Board of Trustees Member_Volunteer Position

American Paradigm Schools

8101 Castor Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19152

Discovering Excellence Through Cultivating Differences

American Paradigm Schools are dedicated to equity and excellence for all learners, while celebrating the uniqueness of our communities. Our values drive our dedication to providing a world class education.

American Paradigm Schools provides exceptional learning opportunities in a caring environment through creative and unique experiences, which celebrate and empower the individual.

Being an active Academy Board member requires dedication, hard work, and a willingness to put the needs of students first. If you are interested in serving your community in this important role, consider reaching out to Scott Kramer at [email protected] This position is an unpaid volunteer position.

The Board is responsible for:

• Providing leadership in line with the
• Schools mission
• Governing in line with the Charter
• Contract, bylaws, and articles of incorporation
• Overseeing Academy finances
• Adopting policies
• Engaging in strategic planning
• Advocating for the Academy
• Adhering to the Sun Shine Act
• Conducting a self-assessment

Individual Board members are expected to:

• Know the School's mission, vision, and policies
• Attend and participate in monthly board meetings
• Prepare by reviewing monthly board packets, including financial documents
• Be an ambassador for the School and attend School events
• Attend board development trainings
• Participate in one or more committees

The process and requirements necessary to become a Board member vary depending on the School's authorizing body, but may require:

• Completing an application and a conflict of interest disclosure
• Completing a background check
• Attending interviews with current board members
• Taking an oath of office

American Paradigm Schools are Caring School Communities.

Relationships are the foundation of classroom and school life and underpin teaching, learning, and prosocial development. Building relationships and fostering students' sense of community are a critical part of our work at APS and as such, we have partnered with the Collaborative Classroom to implement the Caring School Community Model in all of our schools.

Caring School Community model builds positive classroom and schoolwide communities while developing students' social and emotional learning (SEL) skills and competencies. It is designed to help students become caring, responsible members of their school communities and, ultimately, to grow into humane, principled, and skilled citizens of a democratic society. The lessons in the program help faculty and staff create a warm, safe, and disciplined school environment where all community members can develop the skills and dispositions they need to interact constructively with others.

All employees at American Paradigm Schools are expected to be true champions of the Caring School Community Program.