Dean of Culture

Organization Overview
Excel Academy is a network of 5 schools in Massachusetts and Rhode Island that prepares students in grades 5-12 to succeed in high school and college and engage productively in their communities. The majority of our 1,700 students identify as Latinx or Hispanic and will be the first in their families to graduate from college. Families choose Excel because our students consistently outperform their peers in growth and achievement and are 5x more likely to graduate from college.

At Excel, we believe that every student—regardless of race, zip code, or economic status—deserves access to a free, high quality holistic education. During their middle school journey with us, students grow at a pace faster than most peers in their state. This is possible through a combination of high expectations, rigorous instruction, and individualized support. At our nationally ranked high school, students achieve at the highest level and are poised for success in their chosen college or career path.

About our Team

Everyday, our team members choose to be positive, drive their own growth, uplift one another, and hold the highest possible beliefs for what students can achieve.

The Dean of Students will lead initiatives related to student culture and ensure that students are supported to achieve academically while developing as young people. The DOS also serves as the leader of the school’s core behavior and character education systems and programs.

Your Impact

Proactively plan and execute systems to drive positive student behavior and create an academics-focused culture of achievement:

• Proactively train key constituents in Excel’s approach to culture and behavior systems
• • Develop and teach New Staff Orientation lessons
  • Lead workshops during All-Staff Summit
  • Support grade level leaders in their work planning and executing student orientation
  • With the school admin team, develop and deliver parent orientation sessions, and conduct follow-up meetings
• Empower teachers to drive positive student outcomes
• Provide feedback to staff members in their classroom management during break, lunch, Focus, and instructional time
• Build strong relationships with staff members; seek feedback and provide feedback
• Ensure a cycle of communication with teachers following referrals
• Maintain a public presence throughout the school day
• Plan, oversee, and execute designated programming:
• Oversee school-wide intervention and incentive programs
• • Plan and execute student groups as determined by the Dean Team

Respond to issues relating to behavior or discipline:

• Serve as a parent contact for student disciplinary issues and concerns, conferring with Head of School and teachers as needed.
• Manage daily attendance and uniform referrals
• Manage “Dean’s office traffic” from 7:30 – 8:20 am, including processing uniform referrals and late students
• Communicate updates on students to staff in a timely manner
• Monitor attendance of frequently-absent students; provide regular updates to administrators
• Communicate with families and/or create attendance contracts, as needed

Support effective execution of student interventions and supports:

• Serve as a member of the Student Support team
• With student advisors, develop, execute and/or oversee individualized interventions and supports for particular students as needed

Serve as a productive member of the Administrative team:

• Provide morning and afternoon coverage as specified by the team
• Drive school improvement through participation in quarterly strategic planning cycles and data analysis
• Write, revise and finalize school manuals annually
• Meaningfully participate in weekly administrative meetings and weigh in on school wide decision making

Serve as a productive member of the Excel Community:

• Participate in generating and upholding Excel Staff norms
• Provide coverage when needed
• Follow the appropriate protocol when absent to request coverage
• Serve as a member of a GLT and homeroom team:
• Meaningfully participate in Friday meetings, school PD and family conferences
• Do whatever it takes to ensure the mission of the school is fulfilled

Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion:

• Understand how your identity markers (including race, class, and gender) impact your leadership.
• Demonstrates understanding and respect for the cultures and languages of our communities.
• Solicit and welcome collaboration and feedback from colleagues, students, families and the surrounding community.
• Understand the impact of historical and structural racism and use this lens in your decision-making.
• Take action to demonstrate personal reflections and growth/ be responsive to feedback and lessons learned.

Mission Alignment

• You share a commitment to and belief in all students and the mission of Excel Academy Charter Schools, including Excel’s values and educational model;
• You are committed to addressing racial and economic inequity in education;
• You work effectively in a team environment and have a willingness and desire to support others in doing their best work; and
• You are open to change, are willing to problem-solve, and seek feedback for your own professional growth and improvement.

Qualifications

• A Bachelor’s degree required, Master’s degree preferred;
• A minimum of two years teaching experience in an urban public school or charter school setting preferred;
• A commitment to and belief in all students and the mission of Excel Academy Charter Schools, including Excel’s values and educational model;
• A commitment to addressing racial and economic inequity in education;
• The ability to focus and thrive in a fast paced, entrepreneurial environment;
• The ability to work effectively in a team environment and the willingness and desire to support others in doing their best work; and
• An openness to change, a willingness to problem-solve, and an interest in receiving feedback for continuous improvement; and
• And can speak to their personal investment and commitment to antiracist education and diversity, equity, and inclusion in our school community and beyond.