head of school - MMI Preparatory School

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HEAD OF
SCHOOL
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About MMI Preparatory School:
MMI Preparatory School is a co-educational independent
day school serving 254 students in grades 6-12. The school
focuses on giving students a chance to grow and thrive in an
environment that prepares them for success in college and
life.
In its 137-year history, MMI has maintained a tradition
of excellence while embracing innovation in education.
Founded as the Mining and Mechanical Institute by engineer
and businessman Eckley B. Coxe, and further developed
by his wife Sophia, the school provided local workers with
training and advancement opportunities in the Pennsylvania
coal mining industry.
Today, MMI is a college preparatory school, and its mission
and culture remain true to the vision of its founders: to
provide a quality education to motivated young people
regardless of socioeconomic status. Through a rigorous
academic program, and with a strong emphasis on characterbuilding, MMI empowers its students to realize their full
potential and to be good citizens in their communities.
The school currently enjoys strong enrollment, experienced
faculty and staff who are committed to making a difference
in the lives of students, wait pools in many grades, and
longstanding community support.
“The advancement and diffusion of knowledge… is the only guardian of true liberty.”
– James Madison
“Citizenship is what makes a republic; monarchies can get along without it.”
– Mark Twain
MMI’s Mission
To provide dedicated area students with a comprehensive and inspiring sixth to twelfth grade college preparatory program
that maximizes each individual’s academic, social, and character potential in preparation for success in college and beyond.
MMI Fast Facts
• 254 students in 6th through 12th grade
• Student/faculty ratio: 11:1
• Average class size: 14.5
• 21 full-time faculty, seven part-time faculty members – 18 hold
master’s degrees
• Experienced professional staff
• $20 million plus endowment
• $4.2 million operating budget
• 2016 SAT average score: 1708
The 2015 state average was 1481 and the national average
was 1490
2015 ACT average score: 25. The 2014 state average was 22
and the national average was 21
• 2016-2017 need-based financial aid: $954,160 distributed
among 132 students
• In the last 12 years, 99.3 percent of MMI graduates have gone
on to attend colleges and universities
• The 31 graduates of 2016 earned more than $5.9 million in
scholarships
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About the Position
The Board of Directors of MMI Preparatory School seeks a dynamic Head of School with strong
leadership skills and proven executive ability.
From the beginning, MMI Preparatory School has been in the business of improving lives... and:
• Creating opportunities to unlock the potential of each and every student
• Recognizing ability and fostering talent so that dreams can be realized
• Proposing that if a student has the desire and is willing to do the work to succeed, a world-class MMI
education can be theirs
Our unique small-school environment makes it possible to know each student personally and to share,
with a great satisfaction, in the enormous impact an MMI education has on their life
We seek a talented Head of School who is committed to:
• Helping students achieve by providing an optimal educational experience to maximize their abilities
• Mentoring faculty and staff by providing professional growth opportunities
• Engaging current and prospective donors by visiting and communicating frequently
• Becoming part of the welcoming, nurturing community in which we’re located
• Embracing the spirit of our generous and far-sighted founders, Eckley and Sophia Coxe, as their legacy
lives on
• Perpetuating a culture of educational excellence and opportunity in which families of all financial
statuses are comfortable
Attributes of MMI’s Head of School
MMI’s next Head of School will exhibit strong leadership skills as he/she embraces and advances MMI’s 137-year tradition of providing a
quality education to dedicated students based on the four pillars of excellence: Academics, Athletics, Activities, and Service that are built on a
foundation of Character.
MMI’s next Head of School will be:
• A chief executive with compelling leadership and organizational skills, as well as academic experience
• A person of high character and integrity who models that behavior for the entire community
• An outgoing leader who enthusiastically embodies MMI’s mission and culture
• An ambassador for the school who is thoroughly embedded in the broader community
• The “face of the school” with the ability to engage current donors and attract and develop potential donors
• A strong communicator with good interpersonal skills, including the ability to interact well with students,
parents, faculty, and staff
• An executive with an understanding of the collaborative Head of School/Board of Directors relationship
• A mentor who places a high priority on professional development for faculty and staff and who keeps
abreast of current trends and best practices in education
• An individual whose primary educational experience is with independent schools
MMI’s Head of School resides in the
President’s Home which is located
right across the street from the school.
