Director of Culture and Instruction

Job Description

Job Description

Position: Middle School Director of Culture & Instruction

Reports to: Head of School, Middle School

Location: San Francisco, California 

Website:

PROGRAM

New School San Francisco is a public charter school currently serving 470 transitional kindergarten through 8th grade students from all corners of the city and from all backgrounds. We believe in a “hands on minds on” approach to learning that harnesses each student’s curiosity and encourages learners to construct their own meaning and knowledge through inquiry-based learning. We aim to practice equity in all that we do – ensuring every child is able to access and receive an individualized education that builds off their unique strengths, skills and passions. We pursue social justice as a through line, helping learners develop an understanding of how to make our community better. Taken all together, this approach fosters a deep love of learning in students and prepares them with the problem-solving and critical-thinking skills necessary to meet the challenges and opportunities of this changing world. 

PURSUIT OF ANTI-RACISM & PRO–BLACKNESS

We are committed to breaking down systemic structures which contribute to deep inequities in education. Our goal is to prioritize our Black and brown students, English Language Learners (ELLs), and students with Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) by dismantling white supremacy. However, we know that our school and organization must  continue to evolve to reach this aspiration. We therefore continuously question our culture, climate, and curriculum. We aim to teach kids of all ages to think critically about how race has been constructed in the United States, to become aware of their own racial socialization, and to have skills and vocabulary to engage in productive conversations around race, racism, classism, sexism, ableism and other inequities. We specifically are aiming to become a pro-Black organization, as we know that Black people have been the most marginalized within our society and within our school as well. We are seeking educators who are committed to anti-racism, pro-Blackness, and the accompanying ongoing work that comes with this pursuit.

PEOPLE

It is important that our staff reflect the diversity of our students and their families. We strongly encourage leaders and teachers of color, LGBTQIA+ and male candidates to apply.  All candidates must be excited to roll up their sleeves, operate with a level of flexibility as we build our program, bring creativity to their work, commit to the ongoing work of being anti-racist, and be ready to collaborate across and within teams.

DEVELOPMENT + SUPPORT

We invest in our staff in meaningful ways. We believe that the adults must be taken care of and supported to do right by our students. To that end, every staff member has a coach, a team, an individualized learning plan, and opportunities to grow. We value hard work and we also value self-care. The two are not mutually exclusive.

POSITION OVERVIEW: 

The Middle School Director of Culture & Instruction plays a critical role in ensuring that every student experiences a rigorous, inclusive, and joyful learning environment where they feel a deep sense of belonging and are held to high academic expectations. This leader sets a vision where strong culture and strong instruction are inextricably linked, ensuring that systems, practices, and adult actions consistently drive student achievement and well-being.

Through close collaboration with leadership, teachers, students, and families, this role develops, implements, and refines systems that support both excellent teaching and equitable student outcomes. The Director ensures that instructional practices, school culture, and student supports work cohesively to meet the needs of all learners.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Deep belief in New School San Francisco’s mission, vision and values (required)
• Bachelor’s degree (required)
• Extensive experience and passion working with middle schoolers, families and staff from diverse backgrounds and with diverse learning needs, including – but not limited to – English Language learners, academically high-achieving students, students with IEPs, academically low-performing students, and students who have experienced trauma (required)
• Proven record of collaborating well on a team and building relationships with students and families (required)
• Deep commitment to equitable approaches, including — but not limited to — culturally responsive teaching, inclusion, anti-racist education, restorative practices, Universal Design for Learning, social emotional learning and data-informed instruction (required)
• Familiarity with Special Education accommodations and modifications, IEP implementation, and inclusive practices (required)
• Specialized behavior training (e.g. Restorative Practices, Applied Behavior Analysis, Crisis Prevention and Intervention) (strongly preferred)
• Bilingual in Spanish (preferred)
• Experience as a school leader and/or administrator (strongly preferred)
• CA Administrator’s credential (preferred)

COMPETENCIES: 

• Ability to build partnerships and trust across lines of difference with students, families, and educators
• Ability to set and lead toward a compelling vision of excellence for program-wide culture & climate, while effectively coaching colleagues to translate that vision into consistent, values-aligned practices and behaviors across teams
• Familiarity and experience with implementation of Restorative Practices, PBIS, behavior training across different school settings
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Exceptional organizational and project management skills
• Comfortable working within a diverse, collaborative environment with openness to giving and receiving feedback
• A deep belief that all students will meet our vision and goals, tied to an unfailing commitment to equity in education
• Love for middle school students and skill in navigating middle school behavior

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Supporting Systems, Vision & Culture

• Support the vision and strategic plan around school wide and middle school goals
• Support and attend Culture and Climate and Instructional Leadership Team Meetings
• Collaborate closely with the school leader and operations team to ensure a safe and consistent school environment for students
• Design and lead cultural celebrations (e.g., heritage months, school-wide events, all-staff gatherings) that build community, elevate diverse identities, and strengthen a sense of belonging.
• Develop and codify culture-building systems and tools (e.g., behavior matrices, shared norms, routines) to ensure clarity, consistency, and alignment across teams.
• Support with teacher recruitment and hiring process
• Support and drive school culture aligned with the school vision and mission
• Identify, retain and develop high performing teachers
• Attend and lead professional development and collaboratives as assigned
• Coordinates home visits and other interventions  in addressing crises with the support of clinician and Head of School 
• Create a culture of high expectations and continuous improvement with a relentless focus on student achievement, operational efficiency, and self-improvement
• In partnership with elementary leadership, develop and uphold bus expectations and implementation of expectations
• Acts as the senior administrator when the Head of School is off campus
• Help to execute daily operations (drop-off, pick-up, lunch/recess duty)

Leading Instruction

• Coach grade team leads and grade level deliverables
• Coach content teams and lead weekly data protocols 
• Manage specialist teachers 
• Oversee and support department chairs and department deliverables
• Support administering all state and local testing 
• Track individual student and subset data to monitor progress of students in appropriate data systems
• Plan, conduct and support teachers with data meetings
• Support with facilitation of content specific blocks or intervention, including the scope and sequence, training, roll out, ongoing developments and progress monitoring