A S of P S c , f m S d S d 2020 - Carney Sandoe & Associates · of global citizenship, namely...

AmericAn School of PAriS

SAint cloud, frAncemiddle School directorStArt dAte: July 2020

www.ASPAriS.org

overview

The American School of Paris (ASP) is looking for an innovative and dynamic Middle School Director to lead a team of passionate educators in creating an outstanding environment for learning for the critical years of early adolescence.

The school is in an exciting stage of its development. Having recently completed an extensive building project, the community has embarked on an ambitious design-thinking process to create the strategy that will guide ASP over the next few years. The new Middle School Director will work alongside the Head of School and fellow Division Directors to bring the plans into fruition through collaboration with faculty, parents, and students.

The Middle School at ASP has gained a reputation for a growing innovative practice and a commitment to student voice and agency. The next leader has the opportunity to build on this work and ensure that the Middle School continues to embrace change that improves the learning and well-being of students.

We are looking for a community-builder who seeks to engage students with their learning and their growth as responsible, empowered, global citizens — a person excited about the possibilities offered by 21st-century approaches to education, deeply connected with the needs of adolescents, and passionate about the challenges and joys of working with this age group.

2The Search Group | Carney, Sandoe & Associates [email protected] | www.carneysandoe.com

Fast FactsSchool type: coed day school for students ages 3-18Founded: 1946Total enrollment: 800Nationalities in student body: 60Host country students: 15%Total faculty: 119Faculty holding advanced degrees: 70%Student/teacher ratio: 7:1Curricular programs: International Baccalaureate, Advanced Placement

MissionThe American School of Paris is a vibrant, international, family-oriented community. Our mission is to inspire and prepare every student to achieve personal and academic excellence as an engaged global citizen by providing a challenging, innovative program within a compassionate environment.

the School

The American School of Paris was founded in 1946 to educate children of American diplomats and professional expatriates arriving in Paris in the years just after WWII. The school moved to its current location in Saint-Cloud in 1967 to provide for growing enrollment and increased resources. Enrolling a largely American student body in its formative years, ASP today welcomes families from many nationalities, including a growing number of host-country students.

In 2011, ASP successfully acquired formal ownership of its campus (a former NATO base) and subsequently embarked upon an extensive master building plan. Recently, the school dedicated a marvelous new Upper School building, added a Lower School cafeteria/function space, renovated the Lower School wing, added an Arts Link (which houses fine arts, music, and a black box theater), and the Middle School STEAM/innovation lab, maker spaces, and new classrooms.

The American School of Paris is a leader in the international school community in teaching and learning. ASP’s academic standards are well established within a nurturing, familial environment in which students are challenged to succeed personally as well as academically, and supported as individual learners. A founding school of the International Baccalaureate (IB), ASP has provided Upper School students the opportunity to earn the IB Diploma for more than three decades. The school also offers the Bilingual IB Diploma. In addition, ASP is one of few schools in Europe to offer Advanced Placement (AP) courses alongside the IB Diploma Program, providing a uniquely diversified and personalized educational experience. ASP thus offers a broad academic program that focuses on the individual student’s interests and needs, while at the same time instilling the most essential qualities of global citizenship, namely cultural awareness and inclusion, multilingual communication skills, and a commitment to environmental stewardship and serving communities in need.



the middle School

ASP believes wholeheartedly in the importance of the middle school years as an important stage of transition between the Lower School, which encourages children to be proactive in exploring and guiding their own learning in innovative and creative ways, and the Upper School, which offers a highly diversified and customizable high school program. To that end, Middle School teachers help their students navigate these exciting and tumultuous waters by scaffolding their experience in a safe, yet challenging environment. Middle School teachers stimulate and captivate young people, and preserve what Richard Feynman called “the pleasure of finding things out.”

The Middle School is a vibrant and bustling community of learners of over 180 students and 30 teachers. Students at this age are constantly reflecting on their identities as they explore newfound independence and autonomy. As you walk through the halls, you will see small groups of students collaborating on engaging projects and pushing themselves towards self-improvement. Whether it be wrestling with a question of social justice in a social studies class, trying to express themselves through art and clay, or pushing their logical thinking in math, ASP students are engaged. Technology, effectively integrated through a 1:1 program, promotes creativity, innovation, and connected learning. The school balances academics with a rich abundance of extra-curriculars including offerings in the arts, community service, and athletics.

