< Back to Leadership Vacancies

High School Principal
Escuela Campo Alegre, Caracas (Venezuela)

Escuela Campo Alegre

The American International School

Caracas, Venezuela

seeks a

High School Principal

- effective July 2016 - 

School Profile:

Escuela Campo Alegre (ECA), founded in 1937, is a private, coeducational school offering a program for students from nursery (3 year olds) through grade 12. The school year is comprised of two semesters extending from August to June. Located on Calle La Cinta, the campus is in Urbanization Las Mercedes and offers a central, easily accessible environment which is removed from the daily congestion in Caracas. The school serves as a gathering area for the expatriate community. Many community activities are offered during the school year. 

Escuela Campo Alegre (ECA) strives to be a model Nursery-12 international school offering a US style educational program in the English language comparable to outstanding private and international schools worldwide. ECA primarily serves the children of international corporations and diplomatic agencies.

Mission Statement:

ECA is a learning community that nurtures students to excel in a trusting and enduring environment.

Vision Statement:

ECA is a place where students work daily with real-life problems and issues and are consistently given opportunities to acquire the relevant knowledge and develop the leadership, practical and ethical skills to solve those problems effectively. They will be risk-takers and innovators, equipped with both the skills and spirit to contribute, to be successful, and to invent the future.

As a learning organization, we focus on:

1. A clear set of skills and attitudes of global citizenship, including: critical thinking, communication, technology, innovation, lifelong learning, teamwork and the role of competition
2. Social responsibility, character development, behavioral and ethical standards
3. Academic successes and high personnel achievement
4. Whole child development through outstanding athletic and artistic programs
5. Self - awareness of individual learning needs 

As teachers, we

1. Provide real-life and problem-based learning opportunities
2. Incorporate the best learning concepts from international sources into the US style standards-based curriculum
3. Offer programs and course units which capitalize on our natural diversity and cultural opportunities
4. Employ research-based practices to improve instruction and increase student achievement
5. Create an environment that ensures students’ emotional growth and self-confidence

 

As professionals, we:

1. Establish models of teaching and learning that encourage pioneering in key areas and innovation
2. Promote high ethical standards for the ECA community
3. Develop and maintain strong relationships with universities
4. Regularly review mission, vision, curriculum, instruction, and assessment methods
5. Seek to maintain U.S. and international accreditation
6. Dedicate the resources necessary to realize and sustain vision in a safe and secure environment 

As a learning community ECA defines Internationalism as a state of mind that:

1. Strengthens and nurtures cultural identities, attitudes, and citizenship of all students regular review of mission, vision, curriculum, instruction, and assessment
2. Promotes unity and inclusion through language, cultures, history and the art
3. Brings people together, encourages the understanding of global issues, and inspires students to help others
4. Advocates for cooperation, engagement, and understanding between people who appreciate diversity as global citizens 

Governance:

ECA is governed by a self-perpetuating Board of Directors, which can have up to twelve members including the Superintendent. The school is recognized by both the Venezuelan and U.S. governments as a tax-exempt organization. 

Curriculum:

The curriculum is similar to that of a U.S. college preparatory school with additional emphasis placed on the Spanish language and the history and culture of Latin America, especially Venezuela. Instruction is given in English. The curriculum also emphasizes the use of technology, problem-solving, and authentic assessment. The IB Diploma Program is offered for students in grades 11 and 12. The curriculum is standards based and supported by a 1:1 netbook program in the middle school and laptop program in the high school. A comprehensive review of the standards and benchmarks was completed in 2010-11 with implementation of a five-year curriculum review cycle and a continuous learning plan. A full range of extra-curricular activities is available. ECA is accredited by MSA (Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools) and the Council of International Schools and is a member of the Association of American Schools in South America (AASSA). 100% of Graduates from the class of 2015 will attend university in the United States or Europe.

Faculty:

There are 70 faculty members, including 45 U.S. citizens, 10 host-country nationals, and 15 from seven other countries. ECA employs instructional assistants as well as a large number of support staff. The administrative team consists of the Superintendent, three division principals, one assistant principal, one curriculum coordinator and the Director of Support Services.

Enrollment:

Current enrollment totals 523 students, representing 38 countries. The elementary school has 254 students, the middle school 155 students, and the high school 114 students. Each division has its own principal and counselor. The Elementary has an assistant principal. All three divisions share a curriculum coordinator.

Facilities:

ECA is situated on an eleven acre site which is nestled into the side of a hill. The physical property consists of 77 classrooms, including purpose-built science labs, music, art, and technology centers, a 630 seat theater/auditorium, five gymnasiums, two basketball courts, a climbing wall, a weight room, a swimming pool, three tennis courts, a cafeteria, two fully equipped multipurpose meeting areas, and a library/media center with over 54,000 catalogued items. A new Early Childhood and Sports Center opened in 2012.

