Athens Academy - Wickenden Associates

 E D U C A T I O N A L L E A D E R S H I P O P P O R T U N I T Y: Founded in 1967, Athens Academy is an independent, coeducational, college preparatory day school serving more than 950 students, age 3 to grade 12. Blending a traditional liberal arts curriculum with innovative approaches to teaching and learning, the school offers a challenging academic program designed to meet the needs of a diverse student body. HEAD OF SCHOOL
Athens
Academy
Athens, Georgia
FOR A POSITION TO BEGIN IN JULY OF 2013, ATHENS ACADEMY IS SEEKING A WARM, WISE, AND EXPERIENCED EDUCATIONAL LEADER WHO WILL ENTHUSIASTICALLY EMBRACE ALL ELEMENTS OF THE SCHOOL’S MISSION. THE ACADEMY REQUIRES AN INCLUSIVE LEADER WHO IS COMMITTED TO EXCELLENCE, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND CAREFUL PLANNING IN PURSUIT OF CONTINUOUS PROGRESS. On the web: www.athensacademy.org The hallmark of Athens Academy is its quest for a high‐quality educational and personal experience for each student, overseen by a dedicated and experienced faculty. Providing a safe and caring environment, the Academy values a spirit of cooperation and individual achievement. Excellence with Honor (the school’s motto) are the watchwords of the school. Located on a spectacular 154‐acre campus, the Academy offers first‐rate facilities in support of its four programmatic pillars of Academics, Fine Arts, Athletics, and Service. Situated 65 miles northeast of Atlanta, the appealing community of Athens is home to the 35,000‐student University of Georgia, with which the Academy shares close ties. Masterfully led for the past 30 years by Headmaster J. Robert Chambers, Jr., Athens Academy is superbly positioned for continued success under the guidance of a new leader who shares the school’s inspiring vision and well‐articulated values. APPLICATION DEADLINE: OCTOBER 8, 2012
Mission and Philosophy
Athens Academy
at a Glance
Athens Academy seeks excellence with honor in the educational and personal experience of each student. Founded: 1967 To realize this mission, Athens Academy operates under the following guiding principles: Location: 154‐acre campus in Athens, GA K3‐12 Enrollment: Preschool (K3‐Pre1st) Lower (1‐4): Middle (5‐8): Upper (9‐12): 955 142 243 282 288 % of student body belonging to racial/ethnic minorities: 17% Full‐time faculty: 107, 56% with advanced degrees Average faculty tenure: 10 years Endowment: $5 million Operating budget: $14.3 million Indebtedness: $4.5 million Total funds raised last year: Cash: $2.1 million New pledges: $464,000 Annual giving funds raised last year: $396,000 Parent participation in annual giving: 65% 2012‐13 Tuition: K3‐K4: Kindergarten: Grades 1‐4: Grades 5‐6: Grades 7‐10: Grades 11‐12: $7,525 $11,280 $13,775 $14,900 $15,250 $15,600 Financial aid awarded: $1.1 million % of students receiving aid: 19% Accreditation: Southern Association of Independent Schools/Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Member: National Association of Independent Schools, Georgia Independent School Association, Atlanta Association of Independent Schools, National Honor Society, Cum Laude Society THE SCHOOL AND ACADEMIC PROGRAMS
Athens Academy: Nurtures creativity, critical thinking, and curiosity to prepare students for college and lifelong learning. Recognizes individual differences in learning styles and academic needs within the stated purpose of the school. Is sensitive to the students’ emotional and physical wellness in and out of the classroom. THE SCHOOL AND THE INDIVIDUAL
Athens Academy: Is guided by the Judeo‐Christian ethic and fosters respect for the heritage and beliefs of others. Believes that personal integrity is essential to any achievement. Expects students to assume increasing responsibility for their own educational development. Encourages individuals to recognize the effects of choices and their consequences in the larger community. Expects individuals to respect the dignity, property, and person of others. THE SCHOOL AND THE COMMUNITY
Athens Academy: Uses the founding principles of the United States of America to prepare students to become responsible citizens in our democratic society and to become responsible global citizens. Engages with the community by sharing school resources and facilities and by participating in community, cultural, and service opportunities. 2 Defining Strengths and Unique Attributes of Athens Academy
To an extent rarely seen in independent schools, the Athens Academy community is united around a clear set of shared principles that guide both the daily life of the Academy and its continuing drive to improve. The mission statement is short and well known to all: Athens Academy seeks excellence with honor in the educational and personal experience of each student. The emphasis on each student is genuine and reflected in the care with which every student’s progress is monitored and encouraged. The result is a powerful and purposeful school culture that balances the quest for excellence with a determination to offer affirmation and support. Members of all school constituencies credit Headmaster Bob Chambers with setting the tone of warmth, respect, and accountability for all. Students, faculty and staff, trustees, and parents all express deep satisfaction with the Athens Academy experience. Content but not complacent, this is an independent school committed to self‐
