K - 8 Division Head

Overview: 

Kodaikanal International School is a 120-year-old dynamic international school with a rich history of holistic education, offering the IB continuum of the Primary Years Programme (PYP), the Middle Years Programme (MYP) and the Diploma Programme (DP) to our learners. Our beautiful school and community are nestled in the Palani Hills of Tamil Nadu, South India.

At KIS, we empower our students to navigate through life’s challenges to achieve their true potential. We follow an inquiry-based approach that promotes critical thinking, learner agency and a dedication to serving others. We recognize the importance of a meaningful, relevant and engaging curriculum that connects students to real-world contexts for their learning. We are keenly aware of the need to adapt our teaching and learning model to respond to the needs of our students in a world of fast-paced change.

Role:

This position is a full-time role across the KG to Grade 8 division of the school within an American curricular framework that is fully integrated with IB Middle Years, Diploma and Career-related Programmes. The Division Head leads the functional, administrative and day-to-day needs of the HS school program, in conjunction with the Academic Vice Principal, the MYP DP and CP Coordinators.  The Division Head typically teaches one K-8 course.  All members of the KIS professional community are expected to fully support a residential school ethos and environment.

About Kodaikanal International School

KIS Vision Statement: We strive to be a school the world needs: Our graduates will be transformative leaders, caring humans and thoughtful ambassadors for a just, sustainable and peaceful world.

KIS Mission Statement: Kodaikanal International School (KIS) is committed to empowering young people from diverse backgrounds with vision, knowledge, compassion and cross-cultural understanding. We are a community that welcomes everyone and seeks our purpose in the life and teachings of Jesus Christ.

KIS Values: Accountability, Appreciation, Concern for Others, Consistency, Context, Cooperation, Integrity, Openness, Performance, and Reverence.

We are seeking colleagues who are driven by:

• A strong belief in KIS’s guiding principles.
• The IB philosophy.
• Ideas about how to bring these into actualization.

• Opportunities to contribute to creating a more peaceful world.

• A focus on trust, relationships and community.

Our learning environment is characterized as:

• Inquiry-based learning.
• Fostering agency in our learners.
• Transdisciplinary and interdisciplinary.
• Service-oriented.
• Diverse, safe and inclusive.

Safeguarding Statement

KIS is committed to the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people in our care. We support the rights of the child and will act without hesitation to ensure a child-safe environment. We also support the rights and wellbeing of our staff and volunteers and encourage their active participation in building and maintaining a secure environment for all participants. Teachers at KIS must follow the guidelines of the school’s protective behavior policies and protocols, including reporting any situation that might constitute a health and/or safety hazard to students or school employees.

Qualifications & Experiences

Required Qualifications:

Required Teaching Qualifications:

• Bachelor's of Ed degree, state or national teaching certification, or equivalent in secondary education.
• Proven teaching ability in Grades K-8.

Desired Qualifications:

• An advanced degree - Master's, PGCE or equivalent.
• Recent and relevant professional development in teaching and learning.

Required Experience: 

• At least 3 years of teaching experience in K-8 school.
• At least one year of leadership experience in a school context.
• Extensive Professional Development on  recent trends, programs, pedagogy and research in Secondary School education.
• Experience with curriculum development, instructional strategies and assessment of student learning.

Preferred Experience

• MYP, DP or CP teaching experience.
• 3+ years of leadership experience in an IB school in an international context.
• Familiarity with the special demands of a boarding school community.
• Experience leading Professional Development.
• Required Knowledge, Skills and Dispositions:
  • Effective, strong communication, including strong listening skills and fluency in spoken and written English. 
  • Strong interpersonal skills to build trust/respect and deal effectively with people of different cultures.
  • Models honesty, fairness, confidentiality, and ethical judgment in all professional decisions and interactions.
  • Proven organizational and supervisory skills
  • Self-confidence – the ability to think, plan, respond and go ahead independently as appropriate
  • In-depth knowledge of the needs, characteristics, development and psychology of HS school-aged students.
  • Dedication to student learning and well-being.
  • Understanding and awareness of the challenges faced by learners in an inclusive, multicultural environment.
  • Knowledge and ability in conflict resolution strategies.
  • Supportive, collaborative team player with the ability to delegate and coordinate work.
  • Willing to work efficiently and creatively with available materials/ resources .
  • Displays attention to detail and takes responsibility for accurate quality.
  • Lifelong learner adept with tech skills.
  • Understanding of best practices in overseeing discipline, safety, program quality, and pedagogy
  • Deep understanding of inquiry-based learning and learner agency.
  • Ability to lead programs of differentiated instruction for students with varying levels of ability.
  • Capacity to support the goals and mission of KIS through their personal philosophy.
     

