the learner at the center of the education experience. The KLS team is constantly improving the ... with Sal Khan's One
Khan Lab School Head of School Khan Academy and Khan Lab School Khan Academy is a non-profit with the mission of providing a free, world-class education for anyone, anywhere. As articulated in Sal Khan’s The One World Schoolhouse, a major part of its long-term vision is to create a world in which classrooms are ‘supercharged’ and ‘humanized’ by leveraging the free content and tools that Khan Academy is creating. KLS was founded by Khan Academy in 2014 to make this “supercharged classroom” vision tangible and to continually push the envelope of what is possible. The mission of the school is to develop fully empowered future citizens by pioneering models that put the learner at the center of the education experience. The KLS team is constantly improving the educational experience for our learners. We are also committed to impacting the broader world by sharing what we learn and helping Khan Academy create solutions that can eventually help supercharge classrooms around the world. Laboratory schools are dedicated to research-based instruction and furthering innovation in education. Many of these schools are connected to universities, where students are able to benefit from university resources and best practices. Khan Lab School takes this concept one step further: we are connected to Khan Academy, and our students benefit from the international reach and expertise of one of the most wellknown educational non-profits in the world. KLS currently serves 140 students ages 5-15+ in Mountain View, California. In keeping with Sal Khan’s One World Schoolhouse philosophy, we provide an extended-year, extended-day, mixed-age program with a collaborative, project-based learning approach. Learning at KLS is mastery-based, and there is no traditional homework, grade levels, or grades. Our academic experience is coordinated by a team of Advisors, Content Specialists, and Associate Teachers who guide students through gradually increasing levels of independence. Our teaching philosophy encourages meaningful inquiry and interdisciplinary work, and we utilize blended learning to meet the needs of each student. To learn more, please visit khanlabschool.com.
Head of School This individual will be responsible for the day-to-day workings of the school including: leading school operations, finances, academic policies, human resources, and implementation of the strategic plan; partnering with Sal Khan and Khan Academy; implementing the vision described in The One World Schoolhouse; managing and supporting the administration and teachers; building strong, productive relationships with students and families; ensuring consistent execution of the instructional program; and communicating regularly with the Board and others around the school’s academic progress, finances, and operations. The ideal candidate will be an experienced school leader and expert people manager with an interest in leading an educational program based on innovative, student-centered learning. Ideally, s/he will be familiar with leveraging Khan Academy tools to drive personalization in classrooms and knows how to inspire and support teachers in pushing the bounds of student learning while ensuring that students are thriving academically and social-emotionally. This individual must have a strong belief and trust in teachers as well as deep respect for children.
Responsibilities The Head of School’s Key Responsibilities Include: •
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Inspiring students, faculty, families, and other partners to be their best selves every day, always keeping the community’s moral compass pointing in the right direction, and ensuring an unyielding focus at all times on what is best for KLS students and their futures. Managing school leaders and other instructional staff, acting not only as a supervisor but also as a coach and consensus builder, remaining deeply committed to the value of developing and bringing out the strengths of all people while also holding them accountable for their goals and student success. Partnering closely with Chairman and Founder of KLS and Khan Academy, Sal Khan both on school pedagogy and sharing learnings from the school. Beyond serving KLS students, the goals of Khan Lab School include implementing and experimenting with educational approaches aligned with The One World Schoolhouse. Partnering with the Board of Directors, funders, and other partners to secure and efficiently allocate the resources and supports necessary to maintain the health of the school organization, remaining solutions-oriented and grounded in reality while pushing the boundaries of what is possible to realize the highest levels of success for all students and their families at a reasonable cost. Partnering with Khan Academy teams to support Khan Academy’s broader mission. In this regard, the Head of School will work closely with Khan Academy leadership to ensure that there is a strong and positive symbiosis between the two organizations.
Qualifications In order to fulfill these responsibilities, the ideal Head of School candidate will be: •
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Interested in and committed to a personalized, project-based K-12 instructional model focused on deep learning and rigorous measurement, excited by its possibilities and believing in its promise for helping students reach their potential. Passionate about learning and teaching. Our tag line is: Everyone’s a teacher, Everyone’s a student. Inspiring in management style, with experience leading leaders; one who sees the possibility in all adults and is willing to devote time to coach and develop them while holding them accountable to measurable results. Culturally competent and a self-reflective leader who is committed to building a learning environment composed of a diverse student population and able to relate well with students, staff and parents from different ethnic, religious, and class backgrounds. Skilled in strategic planning, project management, and organization; able to balance a focus on big picture priorities while not losing sight of the details. Dynamic and versatile, able to engage a variety of individuals and speak in a clear, compelling, and authentic manner about the school’s goals and priorities without confusing or alienating community stakeholders. Capable of making difficult decisions and trade-offs to push student progress while at the same time maintaining a reasonable budget that makes this model replicable.
To Apply Please submit a resume, thoughtful cover letter, and names/contact information for up to three references (will not be contacted without notice) addressed to the Khan Lab School Head of School Hiring Committee at goo.gl/dKdG4M. For additional questions about this position or to speak with someone about your interest, please contact Christina Greenberg at
[email protected] or at 510.575.9635. Khan Lab School is an equal opportunity employer and an organization that values diversity. Recruiting staff to create an inclusive organization is a priority, and we encourage applicants from all cultures, races, colors, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability status, sexual orientations, gender identities, military or veteran status or other statuses protected by law. All candidates are evaluated solely on their qualifications to perform the work required.
