Interim Head of School

Monteverde Friends School seeks an interim Head of School to begin in January
2015.

Surrounded by nature, supported by love, we work and grow in community that
our lives may
contribute to a more just, peace‐filled and hopeful world

Under the care of the Monteverde Friends Meeting, Monteverde Friends School
is a pre‐K through 12th grade Quaker school in the cloud forest of Costa
Rica. The school primarily serves local communities by educating children of
families who value a Quaker education. Our small rural bilingual school
welcomes diversity. We educate the whole person, nurturing each student’s
spiritual, intellectual, physical and creative potential. We endeavor to
transform the lives of young people, that they may seek truth with curiosity
and awe, and care for and honor all people and the earth.

We are bilingual Spanish‐English, with English predominant. Students from
our school follow many life paths, and we seek to prepare each one as best we
can for what follows, be that university‐level study in Costa Rica or
abroad, or moving into internships and the work world. The school has
approximately 112 students, mostly Costa Rican, in multi‐grade classrooms,
and about 25 full‐ and part‐time staff.

We seek an educational administrator who can promote a supportive learning
atmosphere; foster a sense of community; inspire and mentor teachers; and
maintain good relationships among administration, staff, parents, and the
community.

Job requirements include:
 relevant school leadership experience
 a minimum of five years professional teaching experience
 budgetary management skills and experience
 ability to communicate in Spanish and English
 a willingness to make a 6 month (January through June 2015) commitment

We strongly prefer someone who is:
 skillful at oral and written communication
 familiar with Quaker values and processes
 experienced in fund‐raising

Salary range $1350 to $1500 (monthly rate at current exchange rate): in
salary and standard bonuses.

Costa Rica has national healthcare.  The school can facilitate Housing and
one child of each school employee is eligible for tuition waiver if accepted
to the school. Monteverde Friends School salaries are considered above
average in the local economy. The experience is rich and rewarding.  Initial
application documents are due by November 15th, 2014. To find out more about
our school, please visit www.mfschool.org. Please direct any questions or
other correspondence about this position to employment.mfs@gmail.com
Monteverde Friends School
Monteverde, Puntarenas, Costa Rica

Head of School Job Summary

I.  Leadership responsibilities

The Head of School leads the school in the realization of the school’s
vision, mission, and philosophy.

A. Sets the tone to insure a positive learning experience in and out of the
classroom.
B. Fosters a sense of community at the school, working as a team with staff,
School Committee and others involved in the school.
C. Participates in program development and implementation in order to
maintain the long term vision of the school.
D. Encourages parent and community participation at the school
E. With the School Committee, implements the strategic fundraising plan.
Seeks and builds relationships with donors.
F. Promotes Quaker values at all levels of school interaction.

II. Administrative Responsibilities

The Head of School is the chief administrator of the school, working under
the direction of the School Committee. He/she provides support for students,
staff and teachers and oversees school finances and programs. The Head of
School insures the legal and ethical integrity of the school.

A. Presents the budget to the school committee for approval.
B. Represents school at monthly Meeting for Business.
C. Implements school policies as determined by the School Committee.
D. Insures compliance with Costa Rican educational requirements.
E. Is responsible for the hiring, evaluation and dismissal of staff and
faculty.

III. Communication and Public Relations

The Head of School communicates effectively with all facets of the school
community, including Friends Meeting, teachers, students, parents and the
Monteverde community as a whole.

A. Represents the school to the local and broader communities
B. Interacts effectively with parents and facilitates communication between
parents and teachers.
C. Maintains a close working relationship with the School Committee and
Meeting.
D. Skillfully communicates through reports, newsletters, and other written
documents
 

Monteverde Friends School
Apdo. 5655 Monteverde
Puntarenas, Costa Rica, Central America
Phone/Fax: 011‐506‐2645‐5302
E‐mail: employment.mfs@gmail.com

HEAD OF SCHOOL APPLICATION

Full Name:

Birth Date:

Citizenship:

Cedula or Passport no:

Address:

Telephone:
Fax:
E‐mail Address:

Which languages do you speak? How fluently do you read, write, speak, and/or
understand each one?

Use the scale below, and describe in more detail if necessary.
English/Spanish as a Second Language
0: nothing (0.5: knows some words)
1: can say a few phrases
2: can engage in everyday conversation slowly (2.5: speaks well with accent,
reads almost all)
3: fluent with some minor mistakes and accent
4: little accent, most subjects, handles complexities of grammar
5: fluent

We would appreciate having your reflections on the following topics. To help
us evaluate your
language proficiency, please answer at least two of the following questions
in Spanish, and at least two in English.

1. Motivation
Why do you want to work in Monteverde, Costa Rica, at the Monteverde Friends
School?

2. Qualifications
Please review the job description for interim Head of School. What
experiences, skills, and personal qualities do you have that would make you a
strong candidate for the head of school position at our school? Topics to
address might include experience relevant to directing a bilingual pre‐K
through 12th grade school; serving the needs of a student population with
diverse backgrounds, abilities, and future goals; finances and fundraising;
hiring, supporting and supervising a multinational staff; and community
building among diverse constituents.

3. Support
In which area or areas of the Head of School’s responsibilities do you
expect to need the most support?

4. Vision
About which educational/professional issues are you passionate?
Obviously, many specifics depend on getting to know the school community and
its needs. However, which aspects of the Monteverde Friends School mission,
vision, and philosophy are particularly appealing to you? As director, how
might you enact these at our school?

5. Quaker education
This is a Quaker school under the care of Monteverde Friends Meeting. What
makes you a strong choice to lead a Quaker school?

6. Personal Interests
How do you spend your non‐working time? What activities do you anticipate
enjoying here?

7. Health and Wellness
Do you have any current or chronic health challenges?
Monteverde has a medical clinic which provides basic medical services, but
the nearest fully equipped hospital is 2 ½ hours away.

With this completed application, please submit:
•        Cover letter
•        Your curriculum vitae
•        One‐page personal Statement of Educational Philosophy
•        Copies of relevant professional degrees, licensures and certificates

Please e‐mail a completed application and supporting documents as one .pdf
file to
employment.mfs@gmail.com no later than November 15th, 2014. Further along in
the process you will be asked to provide names and contact information for at
least three references. One reference should be from a supervisor, one from a
peer co‐worker, and one from someone whom you have supervised.

Please do not send materials by Federal Express or courier because picking
them up requires a special trip to San José, which is a four hours trip from
here. Thank you for your interest and your time. We look forward to reviewing
your application.