The home has recently been renovated.
The position includes full benefits package including housing and tuition remission.
Challenges:
MMI’s next Head of School will:
• Engage in a process to develop and update the school’s strategic plan in a way that continues the school’s strong academic tradition
• Maintain and increase enrollment in an environment with increasing competition from magnet, cyber and improving public schools
• Work with faculty/staff to continually review and update the academic program to remain competitive and build value in an independent
school education
• Maintain accessibility for eligible students while continuing to offer a strong program as well as professional development and competitive
compensation for faculty/staff
The Head of School position commences July 1, 2017 for the start of the 2017-2018 school year.
Applications should be submitted as soon as possible to MMIsearch@yahoo.com.”
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MMI’s history dates back to 1879
In the late 1800s, Eckley B. Coxe, a captain of the coal industry, recognized the profound need for
American technical schools for students who would otherwise not have such an opportunity. On May 7,
1879, Coxe opened the Industrial School for Miners and Mechanics. Eleven young men worked in the
coal mines by day, then attended two-hour classes six nights a week.
Deep in the heart of the Northeastern Pennsylvania coal belt, MMI began improving lives. An MMI
education often meant the difference between the hardscrabble life of a laborer and that of a certified
miner, a foreman, or even a superintendent. While most of MMI’s early students managed coal mines,
some went off to college. Many returned to the mines as engineers and worked to ease and improve
the work environment of thousands.
In 1888, Eckley Coxe moved the school to a new location and changed the name to the Mining and
Mechanical Institute of Freeland. Coxe began offering scholarships to the school’s best students in
1894. After he died suddenly in May 1895, Eckley’s widow, Sophia G. Coxe, assumed responsibility for
the school.
The dawn of the 20th century saw MMI’s enrollment continue to grow. Sophia, affectionately known as
the “Angel of the Anthracite,” oversaw the construction of a new, larger building and the opening of a
day school, which introduced the college preparatory curriculum.
Mrs. Coxe also helped subsidize student tuition costs, making the school available to more than just the
wealthy. The Angel passed away in March 1926, but the subsidization of student tuition continues to
this day.
Eckley B. and Sophia Coxe
In 1970, young women were accepted into the school for the first time. Then, feeling the old name did not adequately describe the
school’s function of preparing students for the rigors of college academics, officials changed the name to reflect the ideals of Eckley
and Sophia Coxe, the tradition of the region, and the standard of excellence the school was known for.
Today MMI maintains the values of our founders while continually striving to offer the best college preparatory education in the area.
The curriculum, the people, and the physical appearance of the campus have changed over time, but the dedication to the mission and
to serving our local communities is as strong as ever.
Our campus & student life
MMI sits on a 25-acre campus consisting of our school building, new
athletic fields, wetlands and walking trails. The school facility is in very
good physical condition with the Athletic & Drama Complex and Science
& Technology wings being added in 2001. The Joseph A. Turri ’45 Library
and Learning Center addition was completed and dedicated in 2012. We
offer wireless access throughout our buildings.
In 2014, in an effort to provide more healthy meals and do our part to
help the environment, the school began an in-house lunch program that
includes using sustainable, local and made-from-scratch foods while
teaching recycling, composting and gardening. All designed to give
students the tools to make healthy choices and be environmentally aware.
Students also learn to make the world a better place through service to
others and environmental conservation efforts. For example, last October,
the Green Team and the Sunshine Club planted red tulip bulbs as part of
Red Ribbon Week’s Plant the Promise to be Drug Free. In the spring, the
tulips will bloom and remind the students to live healthy, safe and drugfree lifestyles.
Other times, school groups have gone out into the community to help clean parks and other areas as part of
the Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful campaign. Many of our students do other community service projects and
volunteer with organizations.
