Administration Self Study Report Overview
Levine Academy’s administrative team structure underwent a review in 2015/2016 in order to broaden the responsibilities, promote delegation and leadership, create greater coverage of all areas of the school’s management and operations, and also to invest t he head of school with greater flexibility to enhance the success of the school’s strategic priorities. The most significant outcomes of this process were twofold: 1) the number of direct reports to the head of school dropped from 13 to 7 (or 9, if counting two positions with dual reports); and 2) simultaneously, we were able to begin a process of creating faculty deans and faculty leadership roles, such as the Dean of Instruction, Dean of Learning Support, Dean of Hebrew, and Coordinator of STEM. We also instituted faculty roles overseeing the elective program, overseeing Student Congress, and overseeing the new Summer Camp operations in the K-8 divisions. Other major changes in the areas of personnel and administration in recent years include: 1) growing the budgetary line to support faculty and admin professional development; 2) stepping up those professional development activities that are led by Levine faculty and staff; 3) creation of a full-fledged HR Director position who also provides all employees with a “Safe Channel of Communication” in order to allow employees a means to communicate any concerns in confidence; 4) a step up in employee benefits, such as specified time off days and an employer-match program for 403B accounts. Decision-Making Among the Administrative Team The “administrative team” is composed of several positions beyond those who are direc t reports to the head of school - in addition to the direct reports (which you can see in the bold-lined arrows in the organizational chart below), the Dean of Instruction, the Dean of Learning Support, the Athletic Director, the Coordinator of STEM and the Director of After Care and Educare sit in all of the weekly administrative team meetings. For these meetings, the agenda will be advanced to all members prior to the meeting which typically lasts for 90 minutes every Wednesday, beginning at 11:30am. Any member of the admin team may submit items for the agenda in advance. During most meetings, there is opportunity to do a “go - around” s o that all admin can share what is going on in their area of responsibility or pose topics for future discussion. The aim during any discussion where a decision is needed is to come to a consensus. Shy of a consensus, the HOS will make the decision or will delegate the decision to a member of the admin team. The meetings are therefore congenial; viewpoints are heard and responded to with respect; and all have an opportunity to have their voices heard. In addition to the full weekly admin team meeting, there are several smaller group meetings occurring each week, depending on the topic and the Head’s determination of who needs to be present at these ad hoc meetings. The HOS also meets with each member of his direct reports for a one-to-one meeting each week throughout the school year. These are mostly sessions whereby the admin team member will prepare an
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