Director of Environmental Sustainability

Title: Director of Environmental Sustainability

Reports To: Assistant Head of School

The Miami Valley School (MVS). Our mission is to challenge young people of promise to become self-sustaining learners and compassionate global citizens. For almost 60 years, MVS has provided a unique learning option for families in the Dayton, Ohio, community. Here, faculty are educators who are ready to help refine a truly differentiated educational opportunity as MVS becomes a nationally-recognized leader in experience-based learning. Here, every member of the MVS community is committed to transformative immersive learning in the classroom and during our Immersion term. Equally important is our commitment to Social Emotional Learning (SEL), through which our students learn the skills and competencies necessary to navigate an ever-shifting world with confidence and curiosity. Here, we learn because we do.

The Role. The Director of Environmental Sustainability works collaboratively with the leadership team, faculty, and staff to create a shared vision of weaving environmental sustainability in the Zorniger Lab into classrooms across all disciplines and divisions. MVS seeks an innovative and multi-culturally inclusive Director of Environmental Sustainability. This inspiring, creative person should be committed to developing, implementing, and leading an environmental sustainability program across all grade levels from early childhood through upper school. The director must be a passionate and skillful teacher, who is eager to invest their talents in our students. The Director must establish a supportive and engaging environment for all MVS students, demonstrate the ability to create developmentally appropriate curricula, work collaboratively with colleagues and parents, have excellent communication skills, and demonstrate a teaching proficiency and comfort with a variety of different teaching and learning styles.

This individual works to establish and nourish a culture of Environmental Sustainability at MVS, supporting students, faculty, and staff to actively espouse environmental initiatives when on campus. In addition, the Director is heavily involved in implementing campus-wide sustainability initiatives, planning and envisioning for the future. This includes grant writing for sustainability initiatives, the generation of new sustainability initiatives for the school and ideas for professional development opportunities for employees. It may also include involvement in the Board Facilities Committee and Campus Master Planning initiatives.

Finally, the Director of Environmental Sustainability oversees maintenance of the greenhouse facility and the associated gardens.

The Opportunity. All members of MVS' vibrant employee cohort bring the school's mission and vision to life each day for students and families in the Dayton community. Each day we live out our mission through our core values: integrity, celebration, grit, and kindness. As a part of our dynamic team, you will have the opportunity to:

• Expand Global Leadership. MVS is known for its academic and extracurricular programming, and with you on our team, we will continue to grow with our students as leaders of Global Citizenship and stewards of civil discourse.
• Enhance Cultural Experiences. Through your multicultural lens and passion for experiences in which students can be empathetic, you will support students in cultivating a sense of courage to experience the world, explore passions, and dive deep into content.
• Develop Character and Wellness. To support the overall wellness of our vibrant community, you'll have the opportunity to meaningfully connect and collaborate with students and families. As director of Environmental Sustainability, you will help assure social emotional learning and student well being is at the forefront of our work for all learners.
• Innovate. As we continue to develop our Immersive Learning programming, you will be part of a team that is enhancing professional learning nationwide and becoming a thought leader for immersive learning experiences that stretch beyond the traditional school experience.
• Couple Academic Rigor with Increased Accessibility. Through your intentional support and empowerment our students will explore their unique learning needs, utilize critical thinking, and begin to think about and create solutions for today's pressing challenges.
• Collaborate as part of a World-Class Team. In your role at MVS, you will work alongside dedicated faculty who have taught and learned all over the world and in a variety of school contexts. Your colleagues are artists, researchers, entrepreneurs, published authors, professional musicians, armed services veterans, and thespians. Most importantly, they are compassionate and caring educators committed to lifelong learning.
• And of course, you will get to make an impact! As Director of Environmental Sustainability, you will get to join young people on their journey through discovering their sense of self, building healthy relationships, and growing both personally and socially. You will have the privilege of being a supportive resource and guidepost for students, families, faculty and staff.

Expectations:

• Demonstrate an ability to develop rapport with other members of the leadership team, faculty, and staff and garner the respect of peers
• Demonstrate an ability to develop rapport with students
• Commit to ongoing professional development in environmental sustainability
• Effectively communicate with the MVS community about environmental sustainability both verbally and in writing, including prospective and current parents and alumni
• Demonstrate a strong knowledge of gardening, the environment, and of innovative sustainability and green practices
• Willingness to assist with the physical labor of tending a quarter acre garden
• Pursue grant opportunities for environmental sustainability initiatives as they arise
• Pursue partnerships with outside organizations
• Provide and/or plan professional development for MVS employees and students
• Embraces the vision of Mastery Teaching and Mastery Performance in their daily activities

Primary Responsibilities:

• Design and develop the Z-lab and its gardens as an immersive learning center, teaching space, and the resource to the school and community
• Oversee an environmental sustainability education program for early childhood through upper school students
• Develop, implement, and teach an environmental sustainability program for middle and upper school students
• Support faculty integration of environmental sustainability issues and garden activities into their classroom across all divisions and disciplines
• Develop a seasonal maintenance plan for the Z Lab facilities and surrounding gardens
• Oversee garden planning and maintenance
• Public speaking
• Other duties and committee work as assigned

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in a related field
• Experience with gardening practices and environmental issues, preferably in a school garden setting
• Teaching experience with children ages 3-18
• Demonstrate computer literacy and proficiency (e.g., Google suite of applications, student information systems and online grade book programs)

Benefits. This is a full-time opportunity that provides a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, and vision plans, a matching 403(b) program, and 50% tuition remission for the children of employees, and more!

Take the Next Step. Share this opportunity with your network! Learn more about our school by clicking on the Interested and qualified applicants should submit a completed , cover letter, resume, outlining your suitability for the position and interest in the mission of the school to lisa.garvic@miamivalleyschool.org. Please do not call the school directly.

Bring Your Whole Self. MVS is committed to the Dayton community and to our mission and vision. We are proud to be an equal-opportunity workplace and will not discriminate on any basis. We seek qualified candidates from a myriad of backgrounds to join our dynamic team.