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Surprising Words By a School Superintendent

Sent to AERO by the Fadels:

Teresa Thayer Snyder was superintendent of the Voorheesville district in upstate New York. She wrote this wise and insightful essay on her Facebook page.


Dear Friends and Colleagues:


I am writing today about the children of this pandemic. After a lifetime of working among the young, I feel compelled to address the concerns that are being expressed by so many of my peers about the deficits the children will demonstrate when they finally return to school. My goodness, what a disconcerting thing to be concerned about in the face of a pandemic which is affecting millions of people around the country and the world. It speaks to one of my biggest fears for the children when they return. In our determination to “catch them up,” I fear that we will lose who they are and what they have learned during this unprecedented era. What on earth are we trying to catch them up on? The models no longer apply, the benchmarks are no longer valid, the trend analyses have been interrupted. We must not forget that those arbitrary measures were established by people, not ordained by God. We can make those invalid measures as obsolete as a crank up telephone! They simply do not apply. 


When the children return to school, they will have returned with a new history that we will need to help them identify and make sense of. When the children return to school, we will need to listen to them. Let their stories be told. They have endured a year that has no parallel in modern times. There is no assessment that applies to who they are or what they have learned. Remember, their brains did not go into hibernation during this year. Their brains may not have been focused on traditional school material, but they did not stop either. Their brains may have been focused on where their next meal is coming from, or how to care for a younger sibling, or how to deal with missing grandma, or how it feels to have to surrender a beloved pet, or how to deal with death. Our job is to welcome them back and help them write that history.


I sincerely plead with my colleagues, to surrender the artificial constructs that measure achievement and greet the children where they are, not where we think they “should be.” Greet them with art supplies and writing materials, and music and dance and so many other avenues to help them express what has happened to them in their lives during this horrific year. Greet them with stories and books that will help them make sense of an upside-down world. They missed you. They did not miss the test prep. They did not miss the worksheets. They did not miss the reading groups. They did not miss the homework. They missed you.
Resist the pressure from whatever ‘powers that be’ who are in a hurry to “fix” kids and make up for the “lost” time. The time was not lost, it was invested in surviving an historic period of time in their lives—in our lives. The children do not need to be fixed. They are not broken. They need to be heard. They need be given as many tools as we can provide to nurture resilience and help them adjust to a post pandemic world.


Being a teacher is an essential connection between what is and what can be. Please, let what can be demonstrate that our children have so much to share about the world they live in and in helping them make sense of what, for all of us has been unimaginable. This will help them– and us– achieve a lot more than can be measured by any assessment tool ever devised. Peace to all who work with the children!

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Co-Executive Director The New School Kennebunk

LOCATION: The New School is located in Kennebunk, Maine

POSITION: This is a full time, salaried, exempt position. This is a co-leadership position with defined roles between two co-leaders.

START DATE: The preferred start date for this position is July 2021.
Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

ABOUT THE NEW SCHOOL
The New School is a progressive, independent high school providing a unique, student-driven, democratic learning experience for youth primarily from Maine and New Hampshire. The New School also operates a thrift store, Outta the Box, whose profits go directly to the school. Our campus is within walking distance of downtown Kennebunk, and it is a quick drive to the coast which often serves as a classroom. As a private school, recruitment of students and development of
additional financial resources are critical elements of the school’s success. The Co-ED will promote the financial stability and growth of The New School by engaging in and providing leadership to the school community in the areas of recruitment of new students, donor development and recognition, fundraising events and activities, publicity, and nonprofit administration. The Co-ED will also assist the Board of Trustees to fulfill its role in raising financial resources to sustain and enhance the school. The New School is looking for a candidate with demonstrated strengths in development and fiscal management, external relationship building, and nonprofit administration and leadership. The successful candidate will have prior experience working in a nonprofit organization and preferably in an educational setting. A strong background in nonprofit administration is required. This role will work closely with the present Co-Director known as the Educational Director, who is responsible for the educational programing of the organization. The Co-Directors work closely with one another and with the Board of Trustees.

