B , n y h S d 2020 - Carney Sandoe & Associatesanswers to their own questions, and when learning is...

The Co-op SChool

Brooklyn, new yorkhead of SChool

STarT daTe: July 2020www.TheCoopSChool.org

overview

The Co-op School is a joyful 2’s through eighth grade learning community that provides a safe and stimulating micro-environment in which students experiment and learn. All members of The Co-op School—students, families, and staff—contribute to the development of its unique culture and participate in improving the community and beyond. As students learn to work together, preparing for their place in a global environment, families also work within committees and on the board of trustees to support the school.

Teachers at The Co-op School guide students in the dynamic, life-long process of questioning and making connections. Through far-reaching social studies projects enriched through literature, math, science, and the arts, students make decisions, research, and reflect. They leave The Co-op School confident in their ability to effect change in the community and comfortable reflecting on ways to challenge themselves and grow.

At this time, The Co-op School seeks a new Head of School who will maintain the school’s high academic standards and results and will be committed to continuing to introduce educational innovation in the school that will affirm its commitment to providing an environment within which all students can achieve success.

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

Mission StatementThe mission of The Co-op School is to inspire passion and teach children to become protagonists in their own educational journey by fostering their innate sense of curiosity and creativity. The Co-op School facilitates joyful learning through a unique and rigorous constructivist approach that listens to and honors the individual interests and strengths of each child. The Co-op School doesn’t just belong to the students and educators, but extends to the family community as a whole. It belongs to those who participate in it, and is a more resilient and creative place because of it.


SChool hiSTory

The Co-op School was founded in 2003 by a group of parents who saw the need for a high-quality and affordable preschool option in the Clinton Hill and Fort Greene neighborhoods. Since then, The Co-op School has matured from a small, parent-run playgroup to a fully staffed and licensed non-profit school. The Co-op School is a parent-aided organization for which “cooperative” means just that: students’ families are responsible for the development, fundraising, and maintenance of the school.

After residing in two prior homes in Clinton Hill, The Co-op School moved into 87 Irving Place in the fall of 2009. In 2011, The Co-op School launched the first kindergarten class of its elementary program at 40 Brevoort Place. Today, the school is enjoying its attractive new and spacious location in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn.

The SChool

The Co-op School is an inclusive community that welcomes and celebrates students and families who represent the glorious diversity of Brooklyn and beyond. We encourage students and families to share their whole selves. The Co-op School strives to help our students recognize and honor both how we are different and how we are the same.

An inclusive community promotes an understanding of experiences and viewpoints other than our own. Ultimately, this will extend beyond the walls of our school and lead to broader explorations of equity and social justice. The school supports an anti-bias curriculum through character studies

Fast FactsTotal students: 302Students of color: 44%Total faculty: 52Faculty of color: 62%Student/teacher ratio: 7:1Faculty with advanced degrees: 46%Students receiving financial aid: 20%Total aid awarded for 2019-20: $800,000

that represent diversity within a social justice framework. Teachers ask questions and encourage conversations that prompt students to think critically and to develop an awareness of injustice and inequity.

In fall of 2019, The Co-op School moved to a brand-new location at 644 Gates Avenue in Brooklyn. This new location houses the preschool, elementary, and middle school programs under one roof. The building provides students and families with 19 light-filled classrooms, a 3,500 square foot double-height gym, a rooftop library, two playgrounds, and other resources that contribute to creating an outstanding learning environment.

aCademiCS

The Co-op School follows a progressive constructivist program where every unique classroom is structured to meet the individual needs of each child. Its curriculum is based on these beliefs:

• Joyful learning lays the foundation for lifelong learning and critical thinking.• Creativity cannot exist without passion.• Children flourish when school is fun and engaging, when they are invested in finding out the

answers to their own questions, and when learning is embedded in meaningful contexts.• It is important to educate the entire child on all levels: emotional, social, physical, and intellectual.• Students work as a group and think as individuals, expressing feelings and contributing ideas

peacefully and respectfully.



