MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPALInformation for Candidates

Applications are welcomed for the position of Middle and High School Principal. The position is available from August 2019, or sooner by mutual agreement.

A BILINGUAL SCHOOLDaystar Academy is a community-based, bilingual private school based on two campuses in Beijing. Currently it operates to Middle School level and will add a High School level (Grade 9) in 2019. Its aim is to graduate students who are genuinely bilingual in Chinese and English and bicultural. Daystar brings together Chinese national curriculum standards and US Common Core State Standards, using the framework of the IB PYP and MYP. The school has a rigorous approach to the use of data to inform instructional practice and seeks to embrace innovation and research in its teaching and learning.

Daystar Academy’s overall objective is for its students to graduate fully bilingual and with complete bilingual literacy. This is in order to fulfil a very deliberate aspiration: so that they go to universities internationally but are able to return to China with a strong understanding of the Chinese culture. Bilingual immersion in Chinese and English is at the heart of the Daystar program. Students are not only taught the two languages but are taught through the two languages. The school is a blend of cultures, with students learning together through a blend of educational traditions.

Daystar aspires to be a school that is open-minded, caring, principled and reflective. It makes decisions based on long- term educational outcomes and believes in involving all stakeholders in decision-making processes. Both the academic and extracurricular programs aim to equip students with the tools necessary to impact positively on their communities.

It seeks to develop students who will have a questioning and inquisitive mindset, who think and communicate with clarity and precision, who are persistent in striving for excellence in all that they do and who care about their impact on their local and global communities. Character education is a central pillar in the founding mission of the school.

Students are provided with meaningful opportunities to hone their twenty-first century communication, collaboration, critical thinking and creativity skills. Values such as service and respect are also embedded inside and outside the classroom.

Daystar is at an exciting point in its development. With a strong and highly distinctive tradition as a Kindergarten and Elementary School, it has recently developed its Middle School and will now be adding a High School. These new divisions of the school will be expected to continue the unique approach for which Daystar has become known: truly bilingual education that is both values-driven and research-based within the context of a community school in which families feel they have an active stake.

The Middle and High School Principal, working with the newly appointed Head of School, will establish the new High School, ensuring full cohesion with the rest of the school, and ensuring that both the Middle and High Schools operate and develop in full alignment with Daystar’s mission and in pursuit of excellent educational outcomes.

The role will require an outstanding educator, fully committed to bilingual and bicultural education and to Daystar’s mission and values. She or he will need the instinct to start a program from scratch while not taking their eyes off the needs of the rest of the school, the flexibility and adaptability to implement an ambitious program in the context of a community-based school, and an ability to combine commercial priorities, educational objectives and an awareness of the latest pedagogical developments.

MISSION AND VALUES

Daystar Academy develops world citizens by embracing Chinese and Western culture through its integrated educational model. Daystar students strive for distinction in Chinese and English studies, creative thinking and character development for the purpose of serving the community at large.

Daystar strives to educate the whole child and in doing so is strategic in embedding not only educational outcomes into the curriculum that address both Chinese and English, but also character education and 21st century learning outcomes as well.

Daystar Academy’s core values are: Respect, Unity, Caring, Excellence, Service.

Students can expect to leave Daystar with a commitment to serve and to work alongside others to make the world a better place: Daystar fosters the determination to turn learning into action. The East-meets-West character education manifests itself through the marriage of Chinese Virtues with the attributes of the IB Learner profile.

BACKGROUNDDaystar Academy was founded when Cai Jin-Yong and Dawn Vermilya moved to Beijing from the USA. Chinese-born Jin- Yong, previously CEO of IFC (a member of the World Bank Group and the largest global development institution focused on private sector development and the fight against poverty), and Dawn, his American wife, sought a bilingual and bicultural school for their three children. Unable to find a suitable local option to match their vision, the couple launched Daystar Academy in 2002, a school intentionally blending Western and Chinese cultural and educational traditions with a strong focus on character education.

