Dean of Student Support and Belonging

The Girls' Middle School•Palo Alto, CA

About The Position

The Dean of Student Support and Belonging leads the school’s work to ensure that every student at The Girls’ Middle School experiences belonging, safety, identity affirmation, and equitable supports for learning. Reporting to the Assistant Head of School, this role partners closely with the School Counselor, Teaching and Learning Facilitator, and Learning Specialist to facilitate student leadership activities, community building events, cultural programming, wellness, and intervention services. The Dean will also be the point person for responding to student disciplinary needs by facilitating restorative practices. This is a leadership role for a professional with experience in program design and implementation. The Dean implements restorative practices and prevention systems for all students, and ensures accommodations are in place for neurodiverse learners. The Dean also guides faculty on culturally responsive teaching, adolescent development, and anti-bias pedagogy. This leader advances a school culture that centers student voice, equity, inclusion, and growth, and cultivates systems where students take ownership of community norms and learn how to repair harm and restore relationships. At the core of GMS is our extraordinary faculty. Every teacher at GMS has a passion for working with middle school girls and believes in the fundamental value of the middle school experience. They are attentive to, value, and support every student in the school. The GMS teachers are middle school specialists and subject matter experts, bringing passion to their work and sharing it with the students. Whatever interests a GMS student – from physics to programming, sculpture to skateboarding, musical theatre to metal shop – there is an adult ready to help them advance that interest as far as they can go. The Dean of Student Life, like the members of the GMS Faculty, participates in a joyful, inclusive, and respectful community of students and adults. You will be surrounded by enthusiastic, dedicated, and mission-driven faculty who appreciate autonomy in creating learning experiences while thriving in a collaborative environment. Our teachers enjoy opportunities to create multi-faceted, interdisciplinary projects and participate in engaging field trips and travel experiences. Serving also as an administrator at GMS, the Dean of Student Life is responsible for supporting faculty initiatives in support of the student experience.

Requirements

Enthusiasm for the mission of The Girls’ Middle School
Demonstrated skill in designing equitable and inclusive educational experiences and learning environments that incorporate themes of diversity and belonging
Excellent organizational and communication skills
Openness to feedback and a growth mindset
Demonstrated experience supporting middle school students and families
Demonstrated cultural humility, cultural responsiveness, and commitment to equity-driven practice
Experience facilitating restorative practices, conflict resolution systems, or community agreements in educational settings.
Strong communication and coaching skills with adolescents and adults.
Ability to coordinate multiple stakeholders, balance competing needs, and hold a “students first AND teacher-supportive” mindset
Eagerness and ability to work in a collaborative environment that requires flexibility, creativity, humor, self-awareness, endurance, and resilience
Ability to communicate professionally in English and at least one other language spoken in our school community such as Spanish, Mandarin, or Hindi a plus
Excitement and willingness to participate in all school events, which may include overnight trips
Passion for supporting girls in discovering their strengths and finding their voice
A love for the middle-school age
Bachelor’s degree in Education, Counseling, Psychology, Social Work, or related field.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree preferred.

Responsibilities

Manage equity-centered student support systems for grades 6–8.
Partner with counselor, learning support staff, instructional coach, teachers, and families to coordinate student-centered supports that can be implemented in progressive classrooms
Lead restorative practices, including community building efforts, student leadership programs, cultural programming, advising programs, and wellness programming
Manage student discipline protocols, including prevention, tiered interventions, conflict resolution, and mediationsPartner with the Learning Specialist to implement and monitor accommodations; co-develop family and student support plans
Consult with teachers to develop support strategies that maintain high expectations alongside developmentally appropriate scaffolds
Coordinate professional learning for faculty/staff on identity development, trauma-informed practices, culturally responsive pedagogy, and adolescent brain development
Track student support data to monitor progress and trends; communicate trends to the Senior Leadership Team and support data-driven decision-making as needed
Partner closely with families through proactive communication, shared problem-solving, and tiered intervention planning
Coordinate transition systems for new students entering the school, and for rising 8th graders preparing for high school
Serve on the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice Leadership Team to support professional development and strategic initiatives
Support and train student leaders to understand community impact, student agency, and collective responsibility
Support the Admissions Team with major admissions events and processes, such as weekend open houses or school tours
Oversee off-campus learning programs and participate as a chaperone for outdoor/community-engaged learning and travel as needed
Manage major assessments such as MAP Growth Testing and Student/Family Surveys to monitor student progress and program quality
Contribute to campus programming and supervision as needed (such as lunch duty, teaching an intersession class, or staffing an evening/weekend event)
Other duties as assigned