An integral part of the curriculum is inquiry-based projects, influenced by the Reggio Emilia model, which encourages questioning, exploration, and critical thinking. The term “project” refers to an in-depth study of a particular topic. This approach to learning emphasizes children’s active participation in the planning, development, and assessment of their own learning. Long-term projects provide contexts where innate curiosity can be expressed purposefully. Teachers are observers and facilitators of the students’ interests. They step back and listen, allowing the children to problem solve.

Educators work to ensure that all students receive an education that targets their cognitive, social, and emotional development. An observational period at the start of the school year is used to get to know students and assess their needs. If a child is identified as needing additional support, a more in-depth study is done. The school will support and guide families through the evaluation process and advocate for students to receive any services they may require.

PreschoolThe preschool program looks to the Emergent and Reggio Emilia curricula which emphasize students’ active participation in the planning, development, and assessment of their own learning. Teachers observe and listen to the students as they play, determine their areas of interest, and then develop a curriculum to direct their learning based on what they have witnessed.

Fostering self-expression and creativity are significant to the school’s ethos. Each classroom includes facilities and opportunities for painting, drawing, clay, collage, construction, block-building, and cooking. Students also have weekly “specials” classes in music and movement and, beginning in Pre-K 4’s, they take classes in science and creative making.

Elementary SchoolThe Co-op School’s approach to teaching kindergarten through fifth grade is firmly rooted in a philosophy that students learn best when they are invested in finding answers to their own questions. To provide meaningful learning experiences, teachers use the Responsive Classroom approach which creates a safe, challenging, and joyful classroom and a positive school-wide climate for all youngsters. Teachers in Responsive Classrooms understand that all of their students’ needs—academic, social, emotional, and physical—are extremely important.

The elementary program is unique in that it honors and values the individual learner. A low student-to-teacher ratio means skilled and fully engaged teachers can teach to the individualities of every child through workshops as well as inquiry-based social studies projects. Teachers meet students where they are, allowing for student empowerment, choice, and curiosity to lead the way whenever possible. By emphasizing social, emotional, and academic growth within a positive and joyful community, students are purposeful and successful learners.

The curriculum is created with and for students in order to help them think and communicate as readers, writers, scientists, mathematicians, artists, and social scientists. This constructivist approach to teaching is absorbed into classrooms through Reggio Emilia inquiry-based Open Work/Project Work periods. Projects are planned with attention to state standards, teacher goals, and individual classroom interests.

The academic program includes English Language Arts, Mathematics, and, for students in third through fifth grade, Health and Well-being. Specials are also a large part of the program, during which important standards-based concepts are taught while supporting ongoing classroom project work. Weekly specials include Science, Library, Movement, Creative Maker Lab, and Music. Recorder instruction begins in third grade. Technology is taught weekly by a technology teacher beginning



in second grade. Spanish is taught four times per week. All students attend monthly Town Hall meetings and Open Mic talent events.

Middle SchoolRooted in the joy and inquiry-based learning ideals of the preschool and elementary programs, the middle school continues to help students find their voices as empathetic and active citizens of the world. In addition to a curriculum that strongly promotes student-based learning and academic rigor, there is an increased emphasis on social-emotional skills, independence, and learning how to learn.

The Co-op School’s commitment to a curriculum that is project-based, inclusive, and highly personalized extends to the middle school program. Projects enable students to actively participate in their own learning and to plan, develop, and assess research which answers their own questions. Students transitioning from elementary to middle school are ready for additional academic rigor and the program is developed to recognize this milestone and support it. Having a middle school in a K-8 environment also provides a plethora of unique learning and leadership opportunities for students.

Academic teaching in the middle school is departmentalized with passionate middle school instructors who are highly trained in their academic fields. Curriculum continues to be interdisciplinary and students gain additional independence as they transition between academic classes and teachers. Students use Chromebooks and Google Classroom throughout the day to enhance their learning.

