10th Grade Dean

February 1st, 2023
10th Grade Dean

10th Grade Dean

  • Full Time
  • Mid-Level
  • Applications have closed
Job Category: Administrative, Other
Location: Brooklyn
Job Sectors: Education
Salary Range: $90,000-$105,000


POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT: 10th GRADE DEAN

Reporting to the Head of the High School, the 10th Grade Dean position is a student advisor role in which the dean will provide guidance and support — both academic and social-emotional — for the sophomore class. The dean will help all students in the grade navigate the increasing freedom of sophomore year while also serving as point person for the parents in the grade. This position involves 75% administrative work and 25% classroom teaching work (four to five periods per week) in the selected candidate’s area of expertise.

 

The role requires someone with wit and wisdom, patience, and a sense of humor. The Dean must have the capacity to create meaningful mentoring relationships with students, to work closely and effectively with faculty and administrators, and to communicate responsibly and helpfully with parents. A commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion work is critical. 

 

During the school year, the 10th Grade Dean will be required to plan and attend student events and parent meetings, and will be expected to enthusiastically attend performances, interscholastic games, and other activities. 

Our high school students are given great freedom — to achieve, to trust themselves, and to find deep satisfaction in learning for its own sake. The high school curriculum is a realm of possibilities where faculty and students meet. It is a substantive and dynamic means to engage every student. It is flexible and responsive, so that whenever feasible, our students undertake accelerated or specialized work in subject areas ranging from music to calculus to Chinese, based upon talents and interests rather than age or grade.  Intellectual radiance is born of experimentation, idiosyncrasy, tolerance, and mutual respect. 

 

Despite their prevalence in other secondary schools, we continue to eschew formally designated Advanced Placement courses, giving our teachers freedom to customize their classes and to develop their own electives based on their most lively current interests.  The absence of formal grades encourages authentic relationships between teachers and students and encourages artistic and intellectual risk-taking. We know that differences in thought and identity, both in our student body and our faculty, create a mosaic rich with potential for learning and discovery. Our vision as a school is achieved only when all of our students and faculty have a deep sense of belonging and inclusion, and feel affirmed with respect to multiple aspects of their identities. We recognize each student’s areas of strength and weakness while not using these as any kind of predictive, fixed measure for that student’s future.  Whimsy, humor, and an atmosphere of intellectual and artistic adventure are seen as valuable aids to daily discovery.

 

ABOUT SAINT ANN’S SCHOOL

 

Saint Ann’s is among the largest and most selective independent schools in New York City, known for the breadth and depth of its curriculum in academic disciplines and the visual and performing arts. Since its founding in 1965, Saint Ann’s has embraced a commitment to education for its own sake, oriented to the capacities of each individual student, free of the encumbrances of formal grading, prizes, and rankings. The lives of our graduates speak powerfully to the potential of an education based on these principles to ignite a love of learning and sustain creative energy in every field of endeavor. We accomplish this by bringing together talented teachers with creative and motivated students. Seeking to create a community rooted in trust and equity, we invite each other to take risks, pursue knowledge, and celebrate growth. Recently, Saint Ann’s has made a commitment to centering anti-racism in the life of the school.

 

RESPONSIBILITIES

 

The 10th Grade Dean will get to know every child in the class in order to support each student’s individual academic and emotional needs. The 10th Grade Dean will partner with faculty, administrators, and parents to support the students in the class. Specific responsibilities include:

 

  • Holistic academic advising;

  • Course registration;

  • Resolution of scheduling conflicts;

  • Regular review of academic progress (which includes meeting with teachers, and communicating academic progress and concerns to students, faculty, and parents);

  • Coordination with High School Learning Specialist, School Psychologist, and other members of the student support team to address social, emotional, and academic issues that arise for individual students in the grade;

  • Frequent contact with sophomore parents/guardians about their child’s progress/any issues that arise;

  • Review of all checklists and anecdotal reports;

  • The writing of individual student cover letters to accompany mid-year anecdotal reports;

  • Devising standardized testing plans (ACT, SAT, etc.) with sophomores each spring; 

  • Consulting on disciplinary issues, where appropriate, with the Head of High School;

  • Visiting classes to observe students as necessary;

  • Organization of grade-wide events (overnight trips, social events, etc.);

  • Classroom teaching;

  • Other administrative duties, as assigned.

 

The Grade Dean will also meet regularly with the Head of High School to review student progress and to advise on any issues affecting the lives of students in the grade. It should be noted that responsibilities extend beyond the school day and the academic year. Some evening and weekend work is required.

 

PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL REQUIREMENTS

 

  • BA required, advanced degree preferred. 

  • Prior administrative experience in an independent school, preferably student and parent-facing.

  • Demonstrated commitment to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion work in an independent school or similar environment.

  • Experience working with high school-age students is highly desirable. 

  • Familiarity with the standardized tests and study processes with which sophomores will begin to engage.

  • Communication Skills: Superb written and oral communication skills that capture and effectively communicate the school’s mission to all constituencies and that enrich the school’s culture. 

  • Interpersonal Skills: Superior interpersonal skills, the ability to engage effectively with students, parents, faculty, and other members of the school community in a way reflective of the school’s culture and to project professional competence, leadership capability, discretion, judgment and personal maturity. 

  • Leadership: Proven track record as a leader of faculty, students and programs in independent schools. 

  • Charisma, wit, intelligence, empathy, humor and equanimity are expected.   

 

Please note that the School has a mandatory Covid-19 vaccination policy, which requires that all employees be fully vaccinated and provide proof of vaccination. Additional information about this requirement may be found on the Employment page of the School’s website.

 

COMPENSATION

This is a full-time position with a base salary range of $90,000-$105,000, commensurate with education and experience.

 

TO APPLY


Interested applicants should send a cover letter that speaks directly to the school’s mission (you can learn more about us at https://saintannsny.org/) and a resume to [email protected]. Candidates who identify as members of historically underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged to apply. Applications must be submitted by February 21, 2023. Anticipated start date of August 15, 2023.

 

NOTICE OF NONDISCRIMINATORY POLICY


Saint Ann’s School admits students of any race, color, religion, creed, gender, disability, national or ethnic origin, sexual orientation or any other category protected by applicable federal, state or local law, to all the rights privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the School. The School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, gender (which includes a person’s actual or perceived sex, as well as gender identity and expression), age, marital status, disability, national or ethnic origin, sexual orientation, familial status, predisposing genetic characteristics, actual or perceived domestic violence victim status, unemployment status, caregiver status or any other category protected by applicable federal, state or local law, in carrying on its educational activities or in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, employment policies, financial aid programs, and athletic and other school administered programs.

 

Saint Ann's School

  • 129 Pierrepont Street
  • Brooklyn, NY 11201
  • Phone: