EXEC SCHOOL DIR & PROF/PKY

Lead the Way at UF, Join Our PK Yonge Developmental Research School Leadership Team!

PK Yonge Developmental Research School is seeking an inspiring and visionary Director to lead our groundbreaking P-12 academic programs, cutting-edge research initiatives, and transformative professional learning experiences. The Executive School Director will lead dynamic workshops and professional development activities for educators, focusing on forward- thinking topics like project-based learning, technology integration, personalized learning, and more. In this Faculty role, you’ll play a key role in shaping the future of education by driving innovative teaching, learning, and curriculum strategies that set a global standard. You’ll spearhead exciting new approaches in pedagogy, curriculum design, and school architecture, all while staying true to our mission of pioneering and sharing best practices in P-12 education.

PK Yonge Developmental Research School, a unit in the College of Education, is a center of innovative educational practice for students, P-12, and serves approximately 1,400 students each year, with approximately 120 faculty and staff. PK Yonge consistently ranks highly and has a rich history of innovation related to teacher professional learning and inquiry to support student success in academics and being well rounded in other pursuits such as athletics, the performing arts, and robotics.

As a public school, PK Yonge is a center of educational innovation for students, P-12. The primary role of the school is to develop, evaluate, and disseminate exemplary programs of education. As described in the Sidney Martin Developmental Research School Act, the mission of developmental research schools is to serve as a vehicle for research, demonstration, and evaluation regarding teaching and learning while utilizing the resources available on a state university campus. PK Yonge promotes high quality, well-rounded educational experience for every student. The vision for its students is that they become creative, dedicated, and resilient learners who embrace the power of diverse ideas, talents, and cultures to improve the world.

The Executive School Director serves as the administrative head and key faculty member of PK Yonge Developmental Research School and is expected to exhibit a vision that results in managing and leading a transformational educational system that serves as a model for innovative teaching and learning locally and globally. The Director engages in strategic planning and provides leadership for PK Yonge’s P-12 academic programs, research initiatives, and service activities. PK Yonge’s professional learning activities serve hundreds of educators each year, from school districts around the state and the nation. Workshops and activities focus on innovative structures for professional learning, literacy, project-based learning, technology integration, student-centered instruction, active learning, student collaboration, personalized learning, Universal Design for Learning, Multi-Tiered System of Supports, inquiry-based science, and student discourse and engagement. The Director is charged with advancing PK Yonge’s innovations in teaching, pedagogy, curriculum, and architecture that are rooted in the school’s mission “to design, test, and disseminate best practices in P-12 education.”

Ideal candidates for this 12-month, faculty position will be expected to lead a dynamic community of P-12 learners and educators. Strong candidates will demonstrate a commitment to innovation and collaboration in school leadership, research, and partnerships.

With advisement from the Dean of the College, the successful candidate will be expected to contribute to and/or lead a myriad of functions including but not limited to:

• Administer and manage financial components such as operating budget, annual instructional purchases, faculty salaries, promotion salary increases, fundraising activities, and state and/or federal grants and compliance.
• Represent PK Yonge’s teaching, research, and service efforts within the College, University of Florida, state, and nation.
• Participate in faculty collective bargaining.
• Serve as the primary liaison with campus and external funding agencies to ensure programs remain well-supported and relevant to the changing educational environment.
• Establish strategic partnerships to pursue new opportunities.
• Engage in advocacy on behalf of PK Yonge and its relations with various entities such as Northeast Florida Education Consortium, PK Yonge School Advisory Council, Florida Department of Education, and University core offices such as General Counsel, Human Resources, and Faculty Union.

The Director will also manage major operational functions, including but not limited to:

• Facility maintenance and repairs
• Completion of campus revitalization
• Communications and networking as related to crisis/emergency events, promotion materials, social media, and other dissemination efforts
• Lead and support all P-12 faculty and staff, inclusive of the school leadership team, IT staff, security staff, athletic programs, and office staff.

Salary is commensurate with education and experience.

The University of Florida offers an elevated benefits package which includes insurance such as health, life, and dental, time away such as paid family leave, vacation, sick leave as well as competitive pension and investment plans.

• An earned doctorate in education or related field
• Administrative experience in a P-12 school system

• Strong evidence of visionary leadership in educational organizations
• A proven record of success in fund-raising and in securing and managing external grants and contracts
• Keen understanding of and/or experience in a university laboratory/Developmental Research School context.
• Effective P-12 classroom experience.
• A recent record of academic scholarship as reflected by publications, conference presentations, and/or service to the educational research community.
• Documented evidence of sustaining the teaching force through deliberate recruitment, development, and retention practices.
• Demonstrated knowledge of best practices for various teaching/learning modalities (e.g., face-to-face, remote, virtual, hybrid, hyflex, synchronous, asynchronous).
• Consistent evidence of a commitment to innovation, collaboration, and consensus-building among key interest holders.

For full consideration, applications must be submitted online and must include all of the following:

• A cover letter addressing the candidate’s qualifications and experience relevant to the role
• Complete CV or resume
• A leadership philosophy statement
• 3 professional references with Name, Title, Email and Phone contact information.

Applications review will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. For best consideration, materials should be submitted by March 3, 2025. Inquiries regarding the position can be directed to the search committee chair, Associate Dean Erica McCray via email at edm@coe.ufl.edu.

The final candidate is required to provide official transcript to the hiring department upon hire. A transcript will not be considered “official” if a designation of “Issued to Student” is visible. Degrees earned from an education institution outside of the United States are required to be evaluated by a professional credentialing service provider approved by National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES), which can be found at http://www.naces.org/.

The “government in the sunshine” laws of Florida require that all documents relating to the search process, including letters of application/nomination and reference, be available for public inspection upon request.