Dean of Culture & Academic Health of Students

KIPP DC•Washington, DC

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Dean of Students will strive to create a structured, positive and academically focused school culture to ensure that the school is safe, predictable, and responsive for all students. This role involves modeling strong, mutually respectful relationships with students and families and supporting teachers to do the same. The Dean serves as the team leader for student accountability (academics, behavior) and identification of additional resources and programs for families (academic support, enrichment, preventative programs, etc.). The Dean is the monitor of academic health and the keeper of culture for their grade, ensuring that the school’s ways of being support high levels of student growth and achievement. This position requires a creative and inspiring professional with adult leadership experience, high energy, excellent organizational abilities, and a talent for creating a warm and supportive environment for students.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree (required)
Experience leading adults (e.g. grade level chair, department chair, committee chair, events lead, etc.) (required)
Demonstrated academic results (required)
Demonstrated judgment around student safety (required)
Strong attendance record (required)
Record of strong interpersonal interactions with families and staff (required)

Nice To Haves

Minimum of four years of teaching (preferred)
Experience coaching and developing teachers (preferred)
Experience leading professional development (preferred)
Proficiency with Google Workspace apps (preferred)

Responsibilities

In collaboration with the principal, sets and leads the vision for school culture
Facilitates school culture and academic health professional development for teachers and school leaders
Develops and monitors school-wide policies and behavior response systems
Monitors and responds to academic health, school culture, and attendance data
Provides real-time coaching to teachers and leaders to promote college-ready behavior and strong academic health
Support development of school leader’s school-wide vision and take an active role in investing and mobilizing teachers to achieve the collective goals of the school; owns the implementation of school wide systems regarding student culture.
Alongside school leader, support the planning and goal setting for their grade level teams and teachers and ensure alignment with school-wide goals
Support identification and action towards equity challenges within the school
Articulate how their actions and body of work connect to KIPP DC's goal of becoming an anti-racist organization
Collaborate with principal and leadership team in determining and implementing systems and initiatives around school and team priorities related to culture, attendance, and academic health.
Prioritize and manage own time to deliver on short and long-term goals or priorities
Support teachers in planning and prioritizing their time especially related to academic health & gradebook maintenance, student attendance and student culture.
Lead an affirming and joyful culture for students; monitor, follow in and refine PBIS systems across their grade level and the school.
Support teachers in leading classrooms with high-quality Tier 1 student learning and engagement and develop and support Tier 2 and 3 plans for students in collaboration with the grade level MHP.
Plan for and predictably respond to student behavior that doesn't meet school culture expectations. Coach, support and follow up with teachers in service of empowering them to do the same. Manage consistent student-facing consequences and discipline processes when expectations are not met.
Reliably lead and support daily school operations (e.g. arrival/dismissal, lunch, passing period, recess), making sure to plan for any gaps in operations daily
Builds intentional and meaningful relationships with students, their families, and school communities, knows all of the kids on their grade and all of their families.
Maintain calm and poise in unpredictable, potentially stressful, situations
Leads weekly grade level meetings, regular student community meetings, and monthly parent meetings
Work with staff and families to build an inclusive school environment for special populations (i.e. students with IEPs, students with 504s, ELL students, new students, students with HCYP status, etc.)
Conduct student and family mediations for grade level in coordination with behavior support technicians.
Check grades and communicate with teachers about any concerns weekly
Manage and support student attendance, school-wide discipline, incidents, and referrals.
Support schoolwide instructional goals including, but not limited to academic check-ins with students, incentive programs, instructional goals, and other data-driven initiatives.
Define and support grade-level student and family communication.
Manage progress towards team goals around academic health, behavior, attendance
Manage grade-level logistics for all grade-level events with the VPs and ops team including field trips, incentives, celebrations, ceremonies, etc.
Coach and support teachers and staff with school-wide behavior management systems alongside teachers’ instructional managers.
Communicate with relevant staff regarding severe discipline issues including how situations were resolved, adjustments to plans, consequences implemented, etc.
Analyze and respond to grade level attendance and behavior data.
Build, support, and contribute to a positive staff culture.
Engage families and manage family programming to meet school goals (in collaboration with the regional family engagement team).
Create and support grade level disciplinary initiatives.
Invest teachers and staff in a clear, inclusive instructional vision for all students created alongside vice principals; follow through on all commitments
Be a frequent, regular presence in all classrooms and spaces you support
Support a culture where teachers are invested in and prepared for whole staff adult learning; work with Leadership Team to facilitate engaging, effective, relevant meetings
Participate in bi-weekly leadership team meetings.
Monitor and manage the academic health of the students in your grade per the KIPP High School Academic Health Playbook
Monitor gradebooks and grades for all students in your grade, monitor the percentage of failing grades and check in with advisors, teachers, and students about their grades.
Walk through classrooms at minimum once a week to identify bright spots and notice trends within grade level.
Build trusting, strong relationships with teachers and school staff
Identifies high-leverage coaching focuses ground in student impact and transferability
Identify gaps across a grade level or department and develop and execute a plan that results in improved student experiences and outcomes
Actively and regularly communicate with principal about progress, strengths, areas of growth, and potential trajectories of individual team members
Understand and practice fair and legal employment practices
Effectively manages and develops teachers of a wide range of skill and experience level by defining responsibilities, setting goals and providing ongoing feedback and support through observations , one-on-one meetings, and staff PDs
Creating, implementing and supporting professional development for grade levels.
Monitor and support school-wide operational systems in alignment with the One KIPP policies such as arrival and dismissal, lunch, transitions, etc.

Benefits

medical, dental, and vision insurances
various voluntary benefits
employer paid benefits such as short term disability, long term disability, life insurance, and a membership to One Medical
403(b) retirement account with a 3% employer contribution and a 3% match with vesting after three years
10 paid sick days
12 paid holidays
paid Thanksgiving week break
winter break
spring break
part of summer break