Head of School - Southern Teachers Agency · The next Head of School should have teaching and ... demic development like Declamation Day, ... their mother was on if she also attended

Mrs. Emily Grymes founded Grymes Memorial School in 1947. Having lost both her children in young adulthood, one to illness and one to World War II, working with children gave her solace and an opportunity to inspire generations in ways that her own children no longer could. She created a school that provides a strong academic foundation and encourages thinking that is creative, reasoned, and analytical. It emphasizes the social, physical, and artistic growth of each student in an atmosphere of respect, responsibility, fairness, and honesty.

Nurturing Character, Building Thinkers, Cultivating Creativity, Fostering Community, Launching Learners

From Mrs. Grymes to the current Head, Penny Work, this school has benefitted from leaders who did not simply want to lead any school, but who were intensely interested in leading Grymes Memorial School. With Dr. Work’s retirement announcement, Grymes now embarks on a search for a similarly dedicated leader.

Grymes believes that all children want to learn and do best in a joyful learning environment. It has built a reputation for academic excellence and the development of students who are curious, independent learners. Teachers use a variety of

strategies and techniques to help students with a wide range of abilities and learning styles. A dedicated faculty fosters strong partnerships with parents to enhance academic achievement. Because Grymes is small, and because it unites community members across generations, the school truly feels like a family. People at Grymes are deeply connected.

The next Head of School should have teaching and administrative experience, preferably in an independent school. He or she should demonstrate a commitment to and love for children, have experience with and vision for student recruitment and financial sustainability, demonstrate integrity and commitment to community, and have excellent written and verbal communication skills. The best candidates will serve as a unifying force through strong relationship building and an energetic and optimistic personality.

Grymes Memorial School has selected Southern Teachers to lead the search for their next Head of School. For application instructions, please see the last page of this profile.

The Opportunity

To Apply

Grymes Memorial School is a nonsectarian, coeducational day school serving 148 students in prekindergarten through grade eight.

Head of School Grymes Memorial School

Orange, Virginia

July 2018 • grymesschool.org

Performance Objectives

Director of Middle School

Canterbury School Greensboro, North Carolina

July 2016 • canterburygso.org Head of School

Grymes Memorial School Orange, Virginia


In its 70-year history, Grymes has established the underpinnings that will sustain it for generations to come.

The next Head of School must recognize and value these and many other strengths:

• Balance of academic, artistic, physical, and social de-velopment

• Small, safe environment

• Care for the individual

• Character development

• Collaboration between parents and school

The next Head of School will be successful through preserva-tion of this foundation and pursuit of the following objectives:

Lead strategic planning processGrymes is operating under a five-year strategic plan written in 2014 (see inset). Early in his or her tenure, the new Head of School will have the opportunity to work with the board and a broad range of stakeholders to craft the next plan for the school's future. Campus master planning will likely be an important piece of the next strategic plan.

Grow enrollment Grymes is a rural, country day school, well supported by its community and an important part of the fabric of the region. Though Grymes is on firm financial footing, there is room for enrollment growth through strategic marketing, brand devel-opment, and enrollment management. The Head of School will leverage the school's history of success in nurturing student character and intellect to educate more families about the value of a Grymes education.

Improve communicationGrymes serves students from five different counties and from broad socio-economic and cultural backgrounds. As with many schools, Grymes has seen an increasing number of two-income families. The communication needs for its families are changing, and the next Head of School will help develop a communications process and structure that will change with them.

Strategic Plan

In 2014, Grymes undertook a comprehensive strategic planning process that involved input from a broad range of constituents. Looking at curriculum, Grymes set goals for defining signature programs, developing STEAM initiatives, increasing outdoor learning opportunities, improving physical fitness and athletic opportunities, and continuing to educate for character. The committee laid out strategies for admis-sions and marketing, including raising Grymes’ profile in the community and communicating its message effectively. It sought to improve faculty compensation and to streamline its administrative structure. Finally, Grymes reaffirmed its commitment to improving the campus with clean, bright, and sustainable learning spaces and adequate athletic facilities. Progress continues to be made in all of these areas, and this progress will serve as the foundation for the priorities in the next strategic plan.



July XXX • canterburygso.org

The Position

Performance Objectives (Continued)

• To articulate the vision for the school and its future.

• To monitor and address all matters of school climate and culture.

• To manage the sometimes competing demands of the various constituencies of the school.

• To provide to the Board of Trustees various scenarios and possibilities for the board to consider as it does its work focusing on the strategic future of the school.

• To work with the Board of Trustees, its chair, and its committees in carrying out established school policies; to review those policies and make recommendations for changes; to attend meetings, prepare reports, maintain board records, and keep trustees informed on all aspects of the school's operation.

• To supervise all programs of the school (academic, athletic, ethical, and other extracurricular programs); to monitor curriculum, grading, testing, and reporting to parents; to prepare for and conduct periodic program evaluations; to submit reports to external agencies as required; to establish disciplinary policies and standards of conduct.

Head of School Grymes Memorial School

Orange, Virginia July 2018 • grymesschool.org

Strengthen curriculumAs the academic leader of the school, the next Head of School will ensure that the Grymes curriculum is modern and mission-appropriate. Parents value a school that challenges their children. Grymes serves students with a broad range of talents, and differentiated instruction is an important part of their success. He or she will help find common ground around issues of innovation and pedagogy.

Hire outstanding teachersAt a school with one section per grade, each hire is critical. The quality of the current faculty is a testament to the commit-ment previous Heads have made to making excellent staffing decisions. As openings on the faculty emerge in the future, the Head of School will lead the effort to recruit and assess teachers with the pedagogical skill and cultural fit to be suc-cessful at Grymes.

The Head of School is the sole employee of the Board of Trustees. Responsibilities include the following:

• The Head of School shall have direct supervision of all the faculty and staff and shall coordinate the activities of the entire organization. The Head of School shall hold regu-lar meetings of the faculty and staff and see that the gen-eral policies of the Board are understood and followed.

• The Head of School shall select and hire properly qual-ified persons to serve as members of the faculty and administration.

• He or she shall be the representative of the board in its relations with the faculty, staff, students, and patrons of the corporation.

• The Head of School shall be a member ex officio of all standing committees of the board.

General duties of the Head of School include (but are not re-stricted to) the following: • To embody, manifest, and advocate the mission of the

school.

The Position (Continued)

• To supervise the Business Manager in the preparation of preliminary and final budgets; to monitor income, expenditures, collections, and cash flow; to maintain appropriate financial records; to oversee the employee benefit program.

• To supervise the Advancement Director in determining programs for the recruitment of students, including marketing and outreach, information dissemination, applicant testing and interviews, and acceptance deci-sions.

• To represent the school to all of its constituents in-cluding neighbors, parents, students, alumni, business community, faculty, and staff.



July 2016 • canterburygso.org



July XXX • canterburygso.org Head of School



• To supervise the Advancement Director and develop-ment efforts to cultivate and effect generous support of the school.

• To handle all matters regarding employment, retention, and dismissal of personnel; salaries and contracts; job assignments and performance evaluation; and orienta-tion and training. To prepare employee handbooks and maintain appropriate personnel records.

• To represent the school in its relations with state and federal agencies and with local, state, regional, and national educational organizations and accrediting agencies.

• To act as liaison with other organizations to ensure fulfillment of the school's contractual obligations; to co-ordinate schedules; arrange for rentals; and coordinate procedures where the interests of both organizations are involved.

• To supervise and/or assist with all other aspects of the school's operation, including (but not limited to) facilities maintenance and operation, food service, transportation, summer programs, development and fundraising, and alumni affairs.

Traditions

Grymes is a school that deeply values its traditions as a way to tie generations of graduates together. These traditions range from pure merriment like PJ Pajama Day to character building like The Giving Tree holiday toy drive to aca-demic development like Declamation Day, in which students from kindergar-ten through grade seven memorize a poem and recite it to the entire student body. Students may not remember every formula they learn in math class, but they will always remember SPAM (soda, popcorn, and a movie) nights. They will remember that an adult greets them by name and with a handshake every day when they arrive at school. They will remember screaming at pep rallies, the Halloween Parade, and their class plays where every student has a speaking part. They will remember which team they were on for field day because it is the same team their sibling is on and it is likely the same team their mother was on if she also attended Grymes. Traditions are the ties that bind a community, and Grymes is tight-knit.

The School

HistoryIn the mid-1940’s, Mrs. Emily Grymes welcomed children of her friends into her home for a playgroup while the parents shopped or did errands. It wasn’t long before one of the parents suggested Mrs. Grymes start a school. In 1947 the school was named Grymes Memorial School to honor the memory of her two children. The first school building was a two-room cottage in Mrs. Grymes’s backyard. As enrollment grew, Mrs. Grymes hired teachers for pre-school, kindergarten, first, and second grades. In February of 1955, when there were more students than space, Mr. and Mrs. Virginius Shackelford hosted a meeting of friends and parents to discuss the future of Grymes Memorial School. They formed a Board of Trustees and secured a seed grant of 32 acres on Spicer’s Mill Road, where the school remains today.

In May of 1955 the school was officially incorporated, and that September, ground was broken for the new school building. In the meantime, seventy students from prekindergarten to seventh grade had classes in the second floor of the Main Street Fire Department. Construction of the brand new school building moved along as scheduled and on May 27, 1956, the dedication ceremony took place.

The first building on the Spicer’s Mill property has been added on to and renovated many times, but the basic principles of an academically challenging program have never changed. Mrs. Grymes would be proud of what her school has become.

AcademicsGrymes Memorial School provides educational instruction and programs for students in grades prekindergarten through eight, with a Lower School for grades prekindergarten through four and an Upper School for grades five through eight. Development of the school’s curricula and programs is strongly guided by the school’s mission statement and philosophy. In addition to providing instruction in core academic subjects (math, reading/language arts/English, social studies/history, science, and Spanish), the school also provides instruction in classes such as art, music, physical education, and technology. Approaches to instruction are developmentally appropriate and are designed to help students gain the knowledge and skills they will need to be successful when they leave Grymes Memorial School. A well-qualified faculty provides differentiated instruction to meet the individual needs of

students and works to provide all students with opportunities for collaboration, creative expression, critical thinking, and problem solving. Technology is quietly and seamlessly integrated into instruction and is infused into class projects when appropriate. Cross-curricular units help students develop a broader understanding of selected topics and allow for inclusion of STEM/STEAM based projects. Field trips are an important part of instruction at all grade levels.

Student progress is measured through in-class assessments and through standardized tests, including PALS for reading assessment in the lower grades and ERB tests in grades 3-8 for assessment of student progress in language arts and math. Academic support is available for students needing extra help in core subjects. Student progress and report cards are shared with parents through the web-based information management service.

Founded: 1947Grades: PreK3-8Total Enrollment: 148LS Enrollment: 89MS Enrollment: 59Boys: 53%Girls: 47%Diversity: 9%Students Receiving Aid: 59%Total Faculty: 24Female Faculty: 83%Male Faculty: 17%Student/Faculty Ratio: 6:1Average Class Size: 15Average Faculty Experience: 15 yrsAverage Faculty Tenure: 8 yrsFaculty with Postgrad Degrees: 50%Highest Tuition: $14,930Annual Budget: $2,400,000Endowment: $6,300,000Annual Fund: $200,000Total Debt: $0Accreditation: VAISBoard of Trustees: 15









The School (Continued)

Grymes Memorial School has many co-curricular and extracurricular activities to offer its students. Sports, clubs, honor council, and technology-based activities are just a few of the offerings. The students participate in a variety of school traditions throughout the school year such as Declamation Day, assemblies, variety shows, and Grandfriends Day.

Lower school teachers serve as counselors for students in grades prekindergarten through four. They are trained in the Olweus bullying prevention program, which helps them train their students to identify 12 bullying behaviors and resolve conflicts with peers. The Head of School acts as counselor for students in the Upper School. The Head works with students to resolve interpeer issues and deals with discipline and honor code infractions on a case-by-case basis. The Head of School also works with parents of graduating students to find a good fit for secondary education.

ArtsGrymes has a deep commitment to giving students the opportunity for self-expression. Music, visual arts, and drama allow children to be creative and discover talents that they will carry with them as they grow. The accent on the arts enriches the curriculum, enhancing student understanding through a truly hands-on approach to discovery, exploration, and personal expression. Student art adorns walls, doors, and even ceilings throughout the school, and the school shares student art with the world through public websites.

Beginning in junior kindergarten and proceeding through eighth grade, every Grymes student participates in music class weekly. Starting with a study of rhythm, beat, and movement, junior kindergartners learn to sing and move in harmony as they explore the sounds and songs of each season, and with each grade level the curriculum increases with difficulty as various concepts of music and motion are mastered. Instruments are introduced in the fourth grade, with recorders, and in the fifth grade, students join the Upper School wind and brass band with an instrument of choice. Upper School students continue their study of their chosen instrument through the eighth grade. All students have plenty of opportunities to show off their singing and performance skills on stage. Not only can students showcase their musical talents in class plays and in the annual Variety Show, but musical performances are the highlight of the Christmas and Grandfriends Day programs!

AthleticsGrymes believes that students learn best when they have the opportunity to move their bodies. One of the most important traditions for Grymes students is the opportunity to go outside for recess twice a day, which is in addition to physical education classes. Lessons learned in PE and on the playground about teamwork, sportsmanship, and skill development find their extension through interscholastic sports. Participation in the athletic program is an optional activity for students in fifth through eighth grades, but most Grymes upper schoolers participate in at least one sport during the year. Student-athletes have the chance to compete against top programs and work with capable coaches, who are often their teachers off the field.










Student ProfileGrymes Memorial School’s student body is comprised of approximately one hundred fifty students from nine surrounding counties. Almost 60% of students receive financial aid, with an average award of $4,000, giving Grymes considerable socio-economic diversity.

Faculty ProfileThe 24 educators who make up the Grymes faculty are experienced and committed. With an average of 16 years of experience and 8 years of tenure, Grymes teachers are masters at their craft and deep believers in the Grymes culture and ethos. Teachers are passionate about their work, willing to undertake new challenges, and adept at building authentic relationships for students’ positive learning experiences.

Grymes faculty members benefit from considerable funding for professional development, including the Pat Barnhardt lecture series. Recent workshop themes have been on the Responsive Classroom and Mindfulness. Grymes teachers are well trained in techniques and strategies that bridge academic success and social-emotional learning.









Grymes is led by a Head of School and Assistant Head of School. The school also has a full-time Business Manager, Director of Advancement, Director of Technology, Development Associate, and Receptionist. As with most small schools, everybody wears a lot of hats and the culture is one of collaboration, hard work, and dedication.

Board of TrusteesThe Board of Trustees at Grymes consists of fifteen members committed to the long-term health of the school, sustaining the school’s mission through wise financial and strategic planning and establishing appropriate policies and oversight of the school’s finances.

Members of the board of trustees represent a cross section of Grymes’ constituencies. One-third of the trustees are current parents. The remaining two-thirds represent a combination of alumni, past parents, former faculty, and community members who have no particular affiliation with Grymes. The board is self-selecting, with a maximum of 15 members serving three-year terms. No trustee may serve more than two consecutive terms but is eligible to serve again after a one-year absence from the board. The Executive Committee consists of the chair, vice chair, treasurer, secretary, up to two at-large members, and the Head of School (ex

officio). The board conducts an annual survey each spring and uses the results for board development and improvement of processes.

