While we’re proud of our students’ future successes in college, our greater mission is to prepare students for life. The student experience isn’t solely about the path to college but about the journey of education. There is no single recipe at LJCDS because as founder Louise Balmer believed, each child is unique. Our contoured learning approach serves the individual needs of our wide variety of students. The magic of discovering a scholar who has artistic gifts and throws a no-hitter inspires all of us.  

We are seeking a student-centered educator to join our Upper School community as a dean of students, starting in July 2024.

An integral member of the Upper School administration team, with strategic responsibility for promoting and enabling an inclusive environment while working toward cultural change, the Upper School dean of students is responsible for building community among students by setting a tone of respect and promoting behavioral responsibility and personal integrity. 

The dean has oversight of all student activities for approximately 460 students in grades 9-12, and directs efforts to maintain high morale among students - ensuring a superior quality of life within the community. They will oversee a team of grade level deans, whose role is to support the students and families within a specific grade.

The dean will engage in regular consultation with students, faculty, parents, administrators, and others to assess the mood and sense of well-being on campus and will develop appropriate plans of action, programming, and procedures to respond to these needs. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Oversee the day-to-day experiences of student life on campus

  • Overseeing student club and flex programs

  • Oversee and implement Peer Leader Program

  • Serve as advisor to Student Council

  • Co-monitor, and evaluate advisory curriculum and programming with an eye toward ensuring that all LJCDS students think deeply about the benefits of diversity and the importance of working to make the world a more inclusive, equitable place 

  • Collaborate with the Upper School administrative team to plan community time assemblies and speakers

  • Collaborate with the director of the Learning Resource Center to support students with documented learning differences and students of concern

  • Collaborate with LJCDS Registrar to manage a successful course offering and scheduling period

• Supervise and support Grade Level Deans

• Guide students who have made missteps through restorative processes and a clear tiered system of support, determine, manage and organize the appropriate procedural process

  • Faculty discretion

  • Ethics Council

  • Faculty Review Board

  • Administrative Decision

• Act as a resource on community, culture, and belonging (CCB) issues for faculty and staff in their work with students and in their development of curriculum and programs focused on social justice, anti-racism, anti-discrimination, and racial healing

Position Requirements

• A bachelor's degree is required; an advanced degree is ideal

• Teaching experience or prior work with students at the high school level

• Working knowledge of academic planning systems (scheduling, class changes, and the like)

• Experience creating and facilitating student advisory or character education programs, and moderating student organizations, particularly student leadership groups and/or an ethics council

• Current knowledge in related fields and topics, and the desire to continue learning

• Knowledge of curriculum and the curricular issues challenging students in our rapidly changing global community

• A willingness to be an active member of the La Jolla Country Day School community - visible at school events, around the campus, and in classrooms

To perform this job successfully, an individual should have working knowledge of Google Workspace and Microsoft Office, and be able to learn to use other applications and hardware (Blackbaud, Apple TV, On Record, Seesaw, Zoom, etc.). Expertise in the use of technology to enhance instruction and manage daily expectations as a team member is also needed.

The ideal candidate is committed to leading and learning with dignity, with a high level of engagement in anti-racist education and culturally responsive instructional practices. They will possess or demonstrate the following: a growth mindset, emotional intelligence, self-motivation, positive energy, strong interpersonal skills, a service-oriented and team approach to work, approachability, adaptability, vulnerability, openness to new and divergent ideas, excellent oral and written communication skills, and comfort in an educational setting where children and adults are present.

All school personnel must successfully complete a fingerprint background check through Live Scan and provide current tuberculosis clearance.

Salary range: $95,000-$120,000 annualized. The salary offer to a successful candidate will be dependent on several factors that may include but are not limited to the type and years of experience, training, practical knowledge, and education. 

To be considered for this role, please submit your current CV/resume, a cover letter detailing your interest in this position in our community, and a statement showcasing your educational philosophy.