The school grew from a Montessori kindergarten and Elementary School, reaching over 200 pupils mainly through strong word-of-mouth referrals as families came to learn of its bilingual excellence, strong emphasis on character education, and nurturing community. The school has grown in size and stature and now boasts two campuses with more than 700 students, and is an authorized PYP and MYP school at its original Beigao campus. Even in this larger, split-site school, the founding mission and values remain easily identifiable and the founding members maintain an active interest in the school as members of the Board. In 2014, Daystar became a part of Ivy Education Group marking the next phase in the school’s development. (www.ivyschools.com)

Service: We are part of an enthusiastic and caring community that strives to learn and develop our gifts for the purpose of serving others.

Respect: We respect different ideas and show empathy and appreciation towards others’ thoughts and feelings.

Unity: Celebrating unity in diversity and creating a compassionate community that is accepting of everyone.

Caring: We are caring towards each other and are consciously improving our environment.

Excellence: When we challenge ourselves and strive to the best of our ability, we bring excellence to our community.

A GROWING SCHOOLDaystar Academy now operates across two campuses:

The Beigao campus is in suburban Beijing about 30 minutes from the city center along the Jing Cheng highway, and c.15km from the international airport. There is a subway station within easy reach of the school and a number of quality housing developments in the area. The campus has 554 students in Grades K-8 and the immediate plans are for the further growth of the Middle School, with Grade 9 to be added in 2019. The campus has a footprint of over 40,000 m2 and was the original home of Daystar Academy. Classrooms are spacious, well-resourced and well cared for. The school is overridingly modern, its interior design a fusion of eastern and western influence. Outside, the school has sports pitches to the front and rear, a recently renovated music block and large gymnasium. An extension to the main school building was opened in 2017, designed by an architect who is a parent at the school. This new extension provides the specialist teaching areas required by the growing Middle School. Various options for the further development of the campus are under consideration to meet the needs of the new High School.

The Sanlitun campus opened in 2017 and is set in an enviable inner-city location, near to the city’s second ring-road, in the heart of the diplomatic area of Chaoyang District. UNICEF, the Laotian and Venezuelan Embassies all neighbor the school. The area is modern and chic, bustling with new developments, such as the Sanlitun Village shopping mall housing restaurants, bars and leading global retail outlets. Roughly half the pupils live in the area, the remainder travelling to school with parents who work locally. The result is a diverse yet highly professional parent body. The urban site makes creative use of space, the 4,100m2 campus offering an astroturf football pitch, playground, sports hall, drama studio, an extensive vegetable patch – and the school’s latest project, a greenhouse made from recycled plastic bottles. The classroom extends into the local area, pupils often leading research projects engaging with local community groups or businesses. It is an intimate, close- knit school with 152 pupils in Grades 1-4, with plans to add Grade 5 in 2019. The school shares a site with an Ivy Education Group Kindergarten, which caters for an additional 120 pupils.

Across the two campuses, about 80% of students are Chinese, with a further 10% mother tongue Chinese but non-national, and the remainder international, primarily North American. About two-thirds of the staff are Chinese, most of them bilingual, with the remainder drawn from North America and a variety of other countries.

Excellence关爱

PROGRAM AND CURRICULUMDaystar has devoted considerable time and thought to conceptualizing its academic program, guided by its mission statement. This work draws together the Montessori and Inquiry-based program in its Early Learning Center division, the Chinese national curriculum standards, the US Common Core State Standards and the frameworks provided by the vPYP and MYP.

The Early Learning Center and Elementary School programs are intended to be a foundation for lifelong bilingual skills. There are dual Montessori and inquiry-based approaches in the Early Learning Center, while the PYP provides the Elementary School framework. Students take a mix of core subjects, some in either Chinese or English, some in both, as well as some specialty subjects such as art, music and calligraphy.

In the Middle School, the intentional preparation for overseas university starts. Consequently, the number of subjects taught in Chinese is reduced and the MYP is used as the curriculum framework. The ‘Genius Block’ gives every student a designated period of time each week when they can follow their passions and dig more deeply into areas that are of particular interest to them.