The academic program is student-centered in its approach, promoting the 21st-century skills of communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity. Core subjects include English, French, social studies, science, math, and physical/health education. All subject areas are aligned to standards, which drive assessment design. Recently the Middle School adopted a standards-based approach to grading and reporting which is grounded in research about building intrinsic motivation and a growth mindset.


The Middle School offers dedicated language support to students of all backgrounds. In addition to core English classes, students are required to study French. The French program at ASP uses ACTFL proficiency guidelines and is segmented into four levels (Novice, Intermediate, Advanced, and Francophone), ensuring that every student, from native speaker to novice, is appropriately challenged. ASP also offers a robust English as an Additional Language (EAL) program. Students who are not fluent in English attend grade-level classes while working with EAL specialists in and out of the classroom to develop a mastery of the language.

As part of the required course of study, the Middle School provides students with ample opportunity to explore other interests and uncover new talents and passions through the elective program. Students can choose from a diverse selection of electives ranging from music and visual arts to design, debate, and theater.

Additionally, in line with its mission and commitment to inclusion, ASP provides learning support services to students who have both mild and moderate learning differences, recognizing that every child can learn and that the needs of learners are best met when their learning needs are understood.

ArtS And AthleticS

The arts program is highly diversified, providing students with creative outlets within and beyond the classroom. From its film laboratory and state-of-the-art black box theater to ensemble rooms, a ceramics room, and an electronic music studio, ASP provides resources to students across all grades and divisions, enabling them to engage fully in the creative process and develop a wide range of aesthetic and artistic skills. The ultimate goal of the arts program is to instill an enduring


appreciation and enthusiasm for the arts. Music is integrated into the academic curriculum beginning in the Lower School and carries over through Grade 12, and the school offers many opportunities for students to showcase their instrumental and vocal talents at school concerts as well as international music festivals throughout the year.

The Athletics Department at ASP embraces an inclusive and developmental philosophy while offering a wide range of opportunities for students. The Lower and Middle School Athletics programs welcome active parent participation and emphasize skill-building and qualities of teamwork, humility, and hard work over winning. Games are scheduled with local and international schools, and students are chosen to participate in games based on attitude, participation, and effort. Seventh and eighth graders are welcome to try out for JV and Varsity teams of selective sports as well. The athletics program in the Upper School is fully integrated into the educational curriculum. Eleven junior varsity (JV) and varsity sports are offered across three seasons at ASP.

Student life, ActivitieS, And ProgrAmS

Students feel genuinely appreciative of the opportunities afforded them at ASP — from core courses and electives, clubs and activities, and college choices, to the tools and resources needed to succeed in their pursuits.

At the heart of the Middle School experience is the Advisory Program, which promotes healthy social and emotional development during the formative years of adolescence, in addition to strengthening the overall sense of community and interpersonal connections within the division. Students are welcomed into small advisory groups that meet regularly with a faculty mentor, creating a safe space


to discuss relevant social issues. The Advisory Program is launched each school year with Outward Bound team-building trips in Savoie, France (Grade 6), the Lake District, England (Grade 7), and Zeeland, Holland (Grade 8). These experiences continue to be points of reference throughout the year.

Activities and field trips during the year provide further opportunities to put into practice the ideas and topics that arise in group discussions, which include self-advocacy and independence, organizational skills and time management, identity, multiculturalism, and responsible decision-making, among others.

In addition, students have access to a rich abundance of extra-curriculars including offerings in the arts, community service, and athletics. Student participation in co-curricular activities is highly supported and encouraged at ASP. Whether athletic, artistic, leadership-focused, community-minded, or geared toward a specific hobby or interest, all clubs supplement the robust athletics, arts and service learning activities that are a part of the core curriculum. Students also have the opportunity to be engaged, global citizens through the Model United Nations program. ASP has hosted PACMUN, the largest Middle School MUN program in Europe, for over 12 years.

