Curriculum Coordinator
Montego Bay International School (Jamaica)

I write to let you know that, after a search process that lasted several months, the Montego Bay International School has selected Tiffany Hawk as the founding curriculum coordinator of the school, where she will work alongside Dr. Ginger Jewell, the recently hired founding principal.

Tiffany comes to this role from a background steeped in curriculum development and teacher training, with a specific focus on the IB curriculum. She currently serves as the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme Coordinator for a large campus in Colorado, USA. In this role, she provides continual professional learning for staff and students on qualitative monitoring of Service as Action, growth within the IB Learner Profile, and the development of international minded and positive contributing members of our community. She develops and delivers learning experiences supporting over 1500 students and 145 staff throughout the programme. As a member of the IB Educator’s Network, Tiffany provides official IB workshops and conducts official school evaluation visits. These workshops also include guidance for Heads of School and Coordinators in supporting staff, students, and parents in the IB schools. 

Tiffany raised her own two children in international schools in Germany and Panama, where they thrived in the International Baccalaureate Programme.  

Bridget McNamer

Senior Associate

Search Associates

The new

Montego Bay International School

to be launched in July of 2018

seeks a  

 Curriculum Coordinator

SCHOOL OVERVIEW

The Montego Bay International School endeavors to provide each student the opportunity to achieve his or her academic and personal best within an international educational environment based on the American Curriculum and implemented according to international best practice standards. The school will encourage leadership, character, and community service while embracing cultural diversity.

The Montego Bay International School’s goal is to open in September 2018 as a private, coeducational 7th to 12^th grade, college preparatory day school. The second phase of the school will open after 2018 with grades K to 6. The school’s mission will be to provide an international education to host country residents, as well as dependents of the multi-national businesses located in Montego Bay and its surrounding areas. Plans to acquire accreditation will be an important focus in the initial years of the school’s operation.   It is the organization’s intention to apply for and implement The International Baccalaureate Diploma Program (IBDP) for grades 11 and 12 within the first 3 years of opening the school.

CURRICULUM

 The Montego Bay International School will offer a college preparatory program in an English-speaking, co-educational environment. Students will graduate with an American High School Diploma, and/or the IBDP diploma. The goal of the school is to provide each student with a high quality academic program within a caring environment, which fosters personal and intellectual growth in additional to opportunities for leadership and community service. Co-curricular activities involving fine and performing arts, sports and clubs for special interests will be available to provide for social development of the students and to establish a community focus. 

The school will offer students a safe and supportive community for creative exploration, out-of-the-box thinking and problem solving. Individualism and self-discovery, the respect of all cultures and the betterment of the school and local communityare all key factors in the school’s ethos.

Reports to:  Head of School and Department Principals

The Position: The Curriculum Coordinator will work with the Head of School, principals and teachers to develop, implement and effectively deliver curriculum.  Because this is a new position in a new school, the role will require a self -motivator who has a strong sense of what the position could be and the attributes to make it happen. We anticipate the role will be responsible for all aspects of the curriculum, including organizing professional development, training teachers as needed, coaching, and overseeing successful implementation of the curriculum in the classroom.  The role will also oversee the implementation of effective assessment practices. 
 
Specific Responsibilities of Curriculum Coordinator include the following:

• Oversee all aspects of the curriculum process, including development, mapping (using Rubicon Atlas) implementation and evaluation
• Work with principals and faculty to integrate technology and other subjects into the curriculum
• Monitor the inventorying, analysis, and ordering of instructional resources, aligned with content areas standards and following best practice in international school
• Review and develop consensus among the staff on the best design model for unit of study plans
• Explore and develop assessment policies and practices that emphasize diverse and multiple forms of assessment to address learning styles and multiple intelligences
• Assist faculty in designing standards-based assessments that accurately measure if students are at, above or below grade level in achievement
• Administer the school-wide standardized testing program including interpreting results and establishing information procedures for parents, faculty and board
• Work with administration to provide professional development opportunities such as the Fountas-Pinnell Reading Workshop
• Communicate with stakeholders about curriculum, instruction, assessment, and instructional resources
• Develop an age-appropriate scope and sequence in content areas such as a Lexile-based reading program in Grades 6-12
• Chair curriculum committee for AdvancED accreditation
• Assist program areas like IB to procure the latest and most recommended instructional resources
• Assist in preparation of the annual operating budget with specific reference to curriculum, instruction and assessment
• Review and maintain an updated faculty curriculum reference library
• Assist in developing classroom teaching strategies that allow for the effective use of educational technology
• Encourage collaborative practices
• Provide workshops and in-service training for faculty and staff as needed
• Provide coaching and co-teaching as needed to assist with curricular implementation
• Create and manage the annual instructional budget for curriculum and professional development
• Propose and implement new programs and services as needed
• Oversee standardized testing program
• Assist with parent education where appropriate 

Desired Qualifications:

• Master’s Degree in curriculum and instruction, or related field (administrative certification preferred)
• Minimum 2 years' experience in leadership position, preferably in an international school
• Experience with/ knowledge of IB program
• Background in professional development and training
• Commitment to a standards-based curriculum model
• Creativity and problem-solving skills
• Strong background in technology
• Vision of a learning community
• Student-centered philosophy

Personal Characteristics: 

• Dynamic instructional leader
• Strong leader of learning and quality teaching
• Passion for educational excellence
• Organizational ability
• Strong communication skills
• Collaborative and relationship-based leadership style 

COMPENSATION PACKAGE

The salary will be competitive and commensurate with the qualifications and experience of the successful candidate. Benefits will include housing, automotive, health insurance, relocation allowance, professional development, and others typical for this type of position.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR APPLICATION

The Montego Bay International School has appointed Search Associates as consultant for this search, with Bridget McNamer as the lead consultant.

The deadline for applications is September 30, 2017.  Candidates are asked to submit an application as early as possible, as the search committee reserves the right to close the search at any time if the right candidate is found.  The review of files will begin as soon as applications are received.

Candidates should send the information listed below as a single pdf file attached to an email:

• A letter of application describing your interest in the Curriculum Coordinator position at the Montego Bay International School, listing your strengths as a candidate and how your qualifications and experience align with the profile of the desired candidate
• A current resumé not to exceed two pages
• A one-page list of at least 4 referees with current phone numbers and email addresses
• A maximum of three letters of reference (scanned at low resolution) that may already be in your possession.

Total document size should be kept to less than four (4) MB if possible.

This document should be emailed to:  bmcnamer@searchassociates.com

THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST IN THIS OPPORTUNITY!