Head of Middle School

Candidate Profile

As a member of different teams across the school, the Head of Middle School will model the ISL Qatar mission, values, and beliefs in action, particularly with respect to international-mindedness and intercultural understanding. A key competency is to be a collaborative team member and value the collective ability of teams rather than traditional hierarchies.

S/he will provide exemplary leadership to ensure high professional standards of learning and teaching for staff and continually improving levels of learning and achievement for students. The successful candidate will join the Whole School and Middle School Leadership Teams (WLT & MLT). The MLT leads, administers, and manages all strategic, and operational matters of the Middle School. The person appointed will play a key role in leading this team. As

such, s/he should possess excellent leadership qualities and skills and should have a diverse range of competencies. The Head of Middle School should be an inspirational, passionate, and adaptable educator and a caring, creative, and innovative leader. S/he should be an outstanding motivator, learner, administrator, and communicator, with excellent interpersonal skills, and should be capable of leading school development and preparing students through a caring, stimulating, challenging, well-organised and supportive learning environment.

Requirements

Preferred Qualifications, Experience and Skills:

• Possess a minimum of three years as Head of Middle School, Assistant Head of Middle School, MYP (Middle Years Programme) Coordinator and/or similar leadership positions at the Middle School level.
  
• Hold teaching and leadership qualifications, preferably a master s degree or licensure in leadership, curriculum and instruction, or related field(s).
  
• Possess MYP teaching experience at the Middle School Level.
  

General

To provide effective leadership over all academic and operational aspects of the Middle School

1. Leadership

Chair a regular Middle School Leadership Team Meeting (MLT)

Undertake annually, in liaison with the Head of School, decisions about staffing, annual school schedule, budget and Middle School Action Plan

Ensure that every member of staff adheres to a personal professional growth plan

2. Personnel

Contribute to the recruitment of new staff and their induction

Serve as Professional Learning committee member and oversee internship and mentoring of relevant teachers

Monitor, appraise and/or coordinate the evaluation of all Middle School staff

Monitor attendance and generate Duties and Covers in coordination with the Academic Assistant

Review job descriptions, staff procedure manual and the parent s handbook

3. Accountability

Meet regularly with the Head of School to report and advise on all aspects of the Middle School

Produce the Middle School Annual Report and the Middle School Annual Action Plan

Ensure that accrediting agencies recommendations are actioned, and that resources and professional capacity is adequate to meet the demands of the plan

Consistently review Middle School Procedures and Handbooks, and implement new or revised policies

Chair Middle School meetings, monitor effectiveness of MLT and review meeting minutes

Hold regular termly review meetings with staff to evaluate the effectiveness of the Middle School

4. Academic Quality

Ensure consistency of teaching and learning quality

Devote at least 10% of monthly school hours to teaching/learning observation and providing instructional feedback

Facilitate professional learning

Ensure that information displayed in corridor and public areas of Middle School is relevant and up to date

Review the Assessment procedures regularly

Review the current course options offered and pilot new options considering students interest trends

Act on complaints about the quality of teaching and learning in a timely manner

Lead, in conjunction with the Grade Level Leaders, regular review meetings with staff to identify and discuss students requiring support

Liaise with the Heads of Primary and High Schools to ensure smooth transition from Primary to Middle and from Middle to High School

5. Operations and Management

Manage the space, resources, and personnel efficiently and effectively to ensure that it meets the needs of the curriculum and health and safety regulations

Set the Middle School yearly calendar framework, the Middle School Annual calendar of staff meetings, parent meetings, reports, examination weeks, in-service days, residential week

Set Annual events: i.e., Promotion Ceremonies, Celebrations of Learning, Sports Day, Special Events, School Photographs

Set staff teaching allocation, homeroom groups and sizes, teaching groups and option choices in coordination with the time-table team

Oversee all external exams, including student registration for exams, seating charts and rooms, exam schedules, safe storage of exam materials, proctoring of exams, postage of completed papers and learning support provisions.

Perform any other duties as assigned

6. Community

Promote partnership with local international schools and all ISL schools

Collaborate with MYP Coordinator, Leaders of Learning, and teachers to establish an maintain community partnerships to enhance authentic student learning experiences

7. Communication

Supervise student s reports, parent teacher conferences, and other forms of school-home communication

Contribute and approve sections of Student Handbook and the MYP Guides

Ensure that the Middle School marketing material reflects ISL Qatar identity and that the school adverts are in line with branding and identity

Review internal communication procedures regularly and ensure that minutes of meetings are circulated in timely fashion and actioned accordingly

Serve as Chief Editor of the bi-weekly Middle School Newsletter

Serve as a main link with PTA College Chair, ECIS (Education Collaborative for International Schools) and LISA and responsible for visitors to the school

Lead and oversee Middle School Open Days / Evenings and represent the Middle School leadership at student events

8. Finances

Create the Middle School annual Budget, and administer approved budget