Academic classes include Humanities—an integrated course with a Social Studies and English framework—Math, Science, Spanish, and Health. Students are given the opportunity to choose from a series of electives each trimester, which may include Creative Writing, Music Composition, Photography, Woodshop, and different musical instruments for beginners. Specials include Physical Education, individual reading time, Drama, Genius Hour (where students have the opportunity to

explore their passions and be challenged to find, evaluate, and present information as they engage in the research process), and Community Action (a series of age-appropriate activities based on The Anti-bias Framework). Middle Schoolers also help to develop and lead the monthly school-wide Town Hall Meetings.

In addition to academic development, the middle school ensures that students receive age-appropriate skills development and support. An advisory program offers dedicated time to practice mindfulness techniques, and student-driven academic support time—called “What I Need” (WIN)— is run as a structured learning lab. The school has also added enrichment options focused on the needs and interests of middle schoolers. These classes meet regularly to supplement academic offerings throughout the day and include Mandarin, Intramurals, Student Council, Newspaper, and Theater.

Graduates of The Co-op School will be confident to tackle new challenges, discover their intellectual strength, be able to advocate for themselves, and continue to embrace the joy of learning. A high school placement director will work individually with students and families to assist them in navigating the placement process.

SChool life

The Co-op School offers a diverse range of after-school enrichment opportunities throughout the school year. Some are taught by teachers and staff and some are collaborations with outside organizations. Examples of some offerings include Soccer, Bucket Drumming, Authors and Illustrators Club, Photography, Crazy Concoctions, and Creative Play (in preschool); Super Hero Comics, Card Games, Girl Power, French Language, Karate, Chess Academy, Hockey, Dance Workshop, DIY Spa



Day, and Soccer (for the elementary grades); and Mandarin, Intramural Sports, Student Council, Newspaper, and Theater (for middle schoolers).

The Co-op School hosts a number of annual community events—from a Scholarship Gala to Community Potluck—to bring students and family members together. These events not only create a greater sense of community, but they also help raise money for the capital campaign, scholarship fund, and other school needs. Sunset Soirée, held every July to mark the kick-off of the new school year, is an informal gathering where new and returning Co-op School families can socialize and meet incoming teachers and classmates. The Scholarship Gala is the biggest event of the year—roughly 400 Co-op School parents and supporters come together for the night—for an unparalleled evening of community, fun, and fundraising. All proceeds go directly to the school’s scholarship fund for families who wouldn’t otherwise be able to attend the school. Other events include the Back to School Party for parents and staff, the Valentine’s Day Dance, the Jog-a-Thon, the Read-A-Thon, and Movie Nights.

Every month, the school comes together in a Town Hall to celebrate each of the school’s core values: Compassion, Uniqueness, Innovation, Community Action, and Joy. Students and staff perform skits and sing songs that focus on the month’s core value. The school also holds Open Mics, where students are invited to perform whatever talents they’d like to share—a song, a dance, or even a knock-knock joke.


parenT CommuniTy

The Co-op School is comprised of families who are deeply committed to participating in the creation of their children’s educational environment and are brought together by a desire to pitch in and participate to provide their children with a quality education at an accessible price.

As such, students’ families are responsible for the development, fundraising, and maintenance of the school. The Board of Trustees is comprised of elected parents, and all parents share the responsibility of upholding the school’s guiding principles. Parents are required to contribute through committee work or by participating in work shifts. The participation of each family is critical for the effective operation of the school, and the cooperative model engenders a unique sense of ownership and belonging. Working committees include Annual Appeal, the Annual Back-to-School Party, the Friends & Family Book Fair, Comedy Night, Movie Night, or joining the Facilities or Gardening Committees.

Community Open Work (COW) is a series of five one-hour sessions which take place each week when parents, guardians, and staff come together to share a skill or hobby they are passionate about with elementary students. Each year offers a revolving schedule of topics. Students choose their top three choices and are then placed in a small group. They work together across grade levels on topics that range from Thai Chi to juggling, comic book making to Greek myths, knitting to jewelry making.