The Position:

The High School Principal will provide leadership and administration which will motivate instructional and support personnel to strive for superior performance so as to provide the best possible opportunities for student growth and development, both educationally and personally.  Providing information and serving as a resource to others; enforcing established policies and regulatory requirements; coordinating school activities and addressing issues, situations and/or problems that arise on campus or with enrolled students. The Principal must look after safety of children. 

Specific Responsibilities of the High School Principal include:

•  Monitor student achievement of learning standards
•  Oversee all aspects of the curriculum process, including development, implementation and evaluation
•  Be aware and inform all teachers about child abuse policy and UN convention of children rights.
•  Lead all aspects of the supervision and evaluation of high school faculty and staff
•  Develop, implement and monitor an organizational staffing plan which ensures full delivery of the curriculum (e.g., department heads, grade level team leaders, etc.)
•  Promote and maintain a positive, productive school climate
•  Oversee all aspects of parent/community relations within the high school
•  Create and manage the annual instructional budget for the high school
•  Monitor student conduct and create a caring, productive learning climate in the high school through application of our core values and systems for reinforcing positive conduct.
•  Monitor the physical plant and maintenance needs
•  Oversee the guidance program and provide direction to the Counsellors in monitoring student welfare (Student Support Team; At-Risk Program; Advisory Program)
•  Assist in the faculty hiring process where requested
•  Oversee the Student Activities program
•  Propose and implement new programs and services as needed
•  Make admission and placement decision for  new HS students
•  Oversee standardized testing program (i.e. PSAT, PSAT, etc.)
•  Construct and monitor the success of the high school master schedule
•  Develop and maintain systems which support student learning
•  Revise and update academic and behavior standards booklets

 

Required Qualifications:

• Master’s Degree or higher graduate degree
• Minimum of 2 years of experience as a Principal or Assistant Principal
• Experience and demonstrated commitment with the IB program
• Commitment to a standards-based curriculum model
• Commitment to community service philosophy and programs
• Creativity and problem-solving skills
• Strong background in technology
• Experience with database and/or administrative software
• Vision of a learning community
• Student-centered philosophy

 

Preferred Qualifications:

• Strong background in standards and assessment
• Strong background in professional development and training
• International school experience
• IB teaching or coordinator experience

 

Personal Characteristics:

• Dynamic instructional leader
• Strong leader of learning and quality teaching
• Passion for educational excellence
• Collaborative and relationship-based leadership style

 

Salary and Benefits:

The salary will be competitive and commensurate with the qualifications and experience of the successful candidate. Benefits include:

-          Furnished housing

-          Use of school automobile

-          Round-trip airfare for administrator and dependents

-          Shipping allowance

-          Free tuition at ECA for school-age dependents

-          Health insurance plan

-          Life and disability insurance coverage

-          Professional dues allocation

-          Annual attendance to administrator’s conference

-          Membership in a professional education organization

-          Pension plan, bereavement leave, personal and sick leave

-          Two-year initial contract

 

Procedure for Filing Application:

Escuela Campo Alegre has appointed Search Associates to act as consultant in the search for a High School Principal, with Ralph Jahr and Bridget McNamer being the lead consultants. The deadline for application is September 30, 2015. The Search Committee reserves the right to close the selection process at any time if the right candidate is found. The review of files will begin as soon as applications are received. Finalists will be selected by the Superintendent / Search Committee as soon as possible after the deadline date. Finalist candidates with their spouses, if applicable, will be invited to visit the ECA campus in Caracas for on-site interviews and will meet with the Superintendent / Search Committee, faculty, parents, students, and non-teaching staff in October. The new HS Principal will be selected immediately after the conclusion of the site visits and final interviews.

 

Candidates should send the information listed below as a single pdf file attached to an email:

• A letter of application, explaining your strengths as a candidate and why you are interested in the HS Principal position at Escuela Campo Alegre
• A current résumé not to exceed two pages, addressing the required and preferred qualifications
• A one-page list of at least three (3) references with current phone numbers and email addresses
• A maximum of three letters of reference (scanned at low resolution) that may already be in your possession
• Total document size should be kept to less than 4 MB if possible.

 

Applications should be sent to: 

 rjahr@searchassociates.com and bmcnamer@searchassociates.com

 

Additional information about Escuela Campo Alegre can be found on the school’s web site at < www.eca.com.ve >.

 

Ralph Jahr                                                           Tel: 609-759-0431 USA – Pacific Time Zone

Skype – ralph.h.jahr                                            Email: RJahr@searchassociates.com

 

Bridget McNamer                                              Tel – 1-415-290-6050 - Pacific Time Zone

Skype – bridgetmcnamer                                   Email: BMcnamer@searchassociates.com