THE WESTMINSTER SCHOOLSAtlanta, Georgia

HEAD OF UPPER SCHOOLStart Date: July 2022

westminster.net

OVERVIEW

The Westminster Schools is one of the leading independent schools in the nation. A coeducational Christian, independent day school serving 1,900 students in grades pre-first through 12, Westminster is committed to creating a highly engaging educational experience for bright, motivated students. While steeped in a tradition of excellence, Westminster continually strives to be a catalyst that inspires and engages by providing leading-edge programs and unique experiences that spark students’ creativity and curiosity.

Within a culture of intellectual vibrancy, Westminster’s passionate and curious students are nurtured in an environment that develops leaders who will be a positive force in the world. Led by a highly experienced faculty, Westminster offers a challenging curriculum, extensive co-curricular opportunities, faith formation, and a robust service-learning program. The School’s holistic approach focuses on helping every student reach their highest potential and build a strong foundation for a successful future in college and beyond.

Westminster seeks a dynamic leader as its next Head of Upper School, starting July 2022. The successful candidate will be an experienced, relational leader devoted to the School’s mission and program. The Head of Upper School has oversight of all Upper School organizational activities and serves as the division’s (grades 9-12) academic leader, fostering a climate of excellence and building deep community among students, faculty, and staff. This is an exceptional opportunity to join the leadership team at an independent school with deep roots and an unwavering commitment to student success.

Westminster is a coeducational Christian, independent day school for grades pre-first through 12, committed to creating an educational experience where bright, curious, motivated students who are nurtured by challenge can grow into leaders of conscience.

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THE SCHOOL

Westminster was founded in 1951 by Atlanta’s leaders as a learning community rooted in Christian values and wholesome intensity. The School moved to its current campus in 1953 as the result of a land grant by trustee Fritz Orr. It incorporated two girls schools, North Atlanta Presbyterian School and Washington Seminary, into its student body early in its history. The resulting School was coeducational until the sixth grade, with separate schools for boys and girls continuing through the grade 12 — a practice that continued until 1986 and provided the basis of Westminster’s plural name.

The School has grown steadily in size and stature over the years. In 2006, Westminster ran a capital campaign to raise $100 million to further increase its endowment. At the time, the campaign was the third largest ever for an independent school.

Westminster’s tagline is “Love. Challenge. Lead. Change.” This mantra has made Westminster one of the leading independent schools in the region and nation, with a deep commitment to academic and programmatic excellence, cutting-edge curricula, Christian values, and diversity — resulting in an overall reputation for excellence in precollegiate education.

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At a GlanceTotal students: 1,900

Upper School students: 826

Class of 2020: 203

Students of color: 37%

Zip codes represented: 79

Total faculty: 325

Upper School faculty: 131

Faculty with advanced degrees: 81%

Student/teacher ratio: 5:1

Endowment: $317 million

Financial aid budget: $15.2 million

Students receiving financial aid: 38%

2021 State of the School Report: view here

Westminster celebrates its growing diversity through protection and exploration of individual difference articulated along a wide spectrum. The School has an ongoing commitment to hire and retain a passionate, talented, and diverse faculty; to admit a gifted student body that reflects the diversity of Atlanta; and to offer a rich and varied curriculum that prepares students to address local and global challenges as citizens of the world. Alongside the School’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Coordinators, affinity groups for employees, students, and parents; professional development and work with consultants; speakers and special guests; and cultural celebrations are just some of the ways Westminster helps create a safe and welcoming environment.

Westminster’s Glenn Institute for Philanthropy and Service Learning provides opportunities for students to address community and environmental needs through immersive service experiences. Westminster also runs The Center for Teaching, devoted to helping teachers improve their understanding of the craft of teaching.

Westminster is accredited by the Southern Association of Schools and Colleges. Watch this video to experience Westminster in action.

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UPPER SCHOOL ACADEMICS

Upper School challenges students to integrate an evolving sense of self with the needs and demands of the world. The curriculum is designed to meet the demands of Atlanta’s most curious and motivated minds, and classes incorporate experiential and service learning as well as character development. Advisories help students set and meet their goals. By graduation, Westminster students have both the skills and the wisdom to become tomorrow’s leaders.

