New Job Director Of Enrollment In Connecticut
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| Director of Enrollment |
Director of Enrollment
Company : The Taft School
Salary : Details not provided
Location : Connecticut
Full Description
Director of Enrollment
The Taft School
Watertown, CT
THE SEARCH
The Taft School (Taft), one of the nation’s premier college-preparatory
boarding and day schools, seeks
an entrepreneurial, data-driven, strategic enrollment leader to serve as its
next Director of Enrollment
("Director”). The Director will build upon the incredible legacy of outgoing
admissions director, Peter Frew
’75, who has worked in Taft Admissions since 1985 and has led Taft in
enrolling exceptional, competitive,
and diverse classes since 2010. Inheriting a committed team and joining a
devoted community, the
incoming Director will steer Taft through its next successful chapter, deftly
melding the art and science of
enrollment, honoring the full lifecycle of a student’s journey, and stewarding
the tremendous
responsibility of selecting Taft’s next generation.
The Taft School was founded in 1890 by Horace D. Taft who believed that
character, above all else,
determined success in life. Nearly 135 years later, Taft students, or Tafties
as they are colloquially known,
continue to live out the School’s motto of “Not to be served, but to serve”
both in and out of the
classroom. Collectively, Taft students and alumni seek to better the world
around them on a local,
national, and international scale through engagement in the Watertown
community and contributions to
global inquiry. Taft’s 580 students enjoy a beautiful Collegiate Gothic
campus, exceptional faculty,
rigorous academic curriculum, and art and athletic programs that compete on a
national scale. After Taft,
they are admitted to the nation’s most prestigious institutions.
Taft’s appeal is strong, as evidenced by its 1,700 annual applications and 16
percent acceptance rate. The
campus attracts a mix of boarding and day students and prioritizes enrolling
diverse classes: 24 percent
of students identify as domestic students of color; 18 percent are
international students, hailing from 60
different countries; and 35 percent of the student body receives financial
aid. As of June 2023, Taft boasts
an endowment of $300 million, one of the top 15 boarding school endowments in
the nation. Taft
maintains an annual operating budget of approximately $50 million. The
School’s strong tradition of
alumni giving, with 35 percent of alumni donating annually, ensures its
ability to sustain excellence for the
coming generations. Additionally, more than 90% of Taft’s current parents
contribute annually to the
Parents’ Fund.
In July 2023, the Taft School welcomed Peter Becker ’95 as its sixth Head of
School. Mr. Becker is a strong
believer in the transformative role a Taft education can play in the
intellectual and moral formation of its
bright and cordial student body. He is committed to strengthening Taft’s
welcoming and inclusive
educational community of diverse leaders and critical thinkers. The next
Director of Enrollment will report
directly to and work alongside Mr. Becker to write Taft’s next chapter and
strategic plan.
Taft has retained Isaacson, Miller, a national executive search firm, to
assist in the recruitment of the
Director of Enrollment. Please direct all inquiries, nominations, and
applications to the search firm, as
indicated at the end of this document. The target salary range for this role
is $185,000 to $205,000 and
will be commensurate with experience.
The Taft School, Director of Enrollment
Page 2 of 6
**HISTORY & OVERVIEW **
The Taft School opened its doors in 1890 with a broad yet singular mission: to
educate the whole student.
Originally known as Mr. Taft’s School, Taft was founded by Mrs. Robert Black
near the turn of the century.
She fortuitously asked her friend, Horace D. Taft, a Yale-educated teacher,
and brother of the future 27th
US President, to lead the school. He accepted the job with enthusiasm, and for
46 years, he led Taft as
Head of School through several name changes, campus moves, and new waves of
students.
Throughout his tenure as school leader, Mr. Horace Taft remained committed to
the holistic education
The Taft School provided its students – both through rigorous academics in the
classroom and
extracurricular learning in clubs, sports, hallways, and dorms. To this day,
Taft students graduate with a
sense of self, sense of place, and readiness to take on the world.
Taft’s 226-acre campus features historic buildings with state-of-the-art and
sustainable technologies.
Notable buildings include: the Lady Ivy Kwok Wu Science and Mathematics
Center, measuring at 48,000
square feet and featuring a PCR machine for DNA replication and an aquatic
biomes center; the STEM
Laboratory which houses three hi-tech makerspaces, a laser cutter, CNC
machine, 3D printer, and
interactive smart tools; and the Hulbert Taft Jr. Library with 58,000 volumes
and full text databases with
access to more than 12,000 periodical articles. Additionally, the campus
features multiple dance and art
studios, two theaters, 16 tennis courts, two field houses, two ice rinks, and
an 18-hole golf course. A key
feature of Taft’s architecture and culture is Main Hall, through which every
student and teacher walks
multiple times each day.
