The Evergreen School is currently accepting applications for Director of Enrollment Management.
Our Mission
We inspire highly capable, creative learners to lead with curiosity, compassion, and courage in a diverse and dynamic world.
About the Organization
Located just north of Seattle in Shoreline, Washington, The Evergreen School has been educating highly capable, creative learners for nearly 60 years. Our students love to ask questions, and our teachers use that natural curiosity to craft engaging lessons and spark thought-provoking conversations. Evergreen’s program infuses challenging academics with foundational support for social skills, emotional well-being, a multicultural perspective, and empathy for others. Our students think deeply, take intellectual risks, and tackle complex problems. They learn how to self-advocate, collaborate with others and understand and respect differences. Evergreen graduates move on to high school and beyond with confidence, ready to contribute to a diverse and dynamic world.
Community
At Evergreen, our goal is to curate a culture where every person feels fully welcomed and encouraged to participate in every aspect of the community. We actively seek and support students, families, faculty, staff and trustees who bring a diversity of identity into our community. Our mission makes it essential that we skillfully deliver an inclusive, culturally responsive educational program that teaches respect for others, empowers students of all backgrounds equitably, encourages social responsibility, and prepares students to be leaders in an interdependent global community. We seek candidates who demonstrate a commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive learning environment that embraces and values the diversity within our community.
The Opportunity The Evergreen School is seeking an enthusiastic, warm, strategic, culturally competent, and creative leader to envision how to best share Evergreen’s compelling stories and programs with prospective students and their families and to competitively position Evergreen in the Seattle area market. The next director of enrollment management will inherit a very strong Admission program with full enrollment and wait-lists at many grade levels. Evergreen had a 6.3% attrition rate for the 2022-23 school year, which is significantly lower than the 10% average for independent elementary/middle schools nationally. Sibling and legacy applicants at Evergreen have greatly increased in the last 10 years and, even at our largest entry points in preschool, prekindergarten and kindergarten and sixth grade, Evergreen has very few openings. Entry to other grades is usually by attrition only.
However, the increase in the number of applicants over the last few years also poses logistical challenges, as well, the number of sibling applicants and the few openings make it more difficult to diversify the student population. In the area of early childhood, the school is considering expanding the size and structure of the PS program so analysis will be needed to determine whether there is market demand to meet this planned growth. Additionally, the school needs to do more to market the 6th grade as an entry point to offset those students who leave for 6-12 institutions.
Duties and Responsibilities
The director of enrollment management will report directly to the head of school and they will supervise the associate director of enrollment management. They must be committed to developing and practicing cultural competence in their work, collaboration, and leadership. The director of enrollment management oversees the admission and enrollment management efforts in accordance with Evergreen’s mission, strategic plan, and short- and long-term enrollment objectives. As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, they will work collaboratively with team members and attend weekly team meetings. They will work closely with the head of school and the Board of Trustees to support all enrollment management and admissions efforts. Duties include but are not limited to:
Primary:
Admission Administration: Oversee all admission office activities including policies, processes, databases and budgeting.
Manage admission season including: marketing, tours and open houses, receiving and reviewing applications, assessment of prospective students, interviewing of prospective parents, admission committee coordination, partnering with the director of diversity to provide anti-bias training to committee members, interpreting IQ scores and communicating with families about mission appropriateness of the applicant, admission decisions, wait-pool management, registration of new and current families, and welcoming new families.
Develop and execute a personalized, culturally competent, high-touch follow-up system to steward prospective families through the enrollment process.
Serves as a member of the Financial Aid Committee.
Work closely with division heads, faculty and staff, current parents and students to create and manage events to retain and recruit students and families.
Enrollment Management: Design and oversee all retention and recruitment activities of the school in order to meet enrollment objectives and the strategic goals, which include building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community.
Use a data-driven approach to enrollment management to set short- and long-term enrollment and retention goals.
Form and maintain strong relationships with current and prospective families, fellow admissions professionals, educational consultants, relevant community organizations, local preschools,
Prekindergarten Moving Up Process: Coordinate and collaborate with the primary division head on annual IQ testing for current prekindergarten students.
Review test scores in conjunction with the head of school, primary division head, primary division counselor and parents.
Manage communication to parents.
elementary schools and high schools in order to enhance enrollment.
Track and prepare admissions statistics and trends for presentations to administration, faculty, Board of Trustees and the Parent Guardian Association.
Secondary:
Identification of Highly Capable Students: Continue the work of building an inclusive process for the recruitment, identification, and admissions of highly capable students.
Stay abreast of developments in the area of IQ testing and the identification of gifted students, with the goal of continuing to build an inclusive admissions process that focuses on yielding a diverse applicant pool and ultimately a diverse body of enrolled students.
Marketing and Advertising: Partner with the director of communications to devise and implement Evergreen’s annual marketing and advertising strategy, including print materials, tours, and open houses to promote Evergreen’s strengths and distinguishing characteristics.
Collaborate with division heads, faculty, and facilities on campus appearance.
Collaborate with Puget Sound Independent Schools colleagues in admission activities such as common advertising, dates and applications.
Lead open houses and attend area school fairs, which requires local travel and frequent evening and weekend work during the busy admission season of September through February.
High School Placement Counseling: Partner with upper division head and associate upper division head in counseling and coaching 8th grade students and parents on high school applications.
Share information through guest speakers including external, internal and alumni, beginning in grade 6.