The athletic department plays an integral role within the school community to support physical, moral, and
emotional development of our students. 70% of our student population participates in a variety of sports
at both the mid-school and upper-school level. Students are encouraged to participate not only in athletics
but in various other extra & co-curricular activities such as Environthon, Pennsylvania Junior Academy of
Science, Science Olympiad, Mock Trial, MathCounts, Geography Bee, FBLA, Robotics and more!
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Academics:
The four pillars of excellence: Academics, Athletics, Activities
and Service built on a foundation of character are the core of our
program. MMI’s curriculum offers a challenging and rigorous college
preparatory framework that mixes the basics of traditional education
with advanced instruction and electives. In middle school, students
develop their ambition and drive. As they advance to our upper school,
they develop a series of goals, further their commitment to work,
increase their drive to succeed, and take greater responsibility for
their own learning.
The MMI curriculum develops critical thinking and encourages
students to develop very important time management skills. MMI
challenges students and then teaches them how to meet those
challenges. The advisory program, along with a dedicated school
counselor, provides additional academic, emotional and social support.
Our mission is to inspire students to be technologically responsible,
adaptive, and personally successful. We provide students with the
concepts, processes and skills needed to be productive citizens in order to thrive in a rapidly
changing digital society.
Technology is an integral component of the educational process and academic program. MMI’s
computer science and technology curriculum includes internet safety, computer programming
and robotics courses. Additionally, students are utilizing three-dimensional printing technology
as part of their science and math
curriculum with a 3D printer purchased
through a donation to the school.
Because our graduates are so wellprepared, they often find themselves
ahead of the class in their first-year
core courses in college. This makes the
transition to the independence of college
life a lot easier – and it allows students to
branch out and explore new areas of study,
taking electives they otherwise might not
have considered. Our dedicated college
counselor works individually with students
to ensure they find the right college fit.
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Location:
Freeland, Pennsylvania is just a few hours from Philadelphia, New York City, Harrisburg, Baltimore and less than 300
miles from Washington, D.C., Pittsburgh and Boston. It is a short drive from Interstates 81, 80, 84, 380, and Interstate
476 (the Pennsylvania Turnpike).
Less than an hour away are the Pocono Mountains which provide a variety
of recreational opportunities for all ages across more than 2,000 square
miles. The many attractions include hiking and biking trails; historical
attractions; ski resorts that offer snow tubing and snowboarding; water
parks; lakes for boating, fishing, kayaking or canoeing; the Mohegan Sun
and Mount Airy casinos; the Mohegan Sun Arena; state parks; and sports
options for minor league baseball and hockey, horse racing and stock car
racing fans.
If golfing is among your favorite pastimes, the area offers several public
and membership
golf courses within
a very short drive of
Freeland.
The Lehigh Valley Gorge
Greater Hazleton,
which encompasses
the borough
of Freeland,
consistently ranks
below the national
average in cost of
living statistics.
Freeland is a tightknit community that
has retained much
of its historical charm. The town is home to several churches,
a public elementary/middle school, a YMCA, a public park and
several youth sports programs.
Only eight miles away is White Haven and the Lehigh Gorge Trail,
a 26-mile hiking and biking trail that runs through the Lehigh George State Park. The paths are uniformly double wide
with a cinder base and a consistent one-percent grade. Spectacular scenery lines the paths with views of the Lehigh river
and the gorge that was cut into the mountains over millions of years.
Another option for hiking, biking and running is the Greater Hazleton Rails to Trails. With more than seven miles of
converted railroad beds into trails, this path leads past reservoirs and through scenic portions of areas surrounding
Freeland.
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How to apply:
Applicants should submit the following documents by email to: MMIsearch@yahoo.com
• A resume including all appropriate dates
• A cover letter aligning your experiences and leadership skills with the needs of the school as you
understand them
• A statement of educational philosophy
• A list of five (5) references with all contact information (phone and email)
(References will not be contacted until the final phase)
Questions may also be directed to the same email address.
MMI Preparatory School, 154 Centre Street
Freeland, PA 18224
570.636.1108