Dean of Community

At Acero Schools, we are what we believe.

Achievement – We set goals and do what it takes to achieve them.

Community – We contribute to, respect and serve in our communities.

Excellence – We expect our best and strive to make our best even better.

Resilience – We learn and grow through adversity and challenges.

Optimism – We believe in our ability to create the future we envision.

Position Description

Dean of Community

Salary: Competitive Salary and Benefits

Location: Chicago, IL

Reports To: Principal

How to Apply: https://platform.teachermatch.org/jobsboard.do?districtId=569404168

Position Overview

The Dean of Community is the cornerstone of an Acero school by bridging the divide between school and home, and by connecting the dotted lines between the Central Support Office and the school. The Dean of Community will serve as a vital member of the school leadership team by demonstrating a strong eagerness to educate and engage parents, families, and community members on the goings-on within the school. The incumbent will be a collaborator across multiple departments both within the school and the Central Support Office. The Dean of Community facilitates programming both during and after school in an effort to build a sense of togetherness and belonging for students, staff, and parents.

The Dean of Community exists to promote the school in positive ways to internal stakeholders and to extend the school’s roots in the community.

Core Responsibilities

Area #1: Parent and Community Engagement

• Create and lead school-wide strategy for dramatically increasing family involvement
• In partnership with the Principal and Assistant Principal, establish engagement goals in an effort to measure the effectiveness of the school-wide strategy for dramatically increasing family involvement
• Plan and execute at least three engagement events each quarter
• Lead and assist teachers with the implementation of classroom, grade-level, and school-wide events (e.g. award ceremonies, celebratory events, etc.)
• Evaluate school-wide events that focus on student development, school culture, parent/community involvement, etc. 
• Maintain the school event/program calendar
• Attend community events and build relationships with existing and new community partners
• Develop and facilitate a parent leadership team that works in partnership with the Principal/Assistant Principal toward progress on the school’s achievement plan
• Recruit parents for the Bilingual Advisory Committee and support in the planning and facilitation of the Bilingual Advisory Committee meetings in partnership with the Principal and Central Academic Support Team
• Organize parent volunteer initiatives and recruit and support parent volunteers
• Facilitate a strong parent volunteer program by providing ongoing volunteer trainings for parents and by ensuring and assisting with the volunteer application process
• In collaboration with the Principal/Assistant Principal, take responsibility for updating the school website and social media presence regularly in an effort to engage parents and community stakeholders

Area #2: Recruitment and Enrollment

• Serve as the school lead for student recruitment
• Create and execute a robust student recruitment strategy in partnership with the External Affairs department including the school’s designated Family Support Specialist
• Collaborate on the development of school-focused marketing materials for prospective families
• Provide clarity and consistency of school specific and network policies and requirements throughout the recruitment and enrollment process
• Provide monthly enrollment and recruitment updates to the Principal and the Chief External Affairs Officer 
• Build relationships with local preschools/feeder schools and other community organizations
• Conduct open houses, student tours, and new parent orientations
• Support the Office Coordinator and External Affairs team in maintaining student enrollment and recruitment databases 

Area #3: Partnerships and Programming

• Engage with community organizations to build collaborative partnerships that are in line with the school’s achievement plan
• Seek out and secure strong, developmentally appropriate after school programming opportunities for students
• Seek out and secure grant opportunities that provide support to the school and that are in line with the school’s achievement plan
• Own after school programming for students and families
• Develop policies and procedures related to the use of the building after school hours
• Serve as the point of contact for the facility during after school hours (until 6pm)
• Serve as the administrator on-site during after school programming
• Partner with the Athletic Director to ensure policies and procedures are in place and followed by coaches who access the facility for athletic events
• Partner with the Maintenance team to ensure that facilities requests have been made and to ensure proper set up of spaces for school events both during and after school
• Take responsibility for requesting and securing security for all school events
• Conduct open houses, student tours, and new parent orientations
• Support the Office Coordinator and External Affairs team in maintaining student enrollment and recruitment databases

Area #4: School & Student Support

• Support school-wide supervision duties including lunchroom coverage and front desk coverage, as needed
• Share in main office duties with specific regard to school compliance as directed by the Principal/Assistant Principal
• Collaborate as a member of the school leadership team by participating in (at least) weekly meetings
• Translate spoken and written materials, as needed
• Promotes attitudes behaviors and skills for improved learning
• Works collaboratively with the diverse learning team to support student behavior plans, when needed
• Perform additional duties, as assigned

Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor’s Degree preferred
• Master’s Degree preferred

Experience:

• Minimum three years’ school or client-focused nonprofit experience preferred.
• Documented history of personal and professional success.
• Experience working with adolescents and/or families, particularly in traditionally underserved
• schools and communities preferred.
• Bilingual in Spanish strongly preferred.

Certification:

• Valid Illinois Professional Educator License preferred.
• Must hold permanent residency in the United States.

Physical Demands

Nature of work requires an ability to operate standard business office equipment.  Requires ability to communicate and exchange information, collect, compile and prepare work documents, set-up and maintain work files.  Physically demands require the ability to stand, bend, reach high and low, stoop, and walk around the classroom 60% of the day.  In addition, walking up and down stairs several times a day.  Must be able to lift 15 to 20 pounds for short periods of time and push and pull 15 to 20 lbs. 

Working Conditions

Majority of work performed in a general office environment.  Position requires availability for extended hours plus non-traditional hours required to perform job duties.  Also requires participation and attendance at organization-sponsored events and meetings.

NOTE: The foregoing list of essential duties and responsibilities is intended to be representative of the tasks performed within this classification. It is not necessarily descriptive of any one position in the class. The omission of an essential function does not preclude management from assigning duties not listed herein if such functions are a logical assignment to the position.

Acero Schools is committed to a policy of equal treatment for all individuals. Acero Schools does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, handicap, age, religion, sexual orientation, or national or ethnic origin.

www.aceroschools.org