The High School, when it is established, will continue the preparation for university using the IB Diploma Programs, as well as continuing the study of Chinese language and culture at an appropriate level.

The school runs extensive extracurricular opportunities through its D.R.A.G.O.N (Depth, Rigor, Arts, Academics, Grit, Open- Mindedness, and Nurturing) Program, alongside the Daystar Phoenix Athletics Program. It is a fully-fledged Elementary program and a small but expanding Middle School program.

LANGUAGE SUPPORTThe goal of the LEAP (Learning English for Academic Proficiency) program is to help all non-native English speakers access high levels of academic learning and to prepare students to study at an English-speaking university.

The Yu Yue Program is a series of specifically tailored Chinese language courses between grades 2-5. Students who have successfully completed the Yu Yue Program are able to join Daystar’s Middle School mainstream Chinese language acquisition program.

TEACHING, LEARNING & INNOVATION AND OUTCOMESThe Office of Teaching, Learning and Innovation (TLI) has a mission to ‘empower the school community through collaborative leadership to build capacity for Daystar’s continuous growth and development.’ The TLI office currently comprises a team of seven colleagues, each with a well-defined remit, who together support the continual improvement in academic and educational support services. The TLI team has far-reaching responsibilities that include curriculum development, language support, developing and embedding information systems, developing teaching and learning practices, policy development, leading educational support services and managing the library. The TLI brings cohesion to the educational program and definition to ‘the Daystar way’. Academic outcomes within the school are consistently strong, with Daystar students performing at least one grade level above English native speakers in English reading (based on US Measures of Academic Progress scores in 2017). For Chinese language, Daystar students participate in the Dongcheng District exams and perform on par with students in local public schools.

Unity团结

A HEALTHY SCHOOLGreat care is taken to ensure a healthy and safe environment. A range of nutritious eastern and western meal options are available for pupils and staff, ingredients for which are typically procured from local suppliers and sustainably sourced.

Daystar Academy follows strict PM2.5 policies and success in air quality is determined by using data to ensure clean air goals are being met. The Beigao campus is equipped with Daikin VRV system and fresh air purification system and the Sanlitun campus is equipped with central air conditioning system and a state-of-the-art fresh air purification system ensuring below 10 PM2.5 at all times.

A COMMUNITY SCHOOLThe engagement of families with Daystar Academy is a vital part of the school’s character. Parents buy into the distinctive education that Daystar provides and this sits at the heart of a constructive and positive relationship between the school and families that is unusual in China. Many parents are active volunteers in the school, especially on the longer-established Beigao campus. They volunteer in the classrooms and library and at events. There is parent-run coffee shop on site, the proceeds from which go to charitable causes.

The Star Parents organization fosters engagement and provides a bridge between the school and parents. The relationship between the school and families is an essential way of embedding each campus in its local area and emphasizes Daystar’s commitment to being a community school. Ivy Education Group has a dedicated Director of Community Advancement, bringing considerable expertise and creativity in securing a program of events to help bring the community together in celebration or in promotion of a charitable cause. From Unity Day celebrations drawing a crowd of over 4,000 or Under the Stars evenings with performances from Ivy League American university ensembles to the school’s Distinguished Speaker series of guest expert speakers, the school carefully nurtures its community relationships.

IVY EDUCATION GROUPIvy Education Group was founded in 2003 and operates seventeen kindergartens and schools in five cities across China, with five kindergartens across Beijing. Daystar is the first of the group’s schools to develop Middle and High School provision.

Ivy’s core belief is that a good school achieves high academic results, while a great school instils a sense of purpose in its students. This is reflected in the motto ‘Courage to Change and Inspire’ – the idea that students should develop the courage to pursue their dreams and ambitions and make a visible difference to the world. The Ivy Group also has a global footprint, partnering with organizations internationally and participating in conferences and symposia on subjects like bilingual education and multiple intelligences.

