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Superintendent
Escuela Campo Alegre, Caracas (Venezuela)

 

Jeff Richardson, a Canadian citizen, has been hired as the next Superintendent of Escuela Campo Alegre in Caracas, Venezuela, starting in July 2023.  Jeff is currently in his fourth year as Director General of Fundacion Liceo Ingles in Pereira, Colombia.  Jeff has been in Latin America since 2005 and has previously served in leadership roles as the Elementary Principal at the American School of Guatemala, and the Preschool & Elementary Principal at The Columbus School in Medellin.  Prior to becoming an administrator, Jeff was a mathematics teacher and department chair at The Columbus School in Medellin.  Before working overseas, Jeff was a secondary mathematics teacher in Winnipeg, Canada.   

Jeff holds a Certificate of Advanced Educational Leadership from Harvard Graduate School of Education as well as a New and Aspiring Heads certificate from the Academy of International School Heads AND A Certificate of International School Leadership from the PTC in addition to an MS from SUNY at Buffalo and a B.Ed. from the University of Manitoba.

Jeff will be accompanied by his wife, their two children, and three dogs.

 

 

 

Escuela Campo Alegre

Caracas, Venezuela

seeks a

Superintendent

Beginning July 1^st, 2023

ECA MISSION STATEMENT:

ECA is an inclusive learning community that encourages students to be compassionate, life-long learners, responsible global citizens, and champions of their individual success.                                   

ECA VISION STATEMENT:

ECA will empower students to strive for excellence through academic, personal, and social growth within a safe, trusting, and enduring environment in order to achieve their full potential. 

ECA is a private, non-profit international Nursery to Grade 12 school. Until Grade 10, the school’s well-articulated curriculum taught in English is based on the US Common Core standards. Students in grades 11 and 12 have the opportunity to fully participate in the IB Diploma Program or complete the ECA High School Diploma. ECA has a well-established university and career guidance program.            

Founded in 1937 by parents who wanted an American-style English language school for their children, the school initially opened with twelve students in the area of Caracas known as Campo Alegre. The school premises were then moved, in 1948, to the present location in Las Mercedes. a safe residential neighborhood and within easy access to shopping centres and restaurants. Today, ECA is one of several schools located in Caracas that serve expatriate and local business/international families.                                                                     

The school is governed by a self-selecting and perpetuating Board of Directors, which in accordance with the By-laws, operates with a Board of five (5) to nine (9) members, including the Superintendent and a representative from the US embassy in Caracas. In addition, the ECA Director of Support Services attends all Board meetings as a non-voting member. The Board of Directors concentrates on broad direction and strategic planning of the school and delegates the day-to-day operation of the school to the Superintendent.                                      

The school has two divisions: Elementary and Secondary (Middle and High School) each with a divisional principal. Other members of the leadership team include a Director of Support Services, Advancement Leader, Director of Facilities, a Library Director and a Head of Technology.               

Accreditation: The school is a member of the American International Schools in the Americas (AMISA), the Association for the Advancement for International Education (AAIE), the Venezuelan Association of North American Schools (VANAS), the Council of International Schools (CIS), the Middle States Association (MSA), the WIDA consortium and other professional organizations.

ECA is also accredited by and authorized by the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) to operate the IB Diploma program in grades 11 and 12.

ECA is recognized by the Venezuelan Ministry of Education as a school that primarily serves the children of international companies and diplomatic agencies. The school is recognized as a tax-exempt organization in Venezuela and in the United States of America.                 

 

 

TEACHING AND LEARNING AT ECA:

- Instructional strategies and teaching methodologies are centered around current best educational research-based practice.                                   

- Inquiry-based learning activities are designed to be engaging, enjoyable, creative, authentic, innovative, collaborative, data-driven, and effectively utilize technology.

- Focuses on meeting individual student learning needs.

- Teachers professionally reflect on their own teaching practice in order to improve student learning, performance, and growth.

- Involves a regular review of curriculum, teaching instruction, assessment, and learning. 

The curriculum at ECA is a standards-based, American-style program drawing on best practices from international schools culminating in the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program (IBD) in grades 11 and 12. The main language of classroom instruction is English. Spanish is also taught to all students. The ECA curriculum from nursery through to twelfth grade is based upon best practices resulting from recent educational research.             

Students: The current student enrollment of 220 is distributed (85% Venezuelan and 15% international students) as follows:

Early Childhood: 51 students

Grades 1 to 6: 74 students

Grades 6 to 8: 47 students

Grades  9 to 12: 48 students

ECA is committed to developing students who will make positive life-long contributions as global citizens. Diversity is celebrated during school-wide events, such as the International Food Fair, Venezuela Day, and Arts Nights.

