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Elementary School Principal
International School of Dakar (Senegal)

Dear Colleagues:

 

Apologies for the long delay in letting you know about the successful candidate for the Elementary Principal position at the International School of Dakar, Senegal.  Kelly Chumrau was selected for this position.

 

Kelly is just completing 7 years of experience as an Elementary School Principal in a dual-language immersion school in Missoula, Montana.  Prior to that, she was an elementary school teacher, covering nearly all the grades, in schools in Montana, the Philippines, Germany and El Salvador.  She and her husband were founding directors of a branch of the Brent International School on the island of Boracay, the Philippines.  She has a MA in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Montana and a BA in Education, also from U of M.

 

Kelly will be accompanied by husband Brad, who is a certified and experienced Elementary/ Middle School teacher and is a well-regarded educator in his own right.  He recently received an “Outstanding Teacher of the Year” award from the Missoula Education Foundation, and teaches a graduate level course on inquiry-based curriculum design.

 

Thank you for your interest! 

 

International School of Dakar, Senegal

 Is seeking a new

Elementary School Principal

 

We are looking for an Elementary School Principal to help take ISD to the next level.  With a newly approved strategic plan, we have established an ambitious set of goals that, when achieved, will result in a truly special school.

 

The School

The International School of Dakar (ISD) is an independent, English-medium international school (approximately 540 students) which offers a rigorous, US-based, PK3 to Grade 12 curriculum enriched to reflect the needs and diversity of our international student body.  Our students represent over 55 nationalities.  The diversity and experience inspire students to become lifelong learners and responsible global citizens in a rapidly-changing world.

 

ISD, founded in 1983, is an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School, offering the Diploma Programme.  IB World Schools share a common philosophy – a commitment to high quality, challenging, international education that ISD believes is important for our students.  ISD is also fully accredited by the Council of International Schools (CIS) and Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSA).

 

The International School of Dakar is situated on six acres overlooking the Atlantic Ocean in the Mermoz neighborhood of Dakar.  It has a brand new Middle/High School building, which opened in August 2012.  This 33-room addition includes state-of-the-art science and computer labs, bright classrooms, and spacious art and music rooms. In addition, it has 15 Elementary classrooms serving PK-3 through Grade 5. The campus serves as a school-community center with a wide variety of activities offered after school and on the weekends.

 

Vision

Challenge       Create           Change

 

Who We Are

ISD is a diverse community of learners that fosters creativity, open-mindedness, responsibility and excellence. As an IB World School, ISD promotes student achievement and global citizenship.

 

What We Believe

• A well-rounded and rigorous program of academics, arts and athletics builds a foundation for life-long learning and fulfillment.
• A collaborative culture enhances individual development and effective communication.
• Inspired teaching leads to personal accomplishment and growth.
• A successful learner has the courage to tackle complex problems and be of service to others.
• Creative opportunities encourage students to become responsible leaders and to discover their talents and passions.

 

Strategic Areas

International School of Dakar students should …

 

• Be well rounded in all aspects of education: academic, artistic, sports, and service.
• Discover their talents and passions.
• Be responsible leaders in a complex and changing world.

 

The Curriculum

The elementary school is based on an American model of serving the whole child. The curriculum is based on Common Core State Standards utilizing Readers and Writers Workshop and Everyday Mathematics. FOSS kids support the science curriculum, and the social studies units are inter-disciplinary with other units.   

Our Balanced Literacy program blends the areas of reading, writing, listening and speaking into a yearly calendar of literacy units. Reader’s Workshop allows students to develop skills and strategies, cultivate a love of books, empower themselves as authors, and develop literary analysis skills. Writing instruction utilizes the Calkins workshop model, and is focused on developing skills for writing narrative, opinion, and informational text, as well as poetry. The Words Their Way program is also under implementation. 

Students receive a daily instruction block in French and attend separate PE, Art and Music classes twice per 6-day cycle, and ISD’s technology curriculum is an integrated program that infuses critical computer literacy benchmarks into existing grade level units of study. ISD takes pride in an established service program and maintains ongoing relationships with two local organizations. We also celebrate our diversity, mindfulness and sustainability in such events as UN Day, Peace Day, Earth Day and through regular assemblies to enhance community values.

 

ISD offers a sheltered immersion program for English Language Learners. In addition, students who are struggling with grade academic expectations may be recommended to join ISD’s pullout or push-in Learning Support program. Communication between teacher, student and parent is essential to academic growth. We pride ourselves on maintaining a continuous dialogue with parents through newsletters, class websites or blogs and hold goal-setting and student-led conferences through a portfolio model.

 

Students in grade 2-5 take the MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) test three times per year. Teachers and students use MAP results to set individual and classroom goals and provide more individualized and targeted instruction.

 

The Position

The principal is the instructional leader and administrative head of the elementary school.  As such, the principal has primary responsibility for overseeing the school’s programs to maximize student achievement, and personnel in keeping with ISD’s Guiding Statements, school board policies, approved curriculum and administrative rules, regulations and directives. She/he reports to and is evaluated annually by the Director on objectives established jointly with the Director.