Daystar Academy became part of the Ivy Education Group in 2014. There was a natural synergy of approaches and views on the purpose of education. Daystar’s founder now sits on the Ivy Education Group board.

As part of the Ivy Education Group, Daystar is a for-profit school. Ivy’s approach is to consider a long-term time horizon, with realistic expectations about profitability as a school develops. Daystar’s development since 2014 demonstrates the Group’s commitment to resourcing its schools. However, once fully established, Daystar will be expected to return a profit consistent with the Ivy Education Group’s expectations.

GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENTDaystar Academy is governed by two boards: An Investor Board of seven members (comprising the Ivy Education Group board), which deals primarily with financial matters; and the School Board of eleven members, which is advisory in nature and deals with education matters, issues concerning the day-to-day functioning of the school and, it is anticipated increasingly in the future, strategic planning. The CEO of the Ivy Education Group and Daystar’s founder serve on both boards.

FUTURE PLANSThe first priority for Daystar Academy, and for its new Middle and High School Principal, will be to complete the development of the Middle School in 2019 and 2020 and to launch successfully the High School. Currently under evaluation are a new campus in a nearby location, the expansion of the current campus, and growth through partnerships.

Thereafter, the Ivy Education Group wishes to use the model of Daystar Academy as the basis to develop other schools beyond elementary level in those cities where it has developed a strong presence.

Caring关爱

BEIJINGBeijing is a dynamic city that has undergone rapid transformation in one generation. It is a modern, international city; a thriving “megacity” with one of the world’s busiest airports and a population in excess of 20 million people. There is a growing level of diversity in the city with over 100,000 expatriates calling Beijing home. Certain parts of the city are popular with expatriates – Sanlitun it is one such example thanks to its collection of bars, restaurants, shopping and a vibrancy that could rival any international city. Life in the city is fast-paced and there is little to want for. Although a modern city, Beijing has a proud history spanning three millennia and is replete with World Heritage sites. From the Great Wall of China to The Forbidden City and The Temple of Heaven, the city’s former – as well as current and future - importance as an economic and political powerhouse is self-evident. Beijing has one of the world’s largest subway networks making transport across the city straight forward. The subway is reasonably priced, efficient and is constantly expanding.

Beijing’s air quality has improved significantly. From 2013 to 2017, Beijing put into operation four major gas-fired power plants to replace outdated coal-powered plants. The Beijing government has also helped with the roll-out of 200,000 clean energy vehicles in public transportation. In 2017, Beijing had 226 days with ‘excellent’ or ‘good’ air quality and blue skies over the city are common. Daystar monitors the air quality regularly and its air filtration systems ensure that air quality across the school is clean and safe.

Some of China’s best international schools are located in Beijing, making it a stimulating place in which to develop as a school leader. Beijing is a dynamic city and an ideal location for the continued development of an excellent bilingual school with deep roots in the local community.

Service服务

DESCRIPTION OF THE ROLESince Daystar Academy joined the Ivy Education Group family, school leaders and Ivy Education Group have worked together to lead significant school growth, develop an excellent and committed staff body and succeeded in nurturing an open, respectful and collaborative school culture. Relationships within the school are widely described as being exceptional and a high level of trust exists amongst a staff that comprises colleagues from different ethnic, cultural and pedagogical traditions. It is vitally important that this spirit of Daystar remains intact as the school extends beyond Elementary School excellence to offer a complete Middle and High School program.

As the school continues to develop its K-12 proposition based on progression through the MYP and IBDP programs, it will be necessary to embed character education into this curriculum, ensuring this important aspect of the school mission becomes a meaningful part of both the Middle and High School. Of equal importance, the leadership team will be committed to exploring how the bilingual program and bicultural exploration can remain a significant part of the school offer.

The Middle and High School Principal will work closely with the Head of School to provide the overall visionary leadership that will enable Daystar to fulfil its strategic plan. The role requires a leader with proven credentials as an outstanding educator and leader. The feedback of the school community is consistent in requesting that the Middle and High School Principal needs to possess strong leadership skills and moral principles, an understanding of bilingualism and biculturalism and a strong vision. The role calls for emotional intelligence, and a genuine desire to be part of an engaged community.

