MS Director of Student Life and MS Faculty

Company: National Association of Independent Schools
Location: Tacoma
Posted on: April 29, 2025

Job Description:

Charles Wright Academy2025-2026 Job Posting for MS Director of Student Life and MS FacultyAugust 11, 2025Position: MS Director of Student Life and MS Faculty Reports to: Middle School DirectorAdditional Terms: 1.0 FTE, Exempt, beginning August 11, 2025 faculty position, occasional travel and ability to drive required for attendance at community events, professional development, and chaperoning of student activities.Charles Wright Academy (CWA) is a co-educational, non-religious, independent school located in University Place, WA. Charles Wright Academy is located on a beautiful, green, and sprawling 107-acre campus that includes athletic fields and more than 60 acres of gorgeous pacific northwest forests that also serve as an extension of our proper academic campus. Our educational philosophy of experiential learning includes unique daily opportunities for wilderness exploration, hiking, birding, wildlife observations, gardening, nature habitat sketch subjects for art studies, local biological science exploration, conservation work, farming, and more.The only completely co-educational, independent, and non-religious school serving students in preschool through grade 12 in the South Sound area, CWA provides a challenging and nurturing environment with college preparatory academics and robust programming that prepare students to thrive and successfully launch into college and beyond. A wide array of experiential education, artistic, athletic, travel, and service opportunities promote students' social-emotional development and provide students avenues to discover and pursue their passions. A culture that values self-expression, appropriate autonomy, and exploration of their authentic selves, students are nurtured, encouraged, mentored, and supported by a highly-qualified and experienced faculty that share collective institutional values and provide engaging, active, and joyful experiences for students each and every day.Charles Wright Mission StatementTo inspire active, joyful learning while nurturing and challenging our students to develop the character, creativity, and skills to successfully navigate the future with confidence.Middle School Director of Student Life + MS Faculty (1.0 FTE)The Director of Student Life + MS Faculty is a full-time, 10-month position (Faculty calendar + 15 days TBD) reporting to the Middle School Director. This position serves as a member of the Middle School administration, MS Student Support Team, and works in collaboration with the Division Director to run student programs, the advisory program, the discipline system, and school-sponsored social gatherings in the Middle School. In addition, this position serves as a student-facing faculty member through teaching classes, teaching electives, coaching athletics, acting as an advisor, or a combination thereof equalling .5 FTE. The salary range for this position is $75,000-90,000 DOE.The Director of Student Life helps foster a positive, engaging and caring atmosphere in a healthy Middle School community that allows young adolescents to flourish. The Director of Student Life works closely with the Division Director, the grade-level Team Leads, the school counselor, and the faculty in providing programming and restorative practices that embrace and teach our school values: compassion, respect, integrity, perseverance, and excellence.Professional and Leadership Responsibilities:

• Fosters a strong sense of community and school spirit, actively promoting Charles Wright's mission, values, and DEIB work in all aspects of the Middle School.
• Coordinates the Advisory program that supports students' identity development, emotional literacy, social integrity, and leadership skills.
• Plans and leads Middle School programs, experiential trips, and socials.
• As a member of the Student Support Team, actively collaborates with others to ensure support for all students' academic and social-emotional growth.
• Supports the student discipline process with compassion and respect, following up with students and families and implementing all Charles Wright policies in the Student Handbook, while ensuring that student mistakes are teachable moments.
• Supports students and families by facilitating and coordinating staffings or meetings to provide academic, social emotional, and/or behavioral support.
• Collaborates with the Middle School Director and Middle School faculty to organize and execute weekly Assemblies with announcements, celebrations, and games.
• Plans and leads, at minimum, one grade-level overnight experiential trip. In collaboration with MS Director and Team Leads, supports other grade-level experiential trips.
• Attends Admissions and Retention meetings and participates in the Admissions process when applicable including interviewing prospective students and families.
• Uses a variety of instructional methods to create and teach dynamic, engaging lessons, which support the diversity of learners within the classroom
• Attends to the social-emotional needs of learners and implement advisory lessons on a weekly basis
• Provides and maintain a stimulating, safe classroom environment built on mutual respect
• Practices respectful and effective classroom management techniques, which support active learning and promote responsibility
• Attends faculty and community meetings including a weekly Wednesday morning meeting and an after-school MS leadership team meeting
• Participates in professional growth opportunities, as appropriate.
• Other duties as assigned by the Head of SchoolKnowledge, Skills and Abilities
  • Be a collaborative colleague, foster the spirit of teamwork and rapport with students, advisors, families, and teachers.
  • Demonstrate maturity, humility, professionalism, confidence, integrity, confidentiality, and a strong work ethic.
  • Communicate with students, colleagues, and families with clarity, heart, and purpose, adapting to different audiences, and keeping student growth at the center
  • Envision systems and opportunities to strengthen programming to enhance the student experience.
  • Awareness of the intellectual, physical, emotional, and developmental needs of early adolescent learners.
  • Be organized with logistics and effective with the execution of events.
  • Work effectively with others.
  • Inspire and connect well with middle school students.
  • Ability to keep information in strict confidence.
  • Have demonstrated experience partnering with parents and families in support of the overall student experienceEducation and Experience
    • Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree preferred
    • Five years prior experience in a similar student life or leadership role preferred.
    • A commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging in schools.
    • Experience or prior work in independent schools.
    • Possess excellent written and oral communication skills.
    • Successful track record working with students and student life programming.
    • Preference for experience in STEM, Project Based Learning, and/or outdoor leadership.Physical Requirements
      • Must be able to sit and stand for extended periods of time
      • Must be able to move comfortably around a classroom, accessing materials and assisting students as needed.
      • Must be able to lift up to 25lbsSalary & Benefits: This position has a salary range between $75,000 and $90,000, depending on qualifications and experience. Benefits available subject to plan and candidate eligibility.Insurance: Medical, Vision, Dental; Basic Life, Accidental Death & Dismemberment, andLong Term Disability; Health Care FSA; and Dependent Care FSA may be available to employees, subject to the terms of the applicable benefit plan.Retirement Plan : CWA offers an employer and employee contributed 403(b) plan, subject to the terms of the applicable benefit plan.Paid Sick Leave: Employees receive 116 hours of paid sick/wellness leave per year.Personal Leave : Employees will receive 3 days of personal leave per year.Paid Holidays: CWA offers12 paid holidays per year.Other Benefits: EAP (Employee Assistance Program), Tuition Assistance for employees seeking advanced degrees, Professional Development opportunities, Child Tuition Remission of 50% for those choosing to enroll eligible students at CWA, 50% discount of Extended Day child care services and Summer Camp programming for eligible enrolled students.Application processTo apply, submit a cover letter addressing why you feel you are the right fit for this role at Charles Wright Academy and how that aligns with both our Mission and Inclusion Statements (both included in this posting). Please provide an updated resume, and email and telephone contact information for 3-5 professional references (which must include your most recent supervisor) via Paylocity where this posting occurs.Applications for this position will be accepted until filled. No phone calls or inquiries, please.Inclusion StatementCharles Wright Academy best exemplifies its mission and values when everyone knows they belong in our school community.We embrace an intentional culture that champions everyone's full participation as their authentic selves in all of the opportunities that comprise the Charles Wright experience. This includes supporting each community member's understanding of their own identities and acceptance of the identities of others. By doing so, we empower everyone at Charles Wright to connect, learn, grow, and achieve.The inclusive culture we strive for requires us to make both institutional and individual commitments. Institutionally, we will align policies, curriculum, and decision-making to this goal, and we commit to ongoing self-examination, learning, and action. We also encourage and support individuals to initiate and engage in candid, courageous conversations as this work is the responsibility of every member of our community. (adopted by the CWA Board of Trustees, March 2020)
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Keywords: National Association of Independent Schools, Federal Way , MS Director of Student Life and MS Faculty, Executive , Tacoma, Washington