RESPONSIBILITIES
-Development
-Foster ongoing relationships with funders
-Identify funding opportunities and lead efforts to secure adequate funding
-Research grant opportunities, (delegate grant person) ensure grant compliance and complete grant reporting
-Work with Board of Trustees to contribute to fundraising efforts
-Marketing
-Develop and implement strategies for promoting The New School and Outta the Box
-Develop and implement strategies for recruitment of students

-Expand the current website and social media platforms to reach students, family and the community
-Finance
-Responsible for fiscal management, prioritizing diversified funding streams, ensuring maximum resource utilization and operating within the organization’s budget
-Develop annual operating budget and projections
-Develop systems to support program staff in monitoring spending
-Complete all day-to-day financial management tasks
-Approve and monitor contract agreements with administration, consultants, and Outta the Box
-Oversee tax filings and maintenance of 501c3 status
-Commitment to increasing staff salaries and benefits across the organization to enhance staff sustainability
-Nonprofit Administration
-Support and enhance the Board of Trustees
-Continue The New School’s mission-driven, democratic process for decision making.
-Ensure staff have the supplies and resources needed to do their jobs

-Collaborate with Co-Director on hiring decisions
-Support the development of internal administrative and HR policies and ensure the organization is compliant with policies
-Develop and refine administrative systems within the organization
-Work with Outta The Box to develop management and operating policies

QUALIFICATIONS and SKILLS:
-Genuine dedication to working with youth and teens
-Educational background and/or equivalent work experience in nonprofit administration or development preferred
-Experience with organizational development and strategic planning
-Experience or aptitude for fiscal management including budget development, day-to-day oversight, and regular reporting
-Effective fundraiser, including direct cultivation and solicitation of donations or grants from individual donors, foundations, and government
-Strength in leading with a collective mindset and approach, including supporting other people’s leadership, taking direction from community, youth, staff, and Board; experience with consensus-based decision making is preferred
-Ability to think critically and use a strengths-based approach to problem solving

-Marketing, public relations, and fundraising experience
-Strong written and verbal communication skills
-Ability to work effectively in collaboration with diverse groups of people and work collaboratively with a team
-Highly organized and ability to multitask
-Must satisfactorily pass a comprehensive background check.

SALARY and BENEFITS:
This is a full-time, salaried position at $45,000 to $50,000 annually, with some flexibility in schedule and hours. This position is considered Exempt under the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act.

TO APPLY:
If our work and this position resonates with you, please submit a cover letter and resume to employment@tnsk.org . You must submit both a cover letter and a resume to be considered for this position. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Only candidates who are invited for an
interview will be contacted. The New School is an equal opportunity employer. The New School does not discriminate on the basis of gender, gender expression, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, sex, religion, national origin, immigration status, age, or physical or mental ability.

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Global Village School is looking for new team members!

Global Village School is looking for new team members!

GVS provides children with a personalized, enlivening, holistic education that prepares them to be global citizens. We have grown significantly, and some of our staff are nearing retirement. We’re looking for capable, committed, enthusiastic people who want to be a part of the Global Village mission.

We currently have openings in administration (both curriculum/instruction and operations), teaching, curriculum development, social media/communications/marketing, and office and technical support. We know what tasks need to be done, but rather than defining all the specifics of the positions beforehand, like we’ve done in the past, we have decided to start by putting the word out and seeing who feels resonance with our work, and what their strengths and scheduling needs are. We will then build the official positions out from there. So, if you feel drawn to being part of our team, please reach out and let us know who you are!

How to Apply

Please send a cover letter and resume to gvsteam@globalvillageschool.org, No phone calls, please.

We will contact qualified candidates to set up the next step. In your letter, please tell us about:

-your strengths and your areas for growth
-what you like to do, and how you feel you could best contribute to Global Village’s mission
-approximately how many hours a week you would like to work. (We are open to discussing positions from 10 hours a week up to 30+.)
-your technical skills: your level of proficiency (please list a few things you can do in each app, or just say “n/a” if you don’t have experience with the app) with MS Office and Excel; Google Drive, sheets, and docs; website design and maintenance; database design and data entry
-whether you can work in our Ojai, CA administrative office or have experience working remotely.
-your experience with the school accreditation process (WASC and/or other agencies)

Timeline
We would like to fill the positions soon. There is no set deadline. The application process will close when our staffing needs have been met, and may close without advance notice.

Pay

Pay and benefits to be determined as we zero in on the specifics of the positions. Benefits and flexible scheduling available for some positions.

​Thank you for your interest. We look forward to hearing from you!


About Us

GVS is an international K-12 homeschool diploma program with a creative, flexible approach and an emphasis on peace, justice, diversity, and sustainability. Our focus is on preparing students to be wise and capable stewards of the planet and each other. We work to nurture and protect the passion and enthusiasm for creating a better world that comes so naturally to so many young people. We seek to help our students to lead authentic and meaningful lives, and strive to have them leave school feeling confident in their abilities to make an impact on the world around them.

Global Village offers a full K-12 curriculum with all the regular academics, weaving in progressive themes wherever we can. In addition, we offer customized curriculum which reflects students’ interests and learning styles, and high school courses such as International Human Rights, Planetary Stewardship, Peacemakers, Literature of Diversity, and The History of Civil Rights in the U.S.
Global Village School is a project of Community Partners®. Community Partners® is an equal opportunity employer committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce. In addition, the organization will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring. Community Partners is an EOE /Veterans/Disabled/LGBT employer.

