Position Summary : St. Richard’s Episcopal School seeks a dynamic, student-centered, and mission-aligned educational leader to serve as Middle Division Director (Grades 5–8). Reporting to the Head of School, the Middle Division Director provides strategic and operational leadership for all aspects of the academic and student experience in grades five through eight.
The Director is responsible for cultivating a vibrant middle division culture that supports academic excellence, character formation, belonging, and adolescent growth. This leader partners closely with faculty, families, school leadership, the Indianapolis community, and high schools to ensure that students are well-prepared for secondary school and for lives of purpose and integrity. The Middle Division Director also provides direct oversight of all Middle Division student activities, including clubs, student leadership programs, and interscholastic athletics, ensuring these programs advance the School’s mission and contribute to the holistic development of each student.
Key Responsibilities:
Division Leadership & Culture
● Serve as the chief academic and student-life leader of the Middle Division.
● Foster a joyful, structured, and developmentally responsive environment for young adolescents.
● Promote a culture of high expectations, accountability, and belonging.
● Serve as a visible and engaged presence throughout the division.
● Represent the Middle Division on the School Leadership Team.
● Collaborate with Early Childhood and Lower Division Head to maintain a strong, unified connection across divisions.
Academic Excellence & Program Oversight
● Provide strategic oversight of curriculum, instruction, assessment, and academic innovation in grades 5–8.
● Ensure alignment of the Middle Division program with the School’s mission, vision, values, and strategic priorities.
● Partner with faculty to map curriculum refine scope and sequence, encourage interdisciplinary programming, and student-centered learning
● Oversee student academic progress and lead middle division Student Support Team to ensure appropriate interventions and enrichment.
● Collaborate with EC and LD Head, Director of Teaching and Learning, and Director of Technology to ensure vertical curricular alignment and smooth transitions between grades
Faculty Leadership & Development
● Recruit, hire, supervise, mentor, and evaluate Middle Division faculty.
● Provide regular classroom observations and meaningful feedback in support of teacher growth and development.
● Together with the Director of Teaching and Learning, coordinate instructional coaching and mentoring of faculty.
● Plan and coordinate leadership of Middle Division meetings and in-house professional development.
● Build a collaborative, accountable, and mission-driven faculty culture.
Student Life & Character Formation
● Oversee all Middle Division student life programming, including advisory, clubs, and student leadership organizations (e.g., Student Government).
● Ensure extracurricular offerings reflect student interests while supporting character development, leadership skills, and belonging.
● Partner with faculty sponsors to ensure clubs and activities are mission-aligned, well-supervised, and developmentally appropriate.
● Support the development of student voice and leadership opportunities across grades 5–8.
● Partner with the Dean of Students to oversee student conduct, behavior systems, and restorative practices.
● Promote social-emotional growth consistent with Episcopal values and the School’s mission, vision, and values.
● Partner with families in addressing academic, social, and behavioral concerns.
Family Partnership & Community Engagement
● Serve as primary divisional contact for parent concerns beyond the classroom teacher.
● Communicate proactively and transparently with families.
● Support admissions events and retention efforts.
● Support advancement events, grant writing, and alumni engagement.
● Participate in school programs, chapel, assemblies, and community events.
● Coordinate with the Parent Organization to create opportunities for parent engagement and education to build community and grow understanding of the unique value proposition for St. Richard’s Episcopal School.
● Provide strategic and operational oversight of the Middle Division athletics program.
● Supervise athletic staff, including hiring recommendations, evaluations, and professional development.
● Ensure athletic programming promotes sportsmanship, teamwork, resilience, and student well-being.
● Supervise athletics directors in scheduling, league participation, transportation coordination, and communication with families.
● Ensure compliance with league rules, school policies, and student eligibility standards.
● Partner with the School’s leadership and risk management functions to ensure appropriate supervision, safety protocols, and emergency preparedness at all athletic events.
● Manage the athletics budget in coordination with the Chief Financial Officer.
● Serve as the primary point of contact for athletic program concerns.
Operations & Administration
● Develop and manage the Middle Division budget in collaboration with the CFO.
● Oversee division scheduling, calendar planning, and daily operations (room usage, furniture, facilities requests, etc.).
● Ensure appropriate supervision ratios, safety planning, and documentation for student activities and athletics.
● Ensure adherence to school policies and procedures.
● Participate on assigned committees (DEIB, Faculty Coordinators, Experiential Pathways Initiative, etc.), prepare divisional reports and attend Board meetings as requested. Serve on Board Committees as assigned.
● Keep the Head of School informed of divisional successes, challenges, and emerging trends.
Qualifications:
● Master’s degree in Educational Leadership or related field strongly preferred.
● Minimum of five years of teaching experience.
● Prior leadership experience in a middle school or upper elementary setting preferred.
● Deep understanding of adolescent development (ages 10–14).
● Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills.
● Strong instructional leadership and faculty development experience.
● Demonstrated ability to manage complex student and parent situations with professionalism and empathy.
● Organizational excellence and ability to manage multiple priorities.
● Commitment to cultivating an inclusive and diverse school community.
● Clear support for and alignment with the mission of St. Richard’s Episcopal School.