What are the responsibilities and job description for the Dean of Students position at CHILDRENS GUILD INC?
About Us
The Children's Guild DC (TCG DC) is a free public charter school serving students in Kindergarten through 8th grade in Ward 5, Washington, D.C. As part of TranZed Alliance, one of the most experienced child-serving nonprofit organizations in the Greater Baltimore/Washington region, TCG DC provides a personalized, trauma-informed educational experience for both general education and special needs students.
Our on-site team of special educators, social workers, psychologists, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, and support staff work collaboratively to ensure every student thrives — academically, socially, emotionally, and developmentally. We invite you to be part of our innovative team!
The Dean of Students serves as a key member of TCG DC's school leadership team, responsible for fostering a positive, safe, and inclusive school culture where every student feels valued, supported, and ready to learn. The Dean of Students provides leadership over student conduct, attendance, social-emotional support, and school climate initiatives, working in close collaboration with the Principal, teachers, clinical staff, and families. This role requires a dynamic, compassionate, and culturally responsive leader who is committed to restorative practices, trauma-informed care, and the holistic development of every student.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities
Student Culture & Climate
- Lead and champion school-wide culture and climate initiatives aligned with TCG DC's Transformation Education philosophy and PBIS framework.
- Drive cultural transformation efforts by modeling and reinforcing TCG DC's core values of respect, responsibility, and community throughout the school.
- Build and sustain a positive, inclusive, and trauma-informed school environment where all students feel safe, seen, and supported.
- Design, implement, and evaluate school-wide behavioral systems, incentive programs, and student recognition initiatives.
- Develop, maintain, and enforce school-wide policies and procedures related to student conduct, attendance, and school climate.
Student Conduct & Discipline
- Oversee all student disciplinary matters in a fair, consistent, and restorative manner aligned with DCPS, OSSE, and TCG DC policies.
- Conduct investigations into student incidents, document findings, and determine appropriate consequences in compliance with TCG DC's code of conduct and applicable regulations.
- Implement restorative practices and conflict resolution strategies as alternatives to punitive disciplinary measures.
- Maintain accurate, timely disciplinary records and ensure compliance with all reporting requirements.
- Develop and refine student conduct policies and procedures in collaboration with the Principal and leadership team.
Attendance & Chronic Absenteeism
- Monitor student attendance data daily and identify students at risk of chronic absenteeism.
- Develop and implement attendance intervention strategies in collaboration with teachers, social workers, and families.
- Communicate proactively with families regarding attendance concerns and connect them to appropriate supports.
- Maintain accurate attendance records and submit required reports to DCPS and OSSE in a timely manner.
Social-Emotional Support & Crisis Intervention
- Collaborate with social workers, psychologists, and clinical staff to provide integrated social-emotional support for students.
- Serve as a first responder for student behavioral and emotional crises, coordinating de-escalation and follow-up support.
- Support the implementation of individual student safety plans and behavioral support plans.
- Participate as a member of the school's PBIS team and contribute to school-wide social-emotional learning (SEL) initiatives.
Family & Community Engagement
- Build strong, trust-based relationships with families, serving as a primary point of contact for student conduct and behavioral concerns.
- Communicate regularly and proactively with families regarding student progress, behavioral goals, and school climate initiatives.
- Facilitate family meetings, mediation sessions, and restorative conferences as needed.
- Partner with community organizations and external agencies to expand resources and support for students and families.
Staff Support & Collaboration
- Provide coaching, guidance, and support to teachers and staff on classroom management, de-escalation, and trauma-informed practices.
- Collaborate with the instructional team to ensure behavioral supports are integrated into classroom instruction.
- Participate in team meetings, professional development, and school-wide initiatives.
- Develop and facilitate staff training on student conduct policies, restorative practices, and PBIS implementation.
Documentation & Compliance
- Maintain accurate, timely records of student conduct, attendance, and behavioral interventions in compliance with DCPS, OSSE, and agency standards.
- Develop, implement, and regularly review school-wide policies and procedures related to student conduct, safety, and school climate.
- Respond promptly and thoroughly to requests for information from DCPS, OSSE, families, and TCG DC leadership.
- Contribute to Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) efforts through data collection, analysis, and reporting on school climate and student outcomes
Qualifications:
Qualifications
Required
- Bachelor's degree or higher in Education, School Counseling, Social Work, Psychology, or a related field (required).
- Master's degree in Education Leadership, School Counseling, or a related field preferred.
- Minimum of 3–5 years of experience in a school-based leadership, counseling, or student services role.
- Demonstrated experience managing student conduct, attendance, and school climate in an urban school setting.
- Strong knowledge of restorative practices, PBIS, trauma-informed care, and social-emotional learning frameworks.
- Familiarity with DCPS, OSSE, and DC charter school regulations and compliance requirements.
- Proven ability to build positive relationships with students, families, and staff from diverse backgrounds.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to develop, implement, and enforce school-wide policies and procedures.
- Experience with crisis intervention and de-escalation strategies.
Preferred
- Valid DC administrator or school counseling license.
- Experience in a therapeutic or special education school setting.
- Training in restorative justice, CPI, or Safety-Care crisis intervention.
- Bilingual proficiency (English/Spanish or other languages).
- Familiarity with electronic student information and behavior tracking systems.
Key Result Areas (KRAs)
|
KRA |
Focus |
|
1 |
School Culture & Climate — PBIS implementation, cultural transformation, and student recognition |
|
2 |
Student Conduct — Fair, consistent, restorative disciplinary practices and compliance |
|
3 |
Attendance — Data monitoring, intervention strategies, and family communication |
|
4 |
Social-Emotional Support — Crisis intervention, SEL integration, and clinical collaboration |
|
5 |
Family Engagement — Proactive communication, mediation, and community partnerships |
|
6 |
Documentation & Compliance — Accurate records, policy development, and CQI reporting |
The Dean of Students reports to the Principal and works in close collaboration with teachers, social workers, psychologists, clinical staff, and the broader school leadership team.
Physical Demands
This role requires the ability to frequently stand, walk, sit, reach, and communicate verbally. Reasonable accommodations may be made for individuals with disabilities.
Salary : $75,000 - $110,000