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Jobs: The New School Kennebunk, ME

Co-Executive Director

The New School Kennebunk

LOCATION:  The New School is located in Kennebunk, Maine

POSITION:  This is a full time, salaried, exempt position. This is a co-leadership position with defined roles between two co-leaders.

START DATE: The preferred start date for this position is July 2021.  Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

ABOUT THE NEW SCHOOL

The New School is a progressive, independent high school providing a unique, student-driven, democratic learning experience for youth primarily from Maine and New Hampshire. The New School also operates a thrift store, Outta the Box,  whose profits go directly to the school.  Our campus is within walking distance of downtown Kennebunk, and it is a quick drive to the coast which often serves as a classroom.

As a private school, recruitment of students and development of additional financial resources are critical elements of the school’s success.  The Co-ED will promote the financial stability and growth of The New School by engaging in and providing leadership to the school community in the areas of recruitment of new students, donor development and recognition, fundraising events and activities, publicity, and nonprofit administration.  The Co-ED will also assist the Board of Trustees to fulfill its role in raising financial resources to sustain and enhance the school.

The New School is looking for a candidate with demonstrated strengths in development and fiscal management, external relationship building, and nonprofit administration and leadership. The successful candidate will have prior experience working in a nonprofit organization and preferably in an educational setting.  A strong background in nonprofit administration is required.

This role will work closely with the present Co-Director known as the Educational Director,  who is responsible for the educational programing of the organization. The Co-Directors work closely with one another and with the Board of Trustees.                                                                                                            

RESPONSIBILITIES

  1. Development

    1. Foster ongoing relationships with funders

    1. Identify funding opportunities and lead efforts to secure adequate funding

    1. Research grant opportunities, (delegate grant person) ensure grant compliance and complete grant reporting

    1. Work with Board of Trustees to contribute to fundraising efforts

  2. Marketing

    1. Develop and implement strategies for promoting The New School and Outta the Box

    1. Develop and implement strategies for recruitment of students

    1. Expand the current website and social media platforms to reach students, family and the community

  3. Finance

    1. Responsible for fiscal management, prioritizing diversified funding streams, ensuring maximum resource utilization and operating within the organization’s budget

    1. Develop annual operating budget and projections

    1. Develop systems to support program staff in monitoring spending

    1. Complete all day-to-day financial management tasks

    1. Approve and monitor contract agreements with administration, consultants, and Outta the Box

    1. Oversee tax filings and maintenance of 501c3 status

    1. Commitment to increasing staff salaries and benefits across the organization to enhance staff sustainability

  4. Nonprofit Administration

    1. Support and enhance the Board of Trustees

    1. Continue The New School’s mission-driven, democratic process for decision making.

    1. Ensure staff have the supplies and resources needed to do their jobs

    1. Collaborate with Co-Director on hiring decisions

    1. Support the development of internal administrative and HR policies and ensure the organization is compliant with policies

    1. Develop and refine administrative systems within the organization

    1. Work with Outta The Box to develop management and operating policies

QUALIFICATIONS and SKILLS:

  • Genuine dedication to working with youth and teens

  • Educational background and/or equivalent work experience in nonprofit administration or development preferred

  • Experience with organizational development and strategic planning

  • Experience or aptitude for fiscal management including budget development, day-to-day oversight, and regular reporting

  • Effective fundraiser, including direct cultivation and solicitation of donations or grants from individual donors, foundations, and government

  • Strength in leading with a collective mindset and approach, including supporting other people’s leadership, taking direction from community, youth, staff, and Board; experience with consensus-based  decision making is preferred

  • Ability to think critically and use a strengths-based approach to problem solving

  • Marketing, public relations, and fundraising experience 

  • Strong written and verbal communication skills

  • Ability to work effectively in collaboration with diverse groups of people and work collaboratively with a team

  • Highly organized and ability to multitask

  • Must satisfactorily pass a comprehensive background check.

SALARY and BENEFITS:

This is a full-time, salaried position at $45,000 to $50,000 annually, with some flexibility in schedule and hours. This position is considered Exempt under the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act.

TO APPLY:

If our work and this position resonates with you, please submit a cover letter and resume to employment@tnsk.org.  You must submit both a cover letter and a resume to be considered for this position. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Only candidates who are invited for an interview will be contacted.

The New School is an equal opportunity employer. The New School does not discriminate on the basis of gender, gender expression, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, sex, religion, national origin, immigration status, age, or physical or mental ability.