Ruffing Montessori School Cleveland Heights, OH Head of School Opportunity for July 2016

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1 Ruffing Montessori School Cleveland Heights, OH Head of School Opportunity for July 2016 Introduction Ruffing Montessori School ( is the second oldest Montessori school in the United States and is located in the beautiful residential community of Cleveland Heights, OH. Ruffing s 46,000+ square foot, LEED certified building sits on two acres. Serving over 330 children, aged 18 months through eighth grade, Ruffing is a thriving independent school with a national reputation for excellence. Ruffing s Montessori education, firmly rooted in the developmental stages of children, emphasizes freedom with responsibility, promoting independence and self-direction in a collaborative learning environment. Ruffing s faculty are experienced Montessori-trained educators who work with children in multi-aged classrooms. A rigorous curriculum emphasizes geography, history, humanities, world culture, global language, physical education and the arts in addition to the core subjects of science, mathematics, reading and writing. Graduates are well-prepared for high school and have a very strong track record of acceptance in secondary schools. Ruffing s current Head of School, Gordon Maas, has served the school since 2001 and will be retiring following the school year after a strong fifteen year tenure. Ruffing has made tremendous strides forward under Gordon s leadership, growing enrollment to its current wait-list state, building onto and renovating facilities (achieving LEED certification), and successfully seeking accreditation through the Independent School Association of the Central States (ISACS). This committed and engaged school community looks forward to welcoming an enthusiastic, inspiring leader as its next Head of School in July The opportunity to lead Ruffing Montessori School is a tremendous one as it is a school of many strengths, including a community that is positive, warm and welcoming. Mission The mission of Ruffing Montessori School is to employ the philosophy and methods of Dr. Maria Montessori to educate young people to their fullest potential, instilling a deep sense of personal independence and social responsibility. With the knowledge that they are citizens of the world, they will contribute to that world by making decisions based on the highest order of ethics and conscience. Core Values A Ruffing education emphasizes the development of the whole child. Through the active engagement of each child s innate curiosity and love for learning, Montessori-trained teachers guide students 1

2 through an integrated Montessori curriculum. Ruffing s Core Values are grounded in the Montessori philosophy and guide community, programs, initiatives and distinctive culture. Ruffing believes in: Rigorous academics Interdisciplinary curriculum Mutual respect Holistic diversity Igniting each child s curiosity Guiding our children s desire to learn Peace Independence Self-reliance Community School Structure, Program, Facilities and Governance Ruffing Montessori School is a warm, vibrant, caring environment with a positive school culture. There is a genuine feeling of contentment and community among students, teachers, and parents. As the Montessori philosophy intends, community building is important to the school and is evident on many levels by students, parents, and faculty There are many opportunities to build friendships across age levels as older students assist in arrival, volunteer in classrooms, and act as reading buddies for younger students The school encourages the involvement of the parent community by providing volunteer opportunities, educational programs, and social events. The faculty is a cohesive group that enjoys spending time together at school as well as outside the school. There is no doubt that each and every one is not only committed to the school but they also enjoy their jobs. There is a sense of family and mutual respect among the faculty, staff, administration, parents, and students. - From the 2012 ISACS Accreditation Report Ruffing s classroom structure reflects the Montessori educational approach of mixed-age classrooms in all five of its groupings: Toddler Community, Children s House, Lower Elementary, Upper Elementary, and Middle School. Each classroom has a Montessori-trained lead teacher (Directress or Director) as well as an associate or assistant teacher, most of whom are also Montessori-trained. The four Middle School faculty members are subject specialists. There are 38 members of the Ruffing faculty. The Toddler Community provides a nurturing environment for children ages months. There are four Children s House classrooms for children ages 3 to 6, one of which is an All Day program; three Lower Elementary classrooms for students ages 6-9 (grades 1, 2, 3), and two Upper Elementary, ages 9-12 (grades 4-6) classrooms. The Middle School serves students, ages (grades 7 and 8). In addition to the Montessori educational approach that encourages students to develop as independent, engaged, life-long learners with strong competencies in mathematics, problem solving, writing, and reading comprehension, Ruffing students have the benefit of a very rich program that includes a strong commitment to literature; the arts and music, including visual and performing arts, 2

