Position Summary:

The Academic Dean, under the direction of the Executive Director, will serve as an instructional leader on a grade-band level (Pre K through 4th Grade) by working with the academic deans in other gradebands, and other instructional leaders of the school to establish an aligned school-wide instructional program based on student needs. They are responsible for ensuring high-quality instruction in classrooms through modeling, co-planning, co-teaching and providing feedback to teachers. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: 

Leadership-

• Serve as a leading Instructional Leadership Team (ILT) member, collaboratively setting instructional goals and objectives with the ILT. 
• Conduct walkthroughs in conjunction with the ILT goals and objectives. 
• Build positive relationships and teacher efficacy that contribute to an environment that is conducive to learning and building trust, both for students and teachers. 
• Structure and support active collaboration among teachers with clear expectations, goals, and protocols in collaboration with the Dean of Student Life as needed for classroom management or behavior-related strategies. 
• Collaborate with other key members of the school such as DAC, EE/EL Coordinator, Academic Dean, Assoc. Director and Executive Director to ensure an aligned approach to expectations, goals and protocols. 
• Collaborate with the Instructional Support Team (IST), a sub-collaborative committee of MTSS (Multi-Tiered System of Support) with the purpose of actively supporting the MTSS implementation.
• Contribute to the Development norms and protocols for productive collaborative meetings. 
• Contribute to the development of systems and structures to improve teacher practice within schools. 
• Collaborate with key members of the school and Family Engagement Coordinator to plan and carry out school wide events with the purpose of supporting teachers. 
• Participates in various student and parent activities which occur in school including curriculum nights, and school events.  

• Performs other duties as assigned.

Curriculum and Instruction- 

• Co-lead the Tier 1 Curriculum Review Committee, responsible for recruiting additional teachers within the grade band served.
• Co-lead the review and development of Tier 1 & supplemental curriculum evaluation (e.g. calendar, cycle, evaluation) with other Academic Deans, EE/EL Coordinator, DAC and other key members of the school as needed. 
• Collaborate with other Academic Deans and key members of the school to evaluate and assess existing curriculum per grade band based on the curriculum review cycle and student performance.
• Maintain a curriculum inventory per grade band in collaboration with other Academic Deans. 
• Partner with teachers to ensure they are aware of and have access to curriculum resources for the particular content they teach. 
• Oversee and support the creation and revision of a cohesive and rigorous scope and sequence, and plan standards-based units and lessons. 
• Support IST in reviewing intervention curriculum resources and EL Coordinator for EL specific curriculum. 
• Support the testing and assessment program through collaboration with DAC, serving as a backup DAC during testing season. 
• Participate and collaborate with the Executive Director and other key leaders in the school for reporting requirements with the Department of Education and Charter School Authorizer. 

Instructional Coaching-

• Collaborate with teachers to set teacher and student-focused goals through the coaching cycle to ensure student improvement.
• Support teachers by sharing multiple instructional strategies/processes during planning time.
• Assist teachers with lesson planning and pacing, developing differentiated lessons, and selecting best practices to meet their students' needs. 
• Conduct non-evaluative classroom observations on instructional staff that have been agreed upon during planning with the teacher as a feedback measure to support coaching and data-driven decisions. 
• Maintain coaching records through SchoolMint, submitting a coaching log or documentation after every coaching session.  
• Research evidence-based practices and resources to support student learning. 

Professional Learning-

• Plan and create an annual professional learning calendar in collaboration with the Professional Learning Committee.
• Provide professional learning sessions based on their expertise in teaching and the needs of the school and teaching staff. 
• Collaborate with the Guiding Coalition of PLT leads to oversee the implementation of the PLT process.
• Maintains professional competence by attending staff development programs, curriculum development meetings, and other professional activities. 
• Collaborate with the ED to establish and uphold a goal-based professional learning plan.

Required Skills/Abilities:

• Demonstrate completion of coaching training such as Jim Knight’s Impact Cycle and/or Diane Sweeney’s Student-Centered Coaching. 
• Demonstrates deep knowledge of and support in selecting and implementing equitable, evidenced-based assessment practices with a comprehensive system of assessment.
• Demonstrate success in identifying, growing, and leveraging the potential of staff and teams.
• Ability to build positive, collaborative professional relationships with all stakeholders by creating and sustaining trust and expressing vulnerability.
• Ability to work collaboratively as a member of a team.
• Ability to work independently, with initiative, displaying excellent time management, and being fully prepared for collaborative meetings with other school stakeholders.   
• Ability to serve as a teacher advocate, placing teacher needs first necessary to promote student learning.
• Ability to work with staff to identify professional needs, including but not limited to planning, organizing, and implementing programs that improve staff effectiveness while being consistent with institutional goals and needs.
• Ability to analyze data through aggregation and disaggregation to make informed decisions regarding schoolwide systems, programs, and practices in collaboration with key stakeholders.
• Excellent communication, time management, and ability to prioritize tasks and meet deadlines. 
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills. 
• Proficiency in the use of computer applications (including Google and Microsoft Office products), email, and mobile technologies. 

Education and Experience: 

• Minimum: Bachelor’s Degree in a related field and/or equivalent combination of education, training, and experience sufficient to perform the essential functions of the job. 
• Experience Minimum: 
• Five years of teaching experience or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience sufficient to perform the essential functions of the job. 
• Preferably is bilingual (Spanish/English)

Reports to Executive Director

Point of Contact for Assigned Grade Band