Ramallah Friends School (RFS) is a private, PK-12, Quaker day school nestled in the heart of the twin cities of Ramallah and El-Bireh, Palestine. We are under the care of Friends United Meeting (FUM) in Richmond, Indiana. Known as one of the oldest and most elite schools in the country, RFS was founded in 1869 as The Girls Training Home of Ramallah by American Friends. Today, RFS spans two co-educational campuses with the original 1869 girls’ campus serving as our PK-elementary school, the Lower Campus, and the 1901 Boys Training Home serving our middle and high school levels- the Upper Campus.
RFS is in search of the next leader of the Upper Campus and seeks nominations and applications for an innovative, forward-thinking, and inspiring educator to serve in this role.
Mission
Guided by Quaker principles and values, enriched by being in Palestine, and strengthened by collaboration within the school community and with external partnerships, Ramallah Friends School (RFS) offers children and youth with an academically rigorous, balanced, engaging and inclusive learning environment of the highest quality standard, every day.
We inspire our students to become a living expression of a spiritual life and be in constant search for God in all human situations. By doing so, we nurture confidence and intellectual curiosity through experiential learning and innovative application of knowledge and skills, enabling our students to become independent, adaptable but principled, socially responsible, and globally minded citizens.
RFS strives to be a leading educational institution in the Palestinian community. The Lower and Upper Schools were founded in 1869 and 1901 respectively, for the purpose of offering Palestinian youth a rigorous program guided by Quaker principles.
Central to Quaker education is a vitality that comes from being a living expression of a religious life. A Friends School education seeks to promote a constant search for God to all human situations and to cultivate ethical, moral and spiritual values.
The Upper Campus
The Upper Campus is comprised of the middle school and high School levels in a beautiful campus in the heart of El-Bireh. Students from the middle school graduate from the Lower Campus, where their experience is defined by all things new: new friendships, new discoveries, new interests, new teachers and so on. The middle school level curriculum is organized around the Middle Years Program (MYP) framework of the International Baccalaureate Organizations (IBO) which provides a broad and balanced education for early adolescents. MYP prepares our students to further their education, especially for national and international courses of study such. Most of our students continue the IB path into high school working towards a an IB certificate or diploma.
RFS encourages students to discover themselves and find that which makes their life speak, preparing them to seize the opportunities of the future. Our high school level students pursue coursework in a variety of fields which equips students with a high level of understanding and helps them thrive in college and beyond.
THE POSITION
We are seeking a full-time (12-month) individual for an Upper Campus Principal reporting to the Head of School (HOS) and serving on the School’s Leadership Team. The candidate would be an experienced educator exposed to international and progressive educational approaches. The Upper School Principal will provide strong, spirit-led leadership in the operations of the School and will be a leader in implementing strategies set by the HOS; pursue excellence and a vibrant school life for students and staff alike; and take charge and responsibility of all curricular and non-curricular activities involving the students and faculty of the Upper School.
The Upper School Principal will maintain and develop the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma and Middle Year Program (MYP) of the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO), in compliance with legal requirements of local government regulations and agencies, all while maintaining and furthering the Quaker mission and academic rigor and standards of the Ramallah Friends School. In doing so, the Principal will partner with talented faculty and offer unwavering support to foster academic excellence and well-being and growth.
The Principal will:
- Maintain congruency between the School's Quaker mission and values and all activities of the School. Uphold and encourage the embracing of Quaker values of peace, equality, service, and tolerance throughout the school environment.
- Work with the community to build upon the Quaker roots of the school.
- Maintain accreditation and strength of the school’s IB programs at the school while striving to grow and improve them.
- Act as the educational leader of the Upper Campus, responsible for its day-to-day operation, and direct the activities of the members of the Upper School staff in the performance of their duties.
- In collaboration with education program coordinators, observe, help supervise, coach and evaluate the faculty in the implementation of curriculum and the teaching process.
- Work with the Head of School and education program coordinators on the articulation of the mission, strategies, goals, departmental goals, course objectives, materials, methods and means of assessment.
- Provide a motivating value-led learning environment leading to a climate that is conducive to active learning, teamwork, creativity, wellbeing and a sense of community;
- Ensure compliance with legal requirements of the Palestinian Ministry of Education;
- Develop and implement systems to use data to improve teaching and learning including analysing assessment data to inform instruction and curriculum development.
- Work with program coordinators and heads of departments to make recommendations to the Head of School regarding the hiring and retention, and the load assignment of faculty;
- In coordination with program coordinators and student affair leaders implement programs for the orientation of new teachers, for the professional development of all teachers, and for the evaluation of teachers, and to ensure that teachers are familiar with and adhere to school policies in all areas of the school operation.
- Strive for unity, harmony, and cooperation through helpfulness, respect, and a recognition of individual differences and the special abilities and strengths of each teacher.
- Supervise the coordination of the co-curricular and extra-curricular activity programs of the school, with special emphasis on after-school clubs, sports, drama and music performances in collaboration with Student affair leaders.
- Manage and develop the school’s Learning Support program targeting children with special needs.
- Take a leading role in administering the Upper School’s student code of conduct policy; to maintain student discipline consonant with school policies; to monitor students' adherence to established school rules; to maintain accurate records of student attendance.
- Be a visible presence in all areas of the school; to work toward a resolution of all problems - both routine and unique - as they arise; to keep the Head of School informed of the general programs, activities, and problems of the school;
- Ensure a solid and cordial relationship with the school’s PTA and with the wider community at large;
- Seek opportunities and support faculty and staff mobilize external resources to implement specific developmental and educational programs at the school
- Perform other duties as assigned by the Head of School;
Required Qualifications
- Minimum of a Master’s degree in a relevant field and preferably in Educational Leadership or Curriculum Development’
- Demonstrable experience in innovative curriculum design and cultivating cross-divisional relationships and programs;
- Powerful and inspirational communication skills and a collaborative, yet decisive leadership style;
- Experience cultivating positive, supportive, and trusting relationships with students and their families, as well as faculty and staff;
- Commitment to collaboration, transparency, and accountability as a leader.
- Belief in and understanding of the Quaker principles of education, as well as the ethos and principles of the school;
- A deep and meaningful understanding of education in emergencies and unstable contexts as well as Palestinian education, history, and context.
Preferred competencies:
- Experience with the IB curricula is preferred.
- Experience with integrating technology into the curriculum.
- Experience with accreditation and/or strategic planning.
- Experience with building physical health, arts, and music curriculum.
- English and Arabic language skills.
APPLICATION GUIDELINES
Interested candidates, please send your letter of interest along with your educational philosophy and CV to [email protected] stating “Upper Campus Principal” in the Subject line.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
For more information about Ramallah Friends School, visit rfs.edu.ps