3 choral and instrumental music; physical education; a technology program beginning in the spring of 3rd grade; Spanish instruction for toddlers through the 8th grade, Latin for grades 6, 7 and 8 and the option for French in grades 7 and 8, and dedicated science faculty and science labs. Ruffing has a strong commitment to modeling for students the importance of service to one s community and students participate in age-appropriate service. Middle School students contribute regularly at a number of local organizations including the Cleveland Foodbank, community garden, and Judson Retirement Community, where the Upper Elementary students also volunteer. Middle School students manage a micro-economy, which offers them the opportunity to learn from running a small business that includes making soap, peace card stationery, and jewelry, as well as starting seeds, selling produce grown in urban gardens, and running pizza lunch. Ruffing offers a variety of after-school options that include a robust After Hours Activities program (AHA!), enrichment class offerings that include Tai Kwon Do, playwriting, fencing, archery and more, and for older students the option to participate on school athletic teams that include soccer, volleyball, basketball, archery, and Ultimate Frisbee. In addition, Ruffing offers a popular summer day camp program, Summer Ruffing It, open to children beyond the Ruffing Montessori School population. The Ruffing community continuously strives to become more responsible inhabitants of the earth. Ruffing s 46,000+ square foot school building is LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified from the US Green Building Council and Green Building Certification Institute. This certification verifies that Ruffing meets the highest green building performance quality and integrity standards, employing the most efficient design and state-of-the art building techniques. Moreover, the building provides beautiful, modern, light-filled learning spaces that include state-of-the-art Upper Elementary and Middle School science labs and a full gym, basketball court, climbing wall and archery range. The Green Building, and the school s commitment to sustainability, enables numerous opportunities to integrate learning opportunities with the students surroundings. Beginning with the Toddler Community and continuing through the Middle School, Ruffing teaches children about conservation, sustainability and environmental stewardship. Ruffing has developed a Green Curriculum, complete with lesson plans and copyrighted Montessori-style materials, using the building s green features as a working lab. At every age level, students are introduced to increasingly more complex ideas centered on individual responsibility, conservation efforts and how to harness energy resources found naturally. In 2013, Ruffing created a sustainable Stormwater Management Learning Lab on its campus. This project improves the community, the environment and teaches children and the public about sustainable stormwater management practices. The Ohio EPA provided funding of over $215,000 for the project; additionally, the City of Cleveland Heights, the Nature Center of Shaker Heights, and Doan Brook Watershed Partnerships were important partners in this endeavor. 3

4 In addition to the Head of School, Ruffing s administrative team includes a Middle School Head, and Directors of Admission, Business & Operations, Development and Communications. There are 38 faculty members (26 of whom are full time and 12 who are part time), with Montessori trained lead teachers in each classroom. In total, there are 52 employees, 32 full time and 20 part time. The Ruffing Montessori School Board of Trustees numbers 13 individuals. The new Head will have the opportunity to work with an invested Board, that includes parents of graduates and a grandparent in addition to a number of current parents. The Board is working in the first year of a three-year strategic plan ( school year). The strategic plan defines the priorities before the school and shapes the Head of School s goals. The school s leadership has established a long-term vision for the school that includes extending the school s impact, innovating and integrating the curriculum, and optimizing the school s environment. The new Head of School will have the opportunity to work with the Board and other invested stakeholders on strategic initiatives in support of that vision. The school is accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States (ISACS), is a member of Independent School Management (ISM), and is affiliated with the North American Montessori Teachers Association (NAMTA), Cleveland Council of Independent Schools (CCIS), and the Ohio Association of Independent Schools (OAIS). Gordon Maas, current Head of School, formed the Northeast Ohio Montessori Heads of School group, a group of eight schools whose Heads meet four times of year. Opportunities and Challenges Ruffing Montessori School is in the enviable situation of being fully enrolled and having tremendous updated facilities. It is a school that has a positive culture and strong community. It is not, however, looking simply for a caretaker. Both the Board and the internal professional community recognize that in order to remain a thriving school, Ruffing needs to continue to move forward, enhance its practices and build on its strengths. The next Head of School will have the opportunity to work with other invested members of the school community on the following opportunities and challenges: A handful of years ago, Ruffing s leadership carefully considered the optimal size of enrollment and settled firmly on maintaining enrollment around its current number of 330. A robust waitlist and more students remaining at Ruffing through middle school have raised the question again for some stakeholders. The school could not dramatically grow without undertaking additional building. Currently the school s leadership is discussing and evaluating plans for a reconfiguration of the existing middle school space, which could better support a larger middle school population. While there is the potential of adding a second story over one part of the school s building for additional classroom space, it would be a significant undertaking. A new Head of School will likely engage with the Board in a re-examination of optimal school size, considering not only the financial implications of expansion but also exploring the impact of further growth on the community. Ruffing s current Head of School has taken the school through the growing pains of moving from a smaller, more casually organized and managed school to its place today as a professionally organized and accredited, independent school with systems and policies. While many see the positive benefits of this growth, there are members of the school community who miss aspects of yesterday s Ruffing, 4

