Middle School Dean of Student Life

🇺🇸In-Person - Columbus, OH$55K–$75K/yri1w ago

K-12 Operations Student Support PBIS Implementation SEL Integration School Culture Operations Management

Role Snapshot

The Middle School Dean of Student Life leads the development and implementation of a positive school culture rooted in restorative practices, social-emotional learning, and strong family partnerships at a KIPP Foundation school. This role is central to creating a supportive environment that promotes student achievement, character development, and community engagement.

Key Responsibilities: Establish and maintain school-wide behavior standards, social-emotional curriculum, and culture-building activities including recognition assemblies and family engagement events. Lead restorative practices implementation, manage student interventions at multiple tiers, coordinate behavior plans, and provide direct coaching to staff on classroom management and family partnership strategies.

Skills & Tools: Strong proficiency in restorative justice practices, trauma-informed student support, social-emotional learning facilitation, data analysis, and family engagement. Excellent interpersonal and coaching skills with demonstrated ability to build relationships, facilitate difficult conversations, and communicate effectively with diverse stakeholders.

Qualifications: Typically requires a bachelor's degree and 2-3 years of experience in student discipline, school culture, social work, or a related field; prior experience in a charter or high-performing school environment is preferred. Valid state educator license or willingness to obtain one may be required.

Location: In-Person - Columbus, OH

Compensation: $55K–$75K/yr (estimated)

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Job Description

Key responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

Establishing, Maintaining, and Celebrating a Positive School Culture and Climate

Set and uphold high standards for school culture, including behavior, academic performance, and attendance.
Own the school’s social emotional curriculum and philosophies and ensure it builds and reinforces positive self-identity and necessary character strengths
Partner with families to build an authentic school-wide community, including organizing events
Lead recognition assemblies, families academies, community meetings and other school-wide culture building activities
Facilitate staff trainings on student-teacher relationships, classroom management, family partnership and school culture
Coordinate school-wide social emotional learning programs
Coordinate weekly celebrations and community meetings
Work with and through student leadership groups to build student culture and incentives
Set learning environment goals, including family engagement, designing systems to meet goals, tracking progress to goals, and designing celebrations and recognition

Establishing, Maintaining, and Celebrating a Culture Rooted in Relationships and Restoration

Lead school-wide efforts in developing a restorative culture rooted in student achievement
Assist staff, students, and families in creation and implementation of individual behavior plans
Support implementation of individual behavior plans for consistency and adjustments as needed
As needed, work directly with students in individual and small group settings with direct instruction on social skills and social emotional development
Work closely and effectively with children who have/are experiencing trauma
Coordinating re-entry meetings with staff and families of students when appropriate
Attend and facilitate professional development on restorative practices with our staff
Serve as an advocate for core groups of students to engage families and teachers effectively and meaningfully to support student success
Keep accurate student records, documenting all incident reports, conferences, suspensions, and phone calls for behavior
Following KIPP Columbus policies, determine in and out of school interventions
Support student tier 2 and tier 3 interventions, including out of class time with core group of students, in order to promote restorative culture
Support team members who responds to in-the-moment tier 2 and tier 3 interventions
Support operations staff in developing a welcoming, affirming, and positive environment that promotes restorative culture

Team and Family Support and Access

Support families in accessing community resources for immediate and external needs
Meet regularly with the culture team and regional counterparts in order to ensure consistent educational experiences
Analyze operational and academic data such as attendance, behavior, grades, etc. in order to identify students that need more support
Lead family facing intervention efforts in order to ensure student needs are met
Proactively communicates and meets with families on a regular basis

Support teachers in cultivating and upholding a culture of achievement

Ensure alignment of school practices to school-wide priorities
Support day-to-day operations of the school, including regular data monitoring and progress towards goals
Model, promote, and coach others toward effective communication with families, cultivating engagement in their child’s success and the KIPP Columbus mission
Directly coach a cohort of teachers around learning links curriculum, data analysis, and culture of achievement
Coach and provide support for struggling classrooms, modeling or co-teaching if necessary