Shader Croft School, a small, progressive, nonprofit in Burlington Vermont, seeks an Executive Director.  Now in our twentieth year, we operate a research-based experiential summer program for at-risk adolescents with a focus on literacy, personal development, and community building. We draw approximately 48 students from our surrounding schools and run our program at four sites with 12 students per group and a 3:1 student-teacher ratio.

What is so unique and successful about Shader Croft is the way that we integrate literacy with personal development. In addition to attending daily classes in reading, writing, and public speaking, each student is invited to identify a passion they wish to explore over the next five weeks. They research it, write about it, and with a teacher’s help, identify and make contact with a suitable community mentor. Each student then spends several weeks designing a field trip to the mentor’s worksite. Lastly, the student leads their classmates on the field trip to the worksite where they co-lead a hands-on introductory experience in that skill.  Areas of interest have included home-building, baking, 3D printing, broadcasting, and glass blowing.

Born from passion for middle school education and fueled by frustration with regression in basic academics evidenced by students without summer opportunities, Shader Croft was founded in 2001 to help at-risk adolescents improve their literacy and personal development skills and, in turn, increase their chances of success in school.

Our five-week, experiential learning summer program, with proven results, shrinks the achievement gap and provides learning and development equity for participating at-risk middle school students who are below grade level proficiency in any or all the following areas:  reading comprehension, word knowledge, written and oral expression, have no access to engaging and appropriate summer programming and are at risk of school failure and dropping out.  The program expanded in 2015 to include sections specifically for New Americans who are English Language Learners.  Students are referred through our partnership with local school districts.

This opportunity is ideal for the educational leader wishing to empower middle-school students to become lifelong learners through a student-centered approach.  We are looking for an enthusiastic, talented, innovative, community-focused educator who will embrace and build on Shader Croft’s successful model.   Responsibilities include managing the Shader Croft vision and directing all aspects of the summer program including partnering with schools, recruiting students, hiring and supporting summer teachers, developing curriculum, managing finances, leading the marketing and fundraising, and collaborating with the Board of Directors.

This position is currently part time January–May and August–December. It is full time late June through July.  There is potential to grow the program with year-round offerings, supported by a full-time Executive Director, depending on the interest and skill-set of the candidate.  The new Executive Director will begin no later than June 15 in order to fully experience the summer 2021 program, which will be coordinated under the direction of the current Shader Croft leadership before transitioning to full responsibility.  Salary commensurate with experience.

Shader Croft is strongly committed to non-discrimination and equal opportunity in all employment actions without regard to race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, place of birth, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identification, or disabling condition. We are committed to fostering an inclusive culture.  What matters to us is that you feel respected and appreciated and feel support and commitment from others so that you can do your best work.

To Apply:  Qualified candidates should submit a cover letter, resume, and contact information for three professional references to Janet Francis (janet@shadercroftschool.org).  Please use “Shader Croft School ED Application” in the subject line.  The Hiring Committee will begin reviewing application immediately.  The job posting will close on May 1, 2021.