5 and a new Head of School will need to take the time to learn the school s history in order to wellunderstand its culture. Additionally, being at the helm through this growth has enabled the current Head of School to manage more of the administrative tasks than may be possible for a new leader who will have the additional challenge of learning the school community. A strong recommendation from the accreditation visiting team in 2012 outlined the need for an examination of the administrative structure, a recommendation that the Board understands and supports. The school s leadership is currently considering administrative models that will ensure strong support for people and programs, so the new Head of School may inherit a relatively new administrative structure as well as the recognition and support of a Board that understands the Head s purview in this arena. Additional administrative resources could enable more consistency in faculty support and evaluations and could enable the Head of School to participate more actively as an external ambassador. Like most independent schools today, Ruffing Montessori School needs to be actively considering financial sustainability and affordability initiatives. Personnel transitions over the past five years in the development office have impacted the school s ability to build a strong development program, but a recent hire and a growing understanding of the need for support and investment in this arena indicates that a more robust development program is in Ruffing s future. A Head of School who understands, embraces, and participates in an active development program and who can thoughtfully explore alternate sources of revenue for the school will be appreciated. Moreover, the Ruffing community will benefit from opportunities to more fully understand the school s financial model. While Ruffing Montessori continues to be a school in high demand, numerous stakeholders believe that the school could strengthen and focus its brand messaging in the greater community. While Ruffing is most decidedly a Montessori school, it is not specifically aligned with or members of either AMI (American Montessori Institute) or AMS (American Montessori Society), and its commitment to specialists for art, music, physical education, language, science and technology would not be embraced by pure Montessorians. There are numerous Montessori schools in the greater Cleveland area, as well as a new Montessori charter school slated to open in the near future. Ensuring that Ruffing Montessori is well and accurately known will be even more important in the coming years. A leader who can wholeheartedly embrace the school s mission and core values, is energized to serve as chief ambassador both internally and externally, and understands the need for strategic marketing and strong communication will serve Ruffing well. Numerous stakeholders would like to see Ruffing s commitment to diversity of all types grow. A Head of School who can lead this conversation forward throughout the community and define achievable goals in this arena will be appreciated. Leadership Qualities Ruffing Montessori School seeks an experienced, knowledgeable educator with teaching and administrative experience who will enthusiastically embrace the mission and core values of the school. Ruffing s next Head of School does not need to be Montessori trained but will need to be a progressive educator who both highly respects and will delve into learning the Montessori approach. Along with being a visible and positive ambassador, the new Head of School will be a dedicated academic leader and innovative educator who: 5

6 Will take the time to learn the culture and community, to know the children, the families, faculty and staff, building trust and rapport as the school adjusts to new leadership Is an authentic, energetic, invested, hands-on, visible and accessible leader who values community and who enjoys being an integral part of the school community Is a forward-thinking leader who is able to lead discussions to define expectations and implement strategic initiatives, effectively balancing collaboration and listening with proactive decision making and follow-through Is adept at balancing the needs of the various stakeholders and the internal and external demands of school leadership Has a working understanding of the external pieces of school leadership and will serve as an authentic and passionate advocate for Ruffing Montessori School, its mission and its programs Supports and develops excellence in teaching and nurtures an environment of continual professional growth Will model the core values, collaboration, and collegiality while enjoying and juggling well the myriad of tasks and demands of heading a school Enjoys people and has the communication and personal skills to build trust and engender community Is a genuine person of honesty, integrity and good humor who models respect, grace and courtesy to individuals of all ages. The ideal candidate will have had success teaching and leading in an independent school. He or she will be perceptive and positive, a strong communicator, listener and a relationship builder. The right next leader for Ruffing will be an individual who is eager to strengthen what exists and knowledgably and joyfully approach the present and future challenges with enthusiasm and energy. For Consideration Please send electronically: Resume, Letter of Interest and Educational Philosophy or Personal Statement to: Jane Armstrong or Bill Lyons, Managing Partners Independent Thinking [email protected] All inquiries will be treated confidentially and review of candidate files will begin immediately. 6