Lake Mary Preparatory School Head of School

Lake Mary PreParatory SchooL

Lake Mary, FLoridahead oF SchooL

JuLy 2016lakemaryprep.com

1The Search Group | Carney, Sandoe & Associates [email protected] | www.carneysandoe.com

the PoSitionLake Mary Preparatory School in Lake Mary, Florida is a tightly-knit, familial community of global learners. Since 1999, the school has employed a student-centered approach to education, differentiating classes and forging strong faculty-student relationships to prepare students for success in college and beyond. As a member of the Meritas family of schools, LMP embraces its relationship with its peer schools, introducing students to a connected, collaborative network from a young age. The result is an academically rigorous, globally competitive school authentically anchored by its guiding principles of family, integrity, and teamwork. Constituents consistently praise LMP for both its culture and academic strength. One parent says, “I couldn’t ask for a better of safer academic environment. The difference in my child’s preparedness for college since transitioning from public school to LMP is remarkable. Teachers, admin, and coaches demonstrate their investment in my child’s future on a daily basis. We are blessed to be a part of the LMP family!”

At this time, LMP seeks a new leader to join its community as Head of School, effective July 2016. The successful candidate will be a passionate educator with strong communication skills, clear vision, well-developed management skills, and solid leadership ability. The next Head of School will be a person who values this special school and its unique characteristics,

who is eager to get to know each student and faculty member, and who is excited about the prospect of leading this globally-minded community of learners.

SchooL hiStoryLMP was founded in 1999 as Learning Unlimited under the direction of Bill and Pouneh Alcott. In 2007, the school joined the Meritas Family of Schools, a global consortium of student-centered schools that share core values and enjoy the privileges and opportunities of belonging to a worldwide network. Though each school is administered locally, all share common values of maximizing student potential and encouraging true global citizenship.

the SchooL LMP enrolls 510 students in grades PK-12. Across grade levels, teachers form caring and nurturing relationships with students, helping them to thrive within the supportive and familial environment that distinguishes LMP. A comprehensive suite of rigorous classes prepares students for the academic demands of college, while

Mission

At Lake Mary Preparatory School, students’ lives are enhanced through critical thought, personal achievement, global perspective, and service.

Vision

• 510 students• 100% of graduates accepted to college• 60 faculty members• 33% of faculty hold advanced degrees• 48-acre campus

Lake Mary Preparatory School is known for aca-demic excellence, personalized outcomes, and globally minded student leaders who excel in col-lege and career.

Guiding Principles

Family, Integrity, Teamwork

Fast Facts


abundant extracurricular opportunities in the arts, athletics, and community service elicit passions and interests that last a lifetime. Students emerge from LMP as critical thinkers, lifelong learners, and responsible, compassionate members of society.

acadeMicS

Teachers at LMP stress the importance of developing critical thinkers and confident learners. The goal is to ignite the full academic potential of every student, employing a whole-child approach that promotes intellectual, emotional, and social growth while emphasizing problem solving, critical thinking, and higher-order reasoning. This approach engages students in their own development and encourages them to take ownership of their decisions and actions, preparing them well for the responsibilities and challenges of college.

In keeping with its role as a Meritas school, LMP provides a uniquely global education to its students, who hail from more than 40 countries around the world. Students create cross-cultural friendships and digital connectedness across continents, connecting with students at other Meritas Schools. Opportunities for international travel and internships, as well as global problem-solving classes and student exchange programs, further cement the school’s commitment to global education.

Lower School

Learning begins in the Lower School, where students are supported in an engaging, trusting community. Teachers know students well, understanding their strengths and challenges and working with them on a personal level each day. The academic experience focuses on critical thinking and inquiry-based instruction, pairing a warm and loving atmosphere with an innovative learning environment. The classroom environment welcomes curiosity and exploration as students study integrated subjects through weekly

themes. Students build development in literacy, math, science, social studies, technology, fine arts, music, social/emotional learning, safety, physical development, and self-esteem. The developmentally appropriate


program differentiates instruction to accommodate the needs of all students, and parents are active participants in their children’s personal learning plans.

Middle School

LMP’s focus on personalized education continues in Middle School, where students work closely with teachers on an individual level. A global approach to education continues as well, and students develop global perspectives through travel opportunities, cross-cultural collaborations, student government, and National Junior Honor Society. In sixth grade, they study global education; in seventh, infectious diseases; and in eighth, illegal drugs.

Across subjects, students strive to develop critical thinking, critical analysis, and strong writing skills. They have the option of pursuing standard or honors classes in all core subjects, including math, language arts, science, social studies, and writing.

Middle School students develop camaraderie and strong friendships through an adventure program that makes the Middle School years a vibrant, celebrated time at LMP.

Upper School

The LMP Upper School prepares students for entry at their top-choice colleges and universities. Challenging courses taught by talented and dedicated faculty members, coupled with unrivaled individualized attention, ensure that students grow as learners, critical thinkers, and people. Students have access to a wide range of Advanced Placement courses in English, history, math, science, art, and world languages. The school’s unique Think Tank Program promotes creative thinking and teamwork projects through robotics and engineering. In addition to strong academics, LMP provides a comprehensive advisory program, with classes that focus on character development and social/emotional support. When s/he enters the Upper School,


each student is assigned an advisor who stays with him or her throughout the next four years. Students know that the strength of their character is as important as the strength of their intellect at LMP.