reflection and eager to build upon its many successes. THE STUDENT BODY
Athens Academy serves an academically diverse student body drawn from 19 counties in northeast Georgia. Approximately 20 to 30 percent of the school’s parents are employed as faculty or staff at the University of Georgia. As the premier independent school in the region, the Academy plays a significant role in the recruitment of prospective UGA professors concerned about educational opportunities for their own children. Beginning in 2006, the Academy embarked upon a successful five‐year enrollment expansion effort in grades K3 to grade 4 and in grade 6, with the goal of adding an additional section in each grade and reducing class sizes. The expansion was completed last year, bringing enrollment in grades K3‐6 from 385 to 522. The school currently accepts about 40 percent of the students who apply. More than $1 million in financial aid is awarded each year. The 76‐member Class of 2012 is representative of the talents and achievements typical of Athens Academy students. Twenty‐nine members of the class were “lifers,” attending the school for at least 12 years. Average SAT scores for the Class of 2012 were 632 Critical Reading, 636 Math, and 634 Writing. Twenty‐eight students had combined SAT scores of 1300 or more on the math and critical reading sections. Thirteen members of the class were recognized by the National Merit Program, including eight Commended Students, one Semifinalist, and four Finalists. Between 2004 and 2012, Athens Academy produced 34.5 percent of the National Merit Semifinalists in the 10‐county area from which more than 95 percent of the student body is drawn. Thirty‐three members of the Class of 2012 were named AP Scholars at various levels. Over the past 10 years, more than 50 percent of Athens Academy graduates have taken at least one AP course. Students enrolled in an AP course are required to take the corresponding AP exam. Of the 1,585 exams taken by Athens Academy students in the past 10 years, 95 percent of the scores earned were 3 or higher, and 80 percent of the scores were 4 or higher. Academy graduates have attended a broad range of colleges and universities, including the nation’s most selective institutions. Typically, about half of each graduating class matriculates at Georgia colleges and universities, with many of them eligible for the state’s HOPE Scholarship awards. The 76 members of the Class of 2012 received 248 acceptances to 97 colleges and universities. They are currently attending 42 different colleges and universities in 18 states and the District of Columbia: American University Appalachian State University Auburn University Belmont University Brigham Young University Carnegie Mellon University Dartmouth College DePaul University Elon University (2) Emory University (2) 3 Furman University (4) Gainesville State College Georgia College & State University (3) Georgia Institute of Technology Georgia Southern University (3) Georgia State University Georgia State University (2) Hampshire College (2) James Madison University Maryland Institute College of Art Mercer University Mount Holyoke College New York University (2) North Georgia College & State University Saint Louis University Sewanee: The University of the South Southern Methodist University Southern Polytechnic University University of Alabama (3) University of California, Berkeley (2) University of Chicago (2) University of Florida University of Georgia (18) University of Missouri, Columbia University of Rochester University of Southern California University of Virginia University of Wisconsin‐Madison Utah State University Vanderbilt University Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Washington & Lee University Wofford College (2) THE FACULTY
Experienced, collegial, and wholeheartedly dedicated to the mission, the Athens Academy faculty lies at the heart of the school’s success. Students and parents alike deeply appreciate and respect the work of the teachers, who encourage independent thinking, set high expectations, and offer boundless support to students within and outside the classroom. The diverse faculty has been recruited nationally; turnover is very low, with an average of 10 years at Athens Academy and more than 15 years of teaching experience overall. The close relationship with the state’s flagship university enables faculty members to draw upon the vast resources of UGA for continuing education and professional development. The school also offers a range of professional development opportunities, both on and off campus. A summer curriculum development program enables groups of teachers to work on curricular enhancements and the Pursuit of Excellence Program awards stipends to four faculty or staff members each year to promote their personal development through travel, creative endeavors, or study. Over the past five years, funds invested in faculty/staff development have increased by 63 percent to more than $44,000. GOVERNANCE AND ADMINISTRATION
