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Athens Academy is a co-educational, non-sectarian, independent college preparatory day school of approximately 910 students in grades K3-12 that offers a traditional liberal arts curriculum and innovative approaches to teaching and learning. The school’s mission is to seek “excellence with honor in the educational and personal experience of each student.” Situated on a picturesque campus of 152 acres, Athens Academy admits students from diverse social, economic, religious, and racial backgrounds--all of whom benefit from a challenging academic program, a vibrant arts program, competitive athletics, and a variety of service opportunities. Athens Academy faculty and staff members are dedicated professionals who are not only experts in their respective fields of study but are also sensitive to the gifts and challenges of individual students.  

 

The Preschool:  Athens Academy’s goal of nurturing secure, successful, well-adjusted, and happy students while challenging them to grow academically begins in the Preschool (half-day program in grades K3, K4, and Pre-first). The Preschool curriculum blends skill building, motor development, and creative activities, as well as free play. Benefiting from activities-based learning, children learn the foundations of reading, writing, and mathematics. Activities are carefully tailored to individual interests, abilities, and development. Preschool students at Athens Academy also benefit from hands-on activities in discovery centers, outdoor gardens, art rooms, music rooms, a dedicated media center, and a spacious playground, all in a state-of-the-art facility that opened in 2011. The Preschool is composed of approximately 100 students and 22 teachers, assistant teachers, and instructional support staff. 

 

The Lower School:  Lower School students (grades 1-4) at Athens Academy acquire a solid foundation in language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies, while also learning about responsibility, collaboration, and self-expression. A science laboratory classroom with a specialist teacher, a media center with a story telling room, and a discovery center used for a variety of activities all support classroom instruction. Spanish, music, art, drama, and physical education classes are also woven into the fabric of the curriculum. Building upon traits developed as early as the Preschool, Lower School students are proud to uphold the concepts of mutual respect and kindness, as indicated by the “Kind Language Spoken Here” signs throughout the campus. The Lower School is composed of 250 students supported by approximately 30 teachers, assistant teachers, and instructional support staff. 

 

The Middle School: Recognizing that Middle School students are in a rapid mental, emotional, and physical growth stage of life, Athens Academy emphasizes responsibility, creativity, independent thinking, personal values, and service to others. Middle School students (grades 5-8), begin to master broader and more rigorous aspects of learning that include written expression, vocabulary, problem-solving, research, scientific investigation, and teamwork. An emphasis on critical and creative thinking runs throughout the curriculum.  Opportunities for public speaking, performing, publication, and athletic competition complement the challenging academic program. 

 

The Upper School: Athens Academy’s Upper School is committed to providing the kind of high-quality education that prepares students to lead successful and productive lives not only in their future academic pursuits in colleges and universities across the nation, but also in their adult lives. The curricular structure challenges each student individually, while our diverse extra-curricular offerings provide students the opportunity to be involved in activities in which they are interested. Talented and tireless teachers enable us to produce young men and women capable of handling the 21st century demands and challenges they will inevitably face.

 

The position of Director of Academic Affairs, beginning in the summer of 2023, will require an experienced educator who demonstrates a high degree of organization, collaboration, flexibility, and integrity. Primary areas of responsibility include curriculum coordination and curriculum development, professional development, instructional supervision, strategic planning, accreditation, standardized testing, learning differences, and instructional technology. Qualified candidates will possess strong communication skills, the ability to build consensus among students, teachers, parents, and trustees; and a willingness to be an active participant in the larger Athens Academy community. Administrative experience in independent education is not required but strongly encouraged. 

 

A search committee has been appointed by the Head of School to assist in this nationwide search.  The committee will seek candidates with demonstrated success who inspire the children and adults with whom they interact to seek excellence in all that they do.   The committee will accept materials from interested candidates until Friday, March 24, 2023.  This is an important position in Athens Academy’s community, and to ensure a quality visit for the candidates, many stakeholders will be involved in the process. The search committee is interested in seeing a wide range of applicants yet will give special consideration to candidates with a graduate degree, as well as candidates with demonstrated instructional and administrative success in their professional career.  The school looks forward to hearing from qualified candidates prior to the deadline. 

 

Additional Information: Several years ago, the faculty created the following list to describe the desired traits of Athens Academy faculty and administrators.  It is included in the spirit of providing some additional insight into what we value as a community of learners.