Laboratory Schools: Dean of Students, Early Childhood

Department
Lab School Early Childhood

About the Department
At the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools, students in Nursery through Grade 12 experience a world-class educational journey. Founded in 1896 by John Dewey as a place for educators to develop and explore novel approaches to pedagogy and curriculum, Lab continues to provide excitement and imagination in learning to this day. Academic rigor, experiential learning, and intellectual discourse are hallmarks of a Lab education. Lab educators are recognized for excellence in teaching and pride themselves on innovation in the classroom. Students in every grade have access to unparalleled resources, and all members of the Lab community benefit by partnerships and connections with the University of Chicago. Families who choose Lab care deeply about curiosity, inquiry, and creativity.


No less than scholarship, Lab's mission prioritizes honoring diversity and exhibiting kindness. We are committed to building and supporting a teaching and learning community where young people see aspects of their backgrounds and identities reflected around them, where they feel a deep sense of belonging, and where they discover and use their voices to full effect. Today, 53-59 percent of Lab's student body are students of color. Families report speaking nearly 40 different languages in their homes. Approximately 60 percent of Lab families are also affiliated with the University of Chicago. Half of our families live in Hyde Park, and the rest come from across Chicago, the suburbs, and northwestern Indiana. Inclusion is a fundamental value at Lab, such that we celebrate every facet of community members' identities, and even where we disagree, we emphasize respect, civility, and maintaining a spirit of community.


Lab seeks the finest employees to join our vibrant learning community. We employ people with a wide range of skills and training in many different disciplines, who have in common a love of learning and the wish to inspire that same love of learning in young people. We seek candidates for employment who thrive in an educational environment. We provide a great professional home for those committed to collaboration, ongoing personal and professional growth, and cultivating positive relationships. In turn, we strive to ensure that Lab is a joyful, welcoming, and inspiring place to work. Through our connection to the University, faculty, staff, and administrators enjoy benefits and opportunities that would be nearly impossible to match in any other environment.

Job Summary
The Dean of Students will work as a team with the Principal, Assistant Principal and Dean of Teaching and Learning to provide for the smooth functioning of all programs in the Early Childhood Division. Helping to assure the academic and social progress of the students, maintaining good community relations, advising the Early Childhood Principal on matters concerning the Early Childhood division and representing the Principal as requested. The Dean will ensure that the school's commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion is included in all work. The Dean reports directly to the Principal of the Early Childhood division.

Academic administrators are expected to build deep relationships with students, families, faculty and staff to foster a culture of community. We are looking for optimistic, collaborative problem solvers who reflect on how their actions impact others, create an engaging and inclusive school culture, and share in the united pursuit of Lab's mission.

Responsibilities

• Supports children and families in the Early Childhood division by building relationships, being a public face available to answer questions, solve problems, and facilitate connections.
• Makes connections between students, families, grade levels, divisions, and campuses.
• Co-coordinates all-building assemblies and gatherings and facilitates an all-building gathering at least once a quarter.
• Partners closely with the Learning and Counseling Teams to support students' academic growth and social-emotional development; monitor academic and social emotional progress and intervene when needed.
• Supports data-informed planning by administering student assessments, entering and monitoring data
• Works in close collaboration with Learning and Counseling, including through sharing observational and other data, meeting with caregivers, and liaising with outside providers
• Reviews student attendance for irregular patterns; follow up with families to promote consistent school engagement.
• Coordinates internal staffing meetings, parent meetings, and classroom team discussions to support individual student needs.
• Collaborates with teachers and counselors to design and implement behavior support plans with data collection.
• Serves as a liaison to the Department of Student Services by providing regular student updates and coordinating family communication.
• Conducts regular classroom observations to understand student experiences, support instructional alignment, and inform intervention planning.
• Participates in the admissions, enrollment, and placement processes for the Early Childhood division and placement in 3rd grade, including attending Saturday playgroups in coordination with the Office of Admissions & Financial Aid.
• Works across departments to ensure continuity for students with Learning & Counseling, Extended Day, and the Deputy Title IX Coordinator.
• Participates in faculty and staff hiring.
• Aids in the development of an orientation program and continued support for new parents.
• Reads progress reports.
• Works with the Director, Diversity and Inclusion and Dean of Teaching & Learning to incorporate diversity, equity and inclusion goals throughout the program.
• Establishes a positive, cooperative working relationship with other school administrators.
• Work with administration and counselors to revise and update the student handbook and code of conduct for grades N-2, including provisions regarding bullying.
• Works with staff and teachers to create and strengthen systems that simplify and improve experiences for families and students.
• Collaborates across divisions to ensure consistent implementation of process and policy related to student discipline, instructional support, academic programming and co-curricular activities.
• Build deep relationships with students, families, faculty and staff to foster a culture of community. Emanate optimism, solve problems collaboratively, reflect on how actions impact others, create an engaging and inclusive school culture, and share in the united pursuit of Lab's mission.
• Performs other duties as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

Education:
Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.

Work Experience:
Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 7+ years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Master's degree.
• Advanced degree in counseling, educational psychology, or education.

Experience:

• Three years of leadership experience in education.
• Early childhood - 2nd grade teaching experience strongly preferred.
• Experience in curriculum development.
• Experience leading, developing, and managing change management initiatives.
• Familiarity with the Reggio Emilia approach and other project-based learning approaches.
• Understanding of Dewey's philosophies and experiential learning.
• Experience working in a team setting.
• Team or other relevant leadership experience.
• Supervisory and evaluation skills, preferably in a unionized environment.

Technical Knowledge or Skills:

• Significant experience in creating, implementing, managing, and evaluating educational programs and systems.
• Ability to use standard productivity software (Microsoft Office, calendar/schedule software, etc.) and student database software (PowerSchool, Schoology, Seesaw, etc).

Preferred Competencies

• Agility and flexibility.
• Ability to interact with faculty, staff, students, and parents.
• Knowledge of ways diversity and inclusion issues and dynamics affect healthy, supportive relationships in and across classrooms.
• Strong knowledge of child development, early childhood content and pedagogy.
• Knowledge of instructional methodologies and progressive educational principles.
• Ability to develop curricula, lesson plans and assessment tools.
• Analytical skills.
• Problem-solving skills.
• Decision-making skills.
• Attention to detail.
• Organizational skills.
• Computational skills.
• Creativity.
• Verbal and written communication skills.
• Interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
• Ability to manage stressful situations.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously, set priorities, and meet deadlines.
• Ability to think strategically.
• Understanding of adults, team dynamics, and relationships.
• Passion for lifelong learning, ability to share curiosity with others.

Application Documents

• Cover letter (required)
• Resume (required)
• Professional references (required)
• Brief statement of philosophy regarding (required):
  
  • Ways in which your qualifications can help Lab achieve its goals of inclusivity, equity, and diversity.
  • Approach to teaching.

When applying, the document(s) MUST be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.

Job Family
Academic Affairs

Role Impact
Individual Contributor

Scheduled Weekly Hours
40

Drug Test Required
No

Health Screen Required
No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required
No

Pay Rate Type
Salary

FLSA Status
Exempt

Pay Range
$95,815.00 - $124,000.00
The included pay rate or range represents the University's good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting.

Benefits Eligible
Yes
The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook.

Posting Statement

The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call View phone number on click.appcast.io or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history. A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment. Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

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