Throughout its 45‐year history, the Academy has been blessed with strong and stable leadership at both the administrative and Board levels. Bob Chambers, the school’s third Headmaster, is celebrating his 30th year of service to Athens Academy this year. John J. Wilkins III served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees from 1967 until his death in 2008, when he was succeeded by current Chairman Gene Howard. The 23‐member Board includes prominent members of the business community, University of Georgia faculty and administrators, and parents. The Board meets just four times a year (one of which is a two‐day retreat), accomplishing most of its work in committees focused on long‐range planning. An Executive Committee reviews and prioritizes proposals from the various committees. By all accounts, the governance situation at the school is very healthy – characterized by mutual respect and appropriate boundaries. Key to the school’s remarkable progress is its culture of deliberate and inclusive planning. For many years, the accreditation and long‐range planning processes have been combined in five‐year cycles, enabling the school to set – and achieve – ambitious goals in an extraordinarily orderly fashion. The new Head of School will arrive in year three of the current planning cycle – ideally timed to enable him or her to develop a full understanding of Athens Academy before the next set of goals will be developed. Committed to focusing its resources on teaching and learning, the Academy operates under a lean administrative structure. The Headmaster’s Executive Council includes the Director of Operations and Finance, the Director of 4 Development, the Director of Admission, the Director of Academic Affairs, and the Associate Headmaster, who oversees the day‐to‐day operations of the four divisions, the Fine Arts Department, and Athletics. Three Division Directors guide the Upper, Middle, and Lower School, which includes the Preschool. PARENT INVOLVEMENT
Parents are enthusiastically involved throughout the school. The Parent Service Organization serves as the hub for myriad activities that provide opportunities for parents to build relationships with one another and to enhance the quality of programs and academic life. All Academy families belong to the PSO, which is governed by an executive committee representing the three divisions of the school, athletics, fine arts, and the media centers. Grade‐level representatives work with parent volunteers to organize classroom parties, social gatherings, ceremonies, buddy families, and service opportunities. The Headmaster and the Director of Development serve as ex‐officio members of the PSO’s executive committee and its full Board. The PSO serves as the “booster club” for the entire school, and there are no other such clubs for individual athletic teams or performing arts groups. LOCATION, CAMPUS, AND FACILITIES
Beautifully landscaped and impeccably maintained, Athens Academy’s rolling 154‐acre campus features distinctive architecture in a safe, village‐like atmosphere that encourages student creativity, curiosity, and exploration. While the oldest buildings date to the 1970s, the school has embarked upon a steady series of construction and renovation projects throughout its history. The Bertelsmann Media Center, constructed in 1994 as an outgrowth of the Academy’s innovative partnership with the Bertelsmann Foundation, is a 35,000‐square‐foot facility dedicated to the integration of technology across the curriculum. The comprehensive library and media center includes a 356‐seat multimedia presentation hall, a Writing Center, a Learning Resource Center, a green room and ancillary spaces for drama, an Advanced Media Production and Robotics Center, the Technology Help Center, a Reading Room, and an Art Gallery. The 46,000‐square‐foot Harrison Center for the Arts and Preschool, opened in 2011, is a stunning facility featuring vaulted ceilings and large picture windows. It includes a 320‐seat performance hall, instructional gallery spaces, three interactive preschool “discovery center” classrooms, learning resource areas, a preschool media center, and stimulating outdoor play areas. This wonderful new facility serves both the school family and the broader community as a venue for arts events. Over the past five years, the Academy has also completed two major expansions of the Lower School, created an outdoor instructional garden, and constructed a sanitary sewer system. Extensive athletic facilities include the Spartan Center, which houses the main gymnasium, athletic offices, and other multipurpose spaces; the Slaughter Field Football and Soccer Stadium; and a lighted baseball facility. The 5 track complex features an 8‐lane track and field event areas. Other athletic facilities include a cross country greenway, numerous practice fields, six tennis courts, a Middle School gym, and two weight rooms. Priorities for future facilities enhancements will likely focus on the Middle School, much of which was constructed in 1972. About Athens
