[2024-2025] Instructional Dean (STEM) - Middle School

Job Description
Position Overview 
The Dean is responsible for ensuring that the highest quality curricula are developed across the school and for creating a positive, structured, and disciplined school culture. They are responsible for ensuring that the students’ learning experiences are exciting, rigorous, and helping to prepare them for college. The Dean coordinates curriculum and instructional content with the Teaching & Learning team, coaches teachers, assesses teacher and student performance, coordinates professional development needs for the school, and provides operational support to keep the academic program running.  It is also important that a Dean cultivates productive relationships with all members of the school community, including faculty, students, and families. The Dean reports directly to the Principal, who provides guidance and sets school policy. 
 
Duties and Responsibilities: 
(1) Curriculum and Assessment 
Develop and execute high-quality, standards-based school curriculum and instructional content consistent with the philosophy, values, and mission of the school and KIPP NYC. 
Clearly articulate student performance goals for each grade level and work with teachers to set measurable student goals in individual classes. 
Continuously monitor student achievement by analyzing independent work, standardized tests results, and other data points in order to target interventions. 
Attend and facilitate productive content team meetings. 
(2) School culture 
Work closely with the leadership team to develop a positive, structured, achievement-oriented, and creative school culture. 
Lead the implementation of values integration and character development within the classroom community. 
Be highly present and visible during school hours, relentlessly ensuring the school has a strong culture. 
Support execution and coordination of cross-school instructional and cultural initiatives. 
(3) Student Discipline 
Model positive interactions with students, as well as a variety of ways to handle misbehavior and disruptions (principles of Love and Logic, Lemov techniques, etc). 
Recognize and celebrate exemplary student achievement and behavior, communicating with families of students on a regular basis. 
Reinforce the effective use of a school-wide behavior plan and serve as a point person for discipline and culture issues. 
Assist teachers, students, and parents in the effective creation and implementation of individual behavior plans (in conjunction with the Social Worker/Guidance Counselor). 
(4) Teacher coaching and professional development 
Plan, implement, and provide ongoing professional development and feedback to all staff, focusing on building positive student relationships, student culture, and classroom community. 
Support teachers in developing their classroom management and instructional practice (unit and lesson planning, lesson execution, and collection and use of assessment data). 
Conduct classroom observations and follow-up with targeted feedback and support to help teachers become even more effective. 
Communicate teacher performance to principal, highlighting teachers in need of principal coaching due to insufficient performance. Complete quarterly, mid-year, and end-of-year teacher performance evaluations. 
Organize summer training and professional development days in coordination with other Deans and the Principal. 
Recognize and celebrate staff professional growth and success. 
(5) Operational support 
Teach classes when necessary, for coverage purposes or professional development of teachers.
Collaborate with the Leadership Team regarding daily schedule, class schedule, and student placements in conjunction with the Director of Operations.
Ensure completion of report cards and progress reports.
Participate in the teacher recruitment and hiring process, in collaboration with the Principal.