The Taft community is comprised of around 580 students in grades 9-12 and a
small group of post
graduate students. With 131 faculty, Taft students benefit from a 5 to 1
faculty ratio. While most students
board (five-sixths of the student body), the remaining one-sixth commute daily
from neighboring towns.
Taft receives around 1,700 new student applications per year, 45 percent of
which are from private
schools and 55 percent from public schools. Annual tuition is $72,000 for
boarding students and $53,500
for day students. The Taft School offers generous financial aid and 35 percent
of its students benefit, with
financial awards totaling over $10.5M. For students receiving financial aid,
the average award for boarding
and day students are $58,250 and $34,250, respectively.
The Taft School is located in Watertown, a historic and rural western
Connecticut town with just over
20,000 residents. Its location allows easy access to the conveniences and
cultural attractions of
Connecticut’s larger cities and towns and the beautiful hills and open spaces
of northwest Connecticut
and the Southern Berkshires. Taft is less than an hour away from Hartford’s
Bradley International Airport
and less than thirty minutes away from both Amtrak and Metro-North train
stops. Conveniently, Taft is
also located two hours from New York City and 2.5 hours from Boston.
ACADEMIC AND CO-CURRICULAR PROGRAMS
At the core of Taft’s mission to educate the whole person lies an emphasis on
high scholarship and
intellectual endeavor, along with the belief that character, above all else,
determines success in life. Taft
translates that mission into a roadmap for learning that is bolstered by a
broad, evolving, and innovative
curriculum. This is further advanced by a robust Honor Code, and built on a
strong intellectual and
academic foundation, all of which is brought to life by a dedicated and caring
faculty, made up of highly
educated experts in their respective fields.
The Taft School, Director of Enrollment
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Courses at Taft are spread out across seven academic departments: Arts,
English, Global Studies and
Service, History, Mathematics, Science, and World Language. Each semester,
students choose from more
than 200 one-unit courses to fulfill the school’s 26-unit graduation
requirement. To graduate, Taft
students are required to take one unit of English every semester, along with
four units of History, four
units of Laboratory Science, Level III of a World Language, Algebra II and
Trigonometry, and four units of
Arts. Taft offers one of the nation’s first independent study programs, which,
for more than fifty years,
has allowed students to pursue their passions through high-level, inquiry-
based, self-directed courses of
study. Taft students may also choose to study away from Taft for a semester or
two and/or enroll in Global
Online Academy classes. Students may elect to participate in the two-year
Global Leadership Institute
(GLI), a competitive co-curricular program linking Taft and Waterbury public
schools through shared
learning and leadership experience. GLI participants may pursue a Global
Studies and Service Diploma
which pushes its students to engage locally and globally as agents of social
change.
Additionally, Taft’s experiential and applied learning opportunities prepare
students from Grade 9 and
onward not only to thrive in the 21st century, but also to lead the way as
globally literate, intellectually
robust, and ethically principled graduates and citizens of an increasingly
interconnected world
community. A hallmark of Taft’s academic approach is the continuous evaluation
and modification of its
academic program to reflect the most advanced teaching and learning
methodologies, while providing
students with unique opportunities to pursue their passions. As previously
mentioned, students are also
guided by a campus Honor Code informed by Taft’s core tenet of “character,
above all else, determines
success in life.” Every assessment, whether daily homework or a final exam,
ends with the student’s
written pledge: “I have neither given nor received aid on this assignment,” a
testament and commitment
to the importance of honesty and integrity.
Academically and co-curricularly, Taft students are surrounded by the arts.
They may pursue artistic
inquiry in a wide range of disciplines, from ceramics and sculpture to design
and drawing, from dance and
music to theater and video arts. Academic courses in the arts support the
school's mission of educating
the whole person and are required to graduate. Opportunities outside of the
classroom—from concerts
and theater to gallery exhibits and travel—not only broaden and enhance
learning, but also bring energy,
culture, creativity, and balance.
Taft’s athletic program is also an integral component of school life. Students
at Taft participate in athletics
at all levels—from intramural programs to 27 competitive varsity teams. All
students are taught the value
of health and wellness, the importance of a lifelong commitment to fitness,
and the enjoyment that
participating in all forms of athletics can bring. Taft coaches have built one
of the most successful athletic
programs in New England and encourage fair play, respect for opponents, a love
of the game, competitive
spirit, and team loyalty. As a result, students leave Taft with an
understanding of hard work and good
sportsmanship, a sense of responsibility to one’s team and teammates, the
ability to set goals, and an
overall commitment to healthy living through physical activity.