Beyond the classroom, ASP seeks to instill and nurture a sense of global responsibility. Service Learning begins in Lower School with initiatives such as choral performances at local nursing homes, scaling upwards as students gain organizational skills and understanding. By Upper School, students are wholeheartedly shaping and enacting service programs that include signature outreach trips to Romania, India, and the Kalahari. The school also cultivates awareness and responsiveness to emerging global situations that call for humanitarian support.

PAriS, frAnce

Paris is widely recognized as one of the world’s most cosmopolitan and international cities. From haute cuisine to high fashion and the arts, Paris has long set the standards for modern style and aesthetics. Paris’ monument-lined boulevards, museums, classical bistros, and boutiques are enhanced by a new wave of multimedia galleries, creative wine bars, design shops, and tech start-ups. This sophistication, coupled with a strong and diversified economy, makes Paris attractive for permanent residents as well as tourists from around the world.

The capital of France and the country’s most populous city, “Grand Paris” — which refers to the commune as well as its nearest suburbs — is the economic hub of France, producing 31% of the nation’s gross domestic product. In addition to serving as the epicenter for banking and finance in France, Paris has seen recent growth in high-value IT and financial services as high-tech research and manufacturing (in particular, aeronautics, automobiles, and “eco” industries) have taken hold. The city is also a major transportation hub, with two international airports and the second-largest subway system in Europe carrying over five million passengers daily.

France’s reputation for its cuisine precedes it, and whether one seeks a cozy neighborhood bistro or a triple-Michelin-starred temple to gastronomy, every establishment prides itself on exquisite preparation and presentation of quality produce. Its reputation for style and fashion is also well-known, remaining at the forefront of international trends and home to both emerging and established designer boutiques.



Paris is one of the world’s great art repositories, harboring treasures from antiquity onwards. In addition to major museums like the incomparable Louvre, the Musée d’Orsay’s exceptional impressionist collection, and the Centre Pompidou’s cache of modern and contemporary art, scores of smaller museums showcase every imaginable genre, a diverse range of venues mount major exhibitions through to offbeat installations, and there’s also the city’s vibrant street art.

Finally, the cloud-piercing, wrought-iron Eiffel Tower, broad Arc de Triomphe guarding the glamorous avenue des Champs-Élysées, lamplit bridges spanning the Seine, and art nouveau cafés’ wicker-chair-lined terraces are just some of the enduring Parisian emblems. Parisians and expats alike remark that the city is a truly extraordinary place to call home.

oPPortunitieS

• Leading a well-established, strong Middle School program in an excellent international school.• Being part of an energetic, forward-looking leadership team.• Being part of a dynamic, student-centered and truly international educational community.• Working with a dedicated, confident group of Middle School teachers who are open to

professional growth.• Living and working in Paris.


chAllengeS

• Continuing to develop and implement a standards-based assessment and reporting system.• Providing clarity about expectations for students, teachers, and parents.• Leading and motivating others to engage in forward-looking, contemporary practices.• Continuing to develop, and being an advocate for, a clear sense of the role of the Middle School

in the overall structure and operation of the school.• Fully embracing the multi-dimensional role of a true division leader.

deSired QuAlitieS And QuAlificAtionS

• Leadership experience in an international school.• A learning leader – understands and can lead effective teaching and learning.• Knows and can be an advocate for standards-based assessment and reporting.• Able to motivate and inspire a strong and experienced faculty.• Organized and able to manage the day-to-day running of a complex organization efficiently.• Deeply committed to Middle School education, and committed to a student-focused, inclusive

approach that prioritizes student voice and agency.• An effective communicator, confident to speak publicly, write for a variety of audiences, and share

information to ensure the community feels connected with the work of the school.


to APPly

Interested and qualified candidates should submit electronically in one email and as separate documents (preferably PDFs) the following materials:

• A cover letter expressing their interest in this particular position; • A current résumé; • A statement of educational or leadership philosophy and practice; • A list of five professional references with name, phone number, and email address of each

(references will not be contacted without the candidate’s permission) to:

John Chandler Senior [email protected]

Art Charles Senior [email protected]

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