SUMMARY AND OVERVIEW:

• Work with the school leadership to help set and reinforce school culture: SEZP schools are working to create positive, challenging, and supportive environments for all students. The Dean of Culture will play a leading role in defining what that culture will look like at the school level; the Dean of Culture will serve as a key teacher leader not only in setting the vision but in helping to reinforce it across the school
• Broaden your impact and become a part of rebuilding an urban school district where you’ll receive ongoing support to help you and your students reach your full potential
• Serve a diverse population of urban high-need students

Grow:

• Work in an environment dedicated to educator leadership and collaborate with high-quality professionals as you work to create the best possible environment for students
• Receive a competitive salary and benefits.

Rise Academy

Rise is a new school founded in the Springfield Empowerment Zone with 6^th grade in the 2016-17 school year.  In 2017-18 we will add the 7^th grade, and will be a fully grown middle school in the following year.  Rise is a boundary school, serving all students who live within the zone, but uses methods proven successful at high-performing schools including high expectations for work and behavior, extended time, schoolwide rewards and consequences, and parental involvement.  We are currently hiring our founding 7^th grade team.

DEAN OF CULTURE RESPONSIBILITIES WILL INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:

Teacher Leadership:

The Dean of Culture is responsible for ensuring fellow teachers have the support needed to effectively build a supportive culture of high expectations for all students. Specifically, the Dean of Culture is responsible for the following:

• Serving as the primary teacher leader defining and reinforcing school culture and expectations
• Helping ensure school-wide consistency in implementation of culture expectations
• Leading professional development training on positive school culture, effective classroom management, and other topics
• Providing planning support to teachers to help them improve classroom management and increase student engagement
• Observing teachers frequently and providing actionable feedback and coaching on how to improve student culture and classroom management
• Acting as an exemplar for all staff by modeling positivity and high expectations for all students
• Reinforcing a learning environment that sets high expectations for all students, with a recognition of the individual needs of students, including language and cultural differences, maturational differences, and differences in learning styles
• Working closely with school leaders to help insure a positive staff culture; addressing challenges in staff culture positively and assertively

School-Wide Responsibilities:

The Dean of Culture is accountable for fostering an environment designed to allow all students to be happy, productive, and reach their full potential. Specifically, the Dean of Culture is responsible for the following:

• Implementing and overseeing an effective, building-wide, consistent student culture program
• Making the school a positive environment that values students, their families, and their culture, and consistently pushes them to work hard and achieve at high levels
• Developing positive relationships with students and consistently holding students to high expectations
• Consistently and fairly responding to students who have failed to meet school culture expectations; helping to implement appropriate consequences and help students quickly become able to meet the school’s high expectations
• Working closely and effectively with students who have behavior challenges; coordinating with their families; partnering with other school staff to execute individualized behavior interventions when necessary
• Developing positive relationships with family members and the community
• Serving as a representative of the school to the community; working with staff members to insure that families are well-informed about what is happening in school and have other opportunities to interact positively with the school
• Supervise public areas (such as hallways and other public spaces) when appropriate to reinforce school behavior expectations
• Accurately monitoring and analyzing student attendance, student homework completion, and student discipline records; work with leaders, fellow teachers, students, and families to create appropriate responses to ensure outstanding attendance, homework completion, and student culture

We are seeking team players committed to the SEZP mission, high expectations, and their own professional growth.

REQUIRED:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university
• Massachusetts teaching credential
• One to three years of experience leading or coaching adults with proven leadership skills
• Knowledge of exemplary teaching and the capacity to distinguish among poor, mediocre, solid, and outstanding classroom and school culture
• A track record of success working with students and adults

• High expectations for self and others, and a willingness to hold self and others accountable to these expectations

• Exceptional ability to lead people and manage complex projects
• Ability to organize workload independently and set priorities; to adapt quickly to changing priorities; and perform multiple interrelated tasks under deadline pressures

• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, and strong interpersonal skills

• Effectiveness at building strong relationships with students and families
• Strong strategic thinking and problem solving capabilities
• Commitment to professional growth and regularly seeking out opportunities to improve instructional and leadership practice
• Belief and alignment with SEZP’s core beliefs and philosophy, including the belief that each and every child can excel academically

HIGHLY DESIRED (but not required):

• Master’s Degree in education
• Understanding and experience working with the nuances of urban school environments and school culture
• At least five years of experience working in schools
• Bilingual speaking, reading, and writing abilities (Spanish)

SEZP offers a competitive salary commensurate with qualifications and experience. Positions will be filled on a rolling basis; applicants are encouraged to apply immediately. If you have questions, please contact breena@springfieldpublicschools.com.