**LEADERSHIP & GOVERNANCE **
On July 1, 2023, Peter Becker ’95 began his tenure as Taft’s sixth Head of
School. He received a B.A. with
Distinction in Religious Studies from the University of Virginia and an M.A.
in History from Yale University.
He was awarded a Fulbright Grant to study classical history, architecture, and
archeology at the American
Academy in Rome, Italy. After working briefly as an investment banking
analyst, Becker first worked with
independent school students while on the staff of FOCUS (the Fellowship of
Christians in Universities and
Schools). He began his boarding school career in 2003 at The Lawrenceville
School. In 2012, Becker was
The Taft School, Director of Enrollment
Page 4 of 6
appointed Head of School at The Frederick Gunn School, where he left a legacy
of school innovation,
improvement, and change. Becker is also a leader in the independent school
educational landscape,
attending and presenting at professional conferences, and serving or having
served on the board of The
Association of Boarding Schools (TABS), the Connecticut Association of
Independent Schools (CAIS), The
Washington Montessori School and as a member of the Heads and Principals
Association.
Taft is governed by a dedicated Board of Trustees. Nearly all 35 trustees are
Taft alumni or parents of Taft
graduates. They bring important expertise, insight, and a personal commitment
to guiding the Taft
School’s future. The Board operates through a committee structure, which
includes an Admissions
Committee for which the Director of Enrollment serves as a liaison.
DIRECTOR OF ENROLLMENT ROLE
Reporting directly to the Head of School and leading the 20-member Office of
Admission and Financial
Aid, the Director of Enrollment is responsible for maintaining and
strengthening Taft’s position in the
independent school marketplace by enrolling and retaining stellar students and
by serving as one of the
school’s most visible ambassadors. Under the direction of retiring Director of
Admissions, Peter Frew ‘75,
Taft’s Office of Admission has successfully reinforced Taft’s appeal,
identifying and enrolling the strongest
and most selective, diverse, and international classes in Taft’s history.
Although the School benefits from
its strong position in the Northeast US boarding market, its community
represents students from 31 states
and 60 countries. As one of the first boarding schools to establish
relationships abroad, its robust
international community remains a point of pride.
Even with these strengths, Taft must continue to support and uphold its place
in the national and
international market through the next decades of demographic shifts and
increased competition for
exceptional boarding students, both those receiving financial aid and full-
pay. To achieve this, the Director
must lead the Admissions team to build and sustain a pipeline of students who
excel in all aspects of
student life and will be great contributors to Taft’s culture.
**OPPORTUNITIES & CHALLENGES **
The primary opportunities and challenges for the director include, but are not limited to, the following :
Lead and mentor a talented office of professionals, assessing their approach to work and refining their approaches.
The Director of Enrollment will inherit a talented team of 20 admissions and
financial aid professionals—
17 of whom are admissions officers and 3 of whom are staff critical to the
operation of the Office.
Admissions officers at Taft are often double and triple threats, serving in
this important capacity while
also coaching, teaching, and serving as dorm parents. To continue to sharpen
the team’s skillsets, the
incoming Director will strengthen onboarding and professional development
opportunities. Furthermore,
they will build structure and definition within the Office through defined
policies and procedures, a culture
of transparency, and regular staff touchpoints.
How do I create a long-term admissions and financial aid strategy that delivers on your company's long term goals?
The Taft community is rich in diversity and perspective and the institution’s
reputation attracts students
from far afield. However, as demographic shifts continue to take hold of the
northeastern United States
and beyond, Taft must remain competitive and forecast ahead. The incoming
Director will thoughtfully
assess where Taft invests to grow its market share, specifically considering
growing areas wherein Taft
does not invest currently. In designing an enrollment strategy, the incoming
Director will also reflect on
The Taft School, Director of Enrollment
Page 5 of 6
the current distribution of financial aid dollars and reallocate funds as
necessary to achieve the school’s
enrollment goals. The Director will ensure that Taft continues to enroll
diverse classes of engaged students
and citizens for years to come while working with other senior administrators
and the Board of Trustees
to steward the financial wellbeing of the institution.
And to develop and grow data-driven systems, procedures, and policies to guide full-cycle enrollment.
The next Director will bring a systems-thinker framework to Taft, assessing
current admissions operations
and modernizing the collection, analysis, and preparation of enrollment data
to evaluate admissions and
recruitment activities, enrollment forecasts, and financial aid packaging and
policies. The Director will
infuse a culture of data not just within the Office of Admission but also
across the senior leadership team
and Board of Trustees.
As a senior member of the senior leadership team, you serve as an executive.