In the Upper School, students typically take five or six academic courses per semester within a seven-day rotating schedule, allowing them to engage in intensive study, fieldwork, and other enhanced learning opportunities. Honors and Advanced Placement courses represent both a challenge and a distinction for the exceptionally talented and motivated student. Students can also take a plethora of elective courses in every area of study.

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Special programs for academic credit provide students with a range of activities not found in the traditional school-year curriculum. Independent Study is an opportunity for seniors to work in depth on a project or topic of serious interest. Students submit written proposals in the spring of the junior year and, once approved, pursue summer work in preparation for the fall program of study. School Year Abroad, of which Westminster is an associate member, allows students the chance to spend their junior year studying abroad and living with a host family. Westminster is a member school of Chewonki Semester School, a semester-long college preparatory program in Maine for motivated high school juniors and Oxbow School, an arts-intensive semester school in California. Finally, Westminster is a member of the Global Online Academy, an international consortium of the world’s leading independent schools, through which students may enroll in online courses to complement the robust Westminster curriculum.

Outside of the courses and special program offered in the Upper School curriculum, a variety of trips and experiences give students the opportunity to learn about and understand the diversity of people and cultures in the United States and around the world. Every Upper School student participates in JanTerm, an innovative three-week immersion experience full of hands-on activities to utilize skills and develop knowledge across various disciplines. Through experiences in the classroom, as well as off-campus field trips and opportunities for overnight travel, students focus on a single topic in great depth and at an accelerated pace. The Westminster Discovery Program is a nationally renowned experiential education and leadership program designed to create an Upper School experience that fosters a sense of personal accomplishment and develops leadership skills while building community.

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Westminster’s team of five college counselors takes a collaborative approach to encouraging every student to find the best-fit college or university by helping students identify and apply to colleges where they’ll thrive. Through advising with families, visits from college representatives, educational events, and more, counselors at Westminster provide excellent guidance, enabling students and parents to craft an appropriate path in the college application journey.

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College MatriculationAmong the colleges and universities at which graduates from the classes of 2017-2021 have enrolled are the following:

American UniversityAmerican University of ParisAmherst CollegeAuburn UniversityBoston CollegeBrown UniversityCarleton CollegeCarnegie Mellon UniversityClaremont McKenna CollegeColumbia UniversityDartmouth CollegeDuke University Georgetown UniversityGeorgia Institute of TechnologyHarvard CollegeHoward UniversityJohns Hopkins University Kenyon CollegeMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyMiddlebury CollegeMorehouse CollegeMount Holyoke CollegeNew York UniversityNorthwestern UniversityOberlin CollegeSpelman CollegeStanford UniversitySwarthmore CollegeTrinity College, DublinTulane UniversityUniversity of California, BerkeleyUniversity of California, Los AngelesUniversity of ChicagoUniversity of DenverUniversity of GeorgiaUniversity of MichiganUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Texas, AustinVanderbilt UniversityWake Forest UniversityWilliams CollegeYale University

ARTS AND ATHLETICS

The Upper School arts program strives to create a strong sense of discipline in the advanced learner while encouraging creativity and exploration. The visual arts program includes drawing and painting, as well as 3-D design and digital imaging. The popular performing arts program includes a cappella, chorus and chorale, ensemble, the chamber orchestra, the symphonic band, and the wind ensemble, as well as the theater and dance programs. More than 30% of the Upper School is involved in the theater program each year.

Athletics is an integral part of Westminster’s mission and includes a high level of participation in Upper school. The program balances athletic achievement with a commitment to essential life skills — including leadership and teamwork — that students will carry with them throughout their lives. With more than 280 state championships, the Wildcats are the most awarded athletic program in Georgia. Numerous athletes go on to play at the collegiate level every year.

Westminster fields 86 athletic teams in sports including cross country, football, cheerleading, softball, volleyball, basketball, squash, swimming and diving, wrestling, baseball, golf, lacrosse, soccer, tennis, track and field, rowing, and gymnastics.

