Position Title: Admissions Director & Parent Relations

Reports To: Head of School 

FLSA Status: Exempt 

Location: Aurora School, 40 Dulwich Road, Oakland, CA 94618 

Position Type: Full-time, Year-round 

Salary Range: $80,000-$140,000 

Start Date: June or July 1, 2025 

About Aurora School 

Aurora School is an independent, progressive K-8 school that fosters its students' intellectual, social, and emotional growth. Our nurturing and inclusive community  encourages creativity, critical thinking, and academic exploration while preparing  students to become responsible global citizens. 

Position Overview 

The Admissions Director is a senior leadership position responsible for managing the  entire admission process, including financial assistance and parent relations. This role  focuses on recruiting new families and retaining current families, ensuring that Aurora  fulfills its mission, increasing enrollment to full capacity, and then maintaining 100%  enrollment annually. Additionally, the Admissions Director plays a key role in strategic  marketing, enhancing the school’s visibility in the community, and supporting the  academic and social development of the school. This position also includes oversight of  administrative/board and parent committees. 

Key Responsibilities 

Admission Strategy & Leadership 

• Develop and execute an annual admissions strategy in alignment with the  school’s goals, priorities, and diversity initiatives. 
• Manage the entire admissions cycle: outreach, applications, interviews,  assessments, and decision-making. 
• Lead enrollment efforts to achieve a balanced and diverse student body.
• Build and maintain relationships with local communities, feeder schools, and  educational organizations. 
• Monitor and analyze enrollment metrics, adjusting strategy as needed to meet  enrollment goals. 
• Provide regular reports to the Head of School and Board of Trustees on  enrollment trends and challenges. 

Recruitment & Marketing 

• Collaborate with the Communications and Marketing Director to develop  marketing materials (brochures, viewbooks, and digital content). 
• Attend educational fairs, conferences, and events to represent the school and  build relationships with prospective families. 
• Coordinate outreach activities such as open houses, school tours, preschool  visits, and parent education nights. 
• Develop and maintain partnerships with local preschools and feeder schools, and  foster relationships with surrounding independent schools. 

Family Engagement & Communication 

• Serve as the primary point of contact for prospective families throughout the  admissions process. 
• Lead campus tours and information sessions, providing insight into the school’s  academic and social culture. 
• Create and maintain effective communication with prospective families, ensuring  transparency throughout the admission process. 
• Ensure clear communication with current families regarding re-enrollment and  any changes in policies or procedures related to enrollment. 

Parent Relations & Community Building 

• Manage parent relations, including outreach, event planning, and fostering a  strong school community. 
• Supervise parent committees/volunteers for non-fundraising events and oversee  the Traffic Safety Committee. 
• Orchestrate Middle School orientation for new families and regularly check in  with families throughout the year. 
• Coordinate with room parents, provide family correspondence, and address any  concerns from families. 
• Support school fundraisers and contribute to the weekly "Tuesday Tell All"  communication. 

Re-enrollment & Retention 

• Promote retention
• Oversee the re-enrollment process for existing families, ensuring timely  distribution and return of contracts. 
• Conduct exit interviews with families not returning to Aurora to assess reasons  for departure. 
• Work with the Flexible Tuition Committee to manage financial assistance and  tuition policies. 
• Organize and communicate moving-up tours for families transitioning between  grade levels. 
• Address concerns of families applying to other schools to ensure retention. Outplacement 
• Cultivate and maintain relationships with local independent high schools for  student outplacement. 
• Meet with families of 8th-grade students to discuss high school options and guide  them through the application process. 
• Ensure all 8th-grade students are enrolled at a high school and assist with  application materials. 

School Events & Alumni Relations 

• Attend and contribute to school events, such as Tinker Faire and Friends and  Family Day. 
• Support alumni events and initiatives to foster long-term relationships with the  school community. 
• Co-host and attend Parent Education events to support ongoing parent  engagement. 

Qualifications 

Education & Experience 

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred. 
• At least 3 years of experience in an independent school or higher education  admissions role. 
• Proven track record of successful enrollment management and strategy  development. 

Skills & Abilities 

• Exceptional communication skills (written and verbal) with the ability to engage  with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple tasks and priorities  effectively. 
• Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in the admissions process. • Experience with database management systems (e.g., Ravenna, Clarity) and  other relevant tools for admissions and record-keeping. 
• Comfort with public speaking and presenting to groups of varying sizes. Personal Attributes 
• Warm, approachable, and student-centered, with a passion for supporting  families in their search for the right educational fit. 
• A self-starter, creative, results-driven, and strategic. 
• Deep commitment to Aurora’s mission and values and a desire to share those  with others. 
• Highly ethical and professional, with a strong sense of integrity and  confidentiality. 

Application Process 

Aurora School is committed to diversity and inclusion, and we encourage individuals  from all backgrounds to apply. Please submit your resume, cover letter, and a list of at  least three professional references to abbie@auroraschool.org by February 1, 2025. 

Aurora School is an equal-opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are  committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and students.

ABOUT US: 

Aurora School is an independent K-8 school that combines challenging academics, multi-grade  classrooms, differentiated instruction, and a keen awareness of student’s social and emotional  development. A leader in progressive education since 1988, our mission is to nurture students’ love of  learning by cultivating academic excellence, emotional intelligence, and social engagement. We foster  students’ development into self-aware, confident lifelong learners and leaders who step up to advocate  for themselves and others throughout school, in our Oakland community, and the world at large. Our  talented staff provides a safe learning atmosphere that extends beyond the classroom to every aspect of  the school. The result is that Aurora graduates have a strong foundation for social and academic success  in high school and beyond. 

