Elementary Academic Dean

Empowerment Academy Charter School is hiring an Academic Dean at Empowerment’s Elementary School. We are looking for this Academic Dean to have a keen focus on instruction. We have other school leaders who focus on administration and operations management. We want our Academic Deans to be focused on developing their academy’s cadre of teachers, and through them, the effectiveness of our instructional program. 

This is for the 2026-2027 school year and beyond. This is a 12-month Leadership Position beginning July 1, 2026. 

Base Salary: $99,500-$129,500

OUR SCHOOL

Empowerment Academy is a dynamic and successful charter school that truly supports its teachers and staff. Empowerment has 3 of its own campuses, and BelovED is our “sister school.” We serve a mix of students that are among the most diverse in America while enjoying the cultural vibrance of Jersey City, Hoboken and New York City. The school served grade levels K-1 when founded in 2015, but has added one grade level of about 120 students each year since then.  In SY26-27, we will serve all grades K-12.  Our staff is a dedicated group of individuals passionate about closing the achievement gap and providing a quality educational program. 

ABOUT THE POSITION

The school is broken down into academies -- Primary, Upper Elementary/Middle School and High School -- each led by a Principal, Academic Deans, and Deans of Students.  We use the Academic Dean title because Principal Certification, while desired in candidates for this 12-month leadership position, is not required.  More important to us is experience and demonstrated effectiveness professionally developing teachers and successful education programs.  

If you have the demonstrated effectiveness we are looking for and want to help lead a cutting-edge education program serving a student body that is among the most economically and ethnically diverse in America, then apply at www.empacad.org/careers today.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Academy and School Wide Leadership

Academic Deans are members of Empowerment Academy’s K-12 instructional leadership team and report to the school wide Principal and Director of Education (Head Principal).

Teacher Hiring, Induction and Certification Oversight

Academic Deans are centrally involved in teacher interviewing, hiring and induction, and help oversee teacher certification at their academy.

Teacher Professional Development, Coaching, Support and Evaluation

Academic Deans are expected to:

• Oversee teacher professional development in classroom management, data-driven instructional planning, the creation of effective lesson plans, the delivery of engaging and effective instruction, and in the effective use of technology and learning programs;
• Periodically meet one-on-one with academy teachers throughout the school year to review and guide the periodic revision of their Personal Professional Development Plans;

• Provide observation and feedback, as well as real-time coaching and instructional modeling for academy teachers;
• Ensure teachers and students are receiving the support they need from other instructional and student professionals; and
• Work with the schoolwide Director of Education (Head Principal) in the evaluation of teachers.

Grade Level and/or Academic Subject Head Teacher Training in Assessment Data Analysis and Professional Learning Community Leadership

It is important that Academic Deans are expert and effective at coaching grade level “Head Teachers” or academic subject “Department Chairs” in how to conduct effective Professional Learning Community meetings with their grade level or department peers -- meetings that focus upon the kind of “test-in-hand” data analysis that: 

• Goes beyond what scholars got wrong to why scholars got it wrong;
• Facilitates teachers taking responsibility for (either individually or as part of a team) successfully addressing their scholars’ learning challenges; and that
• Develops teachers’ ability to effectively use data to drive high quality instructional planning.

Parent Meetings

When requested by an academy teacher or as otherwise appropriate, the Dean will be expected to meet with the parents/guardians of a scholar.

DEAN PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

The candidate hired will be asked to read and master:

• Leverage Leadership by Paul Bambrick-Santoyo;
• Driven by Data by Paul Bambrick-Santoyo; and
• Teach Like a Champion by Doug Lemov.

The Dean will also be expected to attend professional development workshops and training if so directed by the Executive Officer or Director of Education.

REQUIRED CERTIFICATION

A standard teaching license from the NJ Department of Education  is the minimum certificate required. In this case, we are looking for an Academic Dean with an Elementary Certificate and preferable Upper Elementary experience (testing years). A Principal/Supervisor Certification is a bonus, but not mandatory.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Minimum seven years of teaching experience
• Experience as a leader in a high-performing charter public school (e.g., UnCommon Schools, KIPP, Success Academy), traditional public school, or privately managed school
• Experience working with a diverse student population
• Proven strengths in the area of teacher professional development and coaching
• Expertise in the analysis of assessment data, in how to use data to drive instruction, and in training teachers in how to conduct effective, data-focused Professional Learning Community meetings
• Commitment to the mission and goals of the school

Charter schools ARE public schools.  Our teachers are part of the New Jersey Teachers’ Pension and Annuity Fund (TPAF), same as teachers at traditional public schools, and can transfer their pension credits from a traditional public school to our school and vice versa.  Additional benefits include:

• Health Care Plan (Medical, Dental & Vision)
• Retirement Plan 
• Paid Time Off (Vacation, Sick & Public Holidays)
• Family Leave (Maternity, Paternity)
• Short Term & Long Term Disability
• Training & Development

As an equal opportunity employer, Empowerment Academy hires without consideration to race, religion, creed, color, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, or disability.

Salary : $99,500 - $129,500