2022-23 NY Dean of Special Services

School Year: 2022-23

Leading at Achievement First 

As a Special Services Dean at Achievement First, you will be at the center of this work— coaching our teachers and driving decisions that will benefit our scholars. Here, you will be the driver of high quality coaching instruction that enables teachers to develop and deliver strong content and to  instill a lifelong love of learning in our scholars. You will work with teachers to be your students’ champion who believes all students are capable of greatness and achievement far beyond what society has been conditioned to accept. You will be a demander of excellence for yourself, your teachers and your students, the warm and unyielding classroom presence that encourages and accepts nothing less than students’ best and most thoughtful work. 

At Achievement First, you will grow as a passionate and constant leader who thrives on feedback, enjoys regular one-on-one coaching with our principal, and nurtures a voracious appetite for professional development and consistent improvement. You will cultivate schoolwide classroom  cultures built on strong structures, communication and lasting relationships. Every day, you will  contribute to the education of children who will go on to become first-generation college students and return to our communities as the next generation of game-changers.  

As a Dean of Special Services at Achievement First, your typical week would include the  following, and so much more: 

• Design and manage schoolwide academic interventions, particularly in reading and math
• Ensure Child Study Team identifies scholars in need of plans. 
• Manage Special Services relationship with host district and monitor IEP compliance.
• Track other useful academic data (e.g. homework completion rates); communicate progress to students, teachers and parents. 

Demonstrate exceptional teacher leadership:  

• Directly coach and develop a portfolio of teachers. 
• Observe lessons regularly and deliver targeted feedback to teachers.
• Collaborate with grade/subject teams to plan units, lessons and assessments; regularly  share feedback. 
• Model outstanding instruction for teachers. 

Facilitate excellent professional development: 

• Coordinate and manage creative, inspiring professional development sessions in line with school goals and priorities. 
• Direct the interim assessment process to ensure teachers are using current data to drive instruction; facilitate regular, meaningful interim assessment data debriefs with teachers. 

Serve as an active member of the school leadership team:  

• Participate in regular leadership team meetings. 
• Lead staff trainings at start and end of school year and on professional development days. 
• Work closely with dean of students to support efforts in character development and  positive school culture. 
• Assist teacher leaders (e.g., coaches, grade team leaders) in developing leadership skills.
• Model the Achievement First professional and core values at all times; be a visible and highly engaged leader in the school community. 

Skills and Characteristics: 

• An active and demonstrated commitment to Achievement First’s mission and values: Leading for Racial Equity, Embrace Challenge, and Go Further Together.
• A Track record of exemplary instructional and classroom management skills, including  meeting extremely high standards for student achievement 
• A  Proven ability to proactively and effectively coach and manage adults and drive excellent student achievement through others.
• SUperior personal organizational skills, ability to coach others to improve their organizational skills and efficiency, and ability to “zoom out” to create and manage systems and projects that require long range planning and organization.
• People Leadership: Strong self awareness and awareness of others, and exceptional “warm/demanding” balance when leading adults.  
• Growth mindset for self and others; willingness to seek out feedback and ability to implement constructive feedback quickly and effectively.  
• Mastery of and enthusiasm for subject matter. 

Educational Background and Work Experience: 

• A bachelor’s degree; master’s degree preferred. 
• Certified as a school leader per your state’s guidelines and requirements; If not currently certified, ability to obtain necessary state certification in specific subject and  grade level is required within the first two months of employment.  
• At least 3 years of K-12 full-time lead teaching experience with a record of high student achievement. 
• At least 1 year of experience coaching and leading adults to obtain high student achievement. 
• Experience working with diverse learners and the teachers who support them (i.e. struggling students, SPED students/teachers, etc)