Amy Purcell Vorenberg - The Park School

Amy Purcell VorenbergINDEPENDENT SCHOOL EXPERIENCEHead of School, The Philadelphia SchoolPhiladelphia, PA 2006 - presentHead of School in Center City, Philadelphia. 385 students in preschool - grade eight, 65 full- andpart-time faculty, “City, Country, Classroom” program, impressive integration of technology andSpanish language program. Responsibilities include all aspects of running a vibrant anddemanding school community, including negotiation with the City to purchase an adjacent propertyto expand school size and program. Successfully reaccredited through PAIS in 2007, createdStrategic Plan for 2008-2013, oversaw facilities Master Planning process and the redesign of everyteaching space in the school, developed a new campus property, including two new buildings.Secured two seven-figure gifts, (the first in school history) in current Capital Campaign and amillion-dollar RACP grant from the State of Pennsylvania. Redesigned the administrative structure,the Middle School program, teacher evaluation and professional development system, andinnovative, successful diversity initiatives.Lower School Division Head, Shady Hill SchoolCambridge, MA 2000 - 2006Division of 275 students in preschool - grade four. 40 full- and part-time Lower School faculty.Appointed Director of Curricular Program and Professional Development for the full faculty in 2005.Duties included coordination of all aspects of life in the Lower School, hiring, faculty evaluation,curriculum, student services, admission work, participation on the Administrative Council, ranparent workshops, teacher-training course focused on Media Literacy and curricular innovations.Chaired committee for AISNE reaccreditation in 1999.Third Grade Teacher, Shady Hill SchoolCambridge, MA 1994 - 2000Taught sixteen third graders, including Central Subject on Island Cultures (Puerto Rico) andWhales. Designed and implemented curriculum in all subject areas, including language arts, math,science, and affective education.Mixed-Age Group Teacher, Atrium SchoolWatertown, MA 1986 - 90, 1992 - 94Team-taught in various configurations, including a Kindergarten/Grade One/Grade Two mix, GradeOne-Grade Two mix, Grade Two-Grade Three mix, and Grade Three. Fully integrated program,including visual arts, physical education, science and music -- taught everything from reading tophysical education.Third Grade Teacher, Fessenden SchoolNewton, MA 1991 - 1992Taught self-contained classroom, traditional curriculum and teaching environment. Served as adorm parent for sixteen fourth & fifth grade boarders.

ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCEAssistant Director, Independent School Association of MassachusettsBraintree, MA 1990 - 1991Coordinated programming for ISAM, including thirty conferences annually. Created teams forschool accreditation processes.Consultant, MediawiseWatertown, MA 1995 - 2002Media Literacy consultant, including keynote speeches for student groups, parent organizations andteachers. Developed parent curriculum for Work Family Directions. Work featured on Chronicle,WCVB in Boston and on video series “ADHD and the 21st Century.”Community College of Philadelphia, Early Childhood Education AdvisoryCommitteePhiladelphia, PA 2008, 2009ADVIS (Association of Delaware Valley Independent Schools)Board Member, Elected 2008 for two-year term, reelected 2010Keewaydin FoundationBoard Member, Elected 2008 for two-year term.Professional DevelopmentNAIS Diversity Institute for Heads, Summer 2010, facilitator Summer 2011NAIS New Heads Institute, Summer 2006NAIS/EE Ford Fellowship for Aspiring Heads, 2004 CohortNAIS Annual Conference attendee since 1998NAIS People of Color Conference attendee (five times)Attended David Mallery workshops on Administrator’s Life & New Teacher InstituteFelton Media Literacy Scholar - Media Literacy Project at Babson College, WellesleyCurriculum Mapping with Heidi Hayes JacobsPublished WritingIndependent School, “School Matters: Rigor vs. Vigor”, Spring 2008Preventing Eating Disorders: A Handbook of Interventions and Special Challenges,Chapter co-authored with Dr. Catherine Steiner-Adair on Media Literacy and EatingDisorders, 1999.EducationUniversity of New Hampshire, Durham, NH — Bachelor of Arts, 1984Wheelock College, Boston, MA - Master of Science, 1986