Reports to: Academic Vice Principal
Coordinates with: HS/MYP/DP Coordinators, departmental leaders and colleagues
Time Period: : Initial 2-year contract, potential extensions after initial contract

Responsibilities

School Campus Administration
Division heads at KIS act as hubs of information and coordination of activities on the academic campuses. Additionally, they manage:

• The environment, to maintain a safe and comfortable place for learning..
• Student discipline on the academic campus.
• The advisory program, in coordination with grade-level sponsors.
• Day-to-day business and operations such as attendance, parental visits, teacher attendance, and substitutions.
• Divisional assemblies in collaboration with PYP and MYP Coordinators.
• Exam scheduling, secure storage, and organization of invigilation.
• Parent-teacher-student conference planning.
• Designing and leading new initiatives in collaboration with colleagues and other school leaders.
• Collaborating with the academic team to maintain and update handbooks, policies, and procedures.
• The organization, co-ordinatation and evaluation of the daily program using sound education principles.
• Student and teacher routines (class schedules, room allocation, attendance, study halls, registration).
• Record keeping and reporting.
• Monitoring of progress and problems.
• Impactful staff meetings.
• Effective parent meetings.

Academic Culture
KIS educators are expected to provide quality instruction for the students at KIS in accordance with the school’s established curriculum, school policies, and expectations. Academic leaders at KIS collaborate to:

• Maintain an ethos of high standards for academic performance, social behavior and moral character for students and staff, in keeping with the Mission Statement and KIS guiding principles
• Promotes a clear standard of social behavior of and moral character for students in keeping with KIS  expectations.
• Models a clear standard of professional behavior for teachers in keeping with KIS expectations.
• Supports the vice principal in promoting a culture of professional growth.
• Plan and design in-service and professional development opportunities for teachers.
• Implement Curriculum and Program Review and Development in the HS School.
• Lead, stimulate, and support a HS school team with sensitivity and openness, ensuring regular supervision and evaluation of teaching and non-teaching staff, making recommendations for improvement as needed.
• Allocate teachers to teaching assignments.
• Supervise resource development and act as a central resource person.
• Orient and support new teachers and students.
• Supervises and evaluates teachers consistent with the school’s Appraisal Plan.
• Maintain an effective program of evaluation and assessment of students’ achievement, aptitude and proficiency.
• Ensure that students receive support services as needed for learning, language, and behavioral issues.
• Provide support and resources for teachers and encourage professional growth.
• Promote varied and authentic assessments of student learning.
• Maintain the curriculum is vertically and horizontally coordinated.
• Make decisions following sound educational principles.
• Supports the vice principal in ensuring that strong pedagogical skills are used across the program.

K-8 School Student Community

• Understands the development of elementary and middle school students i.e. physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual.
• Handles student discipline fairly, firmly, and positively.
• Upholds standards of student support services.
• Demonstrates an interest in individual students without showing favoritism.
• Advise students appropriately in their course selection and academic program.
• Communicates with parents, dorm-parents, administrators, and counselors regarding concerns about students in a timely and relevant manner.

School Organization
A KIS academic leader is expected to work in a positive, professional, supportive manner and develop a collaborative and team approach to enable the school to achieve its stated mission, vision, values, and strategic goals. 

The leader:

• Is familiar with all school and department procedures as appropriate.
• Actively participates in and helps lead professional development opportunities, departmental meetings, planning, in-service training activities and invigilation duties as required, including those when students are not on campus.
• Sets and engages in professional goal setting that is aligned with the School’s strategic direction.
• Maintains responsibility for reading and responding as appropriate to all communication in a timely manner.
• Leads the teaching team with sensitivity and consults with teachers on matters that concern them
• Is available to support students outside of regularly scheduled class times.
• Promptly passes information to advisors, residential Parents, and Coordinators when students’ attendance, academic performance or behavior is praiseworthy or gives cause for concern.
• Conducts school business in a professional and ethical manner at all times.
• Is familiar with the school’s resources, safeguards the loss/damage of the school equipment and materials, and hands over all relevant material upon departure from KIS.
• Represents the section effectively on school-wide committees.

School Community
All KIS staff members are expected to support the holistic development of children. A KIS educator: 

• Engages in and supports activities that help promote school spirit and a sense of community.
• Understands and supports the diversity of the school community and students’ backgrounds.
• Works in a positive, cooperative, and supportive way with students, parents, colleagues, and other stakeholders.
• Communicates regularly with students, residential parents, and students’ parents on matters of school business.
• Promotes opportunities for developing community involvement throughout the wider community.
• Recognizes the importance of service learning to our community and promotes this with students and the wider community.
• Support the residential life of the school by chaperoning activities, clubs, field trips, camp, long weekend field day, etc.

Other
At KIS, all community members are expected to:

• Support, promote, and enforce the ethos of KIS as defined in the Mission Statement, Guiding Principles, and strategic plans.
• Promote a positive attitude about the school with all members of the school community
• Implement decisions made in department and school committee meetings, as relevant to the division.
• Follow the guidelines of the school’s protective behaviour policies and protocols and personal data protection policies and procedures, including reporting any situation that might constitute a health and/or safety hazard to students or school employees, and reporting any personal data breach.
• Respect the confidential nature of discussions at staff meetings and other contexts in which sensitive information is likely to be communicated – particularly in terms of interaction with students.
• Perform other appropriate duties as assigned by the Vice Principal or Principal.

Application Process:

1. Download Application Form >> KIS Academic Position Application Form
2. Fill-in the required information
3. Use the form below to submit your application along with your resume

Please note that applications that do not include the application form and a resume will not be considered.