Dean of Student Engagement-Upper School

Job Description

Job Description

Who we are?

Ethical Culture Fieldston School is a progressive PreK-12 independent school that has been serving students from throughout New York City and the surrounding suburbs since 1878. ECFS offers a rich curriculum in the arts, sciences, and humanities. A co-ed, nonsectarian school, it serves an inclusive community of about 1,700 students on two campuses -- one in the Riverdale section of the Bronx, and the other in Manhattan. The Upper School, located in the Bronx, is comprised of approximately 600 students and 80 faculty members.

What is essential about working at our school?

The Ethical Culture Fieldston School has a long history of inclusion and belonging deeply rooted in our mission and the educational philosophy of our founder, Felix Adler. We embrace all aspects of an individual, including their ancestry, family, identity, culture, and beliefs. We affirm both our differences and commonalities and strive to balance individuality and community. In keeping with our progressive tradition, we are dedicated to increasing our students’ cultural literacy to help them understand multiple perspectives and see the world beyond the self.

We expect members of our community to engage in open dialogue about living and learning in an inclusive environment inside and outside the classroom. We see this work, with its creative tensions, as a catalyst for individual and collective growth. On a daily basis, we are committed to making this vision of a democratic, pluralistic, and progressive school a reality.

Please note that this is an onsite role and not performed remotely. Ethical Culture Fieldston School retains its right to modify job duties in accordance with changing operational needs.

Role Summary

ECFS is currently seeking a Dean of Student Engagement (DSE). Reporting to the Upper School Assistant Principal of Student Life, the DSE will be responsible for broadly spearheading and developing co-curricular programs and activities as described below. The DSE should be highly organized with excellent time management skills, flexibility, and the proven ability and willingness to successfully engage with students. The School shall have the right to designate the teacher who serves in the capacity of Upper School Dean of Student Engagement.

The Upper School Dean of Student Engagement will receive a stipend of $10,000. The teaching load of the DSE shall be .50 with .50 release time. The hiring range for this position is $75,261-$184,830 which is not inclusive of the stipend amount for the Dean position.

Please note that this is an onsite role and not performed remotely. Ethical Culture Fieldston School retains its right to modify job duties in accordance with changing operational needs.

Responsibilities

Specific responsibilities of the Dean will include:

• Supervising student activities and assemblies, including the Assembly After Dark program; over 50+ student clubs; four student publications; and approximately 26 assemblies per year;

• Facilitating partnership programs with area schools, including programs with University Heights High School, SAR Academy, and Swain County High School;

• Developing programming and working with faculty, staff, and students while directly supervising experiential learning programs, including:

  • ALP (Alternative Learning Period)

  • MAD (Modified Awareness Days)

  • FAD (Fieldston Awareness Days)

  • Local and regional student conferences, including SUPAA Conference, NY Gender Summit, Progressive Schools Student Leadership Conference, and others as needed.

  • Other events that address special topics of interest to the Upper School community, including responding to current and pressing political and social issues as they arise and planning student programming.

• Developing and supervising mission-driven programming, including:

  • Community Day

  • Big Brother, Big Sister, Big Sibling programs

• Collaborating with BSI department & Community Service Learning (CSL) office on initiatives within their respective purviews;

• Co-Chairing the Senior Projects Committee with the Assistant Principal for Student Life;

• Co-Advising the Fieldston Student Government (FSG) with the Assistant Principal for Student Life;

• Supervising the School-wide summer book project, which includes chairing the Summer Book Committee;

• Regularly consulting with the Grade Deans and divisional leadership team regarding individual student concerns and grade-wide, school-wide, and programmatic issues; and

• Performing other duties, projects and tasks as assigned.

Position Requirements

The successful incumbent will possess:

• A Bachelor's Degree (a Master’s degree is strongly preferred);

• A passion for teaching with a pleasant and positive demeanor toward all forms of teaching and learning;

• The ability to collaborate and build strong relationships with faculty, administrators, students, parents, and the overall community;

• A commitment to cultural competency and to fostering an inclusive environment that supports students of all backgrounds;

• Excellent verbal, written, and oral communication skills;

• A positive attitude and the ability to listen effectively and be receptive to feedback;

• The ability to manage time effectively, stay organized, and prioritize required tasks;

• A commitment to engaging in ongoing professional development and proficiency in utilizing and learning new technologies (i.e., Google Workspace tools);

• The ability to work some evenings as required;

• Reliability, punctuality, and consistent attendance; and

• The ability to cultivate a welcoming culture in which all members of our community feel valued and appreciated.

To Apply
All candidates should visit our employment page at to apply. Please send a letter of interest, a resume, and contact information for three references.

EEO
ECFS is an equal opportunity employer. We seek to be a welcoming community of professionals that broadly reflects the people of the metropolitan New York City area, our students, and families. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion or religious practices, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, citizenship status, national origin, age, ability status, military status, unemployment status or any other category protected by applicable local, state, or federal laws. We are committed to hiring practices that ensure all candidates are given fair consideration in alignment with our institutional mission and goals.