Upper School Division Head
Bank Street College of Education

Job Info

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JOB DESCRIPTION

Division Head, Upper School (Grades 5-8)

Start Date: Late August, 2025 Salary: 155K-175K

Cover Letter required in addition to resume

Schedule: This role is a 10-month position, with a start in late August, an end in late June, and a one-day leadership retreat in the summer. This role requires attendance on some overnight trips as well as a number of early morning, evening and weekend events across the school year.

About Bank Street Children's Programs

A leader in progressive education for more than 100 years, Bank Street provides students an education that engages their natural curiosity, nurtures critical thinking, and helps to develop a sense of community and social responsibility. Through a teaching approach that is fundamentally hands-on and child-centered, Bank Street students develop the courage and confidence to think independently, work collaboratively, understand themselves and others more deeply, and possess the compassion to make meaning of the world around them.

Position and Responsibilities

The Upper School (Grades 5-8) Division Head is a key member of the School for Children leadership team and reports to the Dean of Children's Programs and Head of School. The Upper School Division Head is the educational leader of a division of approximately 180 students ages 10-14 and oversees all matters pertaining to children, faculty, and families, and, in doing so, partners closely with other Division Heads; the Math & Science Coordinator; Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion; Director of Student Support & Learning; and Director of Finance, Operations, & Analytics. In sum, the Upper School Division Head is responsible for overseeing curriculum, instruction, assessment, school culture and discipline, faculty development, supervision and evaluation, hiring, parents engagement and support, and overall operations.

Specific responsibilities include:

Program Leadership

• Function as the visionary, and champion of the Upper School program and community-building work for staff, students and families
• Build and sustain an Upper School culture and set of systems that represent and make manifest Bank Street's core values
• Work with the Head of School and other school leaders to iterate on and adjust the Upper School program in response to student and school needs.
• Organize resources to meet student needs, in partnership with parents, through strong collaboration of teachers, learning specialists and mental health team members in a Student Support Team structure within and across divisions
• Understand and communicate effectively about adolescent developmental needs (physical, social, emotional, academic, and psychological)
• Ensure timeliness and effectiveness of student assessment, bi-annual student reports to families, and other data on student experience and progress
• Establish positive and trusting relationships with Upper School students for their healthy growth and development, while supporting children and teachers in responding to behavioral challenges guided by principles of restorative practices

Staff Supervision

• Inspire, support, develop, supervise, and evaluate staff and teaching teams.
• Guide teachers in the development, refinement, and articulation of appropriate age level curriculum and learning experiences in Humanities and Specials, homeroom teaching and student support, and all other Upper School activities
• Oversee and support the High School exmissions process, directly supervising and collaborating with the Director of Exmissions and High School Placement
• Plan and facilitate regular division meetings with staff to strengthen faculty community, engender growth and address routine matters, leading to ongoing, sustained, and systematic improvement of practice and a healthy culture
• Partner with the Math & Science Coordinator, in support of their supervision of the Upper School Math & Science faculty and homeroom teacher teams

Divisional Operations

• Supervise a Divisional Systems Assistant to the benefit of faculty, larger divisional needs, and the broader school and college.
• Manage the Upper School budget in partnership with the Director of Finance, Operations, & Analytics. Budget management includes reviewing teacher order requests, setting limits for event and field trip costs, striving to work within set budget limits.
• Develop, manage, and refine Upper School operational systems in collaboration with the Director of Finance, Operations, & Analytics
• Oversee transparent and effective hiring and onboarding processes for Upper School faculty/staff that reflect Bank Street's commitment to anti-bias practices
• Ensure impactful and smooth implementation of Upper School-wide activities, such as the assembly program, clubs, affinity groups, concerts, dances, and plays
• Organize, with faculty support and leadership, day and overnight trips for students, and attend some of these trips as a supervisor
• Oversee and support the school yearbook process in collaboration with other Upper School staff and a student committee

Collaboration & Partnership

• Participate in and help facilitate the Upper School admissions process, including student interviews, open houses and prospective student/family tours
• Coordinate and partner with the school's Auxiliary Team to support the after school programming for the Upper School, including sports and music activities
• Participate in weekly school leadership meetings and partner with other school leaders on all relevant school-wide matters and policy
• Participate in bi-weekly meetings with other Children's Programs leaders to strengthen individual and collective efforts to lead for equity, including participation in affinity groups for staff
• Participate regularly in divisional and schoolwide student support meetings with other leaders and staff
• Work with the leaders and staff in the lower school to help create consistent experiences for all families and staff across the school.
• Partner with parents/guardians in support of students and teachers, including liaising with Upper School Parent Association (PA) representatives to co-plan and facilitate monthly PA meetings
• Communicate effectively with various constituencies including parents, students, faculty, leadership, and cross-college partners
• Perform other duties as needed by the Division and/or assigned by the Head of School

Desired Qualifications & Skill Sets

• A Masters degree in Education
• Deep knowledge of, commitment to, and experience with progressive education, specifically in relation to adolescent development and schooling
• At least five years of successful teaching and/or equivalent educational leadership experience at the middle grades level, ideally in grades 5-8
• Demonstrated personal and professional commitment to social justice and equity, including an ability to reflect on and articulate one's racial identity development
• A successful track record supporting adult growth and development in the role of team leader, instructional coach, assistant principal/division head, or equivalent
• Proven experience in curriculum development
• Experience supporting diverse learners and their families
• Demonstrated success in participating in and leading adult collaborations
• Strong written and oral communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills
• Warmth, humor, flexibility, and optimism

ABOUT US

Bank Street is a leader in education, a pioneer in improving the quality of classroom practice, and a national advocate for children and their families.

Since its beginnings in 1916, Bank Street has been at the forefront of understanding how children learn and grow. From early childhood centers and schools to hospitals and museums, Bank Street has built a national reputation on the simple fact that our graduates know how to do the work that is right for children.

At Bank Street's Graduate School of Education, students are trained in a model that combines the study of human development, learning theory, and sustained clinical placement to promote significant development as a teacher prior to graduation. Our children's programs-Bank Street School for Children, Family Center, Bank Street Head Start, and Liberty LEADS-foster children's development in the broadest sense by providing diverse opportunities for social, emotional, cognitive, and physical growth. The Bank Street Education Center disrupts inequity through system-level change to help design better educational experiences for both children and adults. The College further supports and influences positive outcomes for children every day through professional development programs, research projects, and other key efforts engaging educators, intermediary organizations, and government officials at the district, state, and federal levels.

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