Director of Equity and Inclusion

Reports to: Head of School

Start Date: July 1, 2021

The School

Vistamar School is a college preparatory, co-educational, independent day school that serves a very diverse population of students in grades 9-12, supported by a generous program of Moderated Tuition.  Approximately 35% of our students participate in our Moderated Tuition program, and approximately 50% of our students identify as students of color.   As described in our mission statement, we seek to attract a faculty and student body who bring diversity of thought and culture to our school community, and who will be committed to ensuring that we provide an inclusive environment for the respectful exchange of multiple perspectives. Vistamar is located in the eastern-most section of El Segundo.  The school is close to major freeway interchanges and is well serviced by public transportation, including a commuter rail station.

Since opening in 2005, our enrollment has grown steadily to 280 students who are drawn from over 50 different middle schools and over 55 different zip codes in greater Los Angeles. Both tuition and salaries are competitive with other Los Angeles area independent schools. Vistamar is fully accredited by the California Association of Independent Schools (CAIS) and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), and holds institutional memberships in the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) and the Council of International Schools (CIS).

Overview of the Position

Vistamar School is seeking a Director of Equity and Inclusion to begin July 1, 2021. The Director will be a member of the senior administrative team and will report directly to the head of school and oversee school-wide efforts to support our work to support equity and inclusion for all members of our community. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• In partnership with the head of school, assist with the development and implementation of policies, procedures and programs that sustain a diverse, equitable, and inclusive school community.
• In partnership with the head of school and leadership, lead the school in implementation of recommendations from the school’s recent diversity climate assessment.
• In partnership with other key administrators, assist in recruiting, hiring, mentoring, evaluating, and retaining faculty who reflect and/or support a diverse and inclusive school community.
• In partnership with key administrators establish training standards in inclusive practices, curriculum, and co-curriculum for both administrators and faculty.
• Coordinate with Director of Teaching and Learning and department chairs to further faculty participation in professional development training in inclusive practices, curriculum development, and co-curricular practice.
• Partner with the Dean of Students, Director of Community Life, and Latino Program Coordinator offices to develop diversity in student program offerings and widen student leadership opportunities in cross-cultural communication and our restorative discipline practice.
• Oversee the continued development of affinity and interest groups for students, parents, faculty, and staff.
• Collaborate with the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid to further increase and support student diversity and access to all aspects of school life.
• Partner with the advancement office to extend outreach to graduates
• Serve as a member of the Student Services team and as a resource to the school counselors regarding cross-cultural issues that may emerge in their practices.
• Serve as a general resource to the community for matters of diversity, equity, inclusion, and multicultural practices.
• Serve on the ­Diversity and Access Board Committee (DAC).
• Chair the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (DEI) faculty and staff committee.
• Serve on the Senior Administrative and Emergency Response teams.

Qualifications - Ideal Candidates...

• Have a master’s degree (preferred), along with a minimum of three years of school administrative experience in diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Have participated in in-depth training in diversity, equity, inclusion, and multicultural practices at nationally recognized seminars and workshops.
• Work with faculty and young people in a secondary school environment with joy and enthusiasm.
• Communicate clearly and effectively both verbally and in writing.
• Can speak to the complexities of equity and inclusion work in the context of independent schools.
• Cultivate strong and collegial relationships with all community members in a culturally responsive manner.
• Facilitate courageous conversations with and between community members
• Create, implement, and sustain inclusive and equitable policies and programs in line with school mission generated with strategic and systemic thinking skills.
• Coordinate programs and projects across multiple academic and non-academic departments with strong organizational skills.
• Counsel students and community members on matters related to identity based harm using practices rooted in restorative justice.
• Facilitate adult learning in culturally responsive practices.
• Facilitate conversations with students that increase their understanding of cultural competence and build leadership skills.
• Give voice to matters of diversity, equity, inclusion, and multicultural practices rooted in current research and successful implementation of strategies currently shaping Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice work in schools.
• Advocate for, review, and implement more inclusive hiring, recruitment, and retention practices.
• Seek to know, understand and serve the social-emotional needs of the whole child
• Uses student-centered approaches to teaching along with a depth of content expertise to design meaningful learning experiences that foster a passion for learning in students in line with our Four Attributes of Excellent Teaching.
• Demonstrate an ongoing commitment to the reflective, iterative nature of teaching and thus seek continuous growth and development as a lifelong learner.
• Embrace the school’s culture as an engaged, energetic, and thoughtful community member.
• Must be available to engage fully with our onboarding process.

How To Apply:

This search is being conducted exclusively by CalWest Educators Placement.  Please send a resume and cover letter to our search consultant, Dr. Shoshanna Lurie at slurie@calwesteducators.com.