Associate Dean of Culture

Organization Overview
Excel Academy is a network of 6 schools in Massachusetts and Rhode Island that prepares students in grades 5-12 to succeed in high school and college and engage productively in their communities. The majority of our 2,000 students identify as Latinx or Hispanic and will be the first in their families to graduate from college. Families choose Excel because our students consistently outperform their peers in growth and achievement and are 5x more likely to graduate from college.
At Excel, we believe that every student—regardless of race, zip code, or economic status - deserves access to a free, high quality holistic education. During their middle school journey with us, students grow at a pace faster than most peers in their state. This is possible through a combination of high expectations, rigorous instruction, and individualized support. At our nationally ranked high school, students achieve at the highest level and are poised for success in their chosen college or career path.
About the Role
The Associate Dean of Culture will co-lead the management of of student culture and behavior, and work to ensure that 100% of students meet Excel's behavioral targets. We believe routine and structures in school create predictability for students and allows for students to thrive, be emotionally safe, and find belonging in school.
Starting Salary & Start Date: $60k - $90k, commensurate with experience.
Your Impact
Proactively plan and execute systems to drive positive student behaviors and create an academics-focused culture of achievement.
Support the Dean of Culture with analysis of student behavior data
Proactively train key constituents in Excel’s behavior systems
With the Dean, develop and teach New Staff Orientation lessons
With the Dean, lead workshops during all-staff Summit
Support GLT leaders in their work planning and executing student orientation
With the school admin team, develop and deliver parent orientation sessions, and conduct follow-up meetings with parents who do not attend
Empower teachers as managers of student discipline and behavior
Provide feedback to staff members in their classroom management during break, lunch, Focus, and instructional time
Build strong relationships with staff members; seek feedback and provide feedback
Ensure a cycle of communication with teachers following referrals
Maintain a strong, public presence throughout the school day
Plan, oversee, and execute designated Character Education program:
Provide leadership, curricular and organizational support to Grade Level Teams in executing culture-focused homeroom activities daily.
Plan and teach the 5th Grade Life Skills course
Plan and teach the 6th Grade Mindsets course
Enforce the code of conduct and maintaining a strong, public presence throughout the school day
Oversee school-wide intervention and incentive programs
Plan and execute student groups as determined by the Dean Team
Oversee positive PREP Program
Support Dean is execution of:
Daily Detention Program
Friday Extension Program
Respond to issues relating to behavior or discipline
Serve as an investigator and parent contact for student disciplinary issues and concerns, conferring with the Dean of Culture, Head of School and teachers as needed.
Investigate reports around student behavior or incidents; determine appropriate responses and consequences in conjunction with Dean
Communicate with parents about disciplinary issues
With direct support of Dean, oversee and execute ICR procedures, including apology and reentry protocols
Proactively and promptly communicate with staff regarding status of students in investigations, referrals, suspensions and re-entry
Manage daily attendance and uniform referrals
Manage “Dean’s office traffic” from 7:30 – 8:20 am, including processing uniform referrals and late students
Communicate updates on students to staff in a timely manner
Monitor attendance of frequently-absent students; provide regular updates to administrators
Administer consequences for repeated tardiness
Communicate with families and/or create attendance contracts, as needed
Support effective execution of student interventions and supports
Serve as a member of the Student Support team
With student advisors, develop, execute and/or oversee individualized interventions and supports for particular students as needed
Support Dean of Student in driving accountability for student support systems and communication expectations
Serve as a productive member of the Excel Community
Participate in generating and upholding Excel Staff norms
Provide coverage when needed
Follow the appropriate protocol when absent to request coverage
Serve as a member of a GLT and homeroom team:
Meaningfully participate in Friday meetings, school PD and family conferences
Do whatever it takes to ensure the mission of the school is fulfilled
Qualifications
A minimum of two years teaching experience in an urban public school or charter school setting preferred;
The ability to speak Spanish preferred;
Measurable evidence of driving student achievement gains;
A commitment to addressing inequity in education;
An unwavering commitment to and belief in the mission of Excel Academy Charter Schools, including Excel’s values and educational model;
The ability to focus and thrive in a fast paced, entrepreneurial environment;
The ability to work effectively in a team environment and the willingness and desire to support others in doing their best work; and
An entrepreneurial spirit that reflects an openness to change, a willingness to problem-solve, and an interest in developing new ideas & programs.
Mission Alignment
You share a commitment to and belief in all students and the mission of Excel Academy Charter Schools, including Excel’s values and educational model;
You are committed to addressing racial and economic inequity in education;
You work effectively in a team environment and have a willingness and desire to support others in doing their best work; and
You are open to change, are willing to problem-solve, and seek feedback for your own professional growth and improvement.
Preference will be given to applicants who share points of intersection with our students, such as speaking Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic, or a language commonly spoken by our students and families at an advanced level, being first generation college graduates, or having grown up low-income.