Dean of Students

The Greenspire School is seeking a Dean of Students to provide additional student-centered leadership and support across our middle and high school buildings. The Dean of Students will work collaboratively with district and building administration to support a safe, connected, and productive school environment where students are known, supported, and able to learn. The Greenspire School is a nontraditional public school academy built around project-based learning, environmental education, place-based learning, and strong relationships among students, staff, families, and the community. Learning at Greenspire extends beyond traditional classroom walls, with students regularly engaging in hands-on experiences, field-based learning, environmental stewardship, and authentic projects that connect their learning to the world around them. The Dean of Students will have a primary home base at the high school, with scheduled time at the middle school each week and flexibility to respond to needs across both buildings. This position will provide additional capacity in the areas of student support, supervision, discipline, attendance, school climate, and day-to-day building operations.. The successful candidate will understand that Greenspire's approach requires both flexibility and structure. Our students learn in a variety of settings and through a variety of experiences, while clear expectations, strong relationships, consistency, and accountability provide the foundation that allows that freedom to work. This will initially be a one-year-only position for the 2026–27 school year. The position will be evaluated in the spring based on its effectiveness, impact on students and staff, and the school’s budgetary capacity. Based on that evaluation, the position may be extended, modified, or discontinued for the 2027–28 school year. Essential Responsibilities Student Support and School Climate Build positive, trusting relationships with students and serve as a consistent and accessible adult presence in both buildings. Support students with behavioral, social-emotional, attendance, and other school-related needs. Work with students, families, and staff to address concerns early and proactively. Support a school culture grounded in belonging, accountability, restoration, and respect. Respond to student concerns and help connect students with appropriate school-based supports. Assist with conflict resolution, restorative conversations, and problem-solving. Support consistent implementation of school expectations, policies, and procedures. Help students understand that freedom, independence, and experiential learning are supported by clear expectations and personal responsibility. Supervision and Student Management Provide daily supervision of students in classrooms, hallways, common areas, outdoor spaces, arrival/dismissal, lunch, and other school activities as needed. Respond to student behavior concerns and disciplinary matters in collaboration with district and building administration and staff. Help ensure that disciplinary responses are consistent, appropriate, restorative when possible, and aligned with school policy. Maintain appropriate documentation related to student incidents, interventions, attendance, and other student-support matters. Support attendance and truancy processes in collaboration with administrators, counselors, families, and staff. Assist with emergency response and building safety procedures. Understand and support student expectations across traditional classroom settings as well as project-based, field-based, outdoor, and community-based learning environments. Building Leadership and Administrative Support Work collaboratively with district and building administration as part of the Greenspire leadership team. Provide administrative coverage and decision-making support when building administrators are unavailable or engaged elsewhere. Help address day-to-day building needs so that administrators can maintain focus on instructional leadership, staff support, family relationships, and longer-term school priorities. Support communication and coordination between the middle and high school. Assist with school events, assemblies, activities, field experiences, projects, and other building-wide needs. Contribute to the development, implementation, and evaluation of school procedures and systems. Participate in leadership meetings and other planning as appropriate. Student Services Collaborate with special education staff, counselors, teachers, administrators, and families to support students' academic and social-emotional needs. Participate in student support meetings, problem-solving teams, and other collaborative processes as appropriate. Support implementation of student accommodations and services, including IEP and 504 plans, in collaboration with the appropriate staff. Help identify barriers to student success and coordinate appropriate interventions and supports. Maintain appropriate confidentiality regarding student information and records. Family and Community Engagement Develop positive and productive relationships with students and families. Communicate with families regarding student concerns, behavior, attendance, and support needs. Support Greenspire's commitment to strong school-family partnerships. Represent Greenspire positively and professionally with families, community partners, and organizations connected to the school's environmental and place-based mission. Qualifications Required Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. Experience working with middle and/or high school students. Experience supporting student behavior, school climate, supervision, or student services. Strong interpersonal, communication, and problem-solving skills. Ability to build positive relationships with students while maintaining appropriate boundaries and clear expectations. Ability to work collaboratively with teachers, administrators, support staff, students, and families. Demonstrated ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise sound judgment. Commitment to Greenspire's mission, culture, and student-centered approach. Preferred Administrative or school leadership experience. Michigan school administrator certification or progress toward certification. Experience with special education, IEPs, 504 plans, or other student support systems. Experience with restorative practices or other relationship-centered approaches to student behavior. Experience with project-based, place-based, experiential, or environmental education. Experience working with students in outdoor or community-based learning environments. Experience with attendance and truancy processes. Experience in a small-school, charter-school, alternative-school, or similarly nontraditional educational setting. Experience working across multiple buildings or school programs. Personal and Professional Characteristics The successful candidate will be: Student-centered and relationship-oriented. Calm, steady, and approachable, particularly in challenging situations. Comfortable holding students accountable while maintaining strong relationships. A clear and thoughtful communicator. Collaborative and willing to work across traditional role boundaries. Organized, responsive, and able to manage competing priorities. Comfortable making decisions independently while knowing when to involve district and building administration. Reflective and open to feedback. Comfortable working in a school where learning happens both inside and outside the traditional classroom. Able to support the balance of freedom and structure that is central to the Greenspire experience. Curious about and supportive of project-based, place-based, experiential, and environmental education. Someone who sees student behavior as an opportunity for connection, accountability, and growth. Someone who understands the importance of building trust and belonging with students, families, and colleagues. A good fit for the culture, values, and educational model of The Greenspire School. Work Environment The Dean of Students will primarily work at the Greenspire High School and will have scheduled responsibilities at the middle school each week. The position requires regular movement throughout the school day and the ability to respond to changing student and building needs. Because Greenspire's educational model extends beyond traditional classrooms, the Dean of Students should expect to work in a variety of environments and settings, including classrooms, outdoor spaces, field experiences, community locations, and school events. The position requires flexibility and a willingness to engage with students wherever learning and school life are taking place. The Dean of Students will work closely with district and building administration and will be an important part of creating consistency, connection, and support across the Greenspire program. Compensation and Contract One-year-only position for the 2026–27 school year, with potential for continuation based on annual evaluation, demonstrated effectiveness, and budget capacity. Salary and benefits will be established in accordance with Greenspire School policies and the terms of employment. Position is subject to all applicable requirements for employment in a Michigan public school academy. #J-18808-Ljbffr