Dean of Students - High School

Scope and Summary: The Dean of Students is a visible, mission-driven educational leader responsible for fostering a safe, respectful, faith-filled, and student-centered learning environment. Through proactive leadership, relationship-building, and restorative practices, the Dean promotes student growth, accountability, and personal responsibility while ensuring an orderly and positive school culture.

The Dean serves as a collaborative member of the administrative leadership team and partners closely with staff, students, parents, and community members to support the academic, social, emotional, behavioral, and spiritual development of every student. The Dean leads initiatives related to student conduct, attendance, school climate, student life, and crisis response while modeling the values of Catholic education. Leads the student groups and other student life organizations. Plays a key role in athletics and supports the after-school programs.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

Catholic Mission and School Culture

• Models and promotes the mission and Catholic identity of Siena Catholic Schools.
• Creates a school culture rooted in respect, dignity, accountability, compassion, and Gospel values.
• Supports opportunities for student faith formation and servant leadership.
• Promotes school pride and a positive sense of community.

Student Behavior and Discipline

• Leads the school's student discipline program through proactive, restorative, and educational practices.
• Actively present and monitoring hallways, restrooms, cafeteria, front entrance, student entrance/exits.
• Implements and consistently enforces the Student Handbook and Code of Conduct.
• Investigates behavioral concerns and determines appropriate interventions and consequences.
• Maintains accurate discipline records and documentation.
• Communicates regularly with parents regarding behavioral concerns and student progress.
• Oversees after-school detention.
• Develops individualized behavior improvement plans when appropriate.
• Works collaboratively with counselors, teachers, parents, and outside agencies to support student success.
• Provides coaching and support to staff regarding classroom management strategies.
• Reviews discipline trends and utilizes data to improve school-wide practices.

Attendance

• Oversees student attendance policies and procedures.
• Monitors attendance data and identifies concerning patterns.
• Partners with families to improve attendance and reduce chronic absenteeism.
• Coordinates attendance interventions and communicates with appropriate agencies when required.

Student Life

• Provides leadership for creating a positive and engaging student experience.
• Supports student organizations, leadership opportunities, and extracurricular programs.
• Assists with Mass, school-wide assemblies, dances, retreats, service activities, and special events.
• Promotes student leadership, responsibility, and school spirit.
• Maintains visibility throughout the school day by interacting positively with students.

Safety and Student Supervision

• Helps maintain a safe, orderly, and secure campus.
• Supervises students during lunches, passing periods, arrival, dismissal, and other designated times.
• Assists with emergency preparedness, safety drills, and crisis response.
• Collaborates with the Chief of Operations, school resource personnel, and emergency responders as needed.
• Responds promptly to student conflicts and safety concerns.

Collaboration and Leadership

• Serves as a member of the Administrative Leadership Team.
• Collaborates with counselors, campus ministry, faculty, coaches, and support staff to promote student success.
• Participates in Learning Retention Team meetings and intervention planning.
• Assists with the development and revision of school policies related to student life.
• Serves on committees as assigned by the Principal.
• Represents the school professionally with students, families, parish members, community partners, and other stakeholders.

Communication

• Builds strong relationships with students, parents, faculty, and staff.
• Communicates effectively through conferences, phone calls, written correspondence, presentations, and meetings.
• Provides timely follow-up regarding student concerns.
• Maintains professionalism and confidentiality in all interactions.

Professional Responsibilities

• Participates in ongoing professional learning.
• Maintains current knowledge of best practices in student behavior, restorative practices, school safety, and adolescent development.
• Performs additional duties as assigned by the Principal.
• May teach in an appropriately licensed subject area as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Demonstrates a commitment to the mission, vision, and Catholic identity of Siena Catholic Schools and St. Catherine's High School.
• Supports and promotes the teachings and values of the Catholic Church.
• Practicing Catholics preferred.
• Experience in Catholic education is preferred.
• Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree in Educational Leadership or related field preferred.
• Wisconsin administrative licensure or eligibility preferred.
• Minimum of five years of successful teaching and/or school leadership experience at the secondary level.
• Demonstrated expertise in student behavior management, restorative practices, and adolescent development.
• Strong leadership, organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to build trusting relationships with students, families, faculty, and staff.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze data and develop interventions that improve student outcomes.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise sound professional judgment.
• Ability to work collaboratively within a diverse school community.

