Dean of Student Culture SY24-25

POSITION: Dean of Student Culture

REPORTS TO: Director of Student Support Services

12 month position

The Dean of Student Culture reports to the Director of Student Support Services.  They lead the school's efforts to create a positive, structured, consistent, caring, disciplined, and developmentally appropriate school culture. This is a 12 month position.

Who We Are

Our mission is to provide an exemplary educational program that includes all students. Our developmentally appropriate, student and family-centered educational approach nurtures students to expand their developmental skills, in order to build a foundation for life-long learning. Our Core Values are:

• Responsibility

• Engagement

• Acceptance

• Creativity

• Honesty

We utilize the Universal Design for Learning Framework as the foundation for building student agency and framing the essential work needed to meet our mission and organization goals. 

Who Are We Looking For

We are seeking passionate educators to build an inclusive Pk-5 school community who are committed to providing high-quality social/emotional strategies to create a positive culture  for our diverse student community.  We desire  individuals that recognize that they are in a position of public trust and are held to a high standard of personal and professional conduct.  If you are a dedicated educator who is passionate about creating a culture of inclusion and respect, we invite you to join our team. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of our students and build a brighter future for our community.

Our Graduate Profile

A Bridges “Graduate”

• Is a unique and independent individual who is prepared to pave their own path.
• Self advocates through their preferred communication modalities.
• Welcomes diversity with inclusion, openness, acceptance, and respect for others.
• Demonstrates empathy and a desire to help and support others in need.
• Perseveres in the face of challenges to meet their individual academic, social and extra curricular goals. 
• Is prepared for next steps after leaving Bridges Public Charter School.

As a Dean of Student Culture  you will be responsible for…

RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE:

• Lead the school's efforts to create a positive, structured, consistent, caring, disciplined, and developmentally appropriate school culture. 
• Develop, refine, and implement a school-wide positive behavior management system to address the needs of Bridges students.
• Lead  Multi-Tiered Systems of Support meetings. 
• Lead training and implementation of Restorative Practices.
• Supervise and coach Behavior Technicians.
• Supervise and coach Dedicated and Classroom Aides.
• Design and implement professional development sessions for Behavior Techs and Dedicated/Classroom aides.
• Provide professional development to a variety of faculty and staff.
• Be highly present during hallway transitions, recess, arrival and dismissal.
• Annually review discipline and conduct policies.
• Actively seek out and participate in professional development activities related to this

position.

• Participate in informal classroom visitations and observations.
• Keep accurate and detailed student discipline records.
• Submit discipline data to all outside agencies and organizations as is required by law and oversight for DC Public Charter Schools and public schools in the United States.
• Provides training in de-escalation and Safety Care.
• Provide Second Step supervision.
• Conduct Responsive Classroom training and observations.
• Analyze elementary school wide behavior data to design responsive student interventions. 
• Ability to use hands to grasp, and manipulate small objects; manipulate fingers, twist and bend at wrist and elbow; extend arms to reach outward and upward; use hands and arms to lift objects; turn, raise, and lower head. 
• Ability to bend, stoop, lift, push, pull and/or carry up to 25 pounds on a frequent basis.
• May be required to physically restrain parties involved in a conflict.
• Other duties as assigned.

PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES  

• Adhering to the 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. work day
• Regularly attends work and adheres to all attendance policies.
• Be on time for classes, duties, team meetings and professional development activities. Communicate about and plan for absences in advance with teaching teams and the Principal.
• Participate in weekly Professional Learning Community (PLC) meetings.
• Contribute to PLC sessions by being prepared to share data,  ideas, student work,  materials, feedback, facilitating  sessions and/or discussions.
• Participate in a Summer Professional Development. Summer Professional Development will be two weeks in August before students return.
• Seek out additional opportunities for professional development that will lead to achieving personal and school-wide professional development goals.
• Reading provided school information  and adhering to all deadlines.
• Respond to all emails within 24 hours or the next business day. 
• Other professional duties as assigned.   

SCHOOL CULTURE 

• Create and maintain a physically and emotionally safe environment for students. 
• Communicate respectfully to students, staff and families at all times. 
• Model, practice and discuss respectful, unbiased and effective communication with students.
• Other school culture expectations as assigned. 

QUALIFICATIONS 

The ideal candidate will: 

• Have a Bachelor’s degree and 1-3 years experience implementing the tiered system of Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS).
• Experience implementing Restorative Practices.
• Have school-level experience working with students who qualify for special education services.
• Demonstrate experience developing a positive school culture and developing administrative systems in a school.
• Demonstrate proficiency in managing and using data to guide decisions for student programs.
• Be committed to meeting the needs of a diverse student population.
• Have a track record of being a team player and community minded.
• Be committed to their own learning including training in Applied Behavior Analysis and/or Verbal Behavior.
• Excellent time-management skills and ability to work independently.
• Passionate about public education in an urban setting.
• Adherence to a high level of professional and ethical standards.
• Ability to secure all relevant and necessary clearances.
• Excellent communication, leadership, organization and problem-solving skills.
• Bilingual English / Spanish is a plus, not required. Salary add-on of up to $2000.00 for documented Spanish language skills.

SALARY & BENEFITS

$58,00.00 - $85,000.00 / Per year

Salary is based on educational level, certification(s), and years of experience.  The successful candidate will be contracted yearly.  Employment will be renewed according to evaluations and staff interest. Child care and health savings plans, pre-tax deduction for Metro, bike racks and regular staff engagement and wellness activities. Staff lounge and lactation room for nursing mothers. Health benefits (medical & dental), disability insurance, and a retirement plan: 401-(k) with a 4% match or the continuation of the DCPS retirement plan.

To ensure safety for all students, all staff members may be fingerprinted. Background checks will be conducted on all school staff prior to their service as employees.