Dean of Students

DEAN OF STUDENTS
MARIN ACADEMY
San Rafael, California
www.ma.org
Start Date: July 2023

Mission Statement
Marin Academy asks every individual to think, question, and create
in an environment of encouragement and compassion and
challenges each person to accept the responsibilities posed by
education in a democratic society.

At a Glance

Established Enrollment Total Faculty Student-faculty ratio

1971 448 65 8.3:1

Students of color Financial aid awarded Faculty with advanced degrees Campus size

35% $4M 70% 11-acres

Faculty of color: 34% Endowment: $18.3M

Students receiving aid: 20% Annual operating budget: $24M

Overview
“Think. Question. Create.” Marin Academy (MA) located in San Rafael, CA,
just north of San Francisco, is a co-ed, day school serving students grades 9-12
and has long been a leader in progressive education.

Marin Academy seeks a visionary leader to serve as Dean of Students beginning
July 1, 2023. The Dean of Students is a senior leadership position, and ideal
candidates will be those who focus on the social and emotional growth and
learning of students and who strive to enact student support through the lens of
diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. The next Dean of Students will be a
collaborative, student-centered progressive educator who believes in and helps
cultivate the promise in each student. By example and in action, the Dean of
Students will be called upon to support our school’s mission and policies,
building programming and opportunities for student leadership, communicating
expectations and ensuring that students are adhering to successfully navigating
our community’s expectations for integrity; and enacting restorative and
disciplinary responses to promote student growth, accountability, and learning.
The salary range is $125,000-$175,000, based on experience.

experience and student leadership that keeps MA current, relevant, and
innovative

• Supports and collaborates with Dean of Academics, Dean of Faculty, and

• Keeps diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging as a priority and lens in

• Stays current with and engages in best practices, ideas, trends, and the

• Organizes and oversees the advisory system and co-curricular

• Chairs committees and task forces related to the role of Dean of

• Serves on Board committees as requested

Parents/Guardians/Families
o Establishes and oversees cooperative working relationships with

parents/guardians
o Communicates and works with families around student support
o Presents to current or potential parents/guardians as needed or

requested, including at MAPA (Marin Academy Parent Association)
meetings, admissions events, and more

Faculty and Staff
o Chairs the Student Support Team
o Supervises and collaborates with the grade-level deans in identifying

and addressing students’ emotional and psychological needs
o Oversees the administration of student activities
o Oversees the co-curricular programming including Minicourse,

outings (including Wilderness Quest), clubs, student organizations,
co-curricular plays, and other activities

o Partners with the Dean of Faculty and the Dean of Equity and
Inclusion to design, plan, and deliver professional development
related to student support to faculty and staff

o Coordinates, in partnership with the Dean of Faculty and the Director
of Human Resources, the school’s policies and protocols around
adult/student relationships in an educational environment

o Serves as a resource, advisor, and leader for the faculty and staff

Academic Leadership

o In coordination with the Dean of Academics and Dean of Equity, and
Inclusion, establishes appropriate level of expectations for students’
academic performance

o In coordination with the Dean of Academics and Dean of Equity and
Inclusion, designs and implements appropriate measures for
addressing students’ academic difficulties

o Teaches one class and advises

Administrative Leadership
o Manages Dean of Students budget
o Coordinates and updates the Student/Family handbook
o Keeps employees, families, and students informed of program goals,

policies, and activities
o In coordination with the Dean of Academics and Registrar, organizes

annual Back-to-School Night and conferences
o Serves as school liaison to MA Parents Association (MAPA)
o Coordinates student transportation and student parking (busing,

carpooling, and parking)
o Coordinates school assemblies

Cultural Leadership
o Models and cultivates a shared sense of purpose in order to create a

culture of engagement and investment among all members of the
community

o Models encouragement and compassion through interactions with all
members of the community

o Models transparency in an effort to foster a culture of collegiality
o Serves as a resource, advisor, and leader for advisors and deans as it

relates to student concerns

Represents School

o Represents student life at admissions events: Admissions Coffees, Open
Houses, Welcome Day, Revisit Week

o Attends parent outreach events and gatherings
o Attends Advancements events such as MA Celebrates, alumni events, and

Founders Circle
o Attends students’ activities such as athletic events, performances, and

dances

Direct Reports
o Class Deans
o Director of Outings
o School Counselor
o Advisors
o Director of Athletics

Qualifications and Personal Attributes

At Marin Academy, we believe equity and inclusion are at the core of our
mission, which calls on us “to think, question, and create in an environment
of encouragement and compassion.” In challenging us “to accept the
responsibilities posed by education in a democratic society,” the MA
community seeks to envision and to manifest a more just world and to
grapple with the inequitable systems and structures that persist around us.
These values are embedded in our teaching and learning. At MA, we
recognize that creating an inclusive school is not a one-time act—it’s an
ongoing process that requires continual attention and evolution. While we
work to represent diverse voices within the curriculum, we also engage in
reimagining our practices and culture to consider students’ lived
experiences and needs.

At present, MA is deeply engaged in the work outlined in our ambitious
strategic plan which emphasizes interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary
teaching and learning, competency-based assessment, and equity and
inclusion. Candidates eager to work toward these strategic goals will be
prioritized in our search progress. Furthermore, we welcome candidates
who are eager to grow in their professional lives and who demonstrate a
willingness and an ability to engage in reflection on their practice.

The qualifications and personal attributes of the next Dean of
Students include the following:

• A spirit of curiosity that pursues and creates best practices in education;
• The ability to articulate vision and strategy as well as the tactical skills to

best for students as core values.

The school is a vibrant and increasingly diverse community, and students
and teachers alike continue to work towards the furthering of an inclusive
and supportive school. Marin Academy is an equal opportunity employer
committed to excellence through diversity, and people of color and women
are encouraged to apply.
please visit our website (www.ma.org)

Learn More
Click on the links below to learn more about Marin Academy.

School Website Virtual Campus Tour

The MA Competencies School Profile

Strategic Plan Detailed Job Description

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion About San Rafael, California

Signature Programs

To Apply
Interested and qualified candidates are invited to send the following to
Travis Brownley, Head of School (travis@ma.org):

• A cover letter expressing interest in the Dean of Students

• A current resume.
• Five professional references with all contact information provided

(references will not be contacted without the candidate’s
permission).

• A two-page statement articulating how you would use