Dean of Students
Position Title: Dean of Students
Reports to: Head of School
Location: The Discovery School, 102 15th St., Jacksonville Beach, FL, 32250
About the School
The Discovery School is a private, non-profit school that offers a unique educational experience through a gradual evolution from pure Montessori to a blended curriculum, to pure International Baccalaureate (IB) over the course of the child's academic career, serving children ages 18 months through eighth grade.
Through a progressive and internationally-minded framework, students receive a firm foundation in academic skills and participate in a wide variety of enrichment opportunities from a dedicated and caring faculty. Students in our toddler and primary program engage in learning in a Montessori-prepared environment with Montessori-trained teachers. Students in our elementary school are a part of the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (PYP). Our middle school seeks to challenge students with academic rigor in a low-pressure environment.
Job Summary
The Discovery School is seeking an experienced and dynamic professional to serve as the Dean of Students at our school. The Dean of Students will be responsible for fostering a positive and supportive school culture, providing leadership in student discipline and behavior management, and overseeing the overall well-being and success of students.
As an integral part of Discovery’s team, this person will develop a strong understanding of the school's mission, philosophy, values, and goals. They will also support students, faculty, staff, and families while providing direct leadership activities and character development programs. The ideal candidate is enthusiastic about assisting students’, team members’, and parents’ needs and will work collaboratively with all community members.
Normal Hours:
- Monday through Friday, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
- Other hours as required and deemed necessary by the Head of School
Principal Accountabilities:
Policies, Procedures, Programs
- Develops and implements policies, procedures, and programs to create a positive and inclusive school culture that supports student success and well-being.
- Updates handbooks and other documentation regularly (e.g., Parent Handbook regarding student behavioral expectations, including but not limited to Attendance, Conduct, Uniforms/Attire.
- Collaborates with the Director of Upper School in developing a Middle School Handbook.
- Enforces all safety and security policies and procedures and others, and, if applicable, reports violations to the Director of Facilities, Health & Safety, and the Head of School.
Discipline
- Provides leadership in student discipline and behavior management, ensuring fair and consistent enforcement of school rules and regulations.
- Coordinates the student discipline program (Urgent Action Plans).
- Establishes proactive protocols and deals with disciplinary matters when they arise.
- Oversees parent communication and updates in regards to discipline, ensuring that parents receive critical information from school regularly and consistently and that teacher communication policies are successful and evident to parents.
- Works with the faculty and staff to promote a positive emotional and academic climate in the school.
- Implements developmentally appropriate and prevention-oriented activities to meet student needs and school goals.
- Collaborates with faculty, staff, and parents to address individual student needs and support their academic, emotional/social, and personal growth.
- Works with students and develops individual academic and/or emotional/social skills, goals, and plans.
- Oversees the coordination of student support services, including counseling, academic advising, and interventions for at-risk students.
- Participates as a member of the Academic Admin Team and attends appropriate meetings.
- Serves as a resource and advocate for students, providing guidance and support in navigating challenges and obstacles.
- Works with other administrators to implement Professional Development, including summer In-Service days, to support staff in implementing positive behavior management strategies aligning with school curriculum and culture.
DEIB - Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging
- Collaborates with the Director of DEIB.
- Leads initiatives to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion within the school community.
- Maintains policies required to sustain an accreditation by FCIS (Florida Council of Independent Schools, DCF (Department of Children and Families), and the IBO (International Baccalaureate Organization).
- Collaborates with other administrators to ensure a safe and secure learning environment for all students.
Additional Accountabilities
- Supports the Director of Facilities, Health & Safety to oversee security, logistics, crisis management, and campus safety procedures and protocol.
- Keeps up with changing educational trends and, when appropriate, shares knowledge with faculty and administration.
- Strengthens effective advocacy for student needs throughout the school.
- Steps in as a substitute teacher when necessary.
- Leads the hiring of substitute teachers and onboards them.
- Performs other tasks as deemed necessary by the Head of School, including but not limited to student health and safety, student record keeping, and systems created to support the overall experience of the students, families, and campus guests.
Specific Qualifications/Skills
- Master’s Degree in education, counseling, or a related field.
- Previous experience in school administration, counseling, or student affairs.
- Strong leadership and interpersonal skills with the ability to build and maintain positive relationships with students, parents, and staff.
- Knowledge of best practices in student support services, behavior management, and school culture development.
- Understanding of relevant laws, regulations, and policies related to student discipline and well-being.
- Comprehensive knowledge of child development and a special understanding of pre-adolescent and early adolescent youth
- Excellent communication and conflict-resolution skills
- Demonstrated leadership and facilitative skills
- Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from individuals and groups representing administrators, parents, faculty, staff, students, and the general public
- Working knowledge of the Google Suite (Gmail, Drive, and Google Apps).
- Ability to handle multiple tasks throughout the school day.
- Experience in an early childhood, elementary or middle school setting.
- Experience with positive behavior management systems such as Responsive Classroom
Required Competencies:
- Commitment to Discovery’s Characteristics of Professional Excellence:
- Model the Portrait of the Graduate
- Passionately pursue their own professional growth and development
- Unabashedly hold children at the center of all decisions and actions
- Cultivate an inclusive and vibrant learning community
- Discover and act on what is possible
- Planning & Organizing
- Interpersonal/relationship management skills
- Collaboration & Teamwork
- Innovation
- Integrity and Trust
- Attentive listener
Work Environment
This job requires the employee to spend the majority of working hours working directly with children, faculty and staff, and parents. In addition, this job may require the employee to stand, bend, kneel, or lift during their regular job duties.
This position operates in an office environment that is accessible. Some work at off-site locations may be required, and those may not necessarily be fully accessible. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear. The employee frequently is required to stand and walk. The employee may have to lift and/or move objects up to 25 pounds and occasionally lift. This position requires attendance from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, during agreed-upon hours. This workplace is a smoke- and drug-free environment.
Work Authorization: The candidate must be authorized to work in the US.
Compensation: This is a full-time position and commensurate with experience.
Benefits: Full-time employees receive health, dental, and vision insurance, 403(b), LTD and STD, paid leave, and life insurance.
Start Date of Employment: January 2024
To Apply: https://www.thediscoveryschool.org/about/employment
The Discovery School is an equal opportunity employer.