It is preferable to have first-hand experience of the American education system: Most parents intend their children to matriculate to American universities and there is an American character to the school.

The Middle and High School Principal will ensure that the vision for the Middle and High School phases is clearly defined and each phase has its own unique character: distinct yet aligned to the Daystar purpose. He or she will provide stable leadership, securing the systems, processes and protocols to enable successful school growth, ensuring the curriculum is embedded and segues seamlessly through the phases of the school.

MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL

The Middle and High School Principal will report to the Head of School. She or he will provide operational leadership to the current Middle School and develop the High school phase, enabling the school to develop a path to offer a full K-12 program. The Middle and High School Principal has a key strategic and operational role and is a member of the Senior Leadership Team. It is expected that the Middle and High School Principal will champion bilingual education and bi-culturalism, offering an inspirational vision to parents and securing the highest standards within the school. Specific duties are summarized below.

ROLE DESCRIPTIONEducation • Ensure that the delivery of the curriculum, in both Chinese

and English, matches the aims of the school and meets the standards and requirements of the Chinese National Curriculum, the IB, and relevant accreditation processes

• Assist with the design, implementation and review of the timetable, staffed appropriately given the requirements and circumstances of a growing school

• Ensure that the Middle School operates with a complete set of defined curricular, resourced appropriately

• Ensure that systems are embedded for the collection and scrutiny of data, allowing teachers and leaders to monitor progress and use data to inform planning

• Maintain an open dialogue between the school, students and their parents on all educational matters

• Ensure effective curriculum planning, design and management, mindful of the needs of the students and their intended progression to international universities

• Ensure a smooth transition between phases of the school

• Organize the overall management of the Middle and High School self-evaluation, improvement strategies and quality assurances process

Student Recruitment and Admissions• Ensure appropriate strategies are established to secure pupil

retention in the Middle School

• Working with the Head of School and the wider marketing team, proactively support the marketing effort by representing the school to prospective parents and external stakeholders

• Coordinate procedures for student admissions, in liaison with the Director of Admissions

Strategy, Structure and Operations• Work to shape the unique character to the Middle School,

with clear points of similarity and difference from the Elementary School

• Provide a clear leadership structure with clearly defined accountabilities

• Contribute to the formulation of the school strategic plan and develop an operational plan to implement agreed objectives pertaining to the Middle and High Schools

• Ensure the efficient and effective day-to-day operations, through imaginative planning, and appropriate delegation to line managers

• Establish, review and develop the school aims, policies, structures, procedures and job descriptions in line with whole school policies

• Control budgets in the school, including delegation to

subject departments as appropriate

Personnel• Oversee line management and support for all teaching and

support staff in the Middle and High School

• Ensure performance management and line management is effective and delivered in line with the school values

• Build on the school’s open culture and encourage strong collaboration across teams, year groups, and departments

• Facilitate and support the close collaboration of all colleagues across the pedagogical traditions represented in the school, promoting effective communication and constructive relationships

• Lead the school recruitment process in collaboration with the Head of School, ensuring the highest quality staff join the school.

Community and External Relations• Maintain a highly-visible presence within the school

community

• Ensure the school upholds the highest standards of safeguarding and child protection

• Assure the well-being of faculty and staff

• Harness and further develop that school’s positive engagement with parents Other duties as assigned from time to time by the Head of School.

Respect尊重

PERSON SPECIFICATIONQualificationsThe chosen candidate will be educated to university level, will possess a recognized teaching qualification and have evidence of on-going professional learning and development such as International Leadership and Management Program (ILMP) or similar.

