Director of School Culture Job Description
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About Launch
Launch Expeditionary Learning Charter School is currently hiring to staff a brand new high school option for students of Central Brooklyn focused on tackling the two greatest challenges of our time– climate change and equity. The Launch High School will welcome its first 9th grade class in Brooklyn, NY in Fall 2025. Launch High School builds on the work of Launch’s middle school, an EL Education school that has operated in Weeksville, Brooklyn for 12 years. Launch's mission is dedicated to empowering all students to develop the knowledge, skills and character to disrupt inequities in society and build a better world. We believe that students at all levels can be pushed and supported to do more than they think possible.
Launch High School is a transformative, student-centered learning environment that offers one of the most innovative and impactful high school experiences in NYC.
Launch’s design is anchored by 4 principles :
- Power of Joy : We infuse joy into every aspect of our culture and activities
- Everyone Belongs and Grows : We create a community where everyone feels known and valued
- Deeper Learning, Rooted Here : We embrace meaningful, real-world learning grounded in our local context
- Liberation through Action : We empower ourselves and others through learning, addressing inequities, and championing environmental and social justice.
The student experience is grounded in :
Groundbreaking Learning Ecosystem model design developed in partnership with Transcend Education and EdReimaginedCompetency Based Learning using reDesign’s Future9 CompetenciesCommunity & Work Based Learning offered in collaboration with the National Park Service, and local non-profit partners operating in sustainabilityDual enrollment classes through local community collegesPathways to Green Careers through opportunities to earn career-connected credentials / badges in Green Energy, Sustainable Agriculture, Marine Sciences & moreYou can learn more about the high school model in our community driven, work-in-progress School Design Blueprint.
As the Dean of Students at Launch High School, your responsibilities include, but are not limited to :
Coaching and Development of Staff Around Restorative PracticesSupport all teachers to effectively implement restorative practices in and out of their classrooms.
Monitor and analyze student data for efficacy of implementation and to determine more advanced interventions in support of student developmentProvide coaching and regular professional development sessions for staff members to support both their personal development and the support they’re able to provide studentsFostering a positive Restorative School CultureDevelop a work culture of cooperation, positive attitudes, and teamwork, where all staff are motivated to perform with excellence and continually improve
Ensure that Launch High School’s Design Principles– Power of Joy, Everyone Belongs and Grows, Deeper Learning Rooted Here, and Liberation through Action–are evidenced in every experience the school offers and every decision made as school leaderEnsure staff are prepared to operationalize the Restorative model outlined in the Launch High School Design Blueprint, and are convicted to the vision that it supports and the impact it will have on the communityFamily EngagementVision and build staff skill around consistent, transparent communication with families as partners. This includes strengthening individual relationships between families and the school, as well as supervising the implementation of regularly scheduled events that foster stronger family partnership
New Student On-BoardingCreate, supervise implementation of, and continually evaluate, new student orientation processes for incoming 9th graders and transfer students
Build staff skill and investment for on-boarding programming and processes through highly effective professional developmentMonitor data and develop interventions in support of integrating students fully into community.Execution of Restorative Practices SystemsOversee student discipline in collaboration with students, staff, parents, and Crew advisors through regular data analysis and PD supports
Develop proactive culture building activities that support building community and student capacity as community leadersEnsure spaces that honor student interests and identities, including through implementation of clubs, field trips and by creating and maintaining Student Life systems and proceduresDevelop and execute behavior intervention programming in support of all students academic achievement rooted in dataExecute thorough investigations in support of informed and effective natural consequences, when necessaryThe ideal candidate will be :
Aligned with, passionate about, and invested in both the vision for Launch High School that is currently in progress (School Design Blueprint) and the community-based design process by which it will continue to be developedThis includes unwavering commitment to equity, Launch’s mission, and the EL Education model
An experienced school leader, with at least two years of experience leading, managing, and coaching a team of adults with clear evidence of being able to drive results through the supervision of others, and building on a foundation of at least three years teaching experience with a proven track record of elevating student achievement and cultivating positive culturePreferably in an urban setting
Preferably in a high schoolAlignment with the educational philosophy and core beliefs that will undergird Launch High School : project-based and competency-based learning, an interdisciplinary approach, and work-based / career-connected programmingPreferably with experience teaching and / or leading in a school that uses one or more of these elements
EntrepreneurialComfortable with rapid growth and evolution (personal and of the school) within an innovative educational model
Skilled in starting and growing a new program as it is in developmentA visionary that can construct, implement, and successfully reach a desired outcome, in true partnership with communityCommitted to staying at Launch at least four years, which will include seeing the inaugural 9th grade class through their graduation and leading the school to scaleA leader who demonstrates :Self-awareness, demonstrating an accurate idea of one's own strengths and weaknesses
An ability to treat all members of the school's community with respect and to inspire othersSkill in project-based, interdisciplinary and competency-based instruction, and innovative educational approaches, as evidenced by quantitative and qualitative dataStrong organizational, self-management, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to handle many responsibilities simultaneouslyEnthusiasm, energy, and optimism, even in the face of challengesAdeptness in managing change, coupled with innovative thinking to surmount obstaclesA belief in the value of building relationships and balancing empowering staff and students while ensuring accountabilityComposed demeanor during crises, underpinned by optimism and resilienceConfident and effective communication, adjusting styles to suit diverse audiencesEmpathetic listening skills and high emotional intelligenceStrategic thinking, critically assessing information, data, and processes to facilitate organizational improvementHolder of a Bachelor’s degree, with advanced degree preferredTeaching experience (in an urban setting preferred)Valid State Instructional and / or School Leadership Certification preferredCompensation : Highly competitive and commensurate with experience, along with a full benefits package.
Launch is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any individual or group for reasons of race, color, creed, sex, age, culture, national origin, marital status, sexual preference or mental or physical disability.
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