Job Title: Middle School Dean of Students Wage/Hr Status: Exempt

Reports to: Principal(s) Paygrade: Certified

Dept./School: Assigned Campus(es) Revised: 

Primary Purpose:

The Middle School Dean of Students is responsible for monitoring and enhancing the quality of student life in the Middle School including student focused events and student behavior. The Dean of Students helps to foster a positive, engaging and caring atmosphere, and a healthy Middle School community by providing programming and leadership opportunities that enable students to flourish. The Dean of Students proactively and effectively communicates with parents. The Dean of Students works closely with the school counselors, nurses, Curriculum Director, and Grade Level Team Leaders in providing programming and restorative practices.

Qualifications:

Education/Certification (must complete a graduate degree program in Educational Leadership from a NCATE- accredited Arkansas college or university and hold one of the following degrees) :

• Master’s degree in educational administration and/or
• Master’s degree in Education and/or
• Master’s degree in a content/endorsement area

Must hold the following certification from the Arkansas Department of Education:

• Building Level Administrator

Special Knowledge/Skills:

• Working knowledge of curriculum and instruction
• Ability to evaluate instructional program and teaching effectiveness
• Ability to manage budget and personnel
• Ability to coordinate campus functions
• Ability to interpret policy, procedures, and data
• Strong organizational, communication, public relations, and interpersonal skills
• Calm and patient demeanor with students and others

Experience:

• Four years of teaching experience in the classroom, or as a school counselor, or as a school librarian
• Must have completed an internship in an Educational Leadership program

Evaluation:

Dean of Students will be evaluated on an annual basis.

Major responsibilities and Duties:

1. Student Life

   • Develop and implement ongoing student programming that is both fun and builds community.
   • Communicate effectively and proactively with parents regarding upcoming student programming and events.
   • Help plan and chaperone Middle School student events.
   • Manage application process and oversee student-created clubs. Manage all standing organizations such as Yearbook, Chess Club, Math Club, etc., and student committees.
   • Plan and maintain a Middle School Student Activities calendar shared with the entire Middle School and District Administrators.
   • Monitor student attendance and contact home to follow-up on extended absences.
   • Act as the point person for students on a leave or with restricted attendance (i.e. partial days due to medical issues). Coordinate as needed with counselors, nurses, and advisor.
   • Work collaboratively with school counselors and nurses to support student needs, referring potential counseling issues to the school counselors and medical issues to the nurses.

   Advisory

   • Oversee the advisory system, partnering with counselors, multicultural team and Grade Level Team Leaders.
   • Coordinate the year schedule for advisory in each grade, creating yearlong themes and developmentally appropriate curriculum for advisory.
   • Plan agendas for and run regular Grade Level Team Leader meetings.
   • Support Grade Level Team Leaders to manage their advisory teams and respond appropriately to student issues.

   Discipline

   • Implement a behavior management system that is grounded in the School’s Honor Code and restorative justice practices and ensure that infractions are teachable moments.
   • Oversee day-to-day disciplinary issues in the Middle School, working closely with faculty and staff to ensure compliance with school policies.
   • Communicate clearly and in a timely fashion, both verbally and in writing, with students, parents and appropriate school staff regarding any disciplinary event or consequence.
   • Oversee detentions, including the assignment of detention, recording of detention, issuing of detention assignments and follow-up meetings with students.
   • Keep accurate records regarding disciplinary infractions and consequences.
   • Review the student handbook each year to ensure accurate documentation and explanation of current school policies and practices relating to discipline.

   Scheduling

   • Work with the registrar, Middle School counselor and the Middle School Office to schedule students into classes.
   • Review class rosters and student schedules paying close attention to group dynamics and any potential issues such as gender imbalance.
   • Create special schedules in response to assemblies and events, ensuring coordination with the High School.

Management/Supervisor Responsibilities:

Supervise and evaluate teachers, librarians, support professionals, paraprofessionals, custodians, and others assigned to campus.

Working Conditions:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations will be made if necessary

Mental Demands

Maintain emotional control under stress; subject to deal with a variety of stressful situations as they arise

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; stand and move throughout the facility. Duties also typically include considerable walking, standing, stooping, bending, and moderate lifting. Physical intervention may be required at times to manage student behavior; normal office environment as well as inside and outside duties; occasional district wide and statewide travel; frequent prolonged and irregular hours.

The foregoing statements describe the general purpose and responsibilities to this job and are not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills that may be required.