Faculty & Staff: There are 40 faculty (20 expatriates, from 10 nationalities, and 20 local hire faculty) and a supporting office, maintenance and security staff of 60. In general ECA faculty members come to ECA with an average of 6 years of teaching experience and remain at the school, on average, 3 to 4 years. ECA faculty enjoy working cooperatively as members of supportive teaching teams and benefit from the school’s commitment to professional development.

 Parent Association (PA): The PA supports and promotes positive active and cooperative involvement of parents, teachers, school officials, and students in seeking the highest quality education and other related school activities for the students.                                             

 

Facilities:

ECA is a campus built for 1000 students. The school facility and IT infrastructure are in excellent condition and the campus is an attractive, bright, airy learning and community environment comprising of the following facilities:

•  Fully-equipped modern library and media center
• Technology centers for each division
• Separate art, music and drama centers for each division
• 630-seat professional theater
• Five gymnasiums; one with climbing wall and weight room
• Two tennis courts and viewing space
• Science laboratories for every division
• Specially designed early childhood center
• Internet-connected computers in every classroom
• Wireless connections throughout the school
• Four wireless Mobile Labs
• Cafeteria for elementary through high school
• Swimming pool with large viewing gallery
• Basketball courts and a soccer field

 

The Superintendent is responsible to the Board of Directors for the effective leadership of the school including the management, supervision and coordination of the various divisions. The Superintendent provides educational leadership to develop and maintain the best possible educational program and services.

 

 

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Implement all school policies as described in the Board Policy Manual and as amended by subsequent Board actions.

• Act as chief executive officer of the school.
• Advise appropriate administrator or teaching staff of decisions to be implemented.
• Attends and participates in all meetings of the Board and its committees, except when own employment or salary is under consideration.
• Remain cognizant of the Society's By-Laws, Board Policy Manual, all school internal policies, schedules, Venezuelan Commercial Code, Labor law, etc.
• Make recommendations to the Board of Directors concerning staff needs, proposed salary and benefits, and other administrative policies.

2. Provide Educational Leadership

• Implement teaching and instructional curriculum.
• Evaluation and assessment of the educational program, activities and needs of the school.
• Presentation of future plans for improvement of academic programs.
• Leadership of the Administration and Faculty, with the purpose of giving clear direction to educational programs.
• Plan and implement a service staff training program.
• Keep informed of modern educational thought and practices by advanced study, by visiting school systems elsewhere, by attending educational conferences, and by other appropriate means, and keep the Board of Directors informed of trends in education.

3. Direct all school operations in consultation with the Director of Support Services.

• Recommend facilities additions and capital acquisitions and oversee the master plan.
• Prepare and present to the Board Finance Committee the annual budget, its revisions and monthly financial statements and operate the school within approved budget guidelines.
• Monitor the overall direction of the day-to-day business operations including building, purchasing, enrollment, payroll, and other business activities pertaining to the total school operations.
• Supervise all matters relating to recruitment, appointment, assignment and evaluation of teaching staff and administrative personnel.
• Act as School's representative in Community affairs to promote a harmonious relationship between the School and its constituencies

Salary and benefits: The salary and benefits are competitive and will be dependent upon the qualifications and experience of the successful candidate.

Submission of Applications: Candidates should send the information listed below as a single pdf file attached to an email to Paul Poore (ppoore@searchassociates.com) by April 8, 2022:

• A letter of application, explaining your strengths as a candidate and why you are interested in the Superintendent position at Escuela Campo Alegre
• A statement describing your leadership and educational philosophy, not to exceed two pages.
• A current résumé not to exceed two pages.
• Contacts (e-mail addresses and phone numbers) for at least three past and current supervisors.  (We do not accept character references or non-confidential letters of reference from colleagues, friends, students, or parents).

While the deadline for submitting applications is April 8, 2022, we reserve the right to close the search earlier than the stated application deadline if a suitable and qualified candidate is found early in the process. Interested applicants should submit all required materials as early as possible.

Website and Videos:

Additional information about the school can be found on the school’s website at: www.ecak12.com

Videos:  

Admissions Presentation Video

ECA April to September 2021

Please note that we will not forward-on candidates for further consideration by the hiring school if a candidate is under contract or otherwise encumbered in such a way that would preclude them from freely entering into a new employment contract, if offered, and is available for the start date stipulated by the hiring school. Search Associates will contact the current employer/supervisor to request the completion of a Search Associates Confidential Leadership Reference Form for all Applicants who emerge in the search as a Finalist.