Director of Teaching and Learning

(Full-time Position for 2024-2025)

Overview of School :

Sonoma Academy is an independent high school located in Santa Rosa, CA on a 34-acre campus, surrounded by 1,000 acres of protected open space, at the base of Taylor Mountain. Founded in 2001, it provides an engaging, challenging, and innovative college preparatory education and a supportive community for motivated learners from Sonoma, Napa, Marin, Lake, and Mendocino counties. Of our 330 students, over 30% self-identify as students of color, and our students come from 80+ middle schools, ensuring a broad mixture of students from all over the greater North Bay Area.

Our Mission: Sonoma Academy calls its students to be creative, ethical, and committed to learning. The school nurtures inspiring teachers and engages with the surrounding community, and its students communicate across cultures as they prepare to become leaders in a dynamic world.

Sonoma Academy’s Commitment to Diversity: We believe that learning occurs best in a connected community. Diversity, equity, and inclusivity are essential to an education in which all members of our community thrive. We are committed to cultivating a diverse community that is conscious and welcoming of difference, dedicated to investigating and advancing equity, and engages with our local and global community. If you would like to join us in our work, we would welcome your application. As we are deeply committed to having a staffulty (staff and faculty) and student body which reflects the rich diversity within the North Bay, we strongly encourage candidates from BIPOC and/or educators from communities that are historically underrepresented to apply.

For more information on programs and philosophy, please visit our website: www.sonomaacademy.org .

Key Responsibilities:

Reporting to the Assistant Head of School, the Director of Teaching and Learning plays a pivotal role in fostering dynamic and inspiring teaching at Sonoma Academy. The Director of Teaching and Learning will:

• C ultivate a growth-focused culture by nurturing educators through observations, mentoring, and insightful evaluation in partnership with the academic leadership team by:

  • Leading the design and implementation of school-wide faculty professional development throughout the year in collaboration with the academic leadership team. In particular, the upcoming school year’s programming will focus on the adoption of a new schedule and the development of new approaches, curriculum, and programming.

  • Counseling faculty individually, connecting areas of strength, growth and passion with professional development opportunities.

  • Partnering with the Assistant Head to initiate and oversee the school’s fellowship program for early career teachers in the University of Pennsylvania Independent School Teaching Residency program.

• Serve as a member of the student support team and oversee academic learning support.

• Support the search, hiring, and retention processes for faculty.

• As part of their teacher leadership, the successful candidate will teach in the academic program and may have responsibilities that include leading Intersession, Advisory, and/or Clubs as well as chaperoning trips, retreats, and student events.

Required Skills and Experiences:

• Advanced degree (MA, PhD, or equivalent) in a relevant field

• Clear understanding of best practices in student-centered teaching

• Deep experience as a classroom teacher

• Demonstrated success as a leader exercising principled judgment in managerial and supervisory roles and an ability to collaborate

• Creativity and knowledge to develop engaging and effective professional development

• Works collaboratively as a member of a connected community to deliver a range of programs, including Intersession, Advisory, Exploratory, DEI, retreats and more.

• Committed to working in a community of diverse students and learners; actively supports adolescent growth and well-being

• Practices cultural competency in all aspects of school life

• Flexibility, resilience, good humor

• Capable of teaching both remotely and in person

Compensation:

• The salary range for this position is $120,000–$150,000 (based on experience) and is competitive with independent schools throughout the Bay Area.

Benefits of working at SA:

• Comprehensive benefits package, including 100% paid health, dental, and vision insurance for employees with several plan options to meet individuals’ specific needs

• Generous retirement plan contribution of 7% of base salary. Please note that this does not require an employee’s matching contribution.

• Commitment to professional development, including generously-funded training opportunities and a dedicated “exploratory fund” of $450 annually for learning opportunities unrelated to work.

• Healthy and nutritious lunch service offered at no cost to employees during the school year (when on campus and our kitchen operational)

• A professional work environment defined by teamwork, collegiality, trust, agility, and altruism.

Work Environment:

• This position operates in a professional office environment at a private, independent high school.

• This is a full-time position with occasional evening and weekend work.

To Apply

• Interested candidates should complete the application and submit the materials below by February 15, 2024:

  • a cover letter expressing particular interest in this position at Sonoma Academy;

  • a current resume;

  • a statement of Educational Philosophy; and

  • a list of three professional references with name, relationship, phone number, and email address (references will not be contacted without the applicant’s permission).

Sonoma Academy is an equal opportunity employer. Sonoma Academy does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, color, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.