The School:
Learning Prep School (LPS, www.learningprep.org ) seeks a new Executive Director for July 2012. Founded in 1970, LPS serves over 300 students, ages 7-22, with a broad range of learning differences, including language-based, nonverbal and executive functioning difficulties. The school’s accessible location in Newton, a suburb just west of Boston, enables students from 130 communities to attend. While the school enrolls some privately-tuitioned students, a high percentage of students are supported by their sending districts.

Learning Prep School is an innovative educational and therapeutic milieu for students with language and learning challenges. Understanding that language skills are the basis for all learning, LPS's unique curriculum integrates the teaching of language skills in all subjects.

The school enjoys a warm, supportive community which has encouraged longevity from many of its teaching faculty. An experienced school leader who appreciates a culture that values and nurtures strong student-teacher relationships will thrive at the helm of LPS.

School Structure:
The school operates with two divisions, one that serves students in lower elementary and middle school and a five year high school program that prepares students for college or a career. Small classes at all levels allow for individual attention and instruction.  Additionally, a strong counseling program serves to ensure that each student’s needs are carefully attended to and serves to support good communication between school and family. A detailed reading of the school’s website will best introduce LPS’ programs and structure.

In early 2011, the school formed an independent Board of Directors to support and partner with the school’s leadership. During the 2011-2012 school year, the school is being ably led by an interim Executive Director who has served in multiple leadership roles over her forty plus year career at LPS.

Leadership Needs:
LPS seeks an energetic, well- experienced educational leader as its next Executive Director. The ideal candidate will be an individual who will build strong relationships with the school’s stakeholders, working in partnership with the Board of Directors to develop a strategic plan, articulate and prioritize strategic objectives and move the school forward. In addition, the successful candidate will:

• Seek and enjoy opportunities to serve as the school’s chief ambassador, embracing the school’s mission and ensuring that the school is well known by school districts and educational consultants

• Be well qualified in the field of special education, ideally understanding state reporting needs—including the management of the IEP and MCAS testing processes, and possessing strong background in Best Practices and assistive technologies

• Enjoy assessing and strengthening organizational structures and systems and developing and motivating teams

• Be adept at engaging others and building support for LPS

• Possess strong communication, organizational, strategic and analytic skills

• Thrive in a fast-paced, highly-demanding but highly-rewarding school environment, respecting the school’s culture and history while building on its strengths for the future.

For Consideration:
Please send electronically:

• Resume
• Educational Philosophy/Personal Statement

To:
Jane Foote and/or Bill Lyons, Managing Partners
Independent Thinking
LPS@independent-thinking.com
www.independent-thinking.com
617.332.3131

All inquiries will be treated confidentially