Dean of Students (3197)

Job Description Job Title Dean of Students Location Natick High School Reports To High School Principal Work days / FTE 205 days / 1.0 FTE Salary / Benefits Salary and benefits per the Educators Association of Natick Unit B Contract (Range: $115,331 - $157,519) Profile of a Natick Educator A Dean of Students at Natick High School is responsible for fostering a safe, supportive, and inclusive learning environment. This student‑centered leader is committed to equity, promotes a safe, positive school culture, supports consistent student attendance and engagement, and collaborates with educators, caregivers, and community partners on behalf of students' academic and social‑emotional success. The Dean of Students plays a critical role in the NHS MTSS structure, implementing tiered responses to student behavior including restorative practices, reflective learning opportunities, and disciplinary consequences. Education Master's degree, preferably in educational leadership. Qualifications Massachusetts DESE licensure as a Vice‑Principal/Principal, 9 – 12 required. At least five years of successful experience in a secondary education position, either as a teacher, counselor, or in a related position. Prior leadership experience preferred. Fluency in Spanish and/or Portuguese highly desired. Essential Duties Student Culture, Climate, and Engagement Building strong relationships with students, staff, and families to foster trust, accountability, and connection to the school community. Maintaining a visible presence throughout the school during the school day, at extracurricular, co‑curricular, and athletics activities and at school events. Developing, implementing, and supporting programs that encourage student leadership, civic engagement, school pride, and connectedness. Student Conduct, Behavioral Consequences and Restorative Practices Addressing behavioral referrals in a timely, thorough manner. Conducting investigations of behavioral incidents to determine appropriate interventions and consequences in accordance with district policies, state and federal regulations, the NPS Code of Conduct, and the Student Handbook. Investigating allegations of bullying and harassment in compliance with all required procedures and timelines. Deescalating student conflict. Assigning progressive, appropriate disciplinary consequences and providing educational opportunities to promote accountability and support student growth. Engaging students in restorative practices to repair harm, including student‑to‑student and student‑to‑teacher conferences, mediations, restorative circles, and problem‑solving meetings. Communicating with stakeholders following student behavioral incidents to ensure follow‑through and accountability. Conducting suspension hearings and participating in manifestation determination meetings in accordance with district policies, state and federal regulations, the NPS Code of Conduct, and the Student Handbook. Coordinating re‑entry meetings and safety/support plans following suspensions, extended absences, or incidents. Maintaining detailed, accurate, and timely disciplinary records and documentation. Coordinating student privileges in accordance with academic, attendance, and behavioral expectations. Attendance, Academic Monitoring, and Student Support Implementing key pieces of the building‑wide MTSS structure. Monitoring student attendance and identifying trends related to absenteeism, disengagement, and school avoidance. Coordinating interventions to improve attendance and student engagement. Working collaboratively with students, families, counselors, social workers, school psychologists, teachers, community agencies, and outside providers to support students experiencing academic, behavioral, or attendance challenges. Tracking students' academic performance and proactively identifying students in need of intervention. Serving as an active member of multidisciplinary student support teams, including the Child Study Team (CST) and other intervention teams. Running the Case Management Team for the Dean's cohort of students. Developing, implementing, and monitoring individualized support plans for students experiencing difficulties, including graduation contracts and graduation support plans. Supporting student mental health interventions in coordination with school‑based support staff and outside providers. Managing the MIAA athletic eligibility process in coordination with the Athletics Department. Family and Community Engagement Proactively and effectively communicating with students, families, and staff regarding attendance, behavior, and student support concerns using a variety of means. Maintaining culturally affirming practices that build trust with all students and families. Facilitating meetings involving students, families, staff members, and community partners and participating in 504, IEP, and ICAP meetings, as needed. Developing and maintaining partnerships with community organizations that support student success. Serving as a liaison and primary point of contact between the school, the students on their caseload, and families to strengthen engagement and communication. Assisting students and families in accessing available supports and resources, including financial assistance programs and school‑based services. Communicating with the School Resource