Saint Dominic Academy, an all-girls, college-preparatory school serving students in grades 7–12, seeks a forward-thinking and student-focused leader to serve as Dean of Student Life. Reporting to the Director of Teaching and Learning, the Dean oversees the student activity program and daily operations related to activities. The ideal candidate will be an approachable and experienced school leader who is passionate about empowering and engaging young women and faculty, fostering leadership in student government and activities, and cultivating a positive school experience rooted in mutual respect, personal growth and accountability, and commitment to the values of SDA. The Dean of Student Life will be a visible presence for students and faculty.
The Dean of Student Life, along with the Director of Teaching and Learning, the Dean of School Culture and the Campus Minister lead the student experience. As a Team, they coordinate the spiritual, intellectual, moral, and physical facets of the student experience. The Dominican charism of caritas et veritas (love and truth) guide how all curricular and co-curricular programs and policies are constructed.
Key responsibilities:
Building & Training Leadership
- To utilize research and understanding of how girls learn and excel, and how their co-curricular experience allows for fuller development of self
- To coordinate the scheduling of all club meetings, assemblies, and programs; to keep the school community informed of various programs and activities
- To work with Student Government Committees regarding school policies and programs
- To foster student leadership formally and informally at all grade levels via grade meetings, whole grade field/ service trips
- To calendar and organize student government elections, and support grade level and activity elections with class moderators, and coordinate leadership assemblies
- To train and support class moderators and committee members and advisors
- To generate a student leadership retreat each year to prepare students for the following academic year
- To help grade levels fundraise each year to support grade level events and in preparation for senior trip
- To coordinate daily announcements; to assess where to document information/dates to create more awareness and planning by community members
- To attend Admission events, including speaking about leadership and positive behavior; and to coordinate student activity representatives
Behavior
- To hold all community members to the highest standards as noted in the Code of Conduct
- To sustain and implement discipline that acknowledges schools as a place of learning and accountability, and utilizes a restorative justice philosophy
- To manage and utilize the minor/major form
- To maintain behavioral records for disciplinary issues (minors and majors), including managing lates
- To coordinate detention: faculty signup, notify students and parents, and monitor attendance
- To be aware of the New Jersey Harassment, Bullying, and Intimidation processes and protocols and work with the Dean of School Culture/ School Counselor for any investigations
- To intentionally work with the Dean of School Culture to create a school ethos that validates and encourages respect, support, and collaboration
Student Experience Planning & Implementation
- To coordinate student orientation with the Director of Teaching and Learning and the Dean of School Culture
- To prepare, with the Director of Teaching and Learning and the Dean of School Culture, the school’s student master calendar
- To work with and keep the Student Experience Team and the Head of School informed on student issues and other relevant matters
- To oversee faculty and parent chaperone support signups
- To oversee and organize social events, including offsite and evening
- To plan assemblies and community time with the support of the Student Leadership Team– involving events from advisory, College Office, SADD, Advancement and Admission offices, and Campus Ministry
- To work with the Dean of School Culture to incorporate equity, inclusion, social justice, and belonging into all activities, school expectations, etc.
- To consider what opportunities and information families need to be supportive of the co-curricular life of students
- To provide regular communication to families, students, teachers that inspire the Dominican values, recognize our successes, specify community behavioral expectations
- To perform other duties as assigned by the Director of Teaching and Learning and Head of School
A successful candidate will have:
- Bachelor’s degree (Master’s degree preferred)
- Previous experience teaching at the secondary and/or all girls preferred
- Ability to demonstrate growth mindset, optimism, and belief that all students can excel
- Experience as a practitioner of diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice in and outside of the classroom
- Excellent interpersonal communication skills (oral and written), organizational, problem solving, and interpersonal skills
- comfort and facility with technologies that enhance communication teaching and learning (e.g. Google applications, school information systems/learning management, etc.)
To apply, please submit a resume, a cover letter with a brief educational philosophy to careers@stdominicacad.com.
St. Dominic Academy does not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, ethnic origin or sexual orientation in any of its employment policies. The school welcomes Catholics and non-Catholics who share in the educational objectives of the school and in the Dominican values to apply.