CAMBRIDGE-ELLIS SCHOOL DIRECTOR - Cambridge, Massachusetts Start Date: July 1, 2021 cambridge-ellis.org - Carney Sandoe & Associates
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CAMBRIDGE-ELLIS SCHOOL
Cambridge, Massachusetts
DIRECTOR
Start Date: July 1, 2021
cambridge-ellis.org
Mission
The Cambridge-Ellis School provides a warm, stimulating early-school experience in a
joyful, loving environment that is built upon a foundation of trusting relationships with
a diverse group of children and families. We promote the optimal development of the
whole child through a creative, play-based, and emergent curriculum, an emphasis on
arts and outdoor play, and immersion language offerings.
OVERVIEW
With a welcoming faculty and staff and unique programs, including an after-school language immersion
program in three languages, Cambridge-Ellis is an independent, non-profit school that has provided
an open, caring early learning environment for over three decades. Educating students from toddler
(one year nine months) to six years of age, the school’s classroom communities are warm, supportive
environments where children are excited about learning.
At Cambridge-Ellis School, teachers plan child-centered, emergent curriculum. Teachers draw the
themes for learning directly from observing children’s interests and plan activities in response to them.
The school offers activities that challenge children at their developmental level and allow them to interact
with a rich variety of materials. The Cambridge-Ellis community believes that children learn best through
play, active participation, and engagement with teachers, peers, and materials. Daily practice ensures
attention to social emotional learning, as teachers model positive interactions and conflict resolution.
The school seeks a visionary new Director effective July 2021. Serving as the school’s leader, the
Director oversees the curriculum, faculty support and supervision, and student and parent programs,
and reports on behalf of the school’s administration and faculty to its committed and engaged Board of
Trustees. The ideal candidate will have strong background in early childhood education and will be a
highly involved and visible leader for the school. Proven success in providing inspired leadership and a
willingness to explore new ways of learning are essential to this position.
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Fast Facts
Founded: 1981
Total students: 105
Students of color: 23%
Total faculty: 36
Faculty of color: 28%
Faculty with advanced degrees: 54%
Student/teacher ratio: 3:1 toddler, 6:1 preschool
Students receiving financial aid: 17%
SCHOOL HISTORY
In 1981, Cambridge-Ellis School was established as an independent non-profit school located at St.
James Episcopal Church on Massachusetts Avenue in Cambridge. The initial program consisted of
three classes: a toddler room, a pre-school room, and a kindergarten. The school moved into the
building it now calls home in 1997 which allowed the programs to grow in size and scope.
Today, the school continues to educate young children in small, diverse classes that encourage
imaginative play, creativity, language acquisition, and a lifelong love of learning.
THE SCHOOL
At Cambridge-Ellis, the school’s strong foundation is built from its highly-trained teachers and staff,
innovative curriculum, commitment to parent involvement, and dedication to a diverse community.
Teachers believe that young children learn best in an environment that offers play-based education.
To that end, using emergent curriculum based on a combination of Reggio Emilia, inquiry-based, and
constructivist-inspired approaches to education, teachers foster environments designed for child-driven
exploration and discovery. Children are valued as “experts” and individual learners with their own
unique strengths and characteristics. In the classroom, children gain knowledge and an understanding
of their world by using open-ended materials, participating in hands-on activities, and learning from and
with classmates and teachers. This developmental approach to early childhood education celebrates
individuality, self-expression, and creativity while fostering relationships among all members of the
classroom community.
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Understanding it takes a village to educate a young child, the school has formed partnerships with a
number of local universities, community organizations, child specialists, and artists to create a robust
network for providing the most innovative, well-rounded education possible. Partnerships and alliances
include artists, researchers, educators, student teachers, musicians, chefs, dancers, arborists, and
more. The Cambridge-Ellis School has participated in a longstanding international cultural exchange
program with a school in Taiwan, St. James Preschool. In active years, the school hosts one teacher
from St. James Preschool, who teaches in the Mandarin Program, and sends two of its own teachers
to Taiwan each summer to teach in the St. James summer English program. This cultural exchange is
highly valuable and enriching to both students and teachers while fostering understanding and cross-
cultural relationships.
With a diverse local and international community of children and families, the Cambridge-Ellis School
intentionally and continuously aims to create an environment in which children of all backgrounds,
abilities, and interests can learn and thrive. The school is firmly committed to anti-racist education,
examining its assumptions and biases, and actively cultivating a sense of belonging. Learning at
Cambridge-Ellis builds upon and extends these values across all aspects of the program, including the
curriculum, culture, community, faculty and staff hiring, and parent and family support.
PROGRAMS
Cambridge-Ellis offers two early childhood education programs, including a play-based Day Program for
toddlers and preschoolers and a robust after school Language Immersion Program taught by teachers
who are native speakers of Mandarin, French, and Spanish.
The curriculum is designed to promote social-emotional, cognitive, and pre-literacy skills and to provide
a foundation for the study of mathematics and science. In addition to arts education that is incorporated
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into the everyday curriculum, the school provides a weekly “Arts Adventure” and a bi-weekly Music
Education program for all classrooms. These programs feature studies of famous artists, dance and
movement exploration, music and the creation of musical instruments, and more.
Teachers support young children’s natural curiosity with indoor environments that encourage artistic,
scientific, sensory, verbal, written, and mathematical expression. Each classroom is equipped with
manipulatives, nature items, blocks, and other loose parts, and offers dramatic play and building
spaces, sensory, science, and writing tables, a large art area, and a cozy book area. Complementing
each classroom’s reading material is an extensive and newly revised library. Each classroom has its
own distinct character, thanks to the school’s charming, light-filled historic building. The school’s two
gated playgrounds—uniquely spacious despite its urban setting—are wonderful extensions of indoor
classrooms, encouraging a multitude of opportunities for natural play and physical expression.