We seek culturally competent Lead Teachers to work with our dedicated, diverse, and supportive  community. We are committed to hiring talented staff who reflect the diversity of the communities and  audiences. As a proud Equal Opportunity Employer, we are committed to considering applicants  regardless of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or  expression, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any other federal, state, or local protected  class. 

Position Status: Full-Time 

Reports to: Head of School 

QUALIFICATIONS: 

• Knowledge of Progressive Education principles and practices 
• 3-5 years of teaching experience with both onsite and remote teaching 
• Teaching credential required 
• Bachelor’s degree required 
• A graduate degree or degree in progress related to education is preferred 
• Experienced planning and implementing integrated curricula 
• Experience using technology to support teaching and learning 
• Commitment to academic excellence and culturally responsive teaching 
• Open and motivated to work collaboratively 
• Understanding of child growth, development, and social needs 
• Strong communication and organizational skills 
• Strong commitment to working in a diverse, multicultural community 

RESPONSIBILITIES: 

Lead Teachers instruct our K-5 classes in language arts, math, social studies, social justice, nd science.  Depending upon class size, classrooms have either a full- or part-time Teaching Assistant in addition to  the Lead Teacher. 

Curriculum: 

• Coordinate with the Head of School, Lead Teacher peers, and Teaching Assistant to implement  an appropriate curriculum consistent with the Aurora philosophy and goals, including instruction  of small and large groups of students and regular assessments and evaluations of students.

Classroom environment: 

• Set up a classroom for onsite and remote learners. 
• Keep the classroom clean, safe, and uncluttered throughout the year. 
• Organize materials at the end of the year for summer storage. 
• Report any classroom maintenance problems to the appropriate staff person. • Help maintain the common areas of the school. 
• Demonstrate effective classroom management and record-keeping techniques. 

Meetings and Committees: 

• Attend meetings and staff in-service days; rotate chairing and recording at these meetings. • Act as an educational staff representative to one school committee, as determined annually  during August planning sessions. 

Communication with Families: 

• Recognize and respect the primary role of the parents in the education of their children. Work to  facilitate parent involvement and respond to communications initiated by parents/guardians within  72 hours and be responsive to any concerns expressed. 
• Notify parents in case of child illness/injury/behavior problems per Aurora Behavior and  Communication Policies. 
• Hold formal parent/teacher conferences twice a year for each student, as well as other  conferences that may be necessary throughout the year. 
• Write twice-yearly progress reports for each child. 
• Write and distribute class newsletter (Grades K-1 weekly; Grades 2-5 every other week). • Maintain and encourage open communication with parents, and communicate any feedback  received as necessary. 
• Work to help parents understand Aurora’s philosophy of learning and how day-to-day teaching  strategies and curricula are aligned with the school mission. 

Field trips: 

• Implement and safely carry out class field trips to support learning as related to the curriculum. • Notify the administration in advance of any trips planned, including any materials and registration  needed and possible scheduling conflicts. 

After-hours school-wide events attendance: 

• Back-to-School Night (fall) 
• Tinker Faire (Saturday afternoon in the fall) 
• Admissions Events (1-2 Saturday mornings) 
• Assigned Class Performance 
• 2 Saturday Assessments 

Substitutes: 

• Plan lessons and extensions for substitutes. 
• Procuring your substitute from our substitute list or Teachers on Reserve. 

Miscellaneous:

• Actively engage with each student in a manner that fosters a positive self-concept, enjoyment and development of academic competency, and a feeling of respect for themselves, the Aurora  community, and beyond. 
• Ensure that teaching style, curricula, and interactions with students, parents, staff, and teachers  reflect Aurora’s mission and core values. 
• Make appropriate referrals for the benefit of the student, if in-class instruction does not meet their  needs. 
• Be responsible for the safety of all children when supervising on schoolyard at recess and lunch.  This includes, but is not limited to, consistent monitoring, disciplining, and/or facilitating conflict  resolution for behaviors such as the use of inappropriate language, teasing, physical aggression, and exclusion. 
• Assess and evaluate prospective students. 
• Supervise and monitor parent volunteers. 
• Interact with all staff as equal and respected partners. 
• Participate in the interview process for selecting new staff as needed. 
• Accept accountability and professional evaluation of performance and respond to feedback  positively and professionally. 
• Exhibit professional standards of attendance, punctuality, grooming, language, preparation, and  relationship with students. 
• Notify the office when leaving the school grounds, with or without a class, during school hours. • Read the Staff/Faculty Handbook in its entirety and submit a signed Acknowledgement of Staff  Handbook Understanding form. 
• Other duties as assigned by the Head of School. 

COMPENSATION: Salary Range: $60,000-$130,00. Commensurate with experience and credentials. 

TO APPLY: Please submit your cover letter and resume to the attention of Katheryn Negrosa, Human  Resource Coordinator at hr@auroraschool.org. 

The position begins in August 2025 No phone calls, please. For more information, please visit:  www.auroraschool.org 

EEO Policy: Aurora School is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based on race,  color, creed, gender, religion, sexual orientation, marital status, gender identity and expression, domestic  partner status, age, national origin or ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, veteran  status, or any other unlawful consideration.

Aurora School is always looking for experienced and enthusiastic substitute teachers for our K-8 classrooms as well as our specialists’ classes. 

COMPENSATION:

• Onsite Classroom – $30/hr
• Recess Duty – $21/hr
• Extended Care – $17/hr
• Remote Learning- $16/hr

TO APPLY: Please submit your cover letter and resume to the attention of Katheryn Negrosa, Human Resource Coordinator at hr@auroraschool.org.  

Candidates are invited to call the main office during school hours at (510) 428-2606.