Dean of Students - Uncommon Schools

Uncommon Schools is a nonprofit network of high-performing, public charter schools providing an outstanding K-12 education in historically under-resourced communities. We have proudly built schools that reflect our student population, with more than 60% of our teachers and staff across our network identifying as a person of color. Uncommon currently manages 53 schools serving 19,000 students in five cities: Boston, Camden, New York City, Newark, and Rochester. We are proud that Uncommon graduates persist in and graduate from college at five times the rate of their peers nationally. We achieve this by offering strong academic, co-curricular, and social-emotional learning that prepares students for success in college and beyond.

We are always looking for excellent school leadership talent. While this is not an immediate opening, we welcome your application to begin the conversation about future opportunities that may arise.

At Uncommon Schools the Dean of Students (DOS) partners with the Principal and Director of Operations to create a school culture where students are actively engaged in academics and excited to come to school. Our schools are a place where students enjoy learning and engage respectfully with their peers, teachers and community. Our Deans build strong relationships and a positive school culture to ensure that all students embody the school’s values and stay focused on their journey to and through college. The Dean will also lead initiatives around school culture, our college preparatory focus, culturally responsive teaching, and student and family engagement. As Dean of Students:

• You’ll work closely with the Principal and Director of Operations to establish a positive, achievement-oriented, and culturally responsive school culture.
• You’ll demonstrate mastery of our instructional taxonomy to model behavior management best practices for teachers. 
• You’ll support teachers in empowering students to meet their full academic and personal potential.
• You'll navigate behavioral crisis-intervention and acute behavioral issues, and you'll manage the school-wide behavior plan utilizing culturally responsive techniques.
• You’ll collaborate with teachers, students, and families to create and implement individual behavior plans.
• You’ll manage systems that support school initiatives that lead to academic success for our students (e.g., attendance systems, homework systems).
• You'll be highly present and visible during school hours, constantly ensuring the school has an inclusive and joyful school culture.
• You’ll model the school’s values and the standard for academic and personal excellence.

• Passionate commitment to the mission of Uncommon Schools and investment in our vision for being an anti-racist organization;
• Unwavering belief in high academic and behavioral expectations for all students.
• Exceptional time and task management skills;
• Ability to persevere despite uncertainty and unexpected obstacles;
• Relentless drive to empower students academically and personally;
• Self-motivation, desire to be a great teammate, and a strong sense of personal responsibility;
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, and strong interpersonal skills with students, parents, colleagues, and community members;
• Ability and desire to implement feedback from school leaders and colleagues. 
• Requirements: 
  • 3+ years of experience working with youth or teaching in an urban district or charter school setting, with an explicit focus on building rapport and trust;
  • Proven track record of holding high standards and offering emotional and academic support to students;
  • Bachelor’s degree is required; a Master’s degree is preferred.

Our people are what makes us Uncommon.  We believe our compensation philosophy and benefits should reflect our values—equity, transparency, and clarity—to enhance our ability to attract and retain talent and reward their expertise.  Our staff receive best-in-class training, coaching, and support to develop and operate mission-driven schools that provide a high-quality education to our students and families.

Compensation for this position: Candidates who meet all job description requirements will likely receive an offer of $76,500.  The starting pay will depend on various factors including but not limited to relevant professional experience, education, certifications, and tenure with Uncommon Schools.  To receive an offer greater than $76,500, candidates will need experience beyond the job description requirements, including time spent in a directly equivalent role.

Other Benefits:

• Generous paid time off inclusive of sick time and school breaks (spring, winter, and summer)
• Extensive, best-in-class training and development  
• Choice of 3 comprehensive health insurance plans
• Pre-tax flexible spending and health saving accounts
• Financial planning & wellness
  • 403(b) retirement savings program + employer match
  • 529 college savings program
  • Public Service Loan Forgiveness application assistance
  • Financial  planning tools and assistance
• Dependent Care FSA, back up childcare and daycare discounts
• Paid leave of absence 
  • Fully paid parental leave
  • Fully paid medical leave
  • Additional paid Short Term and Long Term Disability insurance 
• Mental health and counseling support + wellness benefits

Uncommon believes in the importance of being a diverse, equitable, and inclusive organization that enables our students and staff to thrive. We are committed to building an exceptional team that reflects the diverse backgrounds and experiences of our students. We also strive to ensure an inclusive community by creating a space for meaningful dialogue about issues of race and identity for our staff and students. As an equal opportunity employer, Uncommon provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. We also ensure that individuals with disabilities receive all privileges and benefits associated with employment and are provided reasonable accommodations for the interview process and to perform core job functions. If you would like to request an accommodation, please email recruitment@uncommonschools.org.