Physical Requirements (The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.)

• Communicate verbally; audible speech and good hearing and eyesight
• Read/interpret digital and paper documents
• Physical dexterity to operate computer and other equipment
• Prolonged standing and walking (50% or more)
• Walking up and down stairs and on uneven surfaces
• Frequent standing and walking
• Ability to navigate multiple floors of the building
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds occasionally
• Ability to respond quickly to student emergencies
• Ability to work evenings and weekends as needed

Work Relationships & Scope

Reports to the Principal. Frequent contact with school staff, students and families. Occasional interaction with other Siena colleagues. Expected to exhibit sound judgment in making decisions, remembering that Siena's interests may be directly affected by their actions and decisions. Secures the approval of the Principal in making decisions when answers are not clear and further guidance or input is needed.

Work Environment (The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.)

Work is performed in a pleasant indoor school environment. Some exposure to the weather and outside elements.


Acknowledgement

This job description outlines the general nature and level of work required of any employee assigned to this position. It does not intend to imply these are the only duties and responsibilities assigned to the job. The employee may be required to perform other job-related duties, as requested by the position's manager(s), the President and/or Board of Directors. All is subject to change and possible modification to address changing business conditions and reasonably accommodate individuals with a disability.

Disclaimer: This job description indicates the general nature and scope of the work, knowledge, skills, abilities and other essential functions required of the role. However, it is not designed to contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities an incumbent may be asked to perform. Nor is it a static document but rather is subject to change as the needs of Siena change.

ADDENDUM - Dean of Students

Leadership Competencies

The Dean of Students exemplifies servant leadership rooted in the mission of Catholic education and demonstrates the following leadership competencies:

Mission-Centered Leadership

• Models Gospel values and upholds the mission, vision, and Catholic identity of Siena Catholic Schools.
• Promotes a school culture where every student is known, valued, challenged, and supported.
• Demonstrates integrity, professionalism, and ethical decision-making in all interactions.

Relationship Builder

• Establishes trusting, respectful, and authentic relationships with students, families, faculty, and staff.
• Maintains a highly visible presence throughout the school community.
• Creates an environment where students feel safe, heard, and supported.

Student Advocate

• Champions the academic, social, emotional, behavioral, and spiritual well-being of every student.
• Demonstrates cultural competence and a commitment to meeting the diverse needs of all learners.
• Collaborates with families and school personnel to remove barriers to student success.

Restorative and Growth-Oriented Leadership

• Utilizes restorative practices that emphasize accountability, reconciliation, and personal growth.
• Approaches discipline as an opportunity for learning while maintaining high expectations for student behavior.
• Facilitates conflict resolution and promotes healthy relationships among students and staff.

Collaborative Leadership

• Works effectively as a member of the administrative leadership team.
• Builds partnerships with faculty, counselors, campus ministry, coaches, and families to support student success.
• Engages others in shared problem-solving and continuous school improvement.

Effective Communication

• Communicates clearly, professionally, and compassionately with all stakeholders.
• Demonstrates active listening and seeks to understand differing perspectives before making decisions.
• Addresses difficult conversations with fairness, consistency, and respect.

Organizational Excellence

• Demonstrates exceptional organizational and time-management skills.
• Prioritizes competing responsibilities while maintaining attention to detail.
• Utilizes data to monitor trends in attendance, discipline, and school climate to inform decision-making.

Courageous and Decisive Leadership

• Makes thoughtful, timely, and student-centered decisions.
• Addresses challenges proactively while remaining calm under pressure.
• Demonstrates confidence in enforcing policies consistently while balancing compassion and accountability.

Commitment to Continuous Improvement

• Reflects on personal leadership practices and actively seeks opportunities for professional growth.
• Stays current on best practices in student development, school safety, restorative practices, and educational leadership.
• Supports innovation and continuous improvement initiatives that strengthen the overall student experience.