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The Clapham School is seeking an inspired and experienced educational leader who is passionate about classical Christian education and interested in filling the newly established position of Principal for appointment June 1, 2009. The Clapham School offers an exceptional opportunity for an educator to lead this classical Christian school to a new level. An enthusiastic, exceptional leader is being sought with a demonstrated record of success.

The Principal, in partnership with the Head of School, will:

• work to improve teaching and learning;
  
• foster a sense of community within the staff and parents;
  
• help the school build upon its educational values in a solid, moral foundation; and
  
• most importantly, help guide the school into a new phase of its institutional life by leading the school through expansion into a full PreK – 12 classical school, as well as formal accreditation.
  

As the primary academic leader of the Clapham School, the new Principal is responsible for overseeing the daily operations of the school, and is the primary supervisor of teachers. Reporting directly to the Head of School, the Principal helps to shape and direct educational policy and cultivate lasting relationships with the students, staff, parents and the broader Wheaton community.

Clapham:

Clapham School was conceived in 2005 to meet the need for an academically rigorous and distinctively Christian school in the Chicago suburbs. Interested families began discussing plans for the school in late 2005, and began praying together weekly to seek God's guidance in that effort. Clapham’s formal journey began in the fall of 2006 with 23 students enrolled. Clapham’s current student body consists of 65 young girls and boys, in Pre-K through 6th grades. Nearly tripling in size in the first three years, Clapham is one of the fastest growing classical Christian schools in the country.

The name of the Clapham School holds significance related to its mission. Clapham is today an area of southwest London. It served as the location in the late 18th and early 19th centuries for worship and fellowship by a group of believers who became known as the “Clapham Saints,” with William Wilberforce as their most famous member. Their devotion to Christ helped change countless lives in London and beyond.

The founders of the school believe that it is God’s truth as revealed in the Bible that leads to life, thus their motto Veritas Pro Vita, literally “truth for life.” The Scriptures provide the basis for one to live, work and learn at Clapham School. “But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream.” Jeremiah 17:7-8.

Vision & Mission:

The vision of the Clapham School is to propel students’ hearts and minds for lifelong service to God. Students are encouraged to passionately pursue learning while understanding that it is God’s truth that leads to life. This life is lived out by serving God and engaging the world by reaching out to others with truth and grace, in the same way that William Wilberforce and the other members of Clapham did over 200 years ago. Clapham should be one of the premier academic institutions in Chicago if it fulfills this vision, yet at the same time it should not be characterized by an elitist atmosphere, but instead one of humble service.

Thus the mission is two-fold: to prepare the minds of students to engage intelligently with their culture, and to prepare their hearts to follow Christ as they seek to impact their generation for His glory. Clapham desires to engender in students hearts that yearn for the truth of Jesus Christ and voices that can clearly articulate that truth. Clapham hopes to inspire students who are willing to stand against the tide of a decaying culture while simultaneously serving those around them, thus showing the love of Christ to others.

Vision: An education that is

• Committed to academic excellence
  
• Focused on a classical curriculum
  
• Grounded in a Christian worldview
  

Purpose: Students who

• Passionately seek after learning
  
• Understand that it is God's truth that leads to life – Veritas Pro Vita
  
• Live this out by serving God
  
• Confidently engage the world for Christ
  

Curriculum:

The method that Clapham employs is the classical model. In fact, the men (and women) who were a part of the Clapham Saints group in the late 18th century were themselves educated in the classical tradition. What characterizes this model at Clapham?

• Rich literature, emphasizing classic pieces at age appropriate levels – a “great books” curriculum.
  
• A strong oral and written tradition whereby students are expected to present their ideas clearly and with conviction.
  
• Teaching a grade ahead of where local public schools would in math, science and other subjects.
  
• The study of Western Civilization in an integrated fashion (with history, literature, poetry, music and art tied together).
  
• The embracing of a more ‘nuanced’ approach to the Trivium (as best described in Wisdom and Eloquence by Littlejohn and Evans).

Pedagogy:

Clapham’s classical model is distinct from other classical models through the engagement of many of the educational philosophies of 18th century British educator Charlotte Mason. Her pedagogy enriches a more traditional classical approach with her emphasis on the formation of good habits, her insistence upon “living ideas,” her ability to enliven children’s natural curiosities, and her view of children as “whole persons.” Moreover, her methods such as narration, picture study, and nature study emphasize a delight in discovery.

Clapham believes that a classical curriculum infused with this pedagogical approach provides an atmosphere which is joyful. Children are valued as unique persons created in the image of God instead of empty vessels waiting to be filled. Competition is diffused, collaboration encouraged, and growth is celebrated in each child. The emphasis on good habits clarifies the expectations placed upon students, helping them thrive with clear and fair expectations. The invitation to the discovery of living ideas in the pages of a book or the blossoms on a tree teaches children a rich awareness of beauty.

Faculty and Staff:

One of the greatest assets of the Clapham School is the quality and dedication of the people who make up the faculty, staff, and Board of Trustees. The faculty and staff are fully committed to the mission of the school, and are excellent role models of the values espoused. More than 20 percent of faculty members hold advanced degrees, and as Clapham moves into establishing a middle school and upper school, this ratio should increase significantly. The student–faculty ratio is 8:1.

Head of School and Board President Doug Reynolds has an M.B.A. from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management and a B.A. from the University of Virginia. Mr. Reynolds spent time in management consulting and leading a technology start-up in New York and London. He most recently served as a Vice President for ServiceMaster before serving as Clapham School's Head of School and Board President. Mr. Reynolds and his wife, Julie, live in Glen Ellyn with their three children.

Campus:

The school shares facilities with College Church in Wheaton, including six classrooms, an art and music studio, a library, and a gymnasium. This location reflects Clapham’s commitment to the city of Wheaton and its connection with the historical, educational and cultural resources in and around their neighborhood. There are significant advantages to a location in central Wheaton, near Wheaton College, and Clapham takes advantage of this proximity.

Wheaton:

First settled in 1837 by three entrepreneurial pioneers: Jesse and Warren Wheaton and Erastus Gary, locoated about 25 miles west of Chicago and Lake Michigan, Wheaton has grown to become known for its strong community spirit built on the backbone of a strong evangelical populous. The village was established as the seat of the DuPage County government in 1867 and has been consistently recognized nationally for its outstanding schools, exceptional park district and “green” stewardship of its open land with more than 52 parks comprising 800 acres. As of the 2003 census, the city had a total population of 55,016. Wheaton has 45 churches within its city limits (not to mention thirty in the bordering unincorporated areas) and is rumored to have more churches per square mile than any other U.S. city, a density exceeded in the world only by perhaps a few cities in Italy. Wheaton College and the Billy Graham Center are both located in Wheaton and bring numerous resources to a school like Clapham. Wheaton and the surrounding area are headquarters to a number of leading academic Christian organizations such as Tyndale and Crossway Publishers, Christianity Today, and Moody Bible Institute.

Affiliations:

As a classical and Christian school, we have the following affiliations with other schools or organizations across the country:

ACCS

Clapham School is a member of the Association of Classical and Christian Schools. For further information, please see the ACCS website: www.accsedu.org.

CSI

Clapham School is a member of Christian Schools International. For further information, please see www.csionline.org.

ISACS

Clapham School is a member of the Independent Schools Association of the Central States. For further information, please see the ISACS website: www.isacs.org. (ISACS is the organization with whom Clapham plans to pursue accreditation, as the academic standards and peer group accountability are higher there than at some other organizations).

Society for Classical Learning

Clapham School is a member of The Society for Classical Learning. For further information, please see the SCL website: www.societyforclassicallearning.org.

Other

Clapham School is part of a smaller group of schools that are committed to blending the model of classical curriculum with the "art of joyful discovery" found in Charlotte Mason's teachings. Please see the following websites for a look at other schools with a similar philosophy:

• The Wilberforce School in Princeton, NJ
• Providence Christian School in Dallas, TX
• West Dallas Community School in Dallas, TX, an inner city school
• Heritage Preparatory School in Atlanta, GA
• The Oaks Academy in Indianapolis, IN, an inner city school
• Ambleside Schools International, Fredericksburg, TX
  

CANDIDATES

Candidates will be expected to understand, embrace, and articulate the mission of Clapham School. The school community is aware of the need for academic leadership and is ready to work collaboratively with the new Principal. The new Principal will need to develop a vision and plan for professional development strategically geared toward improving teaching and learning. Responsibilities for the new Principal will include administrating the total educational program and running the day to day operations, including instructional, curricular and staff development. The successful candidate will be an educator and leader who reflects the following qualities:

• Outstanding character that demonstrates personal and professional integrity, self-confidence and self-discipline.
  
• Is a Christian role model in attitude, speech and actions toward others.
  
• Exceptional persuasive skills and influence to build partnerships and develop a climate of trust within the school community in order to promote the school’s ethos and priorities.
  
• The ability to establish a warm, caring relationship with students; a trusting, collegial relationship with colleagues; and an open, communicative relationship with parents.
  
• Sensitivity to the needs of others such as office staff members, teachers, and students.
  
• A vibrant educational leadership style in the school and the community by developing and promoting the school vision, and encouraging staff, volunteers from the community and others to share ownership of the school’s vision and goals.
  
• A leadership philosophy that has the capacity for drawing the best out of staff, encouraging them to identify personally with group objectives.
  
• The ability to work with our existing outside consultants to continue to improve the curriculum.
  
• Develop continuing relationships with sister schools to provide a forum for the exchange of ideas and for learning from one another.
  
• Creating a community that encourages discovery, diversity and achievement.
  
• Has a demonstrated love for learning in his/her own life.
  

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE SHOULD HAVE

• An appropriate advanced degree from a credible academic institution. A masters or doctorate in a field appropriate to lead a classical school is preferred (e.g. history, literature, theology).
  
• Knowledge of child development and experience in curriculum design.
  
• Demonstrated ability to recruit and retain teachers, particularly at the middle and upper school levels.
  
• The verbal and writing expertise to articulate a clear vision of the school’s goals to the administration, faculty, parents, and external constituencies.
  
• Organizational and management skills to provide effective guidance and direction for the day-to-day operations of the school while working with the Head of School to actively promote the school as one of the top classical Christian schools in the county.
  
• Strategic planning experience - identify annual and long-term goals with strategies and tactics to achieve these goals.
  
• Must be a person of demonstrated spiritual maturity.
  
• Minimum of 5 years teaching and supervisory experience.
  
• Experience in helping an organization through the accreditation process a plus.
  
• Good judgment, clarity in decision making, and collaborative problem-solving.
  
• Most importantly, a clear sense of a strong dependence on our Lord Jesus Christ, whose call on his/her life has driven him/her to pursue excellence for His glory in all areas of life.
  

This position includes a competitive salary and benefits package, commensurate with experience.

For more information, please visit the Clapham School website at www.claphamschool.com.

To apply, please complete the online CrossChalk application and attach a cover letter and resume via the following link.

CrossChalk will carefully screen candidates and anticipates recommending their selection to the Clapham Board of Trustees in the winter of 2009.


Please do not contact the Clapham School directly.
Scott Smith
Clapham School
3000 Old Alabama Road Suite 119-604
Alpharetta, GA 30022
770-616-8549
Web site: CrossChalk.com
E-mail: scottsmith@crosschalk.com

The Clapham School is an Equal Opportunity Employer.