Regularly lauded by national publications as one of the most appealing college towns in the nation, Athens offers an exceptional quality of life in a small‐town setting. Established in the late 1700s when 40,000 acres were set aside to build the University of Georgia, Athens today offers a charming assortment of antebellum buildings and Victorian homes augmented by shops, restaurants, and entertainment venues. Athens also serves as a regional hub for the legal and medical professions. As the largest employer and the center of cultural life in Athens, UGA imbues the community with a youthful and vibrant spirit. Athens is also renowned as an incubator of highly successful musicians, particularly in the indie rock genre. These include R.E.M., The B‐52s, Danger Mouse, and Widespread Panic, which recently performed a benefit concert for Athens Academy that raised nearly $50,000. Nestled below the Blue Ridge Mountains among more than 425 miles of streams and rivers, the region offers both abundant outdoor recreational opportunities and access to the urban amenities of Atlanta, just 65 miles away. Highlights of the School Program
Athens Academy strives to be a family school, serving students with varying academic abilities through careful planning to ensure that all students experience challenging courses and opportunities to broaden their horizons through the arts, athletics, and service activities. The educational program is offered in four divisions:  The Preschool (grades K3, K4, and Pre‐first) blends skill building, motor development, creative activity, and free play through activities‐
based learning. Newly located in the spacious, light‐filled classrooms and discovery centers of the Harrison Center, the Academy’s youngest children daily experience the joys of hands‐on learning.  The Lower School (grades 1‐4) provides a solid foundation in science, math, social studies, and language arts. A science lab with a specialist teacher, a media center with a story‐telling room, and a discovery center support student learning. Spanish, music, art, drama, and physical education are woven into the fabric of the curriculum.  The Middle School (grades 5‐8) emphasizes responsibility, creativity, service to others, personal values, and independent thinking. Foreign language opportunities include Spanish (5‐8) as well as French and Latin (7‐8). Students receive regular instruction in drama, studio art, and physical education. Speaking, performing, publication, and athletic opportunities complement a rigorous academic program. Instrumental and string instruction are available to every student on both the beginner and intermediate level. 6  The Upper School (grades 9‐12) offers a rigorous academic program at three levels: College Preparatory, Honors, and Advanced Placement (13 AP courses are offered). Graduation requirements include 4 years of English, mathematics, and science; 3 years of foreign language and history; 1 year of fine arts, 1 year of physical education; and 4 years of electives. Interim Week in September provides an opportunity for class bonding through retreats and camping trips for freshmen and sophomores; juniors take a tour of Southeast colleges; and seniors may visit college campuses of their choice with their parents or participate in Kairos, a special retreat. The Honor Code governs school life for all students and is student‐led in the Upper School. While collaborating with the faculty, the student‐governed Judiciary Board promotes and educates students and parents in adhering to a personal honor code of conduct. This is an integral part of the school and contributes significantly to an atmosphere of honesty and mutual respect. For a more detailed look at the curriculum, visit the school’s website: www.athensAcademy.org. Here are a few additional program highlights: THE FINE ARTS
As an integral part of the education of each Athens Academy student – one of the four pillars – the fine arts program offers students in every division the opportunity to study music, visual art, and drama. Students in grades 2‐12 may participate in the string orchestra; the band program is open to students in grades 5‐12; and Upper School students can choose the Jazz Band. An annual show of student artwork is held each spring, and works by both students and professionals are displayed throughout the campus. Students are taught to express themselves through a variety of media, with an emphasis on aesthetics, creative thought, art history, and criticism. Drama courses promote self‐expression and effective communication; six productions are staged throughout the year. ATHLETICS
Interscholastic athletics are a valued part of the Athens Academy experience, offering something for everyone. Varsity competition emphasizes winning, but is done in a framework that allows athletes to feel successful by meeting personal performance goals. The sub‐varsity level prepares athletes for varsity play while providing as much participation as possible for each team member. Middle and Upper School teams are fielded in baseball, basketball, cheerleading, cross country, football, soccer, track, and volleyball. Golf, tennis, and swimming/diving teams are offered in the Upper School. In recent years, the Spartans have earned a state championship in boys and girls tennis and girls golf, as well as regional championships in football, volleyball, boys cross country, boys and girls tennis, and boys and girls golf.
7 COUNSELING AND LEARNING RESOURCE SERVICES
As Athens Academy has expanded its enrollment, the range of student abilities within classes has grown as well. Recognizing that there are many different pathways to learning, the school is actively exploring ways to enhance its capacity to differentiate instruction, provide remediation, and educate parents. The Learning Resource Program provides assistance in study skills or academic support in a particular class for students who require help, whether or not they have diagnosed learning differences. The program provides on‐campus individual or small‐group tutoring for students in grades K‐12 before, during, or after school. To gather information about each student’s learning styles, strengths, and preferences, the Academy administers the CAPSOL Learning Styles Inventory to all students in grades 4‐9. Personal and academic counseling is offered at every level, from the teacher as counselor to each student to the faculty‐led advisory system. Students are assigned a faculty advisor as they enter the Upper School. The advisor guides and mentors one advisory group for four years until graduation. Through this approach, the importance of addressing each student’s needs is emphasized. The Guidance Department also offers both personal and academic counseling. The Academy’s college counseling operation, which is highly regarded, begins in the freshman year and shifts into high gear with the Junior College Tour in the fall. It continues with Junior Seminar and Junior College Night in the spring and concludes with the Senior College Night and Senior Seminar in the fall. SERVICE AND LEADERSHIP
As one of the four pillars upon which the Athens Academy program is constructed, service activities form an important part of each student’s experience in all divisions. Many faculty members incorporate components of service within the framework of their classes. Since 2005, Upper School students have completed well over 25,000 hours of service, and many of the school clubs incorporate service activities as essential components. An annual Service Day sends the entire Upper School student body out into the community to perform service on the Friday before Thanksgiving. Students have also helped by raising over $50,000 for various charitable organizations. Students also work to benefit their school through institutions that promote service, including Advisory Representatives, the Judiciary Board, the Mentor Program, and the Student Council. The value of service was brought home to the community in a particularly personal way last year when a sixth‐
grade student required a bone marrow donor match. The school family swung into action, staging a Bone Marrow‐thon that led to the addition of 4,000 new registrants to the national bone marrow registry – setting a new world record for registrants in a 24‐hour period. INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS
Many Athens Academy students and faculty participate in international travel for study and fun. Upper School students have made trips to Costa Rica, Italy, India, Spain, China, Germany, and France. Over the years, the Academy has engaged in many international partnerships to broaden students’ horizons. Not only have students and faculty/staff participated in a variety of cultural exchanges and trips (which are featured on the school’s website), but international studies has also been identified as a major area of emphasis in the current long‐range planning process. 8 MEDIA CENTERS AND TECHNOLOGY
Dating back to 1990, when its pioneering partnership with the Bertelsmann Foundation earned the school national recognition, Athens Academy has strived to be a leader in the integration of technology across the curriculum. Today, the school issues laptop computers to students in grades 7‐12 and supports a campus‐wide wireless network. Students in grades 3‐6 use laptops for composition and research. Numerous SmartBoards are installed around the campus. The school’s robotics teams do well in state competitions, and the foreign language department is testing the Rosetta Stone online language training system. New features have been added to the school website this year to provide enhanced opportunities for communication between school and home. In 2001, Athens Academy became the first high school in the nation to webcast athletic events. Since then, student‐run webcasts have broadcast basketball, football, volleyball, and soccer games along with plays and many other campus‐wide events. Last year, the Media and Technology Club produced 40 live webcasts of school activities reflecting all four of the school’s pillars. The school’s three media centers are busy hubs for reading, information access, learning technologies, and student interactions. Opportunities & Challenges for the Next Head of School