Brooklyn, new york

The Co-op School’s new location is in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of north-central Brooklyn. Colloquially known as Bed-Stuy, parts of the neighborhood are landmarked and preserved

with a remarkable late-19th-century feel—rows of gracious brownstone homes on tree-lined streets, lots of open sky, and historic buildings. The area has perhaps the largest collection of intact and largely untouched Victorian architecture in the country, and it has a long tradition of educational innovation led by parents and community members.

There are three small parks popular with residents in the area, including Herbert Von King Park. Just a few blocks from the school, it was designed by the world-famous team of Frederick Law Olmsted (also the creator of Central Park) and features a community center with a recording studio, fitness equipment, and an indoor dance studio. Free jazz concerts are held over the summer. The Raymond Bush Playground is located less than a block away and Co-op children visit every afternoon and play with kids from other neighborhood schools. Block Associations are strong entities, and the warmer months mean dozens of block parties and street festivals. New stores, bars, and restaurants continue to pop up on streets throughout the neighborhood.

Bed-Stuy and its surrounding neighborhoods are home to an extraordinary collection of cultural institutions such as the Brooklyn Museum, the Brooklyn Academy of Music, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Barclays Center and beautiful Prospect Park. Rapidly developing Brooklyn Bridge Park is an emerging city landmark; scenic piers, iconic Jane’s Carousel, and seasonal attractions from movie screenings and pop-up pools to free ferry rides keep the activities going year-round. All this adds up to a neighborhood that can feel worlds removed from New York’s typical hustle and bustle, while remaining convenient to all of the city’s most exciting perks. Brooklyn attracts an eclectic cross-section of residents who span a variety of professions, educations, backgrounds, and interests. From local to global, artistic to financial, and young to old, the community offers something for everyone and provides an incredible place to raise and educate children where diversity, community and humanity connect and continue to prosper.



opporTuniTieS and ChallengeS

The Co-op School is an inclusive community that welcomes and celebrates students and families who represent the diversity of Brooklyn and beyond in terms of race, ethnicity, gender, family structure, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic class, and physical ability. The school encourages students and families to share their whole selves. The Co-op School strives to help students recognize and honor how people are different and how they are the same. It is deeply committed to anti-bias teaching, which for young children is as much about precluding the formation of biases as it is disproving their myths. The next Head of School is expected to embrace these values and continue to grow and expand their practice.

In particular, the next Head of School should be mindful of the following opportunities and challenges:

• There is a demonstrable need for thoughtful strategic planning that focuses on the sustainability of the school and its current operational model.

• Both internal and external communications need to be restructured and enhanced.• The academic vision of the school needs to be clarified and focused. What is our identity? What

does progressive education mean at The Co-op School? What specific steps must we consider to successfully enact our vision?

• The school needs to become more cohesive and become “one school” and not three separate divisions.


deSired QualiTieS and QualifiCaTionS

The next Head of School will need to be a generative leader with outstanding communication and interpersonal skills who can inspire the Co-op community and create demand for the unique gifts of a Co-op School education. Understanding the powerful core elements of the Co-op value proposition and differentiating the school from competitive alternatives will be critical for the school’s success moving forward.

While knowledge of education, curriculum, and school operations is certainly desired, other qualities and experiences are also highly valued, especially vision, entrepreneurial leadership, and the ability to inspire and lead a high-performing team.

In particular, the next Head of School should:

• Be a strong, effective communicator, equally comfortable in one-on-one meetings and small and large groups.

• Possess the ability to inspire cohesiveness and make effective connections with all constituencies.• Truly value teachers and their importance to students’ development and success• Be relentlessly positive and upbeat.• Evidence thoughtfulness, vision, and transparency.• Follow-up and follow through.• Show a deep commitment to the staff ’s personal growth and professional development.

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 resumé;• A one-page statement of educational or leadership philosophy and practice;• A list of five professional references with the name, phone number, and email address of each

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

Bruce L. DennisSenior [email protected]

Bob VitaloSenior [email protected]

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