Each year, 100% of students are accepted to college. Recently, students have gained admission to colleges and universities including Princeton, UCLA, Columbia, Harvard, Boston College, Emory, Davidson, Pepperdine, Notre Dame, William and Mary, and the University of Florida.

Student LiFe

Outside the classroom, students pursue a wide range of challenges in the arts and athletics as well as in community service, extracurricular activities, class trips, and summer programs. The school views the arts as a passion, not just a requirement, and students explore the process of creation, improvisation, and skills development. Teachers believe that the arts encourage development of the whole child by building self-esteem, inspiring creativity, and leading students to think critically about the surrounding world. Students at LMP can participate in visual arts classes as well as musical and theatrical performances.

On the sports field, LMP strives to complement academic achievement with athletic success. Students prepare to be well-rounded, thriving members of their future college communities through participation in 14 different sports: bowling, cross country, swimming, volleyball, basketball, soccer, weightlifting, archery, baseball, lacrosse, tennis, and track and field.

Community service is an integral part of the LMP experience, and students are committed to giving back at each grade level. Elementary students participate in food and toy drives; Middle School students run bake sales to provide for abused and neglected children; and Upper School students engage in self-directed service projects. Each student graduates from LMP with a clear understanding of what it means to be a committed and caring global citizen.


The school’s boarding program ensures students are exposed to a wide range of cultures, languages, and customs. 81 boarding students from 15 countries gain the chance to speak, understand, and write English through a program that focuses on academic and social progress for each child. The highly personalized boarding experience ensures that students are prepared to tackle academic challenges while forming solid friendships and acclimating to their new Florida home.

PhySicaL caMPuS

LMP’s beautiful 48-acre campus includes a wide range of facilities: administrative offices and classroom buildings, a lower school playground, a gym and student café, an outdoor pavilion, and athletic fields and courts. The school’s campus takes advantage of its location in sunny Florida, offering plenty of outdoor space for community members to learn and play.

Lake Mary, FLoridaLake Mary, an affluent suburb just 20 miles from Orlando, is a one of the fastest-growing areas in Central Florida. The beautiful community, known as the “City of Lakes,” promotes a sense of community while championing the influx of high-tech businesses, residential communities, strong schools, and fine dining and shopping. In 2007, Money magazine ranked Lake Mary as the fourth best place to live in America.

Lake Mary offers the charm and ease of suburban life along with the convenience and dynamism of close proximity to Orlando, “The City Beautiful.” Best known as the home of Walt Disney World, Orlando attracts families, tourists, and convention-goers throughout the year. The city is peppered by hundreds of lakes. Its pleasant climate offers warm summers and mild winters, and its many attractions make it a wonderful—and fun!—place to call home.

The Search Group | Carney, Sandoe & Associates 6 [email protected] | www.carneysandoe.com

oPPortunitieS and chaLLengeS• Lake Mary’s community is

tightly-knit, caring, and family-like. The size of the school helps create this sense of warmth, and the opportunity for all students to be known, supported, and encouraged is a strong attraction for parents who have other choices for public and private schools in the area. There is a broad feeling of pride in the school.

• The non-sectarian quality of the school also assures that it attracts diverse families, and the internationalism of the school is assured by the presence of boarding students, particularly in the Upper School.

• Close teacher-student relationships and a faculty that goes far beyond what is required to help students succeed is the norm at LMP. One leader notes that there are some “seriously amazing” teachers on the faculty. There is a strong leadership team in place as well.

• The academic program is strong, as indicated by strong AP results, but it is balanced by high student participation in sports and other activities—students report they would never be cut from teams.

• Technology and, in recent years, collaboration of teachers have become notable strengths of the school.• A challenge for the next Head of School is that facilities need upgrading, and there is a general sense that

they do not meet the space needs of a growing school. There is no facilities growth master plan in place for the campus, and there are zoning regulations that limit options on both campuses.

• Some feel the boarding program needs further development and diversification of sources of students. Some offered that the teachers may not have sufficient cross-cultural training and ESOL training.

• More timely communications are needed.• Some feel parents have too much influence at school.• The school could be more completely marketed to the wider community, and there has been turnover of

leadership in admissions and at the Head of School positions.• Possible sale of the school has created uncertainty in the community.• The school needs to continue to develop its own professional development program, create more mentorship

opportunities, consolidate curricular gains, and continue to enhance student leadership opportunities and the STEM and Fine Arts programs.

The Search Group | Carney, Sandoe & Associates 7 [email protected] | www.carneysandoe.com

QuaLiFicationS and QuaLitieS oF the next head oF SchooL • Passionate about education and has a savvy business sense as well.• An excellent communicator, starting with being a good listener, who is visible at school events and is

approachable. • Flexible, courageous, purposeful, innovative, and has a clear vision. • A person who works collaboratively, but who can also make the hard decisions—can say no in a thoughtful

way. • Someone with international experience would be a bonus. • Transparent, honest, and provides clear decision systems. • A leader who will build on the strengths the school has—wholesale change is not needed at this time. • A person who views faculty and students as unique individuals.

to aPPLyInterested and qualified candidates should submit electronically in one e-mail as separate documents the following materials to Art Charles, Fred Wesson, and John Chandler of Carney, Sandoe & Associates:

• Cover letter expressing interest in the Lake Mary Preparatory School position;• Current résumé;• Statement of educational philosophy and practice;• List of five references with name, phone number, and e-mail address of each.

art charLeS | Fred WeSSon | John chandLer

Senior Search [email protected] | [email protected] | [email protected]

carney, Sandoe & aSSociateS

Lake Mary Preparatory School Head of School

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