CampusGrymes Memorial School is located on 42 idyllic acres in Orange, Virginia. In 1966, a capital campaign raised $175,000 to construct a second building housing the gym, new pre-school room, and kindergarten classroom. A headmaster’s house was also built at this time. The original building and the new building remained separate until 1985 when additional classrooms and an art room linked them. The next major renovation was a science lab in 1990.

At the start of the 2013-14 school year, following a successful capital campaign, Grymes completed and opened a new upper school academic building, Gardner Hall. This beautiful new

Grymes and Woodberry

Just north of the Town of Orange is Woodberry Forest School, a nationally recognized boarding school serving boys in grades nine through twelve. It is not surprising that students from Grymes matriculate to Woodberry every year, but the relationship between the schools runs much deeper than that. Many Grymes students are children of Woodberry faculty members, and many Grymes teachers are residents of the Woodberry campus and spouses of Woodberry teachers. Grymes is an important recruiting tool for recruiting Woodberry teachers who have young children, and Grymes benefits from those young children’s enrollment. This infor-mal, symbiotic relationship between the two schools is unique and important to maintain for the benefit of both.


The Community

When Orange County was first incorporated in 1734, it stretched to the Mississippi River and the Great Lakes. The formation of Augusta County to the west four years later brought its boundaries back within reason, but Orange has always been a county of considerable ambition and pastoral beauty. Its plentiful and diverse natural resources fuel many of its industries as well as inspire and cultivate recreation and the arts. Its rich history is proudly displayed and celebrated throughout the county.

People seek out Orange for its quiet way of life, friendly hometown feel, and its balance of modern amenities, easy accessibility to work, health and public services, education and recreation, both locally and regionally. Outdoor lovers will enjoy that Shenandoah National Park is visible from the Grymes campus. Wine lovers will gladly follow the Virginia Wine Trail. History buffs will easily fill every weekend.

Residents and visitors alike enjoy the four distinctly beautiful seasons of Orange County. Situated east of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Orange County falls within the Piedmont Region of Virginia. The most famous residence in Orange is Montpelier, home of James Madison. Madison described the area surrounding his property as “a squirrel’s jump from heaven.” Today, Montpelier is a popular destination for history lovers and home to the annual running of the Montpelier Hunt Races.

The County of Orange is located conveniently in the center of the state, with easy access to Charlottesville to the southwest, Fredericksburg to the east, and Culpeper to the north. Washington, DC, and Richmond, VA, are each less than 90 miles away. Residents of Orange will say that excursions to these larger cities can be enjoyable, but returning home to Orange is always the highlight of the trip.









building is 10,000 square feet, houses 8 classrooms and 4 tutoring spaces, and serves as a tremendous enhancement to Grymes’ existing facilities. Future plans include a formal outdoor classroom, which the fifth grade and Engineering club are helping to design.

Grymes uses its 42-acres intentionally. A cross-country course, nicknamed the “yellow-brick road,” circles the campus. The campus features playing fields for lacrosse, soccer, and field hockey. Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of the campus is the idyllic countryside surrounding it, reminding students always of the large world awaiting them when they leave.

Application Process & Timeline

For most thorough consideration, candidates for the Head of School position should submit applications to Southern Teachers (available at SouthernTeachers.com) along with a current resume and a cover letter explaining their interest in and qualifications for this leadership position.

Questions may be directed to Mr. Jamie Estes at [email protected] or 434-295-9122. Please do not contact the school.

Initial interviews with the consultant at Southern Teachers will be ongoing.

The new Head of School will begin work July 2018.









http://SouthernTeachers.com

mailto:Estes%40SouthernTeachers.com?subject=Question%20about%20ST%20Opportunity

Documents

Head of School - Southern Teachers Agency · The next Head of School should have teaching and ... demic development like Declamation Day, ... their mother was on if she also attended