Knowledge, Experience and Understanding• Significant previous leadership experience as a Deputy Head,

Head of Secondary, Head of Middle School, Head of High School or equivalent

• Experience of leadership in a bilingual environment and with language immersion and acquisition programs

• Experience of developing vision, strategy and organizational plans to secure the development or growth of a K-12 school

• Experience gained within more than one system, with experience of an IB school or American school being preferred

• Experience of working internationally, with experience of China being preferred

• A strong understanding of Inquiry–based education as well as a vision for the development of a pedagogy to engage students, build curiosity and independence and achieve the highest outcomes

• A track record of leading improvement and of developing and implementing innovative educational ideas

Values, Attributes, Abilities and Character• Ability to speak Chinese – or the willingness to learn – would

be highly desirable

• Adaptable and resilient

• A proven ability to support, motivate, lead and manage a diverse staff body

• Highly enthusiastic about language immersion, preferably because of experience as a practitioner

• An effective, articulate and reassuring communicator, in particular in communicating with Chinese and non-Chinese parents and faculty

• Open, respectful and sensitive to cultural differences

• Proven ability to recruit, mentor, manage, and inspire talented faculty

• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to serve as an articulate advocate for the school with prospective parents

• Ability to exercise excellent judgment and decision making

• Excellent problem solving and negotiating skills

• Excellent organizational skills; ability to establish and manage multiple priorities and to work under pressure

REMUNERATIONA competitive salary will be offered which will reflect the importance that the Board attaches to this appointment.

A generous wider remuneration package will include bonus provision, annual return flights for all dependents, schooling for dependent children and international medical cover.

APPLICATION PROCESSThis recruitment process is being managed by RSAcademics Ltd on behalf of Ivy Education Group and all communication about the roles and the appointments will be conducted via RSAcademics. Three members of the RSAcademics team are engaged on this process:

Jean Sullivan, Search Consultant

+44 (0)7885 879887 / jeansullivan@rsacademics.co.uk

Aaron Ashton, Head of International Leadership Appointments

+44 (0)7584 564944 / aaronashton@rsacademics.co.uk

Keith Clark, Senior Advisor

+44 (0)7941 018042 / keithclark@rsacademics.co.uk

Interested candidates are invited to contact Jean Sullivan by email or telephone for an initial discussion or to arrange a confidential discussion with Aaron Ashton or Keith Clark.

HOW TO APPLY The closing date for applications is 4th January 2019 at 10:00 (GMT). Early expression of interest is advisable and the selection panel will consider applications as they arrive.

You should submit:

A full CV with:

• Your entire work history

• Reasons for leaving school leadership positions

• Details (name, address, email address and relationship to you) of at least two professional referees from your most recent position(s) A covering letter addressed to Mr. Jack Hsu, CEO of Ivy Education Group outlining:

• Your reasons for applying

• Relevant professional experience that you feel is aligned to the needs of the role

• Your personal educational philosophy

Applications should be made electronically to RSAcademics. Please email your completed CV and covering letter (both as PDF files please) to Hilary Battye at applications@rsacademics.co.uk. Hilary can also be reached by calling our Head Office on +44 (0)1858 467449.

The recruitment process will proceed as follows:

All applications will be acknowledged by email. If you have not received acknowledgement that your application has been received within two working days of sending it, please contact RSAcademics by telephone (+44 (0)1858 467449)

RSAcademics will collect full references for candidates invited to attend the final round of interviews. If you have a specific preference that we do not contact one or more of your referees, please notify us accordingly. No referees will be contacted until RSAcademics has received your express permission to do so.

Final interviews will take place at Daystar Academy early in January 2019

Founded in 2002 by Russell Speirs, RSAcademics specializes in schools, in the UK and internationally, advising on marketing strategy and research, leadership consultancy and the search and selection of Heads and senior staff. Comprising a team of the best executive search consultants, schools’ marketing professionals and respected former school leaders, RSAcademics provides a high-quality service to schools with rigor, experience and warmth. Please visit www.rsacademics.co.uk for more information.

Please note: The school is aligned with the recommendations of the International Task Force on Child Protection; we hold ourselves to a high standard of effective recruiting practices with specific attention to child protection. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Applicants will be expected to show evidence of their most up to date child protection screening details including checks with past employers and police checks from international school positions held