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SCHOOL LIFE

Westminster students lead, serve, learn, and grow in an exceptional roster of campus activities. When it comes to traditions, the Pigskin Picnic is one of the community’s favorites. This outdoor dinner and pep rally takes place before one of the first football games every year and draws students, parents, faculty, staff, and alumni to campus. Blessing of the Backpacks is an Upper School tradition where students circle together around their backpacks — surrounded by parents, siblings, and faculty — and begin the year with prayer.

As an inclusive Christian school, Westminster honors the substance and practice of other religions and seeks to support and encourage students of all faiths, beliefs, cultures, and backgrounds. The School welcomes and learns from community members of many different religious traditions and believes that such inclusion and respect for the dignity of all people are at the heart of Christianity and are manifestations of a thriving and vibrant beloved community that produces lifelong learners who lead with compassion and integrity. Westminster provides rich opportunities for spiritual growth, presenting students with a variety of worship, service, fellowship, and leadership opportunities that enable students to practice and strengthen their faith.

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Students in Upper School participate in a wide variety of clubs and activities that span a range of interests, including academics, the arts, STEM, community service, languages, religion, sports, hobbies, student government, social awareness, technology, and more. There are more than 60 student-led clubs in all. Upper School students are offered numerous opportunities for leadership in all areas of student life, such as serving as club officers, athletic captains, and on leadership councils. WCAT — Westminster’s student-run and award-winning student broadcast program — is the recipient of the 2019 National Student Production Award for Live Sports from the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.

Service is part of the DNA at Westminster, as demonstrated by the School’s Glenn Institute for Philanthropy. Through service learning tied to the curriculum and voluntary service to the community, the Glenn Institute is a vital part of the School’s mission of creating leaders of conscience. Philanthropy education is woven into the advisement curriculum, and rising seniors can enroll in the four-week Philanthropy 101 summer program for an immersive look at philanthropy in Atlanta.

Much like on a college campus, Upper School students are given significant freedom. There are no class bells, and students enjoy a variety of gathering spaces across campus and around the quad. While academic and co-curricular expectations are high, students also benefit from support structures including close student-teacher relationships, four-year advisories, a peer-run Writing Center, affinity groups, and a student support team including counselors and learning support. Accordingly, Westminster students feel safe to take the personal and academic risks that lead to growth.

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CAMPUS

The stunning Westminster School campus is set on 180 wooded acres in the residential Buckhead community of Atlanta, located just 15 minutes north of downtown. Upper School classes are housed in six buildings around the quad.

Westminster is in the final stages of implementing an extensive campus renovation to enhance teacher-student connection. Campbell Hall received a complete renovation, with larger and brighter classrooms and social spaces, offices, and learning areas that all exist in harmony. Hawkins Hall, a new 28,000-square-foot Upper School academic building, includes additional spacious classrooms; the Catalyst STEAM Lab promotes hands-on learning, integrated studies, and innovative pursuits of all kinds; and grab-and-go dining. Wildcat Community Plaza, an outdoor gathering space, was recently added, as was a new parking deck. Thompson Stadium was enhanced to include improved accessibility, new seating, and improvements to concession and restroom areas. Barge Commons, the new “front door” to campus, opened in 2021 and includes ample space for conferences and events alongside classrooms, meeting rooms, and administrative offices.

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Love. Challenge.Lead. Change.

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ATLANTA, GEORGIA

Atlanta — the capital of Georgia and its most populous city with just over 500,000 residents (5.8 million in the metro area) — is a beloved gem of the Southeast and one of the fastest-growing cities in the country. In recent decades, the city has attracted business from both domestic and international corporations and greatly expanded its civic and cultural venues and activities; the city is home to the nation’s busiest airport. As a major business center, Atlanta has the country’s third-largest concentration of Fortune 500 companies. Delta Air Lines is the city’s largest employer and operates one of the world’s largest airline hubs. Media powerhouses based in Atlanta include Turner Broadcasting Company, which began in the city, and CNN. Cox Communications is the nation’s third-largest cable service provider and publishes over a dozen newspapers, including The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The city is a healthcare hub with Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and Emory Healthcare, the largest hospital system in the area. Atlanta is also home to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), as well as Coca-Cola, UPS, and Home Depot.

With more than 30 colleges and universities located in the city, Atlanta is a center for higher education. Georgia Institute of Technology, Emory University, and Georgia State University are some of the city’s most prominent institutions. Atlanta also has the largest consortium of historically black colleges, comprised of Spelman College, Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College, Morehouse School of Medicine, and the Interdenominational Theological Center.

Atlanta’s cultural offerings are rich. Highlights include the High Museum of Art, Atlanta History Center, The Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site, the Fernbank Museum of Natural History, and The Center for Civil and Human Rights. The Carter Center was founded by Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter to advance human rights worldwide and alleviate human suffering. Atlanta’s performing arts scene includes the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, the Alliance Theater, Atlanta Opera, and Atlanta Ballet. Parks — like Piedmont Park in Midtown, Downtown’s Centennial Olympic Park, and the Beltline that surrounds the city — are prevalent throughout Atlanta, and it is common to see people taking advantage of these urban oases with a game of Frisbee or a family picnic. The parks also provide the perfect locations for Atlanta’s numerous festivals that bring people out in droves.

Atlanta residents are also avid sports fans, flocking to Truist Park to cheer on the MLB’s Braves, to State Farm Arena to support the NBA’s Hawks or to Mercedes-Benz Stadium to root for the NFL’s Falcons or the MLS’ Atlanta United. Meanwhile, families have access to a number of attractions including the Georgia Aquarium, World of Coca-Cola and the Chick-Fil-A College Football Hall of Fame.

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OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES

The next Upper School Head will have the opportunity to work with a talented, curious, and engaged student body and faculty; strategic and supportive President; experienced and committed Upper School leadership team; and tremendous institutional resources. The priorities, opportunities, and challenges ahead include:

• Further nurturing the social and emotional wellbeing of the student and adult communities and fostering a community of connection, care, and joy;

• Embracing and furthering Westminster’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, recognizing the critical importance of nurturing student belonging as a prerequisite for student success;

• Designing and implementing systems and structures to ensure effective communication between and among parents, faculty, and students;

• Carefully balancing 70 years of history and tradition with a commitment to evolving best practices, innovation, and openness to new ideas;

• Nurturing students’ development as people of character, integrity, and service, who have the civil discourse skills, grace, and compassion to engage and serve beyond Westminster’s gates; and

• Unifying the academic and co-curricular programs, working towards an even more fully integrated student experience.

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DESIRED QUALITIES AND QUALIFICATIONS

The most competitive candidates will offer most or all of the following qualifications and qualities:

• Capacity to keep pace with a highly intellectual and high achieving community and the EQ to modulate the pace to support and care for others;

• A thorough and demonstrated understanding of and affection for working with Upper School students with energy, warmth, and humor;

• A desire to support the School’s Christian Mission and articulate it for the Upper School community;• Personal and professional commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and the requisite skillfulness

to support student and faculty growth in this area and to facilitate critical conversations in the design of more inclusive curriculum and programs;

• Demonstrated skill in building and maintaining connections and community between colleagues, divisions, parents, and students; ability to prioritize visibility amidst the demands of a busy professional schedule;

• Experience leading and managing adults in a complex organization;• A history of thoughtful innovation moderated by a skillful and sensitive approach to change; • The confidence and humility to advocate for new ideas, invite disagreement, and welcome feedback,

engaging in challenging conversations with grace;• Exceptional interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate with inspiration and clarity across a

wide range of audiences; and• Classroom teaching experience and a track record of supporting and developing teaching faculty.

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TO APPLY

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

• A cover letter expressing interest in this particular position; and• A current résumé.

Selected candidates will also be asked to provide the following:

• Responses to writing prompts specific to this position; and• 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.)

Candidates are invited to contact the consultant in confidence and to submit a résumé and cover letter to:

Marsha LittleSearch Consultantmarsha.little@carneysandoe.com