Inform families of high school recruitment activities.
Counseling requires working a few evenings.
Other school-related duties as needed: Participate in drop off/pick up procedure and other duties as needed.
Experience, Education and Desirable Skills
Studies have shown that people of historically marginalized backgrounds are less likely to apply for a position unless they believe they meet every listed requirement. Evergreen is most interested in finding the best candidate for this opportunity and encourages people to apply if they feel they meet most of the following qualifications:
The ideal candidate for this position should:
Hold a bachelor’s degree.
Have a minimum of three to five years of experience working in admissions and/or enrollment management, with preference for early elementary/early childhood experience.
Have a demonstrated ability to plan strategically and develop research-driven strategies followed by successful implementation; a demonstrated ability to use data to inform decision making.
Have demonstrated cultural competence skills that allows them to successfully collaborate across diverse cultures and backgrounds; can build relationships and trust with all families.
Communicate effectively and professionally with a diverse community of children and adults internally and externally, both verbally and in writing.
Have a high level of analytical and organizational skills.
Have a proven track record of efficient project management, including initiating and completing multiple tasks, independently or collaboratively as required, supervising personnel, and managing budgets.
Be open to direction and feedback.
Be able to keep information in the strictest of confidence.
Complete work in a timely, accurate and thorough manner and is conscientious about assignments and deadlines.
Have the ability to work under the pressure of frequent deadlines in a fast paced environment.
Can create and lead online meetings and virtual tours if needed.
Familiarity with Ravenna admission database a plus.
Physical Requirements
Able to lift up to 35 pounds; move around campus, can stand for long periods of time, walk and climb stairs; can sit and work in front of computer screens and talk on telephone for long periods of time; able to use hands for repetitive tasks such as typing.
Equipment Used
Computer (PC), Google Suite
LMS, such as Canvas
Ravenna Systems, Veracross, SSS (financial aid)
ZOOM
Work Hours and Position Details:
Position follows the 12 month work schedule and includes evening and weekend work during admissions season.
This is an exempt, full-time, benefits eligible position beginning July 1, 2023, with a salary in the range of $128,000-$138,000.
Benefits:
School-paid medical and dental insurance and employee paid supplemental vision
School-paid Life, Accidental Death & Dismemberment and Long-Term Disability insurance plus an Employee Assistance Program
403(b) Retirement Plan with a School match of up to 7%
Flexible Savings Account and/or Health Savings Account
Relocation Assistance
Commuter Assistance
Tuition Remission
Infant/toddler care is available on campus (Space limitations apply)
All materials should be sent to [email protected]. Please include Director of Enrollment Management in the subject line.
Applicant Timeline:
Application Deadline: Wednesday, March 29, 2023
Semi-Finalist Interview (via ZOOM):
April 3,4,5,6
Finalist Visit (in person):
Week of April 17th
Any applicant scheduled for an interview will be asked to submit a 500-word (max) answer to the following question:
At Evergreen, our mission calls us to “inspire highly capable, creative learners to lead with curiosity, compassion, and courage in a diverse and dynamic world.” Reflecting on your current or previous experiences, describe a time in which you moved diversity and inclusion efforts forward in that role. How did you approach this effort and what did you learn about yourself during this process? (Please limit your response to 500 words or less.)
*Evergreen will be participating in the virtual Independent School Diversity Career Fair on Saturday, February 11, 2023. For more information and to register visitDiversity Career Fair
Notice of Nondiscrimination
The Evergreen School strives to provide equal opportunity to all employees. The school's policy is not to discriminate in employment based on race, color, sex (including pregnancy), religion, creed, age, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran or military status or any other status protected under applicable local, state or federal law. The School is committed to administering employment decisions, including hiring, promotions, compensation benefits, transfers, layoffs, return from layoffs, terminations, training, sabbaticals, tuition assistance and other programs, without regard to an employee's protected status.
Experience, Education and Desirable Skills
Studies have shown that people of historically marginalized backgrounds are less likely to apply for a position unless they believe they meet every listed requirement. Evergreen is most interested in finding the best candidate for this opportunity and encourages people to apply if they feel they meet most of the following qualifications:
The ideal candidate for this position should:
Hold a bachelor’s degree.
Have a minimum of three to five years of experience working in admissions and/or enrollment management, with preference for early elementary/early childhood experience.
Have a demonstrated ability to plan strategically and develop research-driven strategies followed by successful implementation; a demonstrated ability to use data to inform decision making.
Have demonstrated cultural competence skills that allows them to successfully collaborate across diverse cultures and backgrounds; can build relationships and trust with all families.
Communicate effectively and professionally with a diverse community of children and adults internally and externally, both verbally and in writing.
Have a high level of analytical and organizational skills.
Have a proven track record of efficient project management, including initiating and completing multiple tasks, independently or collaboratively as required, supervising personnel, and managing budgets.
Be open to direction and feedback.
Be able to keep information in the strictest of confidence.
Complete work in a timely, accurate and thorough manner and is conscientious about assignments and deadlines.
Have the ability to work under the pressure of frequent deadlines in a fast paced environment.
Can create and lead online meetings and virtual tours if needed.
Familiarity with Ravenna admission database a plus.
Physical Requirements
Able to lift up to 35 pounds; move around campus, can stand for long periods of time, walk and climb stairs; can sit and work in front of computer screens and talk on telephone for long periods of time; able to use hands for repetitive tasks such as typing.