Rhetoric (High) Dean of Student Life

Job Description:

POSITION SUMMARY

The Dean of Student Life is a full time position for a dynamic leader whose primary responsibility is to own the experience of student life, culture, and community in the School of Rhetoric. Under the guidance of the Head of Rhetoric, the Dean should be the first to identify needs or opportunities to better execute our mission, specifically in terms of shaping student community, affections, virtues, spiritual life, and behaviors, and working with faculty and administration to that end.

TARGETED GOAL

To improve the overall student experience so that our students are filled with joy, life, and encouraged to live the life of virtue and wisdom for Christ. 

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Leading Student Council (meetings, vision, etc.)

• Organizing and attending dances, etc.

• Guiding daily life and student spirit teams on an ongoing basis 

• Building and maintaining the trust of students and parents while fostering a sense of community and creating a Christ-centered school culture.

• Develop and implement formation programs on campus to promote students’ virtue and personal growth -- spiritually, academically, relationally, and emotionally. Work with the Head of SOR on bringing in speakers for the students.

• Partnering with teachers, Department Chairs, and the College Office on an on-going basis.

• Partnering with parents and volunteers to help cultivate student and school community in the SOR (in loco parentis)

• Managing communications to parents and students effectively and efficiently in regards to the student experience on campus.

• With the ultimate goal of discipling students, to proactively engage with relevant cultural issues and topics appropriate and normal for students of that age and creating opportunities for dialogue with interested students.

• To build, cultivate, and maintain student community in a Christ-centered way

• Identifying issues and matters needing attention or a new approach in the realm of student experience. This is both during the school day as well as in terms of the broader student experience outside of school -- student spirit at sporting events, etc. 

• Being an important voice in helping handle discipline issues involving student behavior, specifically helping coach students to grow through mistakes. 

• Attending regular (bi-weekly) lunch meetings with all teachers with a significant number of students of each particular grade

• Hosting once a semester meetings with parents of each grade level

• Weekly meetings with Head of Rhetoric

• Student Culture

• Advisory Program

• Outside Speakers

• Chapel (themes, topics, speakers, etc.)

• Quarterly meetings with Associate Head

• Frequent visible presence at various athletic and fine arts events -- leading & guiding student participation and involvement

• Frequent visible presence in student spaces (Knights Hall, cafeteria, Junior Wing, main plaza before school, etc.)

• Attending quarterly after school meetings with the SOR Leadership team

• Close formal and informal monitoring of student spiritual and emotional health and well-being, including being in frequent contact with Academic Resources and College Advising

• A flexible schedule for meeting with students who have either been sent to Dean by their teacher or to help meet students as necessary 

• Other duties that are relevant to the scope of the position but not necessarily listed here