Description

Belmont Charter Network is a family of 5 community schools centered on the central mission to promote the academic, social and emotional well-being of each child. Our schools are supported by a non-profit partner to provide holistic services to the school including out-of-school time, our social work project and Head start. How do we do this? We do it by ensuring our students have access to complete support both in and out of the classroom through a talented team of teachers, leaders, social workers, and partners.

We believe that schools and learning should be joyful!

You can find more about our core values and vision here. We believe that education is the single biggest way we can disrupt the systemic racism that impacts Philadelphia and by extension our country. We are a mission centered organization that has grown since its founding over 20 years ago to be the organization that serves Philadelphia today. Learn more about our partners who support this vision by creating a full scope of community support for our students and families. Our approach is grounded in trauma informed practice which you can read more about here.

Your areas of knowledge and expertise:

• Demonstrated skill in working with students from diverse cultural, economic and ability backgrounds.

• Creative problem solving

• A commitment to being a lifelong learner, commitment to refining your craft

• A knack for connecting with people across differences including parents, colleagues and students.

Position Summary: The Director of Culture is an essential part of the school leadership team, ensuring a joyful, positive, and structured school culture. The Director of Culture (DoC) implements restorative practices within their school community. Reporting to and working closely with the Head of School, the DoC will serve as the cultural and behavioral leader of the school and will cultivate a participatory, achievement-focused, and outcomes-driven school culture team. The DoC will also support teachers and staff around best practices in classroom management that drive both school culture and academics. The ideal candidate will know how to effectively build relationships with people at all levels and backgrounds, possess project management skills and be highly organized. This is a 12 month position that is supervised by the Head of School.

Core Responsibilities:

Positive School Culture Development:

• Develop and implement comprehensive strategies to cultivate a positive and inclusive school culture.

• Support the academic, social, and emotional development of all students.

• Collaborate closely with school leaders, teachers, and support staff to align school-wide initiatives with a positive culture.

• Lead school-wide priorities, mobilizing staff to achieve goals through strategic use of data, restorative practices, Responsive Classroom, and Developmental Designs.

• Manage school-wide character development and behavior management systems.

• Foster a restorative school environment grounded in logical consequences and community service.

Consistent Presence and Model of Culture:

• Demonstrate a strong and consistent presence throughout the school day.

• Actively support teachers and students.

• Model a culture of consistency and community during transitions, arrival, dismissal, recess, and lunch.

Discipline and Behavior Management:

• Serve as the primary point person for all discipline and culture-related issues.

• Coordinate replacement behavior practices, in-school suspension, restorative service projects, behavior plans, and after-school detention as needed.

• Investigate level 2 and 3 behaviors, recommend suspension consequences to the Head of School, and lead reinstatement conversations.

• Execute all behavior documentation and reporting processes promptly.

Management of Culture Team:

• Manage the Culture Team, ensuring clear job functions that contribute to a positive school culture.

• Provide ongoing coaching (03’s), feedback, and evaluation to team members.

• Oversee the culture office to ensure Deans and Support Staff hold students accountable using appropriate restorative practices.

Professional Development and Data Analysis:

• Collaborate with the school leadership team to plan and lead engaging, actionable, practice-based professional development.

• Hold staff accountable for the implementation of workshop practices.

• Support teachers in delivering best practices.

• Collect, analyze, and communicate discipline data to identify specific areas of need.

• Create and execute targeted plans to address identified areas of need.

Additional responsibilities:

• Serve on the school leadership team.

• Work collaboratively with families and other members of the community to involve them in events, celebrations, and activities, to support the success of a diverse student population, and to bring in volunteers and additional resources

• Lead ongoing student assemblies to celebrate student achievement and incorporate school values and SEL into everyday conversations and student actions.

• Create and manage daily communication systems regarding student consequences, positive incentives, and follow-ups so that teachers/staff are adequately informed.

• Conduct strategic home visits before the start of the school year to emphasize cultural and academic expectations of Belmont Charter School and build relationships with families.

• Other duties as assigned by the Head of School

Qualifications

Qualifications:

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree required

• Experience working in an urban school setting for a minimum of 3 years

• Experience managing and implementing school wide cultural systems

• Pennsylvania State Police Criminal Background Check Clearance (Act 34)

• Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance (Act 151)

• Federal Bureau of Investigation Record Check Clearance (Act 114)

• Sexual Misconduct/Abuse Disclosure Clearance (Act 168)

Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to provide strong leadership and inspire a shared vision for a positive and inclusive school culture.

• Demonstrated capacity to work with urban youth.

• Strong communication skills, both verbal and written, to convey ideas and expectations to diverse stakeholders.

• Skill in building and maintaining positive relationships, collaborating with school leaders, staff, and parents.

• Data managements tools, organizational tools, computer skills

• Knowledge of public education and charter schools highly desirable but not required

• Belief in and alignment with Belmont Charter’s mission and values