 

The Elementary School Principal responsibilities include the curriculum development and professional development programs implemented in collaboration with the Curriculum Coordinator and the Secondary School Principal. The Elementary Principal provides leadership in the monitoring and evaluation of the elementary school program strengths and programmatic needs; provides direction to ensure academic achievement and social growth for all students and effectively communicates the school's program to staff, parents and the local community.

 

Specific Responsibilities

Students:

• Work closely with the Director to establish clear guidelines and expectations for admitting new students and applies the guidelines in admitting students to ISD.
• Ensure a safe and positive atmosphere.
• Ensure that disciplinary guidelines are fairly and consistently applied.
• Oversee preparation of the schedule for students and teachers.
• Attend and actively participate in the Student Support meetings.
• Create an efficient, productive and caring building atmosphere where all students (and faculty) have opportunity to be recognized for their best efforts.
• Maintain and oversee student records including progress reports, report cards, student admission and withdraw files, and cumulative files.
• Plan and coordinate assemblies.

 

Teachers and Support Staff:

• Provide for evaluation of faculty and staff in accordance with prescribed procedures.
• Provide for the most effective utilization of the instructional staff through appropriate assignments to specific position, grade and/or subjects.
• Serve as a mentor and instructional leader to faculty members about school matters and encourages their professional growth and career advancement. 
• Develop the leadership capabilities of teachers so that instructional leadership becomes a shared responsibility.

 

Program:

• Provide leadership in the development of the school’s curriculum and assessment practices in conjunction with the faculty.
• Gather validating information that helps determine whether curriculum and instructional goals and student performance outcomes are being met.
• Communicate school programs and other school activities effectively with students, faculty, parents, colleagues, and in the community (e.g., verbal, nonverbal and written communication). 
• Be a willing and active participant in committee work and group program decisions.

 

General Responsibilities:

• Keep the Director informed of significant school affairs.
• Serve as ex-officio member of Board of Directors.
• Write report for monthly Board Meetings and attend meetings as well as events associated with the Board of Directors (e.g. Board Retreat).
• Developing and monitoring the instructional budget.
• Seek constant professional learning and professional growth and to be a life-long learner.

 

Experience, Skills and Abilities

• Prior administrative experience in a similar position
• Minimum of three years experience in school administration; five years experience preferred
• Previous teaching experience at the Elementary School level; recognized as a master teacher
• Highly effective management skills and experience, demonstrated team-building skills,

and ability to inspire confidence and earn trust of faculty and staff

• Successful experience in a multi-cultural school community
• Proven experience in curriculum implementation and accreditation processes
• Proven experience in mentoring teachers to improve their professional practice
• Experience in building effective partnership with parents.
• Technology literacy and competency in developing and implementing technology plan for integration within the Elementary School program
• Excellent interpersonal communications with key school stakeholders – students, staff, faculty, parents, Board of Trustees, and the larger community

 

Qualifications

• Experience as a principal or assistant principal
• Master’s Degree in educational leadership, administration, curriculum and instruction or related field
• Teaching certification required
• Principal certification required

 

Compensation and Benefits

ISD offers an initial contract term of three years (renewable). The salary for the Elementary School Principal is commensurate with the responsibilities of the position and is competitive. Other benefits for the position include international medical insurance for the principal, spouse and two qualifying dependents 18 years or under who reside with the principal full time.  In addition, the school offers retirement contribution, professional development allowance, longevity bonus, flights home annually for principal and family, comfortable furnished housing subject to family size and allowance for utilities.

 

 

Procedures for Filing Application

International School of Dakar has appointed Search Associates as its consultant in its search for an Elementary School Principal, with Bridget McNamer and Julie Ryan as lead consultants. The deadline for applications is 1 November, 2015. Candidates are asked to submit a letter of interest and the requested materials listed below as early as possible as the Search Committee reserves the right to close the selection process at any time if the right candidate is found. Semifinalist candidates will be identified by Search Associates and their dossiers forwarded to the school for review. On-line interviews will be arranged during the first week in November, with the intention to complete the final selection by early to mid-December.

 

The review of files will begin as soon as applications are received. Finalists will be selected by the Search Committee and 2 or 3 finalists will be selected as early in the process as possible. The new Elementary School Principal will be selected shortly after the conclusion of the site visit, final interviews, and reference checks. The new Elementary School Principal will begin in July 2016.

 

Candidates should send the information listed below as a single pdf file <4MB attached to an email.

• A letter of application, explaining your strengths as a candidate and why you are interested in the ES Principal position at ISD.
• A statement describing your management and educational philosophy, not to exceed two pages.
• A current résumé not to exceed two pages.
• A one-page list of references with current addresses, phone numbers and email addresses.
• A maximum of three letters of reference (scanned at low resolution) that may already be in your possession.

 

Applications will be accepted in electronic form only.  Qualified candidates are asked to send all application materials in a single pdf file of 4 MB or less to bmcnamer@searchassociates.com and jryan@searchassociates.com.