say that their teachers want them to succeed, that they receive encouragement and support throughout their years at SMA. High School girls value 3
tremendously that they learn self-advocacy and self-empowerment, developing their voice as they venture out into the greater world. The faculty is deeply committed to SMA as evidenced by their cumulative years of service to the school. There is an appreciation of the long tradition of the school as well as the knowledge of innovations in education today. The culture and ethos of the faculty is one of a strong sense of community who value the opportunity to do good and meaningful work. They are guided by a deep understanding of what it means to teach at St. Mary s Academy, showing care, compassion and concern for their students as well as dedication to ensure the success of the students through participation in all aspects of school life. RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE NEXT HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL The school community is interested in candidates who are committed to an all-girls education, who can embrace, articulate and promote the school s vision of educating young women and who will inspire a commitment to excellence throughout the high school community. In addition to being an exceptional and visionary leader, a strategic thinker, a relationship-builder and a skillful manager, the responsibilities of the Principal will include, but are not limited to, the following: In relation to Mission Effectiveness: Maintain congruency between the school s mission statement and all activities of the division Create an environment in which each student s faith and moral development will be nourished through an understanding and knowledge of the Loretto School Values of faith, community, justice and respect, including modeling these values In relation to Administrative Leadership: Know best practices for educating young women Help set the strategic direction for the school as a member of the administrative team Serve on committees where appropriate and/or as assigned by the President Be the educational leader of the division, responsible for its day-to-day operations Function as the chief articulator of the division s programs, expectations, behavioral guidelines and other information necessary to ensure that all constituencies are fully informed consonant with their individual roles Recruit, interview, hire and retain faculty and staff whose values are compatible with the mission of the school Provide on-going supervision and evaluation of faculty, with attention to mentoring/coaching teachers as needed Assist in the admission process for the testing, interviewing and evaluating of applicants for enrollment Maintain the budget for the division In relation to Instructional Leadership: Review and evaluate the academic programs, including attention to horizontal and vertical curricular flow Lead the academic policies/curricular conversations in the articulation of the school mission, school goals, department goals, course objectives, materials, methods, and means of assessment 4
Serve as a consultant to teachers in matters of classroom management, pedagogy and general school procedures Conduct regular meetings with faculty that deal with both routine school matters and with the stimulating exchange of ideas on issues of educational/philosophical interest and concern In relation to the Student Experience: Foster a climate of inclusivity, personal integrity and honesty in and out of the classroom Recommend policy and implement general school regulations for discipline, student appearance and decorum, in partnership with the President SEARCH PROCESS St. Mary s Academy has engaged the national executive search firm Educational Directions, Incorporated, to assist with the search. The Search Committee plans to complete the search by January 2018 or earlier. Candidates should submit the following materials as soon as possible: Cover letter explaining why they are interested in and qualified for the High School Principal position at St. Mary s Academy Brief personal statement that includes the candidate s thoughts on leading St. Mary s Academy high school in the tradition of the Sisters of Loretto Current resume Names, e-mail addresses, and telephone numbers of five references Two written letters of reference Electronic submission of materials is required. Please send materials in a consolidated pdf format to: Mathew Heersche, Ed.D. mheersche@edu-directions.com Or Risa Oganesoff Heersche rheersche@edu-directions.com SEARCH CALENDAR Applications Due mid-november 2017 Semi-finalists interviews Late November/early December 2017 Finalist interviews and campus visit December 2017/January 2018 Appointment of new Principal January 2018 for a July 1, 2018 start 5