Officer to support student safety and wellbeing in and out of school. Interfacing with DCF and the court system to file and follow up on 51As and CRAs. Safety and Student Supervision Implementing and developing school safety plans, emergency response procedures, and crisis management protocols. Participating in threat assessment, crisis response, and safety planning teams. Coordinating and supervising student arrival, dismissal, lunch periods, assemblies, and other school activities. Investigating incidents utilizing security camera footage and other available resources. Working collaboratively with the School Resource Officer (SRO), district personnel, and local agencies to address student safety concerns. Planning and conducting safety drills, evacuations, and emergency response procedures. School Events and Student Activities Supervising athletic competitions, dances, performances, assemblies, and other student activities. Coordinating the field trip process, service trips, international travel opportunities, assemblies, and special programs. Planning and executing major school events. Coordinating student elections for class office and other student leadership activities. Overseeing international travel and field trips. Coordinating fundraising activities in compliance with district policies and applicable laws. Providing oversight and coordination of state testing, which may include MCAS or other relevant assessments. School Improvement and Administrative Leadership Contributing to the development, implementation, and monitoring of the School Improvement Plan. Analyzing attendance, discipline, engagement, and climate data to inform decision‑making and continuous improvement efforts. Collaborating with district leaders and school staff to advance strategic priorities. Attending school, district, and administrative meetings as required. Supporting the daily operation of the school and performing additional duties as assigned by the Principal. Hiring, Supervision, Evaluation and Retention Supporting, supervising, and evaluating Main Office administrative staff and the campus aide. Conducting regular classroom walkthroughs and contributing to the educator evaluation process. Providing guidance and support to faculty and staff regarding student behavior, classroom management, restorative practices, and student engagement strategies. Leading and/or participating in hiring processes. Supporting teacher induction, mentoring, and professional growth initiatives. Designing and facilitating professional development, including school climate, student support, student behavior, restorative practices, and student engagement topics. Skills Proven leadership ability, including the capacity to motivate others and foster professional growth. Strong interpersonal, team‑building, and organizational skills. Strong work ethic and attention to detail. Ability to analyze and utilize data to inform decisions. Unrelenting focus on student success. Outstanding written and oral communication skills. Strong technical skills and an aptitude for managing details. Track record of building and maintaining positive, collaborative relationships with adolescents and their families. Skills in various technology systems such as Google Workspace, Microsoft Office, and PowerSchool. Ability to make independent, sound decisions in alignment with school goals, district policies, and procedures. Strong organizational and time‑management skills, with the ability to multitask and meet time‑sensitive deadlines in a fast‑paced environment. Demonstrated flexibility and collaboration in responding effectively to changing needs and priorities. Bilingual skills, particularly in Spanish and Portuguese, are highly desirable. Physical Demands Moving throughout classrooms, school, grounds, offices, or off‑site locations, including occasional rapid movement across even or uneven surfaces. Remaining stationary for extended periods and operating productivity tools such as computers, iPads, printers, and assistive technology. Reading materials from screens, handwritten documents, or printed text, with or without visual aids. Positioning oneself to access and maintain files, materials, and resources. Communicating effectively in person, via video conference, by telephone, or in writing to ensure accurate understanding and collaboration. Observing details at close range to maintain safety and support students. Multitasking and responding to multiple demands from various individuals. Supporting students in developing life skills such as eating, cleaning, and toileting as needed. Occasionally lifting or moving up to 25 pounds. Working in environments with moderate to loud noise levels. Selection Guidelines Formal application. Rating of education and experience. Performance task. Oral interviews. Reference check. Strong record of work performance in current and previous roles required. Successful completion of Criminal Records Check (C.O.R.I.), Sexual Offender Record Check (S.O.R.I.), and fingerprints. The Natick Public Schools do not discriminate on the basis of age, race, creed, color, religion, nationality, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, pregnancy and pregnancy‑related conditions, physical and intellectual differences, immigration status, homeless status, or any other class protected by law. #J-18808-Ljbffr TrulyHired