Middle School Director

Job Details
Job Location:    Latin Middle School - Chicago, IL
Position Type:    Full Time
Education Level:    Bachelor's Degree
Salary Range:    $ $ Salary/year
Job Category:    Education

Description

Latin School of Chicago is a coeducational day school, serving 1,190 students in junior kindergarten through twelfth grades. Latin boasts a vibrant community that comprises 179 faculty, 114 staff, and approximately 5,000 living and active alums. Founded in 1888, Latin is one of the oldest independent schools in the city of Chicago, and provides its students with a rigorous and innovative liberal arts educational program. Latin inspires its students to pursue their passions and lead lives of purpose and excellence.

The values of Excellence, Community, and Integrity stand at the heart of Latin. They affirm our collective purpose, guide our decisions and actions, and unite generations of students, teachers, parents, and alumni in a shared tradition of learning and belonging.

The School is seeking an exceptional, self-assured, and collaborative educator to become the next Middle School Director. This role reports to the Head of School and is a member of the senior administrative team and works with all constituents: students, teachers and staff, parents, Board of Trustees, and alumni in support of the School's mission. The successful candidate will be a proven educator and leader who finds joy in working with adolescents and possesses the vision, creativity, and organizational skills to lead a community of highly-skilled faculty and staff.

STRATEGIC PRIORITIES

The Director of Middle School will be a strategic partner and thought leader who will help strengthen and advance Latin School of Chicago's vision and strategic plan for the Middle School. By working in close partnership with key constituencies, the Director of Middle School will prioritize the following:

• Integrate, deepen, and make personal the Latin learning experience for each and every person in the Latin Middle School community;
• Embed belonging and  inclusion into all facets of the Middle School experience at Latin from curriculum, to hiring, to professional development;
• Invest in Middle School leadership, faculty, and staff as Latin's most important assets in the development of their students;
• Partner in improving the hiring and retention of faculty and staff from underrepresented communities, so that the Latin community better reflects the student body and the city of Chicago;
• Focus on engaging with Middle School families, school alumni, and the city of Chicago to make student learning more connected to the professional world and the communities in which they live;
• Work with the Middle School Dean to support a restorative justice approach to discipline currently being used in the Middle School; and
• Align instructional philosophies and "developmentally appropriate" practices with both Lower and Upper School Divisions.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Oversee the development, alignment, and evaluation of curriculum in collaboration with the instructional leadership team of the School;
• Work cross-functionally across academic and administrative division in the planning and running of the School;
• Champion the Middle School division for various stakeholder audiences, including students, parents, prospective families, Board of Trustees, alumni, visitors, and the like;
• Work in close partnership with others in the Director's office, including the Assistant Director of Middle School and the Administrative Assistant;
• Participate in the admission process, including open houses, sitting on the Middle School Admissions Committee, and interviewing candidates;
• Prepare Middle School students for the rigors and expectations of the Upper School;
• Maintain academic and extracurricular excellence across the division;
• Plan and allocate the annual division budget;
• Embed belonginging, equity, inclusion, and justice into the Middle School curriculum, culture, hiring, and admissions activities in partnership with key stakeholders;
• Meet regularly with Middle School parents in a variety of formal and informal formats;
• Meet regularly with the Board of Trustees to update and answer questions about the Middle School division, when needed; and
• Communication regularly with students, parents, prospective families, faculty, and other audiences.

Qualifications

QUALITIES AND ATTRIBUTES

The ideal candidate will be a:

• Persuasive and self-assured leader who can win over  hearts and minds, and build trust and community
• Passionate advocate for the needs of middle school aged students
• Savvy, dynamic, transparent communicatorInnovator, who is focused on enriching academic and community experiences
• An agent of accountability, integrity, and action
• Excellent conflict management facilitator with the skills and the ability to navigate difficult conversations
• Analytical thinker, who uses data to inform decisions around support for students
• Joyful and uplifting motivator who sees the best in others
• Someone who embraces tech innovation and is supportive of teachers who want to do and try new things
• Organized, unflappable, and level-headed leader
• Collaborative team player

QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor's degree required, advanced degree preferred
• A minimum of 8-10 years of related experience working with students in grades 5-8
• Experience as a middle school teacher
• Experience integrating and upholding the principles of inclusion and belonging
• Experience leading and managing a large faculty
• Experience with restorative justice practices in student disciplinary matters
• Experience with  curricular development/design in a rigorous academic environment
• Experience with the enrollment management process and Admissions activities
• Experience with budget planning, allocation, and management
• Experience successfully navigating both small- and large- scale change
• Experience serving successfully in an educational leadership role in a school with varied and exacting constituencies

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Significant middle school teaching and administrative experience
• Independent school experience
• Knowledge and experience in working with unions
• K12 experience in grades other than middle school

FOR ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATION:

Latin School of Chicago is committed to bringing together a diverse faculty, staff, and student body. We encourage candidates who represent the broad, diverse community to which we aspire.

Latin School of Chicago is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to an inclusive school experience for all.

Interested candidate should submit the following materials by the application deadline of November 3, 2025:

• A cover letter indicate the candidate's particular interest in and qualifications for the position
• A current resume
• A statement of educational philosophy

The salary range for this position is $175,000 to $185,000, plus a comprehensive insurance and benefits package.

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