SCHOOL LIFE
Parent involvement is one of the hallmarks of Cambridge-Ellis. Parents and teachers work together to
nurture children and optimize each child’s experience. Faculty and staff communicate and partner with
parents through a variety of forums such as newsletters and weekly classroom updates and believe
that the home/school connection is a critical element of a child’s early education. Before the school year
begins, teachers also make home visits to each child, creating a home/school connection and easing
the transition into the classroom.
Families are invited to join weekly assemblies. Assemblies are a great way to build bridges from the cozy
classroom communities to the larger school community. Parenting workshops are offered throughout
the year on topics ranging from separation and behavior management to creating LGBTQ+ inclusive
communities and choosing next schools.
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There are also a number of important events throughout the year for parents and families to look
forward to. From informational to recreational, Cambridge-Ellis events are always shining examples
of the strong community. Events include the Popsicle Party, Curriculum Night, Next Schools Night,
Winterfest, Friendship Breakfast, Auction, Spring Fair, Movie Nights, Parent Workshops, and more.
CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS
Directly across the Charles River from Boston proper, Cambridge is best known for being the home
of two world-class universities, Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
Blending its storied past with a rich serving of arts and culture, the city has also become a hub for
technological innovation, with countless startups and flocks of entrepreneurs.
The charming and diverse neighborhoods (“Squares”) of Cambridge are rich in options for shopping,
dining, and sightseeing. Cambridge-Ellis is located in the middle of Cambridge, less than 10 minutes on
foot from Harvard Square. In non-COVID times, it’s an easy walk to the A.R.T. to see the world-premiere
of a Broadway-bound show, or to attend a best-selling author’s event at The Harvard Bookstore or up
Mass. Ave. at Porter Square Books. The Harvard campus (steps away from the school) boasts an
impressive collection of world-class museums, as well as endless events, concerts, and lectures that
are open to the community. The dining scene has exploded over the past decade, with nationally-
renowned restaurants that could go toe-to-toe with any big city, while maintaining a neighborhood
welcome. The town is home to a number of annual street fairs and festivals, including October’s Head
of the Charles Regatta, a two-day regatta that draws sailing fans from around the world to compete
along the Charles River.
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On the other side of the Charles River, Boston is filled with its own long list of attractions. Residents and
visitors enjoy Boston’s cultural appeal as well as parks including the Boston Garden and Common, the
Charles River basin, and Frederick Law Olmstead’s Emerald Necklace park system. The city is home
to world-class cultural and educational resources: Boston University, Tufts University, Boston College,
Berklee College of Music, Northeastern University, New England Conservatory, and Wellesley College
are among the area’s 35 colleges and universities, contributing to the area’s youthfulness and vitality.
Boston is a world leader in medicine and pharmaceutical research, technology innovation, and education.
Leading cultural institutions that call the city home include the Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston
Ballet, the Athenaeum, the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the Boston Pops. A legendary sports
town, Boston abounds in professional, collegiate, and youth teams of all varieties (and generating
plenty of opinions). A river city with a busy harbor and the adjacent Massachusetts Bay and Harbor
Islands, Boston is also ideally positioned for recreation, with mountains, lakes, and seacoast all within
easy drive. Served by a good public transit system, Boston is an eminently walkable (and bikeable) city.
OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES
The Director position at Cambridge-Ellis is a unique and compelling opportunity to lead a dynamic
community of educators and families who are committed to providing an exceptional early learning
experience for children. CES boasts a reputation for serving students through its innovative and inclusive
programs, superb facilities, outstanding teachers, dedicated trustees, and a strong financial foundation.
A warm, passionate, and skilled early-childhood education leader will be welcomed by dedicated and
experienced educators and an engaged parent body.
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The next Director must be well-prepared to lead a hands-on school community with diverse perspectives.
CES has a long-term commitment to equity and inclusion in its program and community. The next
Director will play a role in embracing this commitment and further enhance the school’s inclusive and
anti-racist curriculum. CES’s ideal Director will be open to partnering with the development team to
support the school’s robust annual fund campaign and share the vision and promise of the school’s
future. The successful candidate will be patient, calm, an excellent communicator and possess a
willingness to work closely and enthusiastically with teachers and parents on issues and challenges
both large and small. Above all else, the Director at CES will keep what’s best for children at the center
of the decision-making process.
DESIRED QUALITIES AND CHARACTERISTICS
• Deep commitment to early childhood education with substantial teaching experience.
• Proven leadership ability.
• Unwavering and proven commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racist education.
• Collaborative, community mindset.
• Excellent organizational skills and transparent communication.
• Able to navigate different constituencies – students, teachers, parents, and the Board of Trustees.
• An ability to manage a budget and make mission-appropriate financial decisions.
• The skill and vision to think strategically.
• Thoughtful, inclusive, modern, and effective approach to marketing and communications.
• Familiarity with the next schools’ application process.
• Ability to nurture a culture of collaboration and trust among teachers and parents.
• Kindness, integrity, patience, and a love of children.
CARNEYSANDOE.COM 8TO APPLY
Interested and qualified candidates are invited to contact the consultants in confidence. Candidates will
ultimately need to submit the following materials as separate PDF documents:
• A cover letter expressing their interest in this particular position;
• A current résumé;
• A one-page statement of educational philosophy and practice;
• A list of five professional references with name, relationship, phone number, and email address of
each (references will not be contacted without the candidate’s permission) to:
Burke Zalosh
Search Consultant
burke.zalosh@carneysandoe.com
John Faubert
Senior Consultant
john.faubert@carneysandoe.com
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