Middle School Director

Durham Academy (DA) seeks a Middle School Director to begin July 1, 2025. The successful candidate will be a visionary leader with a deep commitment to the holistic development of early adolescents. They will embody the curiosity of the most engaged learners. They will support curriculum development and pedagogical practice for an outstanding team of educators. They will engage and support a vibrant community of parents and caregivers. The Middle School (grades 5 through 8) is a community of approximately 400 students and 50 faculty and staff. The Director reports to the Associate Head of School and serves as an integral member of DA’s Academic and Leadership Teams.

Essential Traits and Skills Include:

• A love of early adolescent development, a deep understanding of developmentally appropriate social emotional learning and a vision for student-centered approaches to teaching and learning. 
• Excellent communication skills (writing, editing, speaking and listening).
• Understanding of and experience with educational research and best practices in middle school education.
• Experience with and/or a willingness to embrace competency-based learning and reporting.
• A proven track record of program development and implementation. 
• Deep experience with best practices for faculty growth and support coupled with an understanding of how to appropriately balance autonomy and alignment.
• A proven commitment to diversity, equity and engagement.
• Capacity to build relationships and inspire confidence with students, teachers, colleagues and families.
• An ability to collaborate, through the schoolwide Academic and Leadership Teams and across divisions and departments, to support the work of the school. 
• A Masters degree and at least 5 years teaching experience required. Educational leadership experience preferred.

Responsibilities Include:

• Develop, communicate and implement a vision for the DA Middle School based on evidence-based best practices.
• Lead efforts to recruit and retain skilled teachers who support the mission of Durham Academy.
• Partner with the Associate Head of School on the orientation, mentorship, training, evaluation, growth and support of all Middle School faculty and staff.
• Guide and support Middle School faculty with classroom management, instructional practices, student and parent relationships, curriculum development, assessment and reporting of student progress. 
• Lead, coach and collaborate with the Middle School Administrative Team and Middle School Academic Administrative Team.
• Provide warm, accessible and consistent presence in Middle School classrooms and on campus.
• In collaboration with the Director of Student Support and Wellness, lead and support a Middle School counselor, learning specialist and learning support coaches.
• Develop and implement a Middle School calendar and schedule that best supports the learning and developmental needs of this age group.
• Collaborate with the Chief Finance and Operations Officer to create and oversee the annual Middle School budget, including hiring and assigning substitute teachers and tracking/recording part-time and substitute teacher hours.
• Build and sustain positive partnerships with current and prospective Middle School parents.
• Support and collaborate with the Enrollment Management team by reading applicant files and making admissions recommendations.
• Collaborate with other school divisions, DA Extended Day and After-School Enrichments and DA Summer to develop and support age-appropriate programming, support scheduling and share campus spaces. 

DA Teachers, Administrators and Staff

• Are culturally competent and believe in the central importance of diversity and equity in the life of the school.
• Model a student-centered approach to teaching in an active classroom. 
• Possess a command of pedagogical best practices, eagerly seek feedback on all aspects of their professional life, and are committed to lifelong professional growth.
• Collaborate authentically and actively while building and maintaining collegial relationships with colleagues.
• Are eager to build supportive relationships with students and understand that student wellness is central to the student learning experience.
• Use technology thoughtfully and creatively to enhance teaching and learning.
• Innovate and experiment to discover the most compelling learning experiences for students.

Our School

Founded in 1933, Durham Academy is an all-gender, independent day school with 1,252 students in Pre-kindergarten through grade 12 on two campuses. The purpose of a Durham Academy education is to prepare each student to live a moral, happy and productive life. DA’s Strategic Vision commits to preparing students for life, meeting the needs of our learners and innovating more boldly, with a foundation broadening and deepening our work with diversity, equity and engagement. DA is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and a member of the National Association of Independent Schools. 

Diversity, Equity and Engagement Mission Statement
Diversity enlivens, improves and enriches the intellectual and social environment of an academic community and encompasses all aspects of humanity including racial identity, sex, religion, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, ability, age and gender identity. We are committed to an ongoing process to increase the diversity of our community and to implement policies, programs and practices under which all members of our community feel welcomed, empowered, responsible and safe. Amidst our diversity we stand united in the pursuit of academic excellence and development of individual capabilities. (Adopted by the Durham Academy Board of Trustees in 2004 and updated in 2008)

Our Employment Policy

Durham Academy provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national or ethnic origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.