Upper School Dean of Student Life

St. Michael's Catholic Preparatory School•Austin, TX

About The Position

The Dean of Student Life serves as a senior member of the Upper School leadership team, reporting directly to the Head of Upper School. This position carries primary responsibility for cultivating a thriving, faith-infused student community through the integrated oversight of student life, discipline, attendance, leadership development, and the wellness and support functions of the Upper School. The Dean of Student Life embodies and actively promotes the school’s Catholic mission in every dimension of student experience outside the classroom. This leader possesses both a pastoral heart and a commitment to high standards of conduct, believing that a well-ordered, joyful school community is itself a form of evangelization and formation. The role requires significant presence during the school day, at evening and weekend school events, and at the start and close of the academic year. The Dean of Student Life is a 12-month exempt full-time administrative position beginning in summer of 2026.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree in education, school counseling, educational leadership, or a related field strongly preferred.
Minimum of five years of progressive experience in secondary school administration, student affairs, or a comparable student-facing leadership role.
Demonstrated understanding of and authentic commitment to the Catholic faith and the mission of Catholic education.
Proven ability to build trusting relationships with adolescents while maintaining appropriate professional boundaries and high behavioral standards.
Strong leadership and supervisory skills, with experience managing and developing professional staff.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills; ability to navigate sensitive conversations with students, families, and colleagues with clarity, compassion, and confidentiality.
Sound judgment, decisiveness, and a calm, consistent presence in high-pressure situations.
Proficiency with student information systems and attendance management tools.

Nice To Haves

Experience in an independent school setting.
Background in school counseling, social-emotional learning, or adolescent development.
Familiarity with best practices in restorative discipline and student wellness programming.
Experience advising student government or leading co-curricular programs.
A person of faith who can credibly articulate and model the school’s Catholic mission to students, families, and colleagues.
A relational leader with high emotional intelligence and genuine love for working with young people.
An organized and detail-oriented administrator who can manage complex operational systems without losing sight of the human dimension.
A collaborative team player who builds bridges across departments and works constructively within a shared leadership model.
A reflective practitioner who seeks feedback, pursues professional growth, and is committed to equity and the dignity of every student.

Responsibilities

Serve as the functional Dean of Students for the Upper School, overseeing all day-to-day operations that shape the student experience and uphold community standards.
Oversee all aspects of student attendance in close collaboration with the Attendance Secretary, ensuring accurate and timely data collection, reporting, and communication with families.
Directly supervise the Attendance Secretary.
Analyze attendance trends and patterns; develop and implement proactive interventions for chronic absenteeism and tardiness.
Maintain, communicate, and enforce the Upper School’s student handbook, codes of conduct, and community expectations in a manner consistent with Catholic values.
Serve as the primary administrator for student discipline, conducting fair and consistent investigations, hearings, and resolution processes.
Manage the Upper School’s discipline database and documentation, ensuring confidentiality and compliance with school policy.
Communicate regularly and constructively with students, families, faculty, and staff regarding attendance and behavioral matters.
Collaborate with the Head of Upper School on policy development, review, and annual handbook updates.
Cultivate a purposeful and engaging school culture that reflects the school’s Catholic identity and supports the holistic development of every student.
Provide vision and direction for co-curricular student life programming, including school-wide events, traditions, spirit activities, and community-building initiatives.
Partner with campus ministry to ensure student life programming is rooted in and expressive of the school’s Catholic faith and mission.
Serve as a visible and relational presence throughout the school day, building meaningful connections with students across all grade levels.
Develop and maintain a calendar of student life events that fosters community, school pride, and inclusive participation.
Collaborate with athletics, fine arts, and other co-curricular departments to create a unified and coherent student experience.
Address issues of student culture proactively, including focus groups, and student advisory structures.
Equip students with the knowledge, virtue, and skills to lead with integrity in school and in life, in keeping with the school’s mission to form servant leaders.
Oversee all student government and class officer programs, including elections, training, meeting facilitation, and ongoing mentorship.
Develop and facilitate leadership formation programming for student leaders, including retreats, workshops, and service opportunities.
Advise and support student-led clubs, organizations, and affinity groups in alignment with the school’s mission and values.
Create pathways for student voice and agency in school governance and community decision-making.
Identify and cultivate emerging student leaders who represent the breadth and diversity of the student body.
Provide strategic leadership and day-to-day management of the Upper School advisory program, ensuring it serves as a cornerstone of student formation, community, and pastoral care.
Oversee the vision, structure, and continuous improvement of the Upper School advisory program, ensuring alignment with the school’s Catholic mission and commitment to the holistic development of each student.
Recruit, assign, train, and support faculty advisors; provide ongoing professional development, coaching, and resources to help advisors build authentic, trusting relationships with their advisees.
Develop, curate, and maintain advisory curriculum and programming that addresses social-emotional development, faith formation, college and career readiness, and community building across all four grade levels.
Manage advisee assignments, ensuring each student is known, supported, and appropriately matched; oversee transitions and re-assignments as needed throughout a student’s Upper School career.
Serve as the primary point of contact and escalation for advisors navigating complex student situations; facilitate communication between advisors, families, the counseling team, and academic departments.
Regularly evaluate the advisory program’s effectiveness through student and faculty feedback, data review, and benchmarking against best practices; present findings and recommendations to the Head of Upper School.
Provide administrative supervision and strategic direction to the departments and personnel responsible for student support and wellness services.
Directly supervise the Student Support Department, including the learning support specialist and the testing coordinator as assigned.
Directly supervise the Student Wellness Department, including school counselors.
Facilitate coordination and communication between support, wellness, and academic departments to ensure a cohesive approach to student care.
Participate in student support team (SST) meetings, crisis response protocols, and case management for students with complex needs.
Monitor and assess the effectiveness of support and wellness programs; recommend resources, staffing, or program changes to the Head of Upper School.
Ensure all support and wellness services are delivered in a manner consistent with applicable law, best practices, and the school’s Catholic values.