The Director of Enrollment will serve as a key partner to the Head of School
and other members of the
senior leadership team. Key collaborations include working with the Chief
Financial Officer on matters
related to enrollment and financial aid strategies, as well as retention and
reenrollment of the current
student body. Another important partnership will be with the Chief Advancement
Officer to involve
alumni of all backgrounds in recruitment and yield efforts, advancing a
streamlined approach to
cultivation and engagement. Alongside the senior leadership team, the Head of
School, and the Board of
Trustees, the Director of Enrollment will serve as an indispensable voice in
Taft’s upcoming strategic
planning process as Taft’s enrollment expert.
This story needs your help to tell its accurate, creative and excellent story.
Building on the excellent work of Taft’s Marketing and Communications Team,
the incoming Director will
bring strategic and innovative alignment to Taft’s brand and identity.
Internally and externally, Taft must
continue to sharpen how it tells the Taft story, impacting the School’s
ability to recruit, yield, support, and
retain its students. Attention to the full enrollment cycle will be critical
as the independent boarding
school market becomes more competitive each year. The incoming Director will
think critically about how
to deliver on and communicate the value of a Taft experience for students and
families at every point of
the enrollment lifecycle, including recruitment, yield, onboarding, and
retention, through a strengthened
programming and a communications strategy.
The school and other partners support the student.
As the institution’s enrollment manager, the next Director will be involved in
campus-wide conversations
related to student success. Partnering with offices across the community
including, but not limited to
College Counseling; Community, Justice, and Belonging; Counseling Services;
Moorhead Academic Center;
and Student Life, the incoming Director will center conversations around the
importance of building a
culture of student success at Taft. Topics such as college matriculation
outcomes, coordinated summer
communications, ascertaining campus supports for applicants, and ensuring that
campus offerings align
with student needs are all appropriate conversations as this hire helps Taft
coordinate across departments
to deliver on its promise to educate the whole student.
**QUALIFICATIONS & CHARACTERISTICS **
The ideal candidate will be an experienced and effective leader, skilled at
enrollment management and
capable of serving as a compelling ambassador and external face for Taft. The
candidate must embrace
Taft’s mission and values and fully engage in the life and rhythms of a
boarding school community. Strong
candidates will bring many of the following skills and attributes to address
the above priorities:
The Taft School, Director of Enrollment
Page 6 of 6
Professional Experience
- Significant and substantial experience in leadership of a sophisticated organization.
admissions and financial aid office. Experience in a comprehensive boarding
school, other
independent school, or higher education setting is strongly preferred. ****
- Experience in developing strategic admissions and financial aid models, a capacity to move.
projects forward successfully and projects confidence in the face of organizational change.
- Experience in managing net tuition revenues.
for financial aid. ****
- Diversity in a student body, along with a deep understanding of diversity: evidence of building and sustaining diversity.
The educational value of a diverse community.
- Demonstrated record of working collaboratively across divisions and departments with people from:
diverse backgrounds, skills and roles. ****
-
*** Experience in navigating and leading institutional change.
-
A consulting and motivational management style with a proven record of leading, mentoring and leading.
A strong team that provides outstanding service to all stakeholders.
- As an ambassador for a school community, I share comfort and knowledge with students, families, and alumni.
The ability to understand and represent a school externally.
- Experience in local, regional and national enrollment trends and fluency with policy and practice.
in financial aid; familiarization with emerging issues in independent and boarding education. ****
- Experience with software systems that support recruitment, application review and financial aid. *
Personal Qualities
-
Excellent communication skills, systems thinking and excellent organizational skills.
-
A curious and innovative mind, coupled with strong analytical skills.
-
An enthusiastic champion of the transformative nature of boarding school education.
-
A person who is passionate about education, and skilled at connecting with teenagers.
-
Enthusiasm, optimism, charisma, and a sense of humour.
-
integrity and the highest ethical, moral and professional standards.
Research shows that people belonging to structurally marginalized groups often
only apply to jobs if they
meet 100% of the qualifications. As no one ever meets 100% of the
qualifications, we encourage you to
apply if you feel that most of the above qualifications reflect your
experience and expertise.
TO APPLY
All inquiries, nominations, referrals, and applications (resumes and letters
of interest) should be sent to
electronically and in confidence to:
Carrie Alexander, Diana Carmona, and Nathaniel Rodriguez Sosa of Isaacson,
Miller
https://www.imsearch.com/open-searches/taft-school/director-enrollment
The school is fully accredited by the ANA. The New England Association of Colleges and Schools. School is an elementary school located in Taft.
In accordance with regulations adopted by the Commission on Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action-Equal Opportunity Employer.
and human rights and opportunities. It is the policy of The School of Arts and Technology to provide equal opportunities for all students, he said.
All individuals are qualified without regard to their age, gender, race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, or other actual physical features.
perceived disability, marital status, sexual orientation or gender identity, transgender status and/or expression, veteran's status.
predisposition, or any other class protected by law.