The next Head of Athens Academy will inherit a gem of a school – one that is confident in its mission, exceptionally well managed, highly respected by all of its constituencies, and eager to move forward in its continuing pursuit of excellence with honor. The school does not need or want a change agent, and this position would not be a good fit for a leader who is impatient or overly eager to put his or her own stamp on an institution. It is, however, an exceptional opportunity for a wise and principled leader who is committed to thoughtful innovation executed through consensus building and careful planning. An evolutionary rather than a revolutionary leader will find here a warm, welcoming, and open‐minded community. Accustomed to 30 years of effective leadership from a Headmaster who sends birthday cards to every child and routinely acknowledges individual student achievements with handwritten notes, the school family also will expect the next Head – in his or her own way – to embody Athens Academy’s culture of care for each and every child. Among the specific opportunities and challenges awaiting the next Head of School are the following: CENTERS OF EMPHASIS
To launch the long‐range planning process in 2011, the Board’s Education Committee developed a Profile of the Athens Academy Graduate to articulate the essential qualities the school seeks to develop in each student: Academic Priorities:
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Communication Skills Literacy Problem‐solving skills Research Study Habits, Work Ethic Personal Characteristics:
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Honor/Integrity Pride, Confidence 9 Lifelong Learning, Curiosity, Passion Respect, Empathy, Service Leadership, Collaboration Self‐awareness, Self‐advocacy Persistence, Courage, Resilience Flexibility, Versatility, Balance Creativity Awareness, Appreciation for the World and Other Cultures
To effectively achieve the vision outlined in the Profile, the Athens Academy leadership has identified five Centers of Emphasis that will be a focus of improvement efforts over the next few years: 1.
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Mathematics, Science and Technology. Wellness. Communication and Creativity. International Studies. Service and Leadership. The Board, administration, faculty, and all of the school’s stakeholders will be engaged in efforts to achieve the school’s vision in each of these areas – an effort the next Head of School will join. ADMISSIONS AND MARKETING
Although Athens‐Clarke County is home to UGA and all of its resources, it is also an economically diverse community with a poverty rate that is among the nation’s highest for its size (116,000 residents). Independent education is not the norm here, and the local Christian schools that constitute the only other private school options in the area charge tuition rates that are 40 to 65 percent of Athens Academy’s. As a result, the Head of School must be an articulate advocate for the benefits of an Athens Academy education, and he or she must be willing to play a highly visible role in the broader community. The Academy is also eager to ensure that its commitment to excellence is not mistaken for elitism; the school strives to engage with and serve the community. FINANCE AND DEVELOPMENT
A spirit of frugality and a determination to focus resources on teaching and learning have enabled Athens Academy to maintain a healthy financial outlook. The school employs zero‐based budgeting, and the Academy prides itself on its ability to offer an excellent educational experience at a tuition level far below that of comparable schools in the Atlanta marketplace. The focus on tuition control is essential, given the economic conditions in the area and the much lower tuitions of competing private schools. To support the school’s aspirations – including the initiatives that will emerge from the current planning process – continued institutional advancement efforts will be a high priority for the Academy’s next leader. Through the generosity of parents, foundations, trustees, and other stakeholders, Athens Academy has raised more than $13.5 million over the past five years. To achieve that goal, the school successfully secured a $1.25 million challenge grant from a Georgia foundation. Funds raised through the 21st Century Campaign have helped to fund all of the facilities improvements in recent years. Annual giving typically exceeds $400,000. Primarily through many small contributions, Athens Academy has amassed an endowment of nearly $5 million. Determined to grow the fund, the Board has maintained a policy of taking no draw from the endowment. Included in the fund is the Alumni Endowment for Faculty Support, created in 1999 and now approaching $500,000. All alumni contributions to annual giving are placed in the fund. Now numbering more than 2,000, the alumni are an increasingly important force in the school. Recent graduates have been encouraged to make five‐
year pledges to the Annual Fund, with very promising results. Through a development effort heavily geared to building long‐term relationships with individuals and foundations, Athens Academy has been successful in soliciting significant voluntary support despite the challenges of being located outside of the Atlanta metropolitan area. The next Head of School will need to build upon that successful approach, reaching out to the school family and the broader community to enlist their vital assistance. Professional Qualifications and Personal Qualities
Athens Academy is seeking as its next Head of School: 
A visionary leader who understands and who will strategically promote the mission statement and operating principles of the school. 
