Director of Health and Wellness

Director of Health & Wellness

Nowell Academy is a public high school serving Rhode Island's pregnant, parenting, and underserved youth. Our mission is to ensure that students graduate with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in college, career, and family life. The Opportunity Nowell Academy is seeking a student-centered, solutions-oriented Director of Health & Wellness to lead the school's approach to student wellness, attendance, and support. The Director works across the school to identify and reduce barriers that affect students' ability to attend, engage, and succeed. The ideal candidate understands the connection between academic progress, attendance, mental health, physical wellness, and family stability. They are skilled at building systems, coaching staff, developing community partnerships, and forming strong relationships with students and families.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead a coordinated approach to student health, wellness, attendance, and support.
• Develop and implement strategies to improve daily attendance and reduce chronic absenteeism.
• Use student data to identify needs, coordinate interventions, and monitor progress.
• Lead Nowell's Primary Person model for student goal-setting, academic and attendance conferencing, and progress monitoring.
• Train and support staff serving as Primary Person mentors.
• Promote student and staff well-being through education and programming related to physical health, mental health, nutrition, healthy relationships, and family wellness.
• Coordinate targeted supports for pregnant and parenting students, including Nowell's Maternity Leave Project.
• Build partnerships with community organizations and service providers that support students and families.
• Coordinate preventative and responsive home visits when appropriate.
• Support meetings, schoolwide initiatives, student events, testing, capstones, and other activities that contribute to student success.
• Prepare student-support updates, data, and presentations as needed.
• Contribute to a positive, inclusive, and achievement-oriented school culture.
• Perform other responsibilities necessary to support the effective operation of the school.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree in education, public health, social work, counseling, school leadership, or a related field preferred.
• Experience working with adolescents and families in education, health and wellness, social services, counseling, youth development, or a related field.
• Experience leading programs, projects, teams, or cross-functional initiatives.
• Understanding of the relationship among attendance, mental health, physical wellness, family circumstances, and academic success.
• Ability to build trusting relationships with students and families from diverse backgrounds.
• Strong communication, organization, project-management, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to use data to inform decisions and improve student outcomes.
• Commitment to Nowell Academy's mission and a fundamental belief in every student's ability to learn, grow, and succeed.
• Experience supporting pregnant and parenting students, over-age and under-credited students, multilingual learners, or young people who have experienced barriers to traditional schooling is strongly preferred.

What We Value Successful Nowell Academy leaders:

• Communicate clearly, directly, and respectfully.
• Collaborate actively and contribute beyond the boundaries of their individual roles.
• Develop practical solutions and follow projects through to completion.
• Make thoughtful decisions grounded in evidence and student needs.
• Welcome feedback and demonstrate a commitment to continuous improvement.
• Address concerns proactively, directly, and professionally.
• Lead with integrity, consistency, joy, and a deep sense of responsibility for students.

Position Details This is a full-time, year-round position based in Providence, Rhode Island.