An administrator with previous experience commensurate with the skills needed to lead an independent school of the size and reputation of Athens Academy. 
A wise steward of the school’s resources: financial, physical and human. 
A highly effective communicator with exceptional interpersonal skills and the willingness to be a fundraiser. 
A professional educator and administrator who possesses the highest level of honor and integrity in all aspects of his or her professional and personal life. 
A balanced person who fully respects and appreciates the importance of each of the four pillars: Academics, Fine Arts, Athletics, and Service. 
An open‐minded, fair, and firm administrator with the confidence and decisiveness that flow from wisdom and experience. 
A positive and approachable administrator with the ability to lead and coach various constituencies and to bridge differences for the advancement of the common vision. 
An experienced educator who values the high‐quality educational and personal experience of each individual student as well as diversity of thought and background with the goal of preparing students to become successful, responsible, and involved citizens of the community, the country, and the world. 
An administrator with solid academic credentials with a demonstrated commitment to lifelong learning. 
A sensitive leader who will respect Athens Academy’s established culture and display an understanding of the Southern region. 
A leader who has experience working with and effectively guiding a school’s Board of Trustees. 11 ANTICIPATED SEARCH CALENDAR
Application deadline:
October 8, 2012
Selection of semifinalists:
October 17, 2012
Semifinalist interviews:
October 26-28, 2012
Finalist visits:
November 2012
Appointment:
December 2012
Start date:
July 1, 2013
The Search Process & Application Requirements
Acting on behalf of Athens Academy, Wickenden Associates is actively recruiting talented educational leaders who possess the skills, personal qualities, and experience necessary to meet the demands of this appealing and challenging position. The lead consultants are James Wickenden ([email protected]) and Linda Knights ([email protected]). They can be reached by telephone at 609‐683‐1355. ApplicantsshouldsubmitbyMonday,October8,2012,thefollowing:
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A cover letter indicating why they are particularly interested in and qualified for the position. 
A current résumé. 
A statement of educational philosophy and/or other supporting material (e.g. articles or speeches) that would be useful to the Search Committee. 
The names, titles, locations, email addresses, and phone numbers of three references, accompanied by a brief explanation of the professional relationship between each referee and the candidate. (We will obtain permission from candidates before contacting references.) These materials should be transmitted via email attachment to [email protected]. Note: Candidates who are new to Wickenden Associates are particularly encouraged
to initiate the application process as soon as possible and well before the deadline.
After an initial review of applicants, the Search Committee will select semifinalists, who will be interviewed over the weekend of October 26‐28, 2012. Finalists and their spouses, if applicable, will then be invited to the school for a more comprehensive series of interviews with representatives of the school’s constituencies. Ideally, a final selection will be made no later than December 2012. Wickenden Associates will keep all applicants informed of their status throughout the process. 1000 Herrontown Road, Princeton, New Jersey 08540‐7716 Tel: 609‐683‐1355 Fax: 609‐683‐1351 Website: www.wickenden.com Email: [email protected] 12