Uplift Education: Middle School Dean (Assistant Principal) Pool (26-27)

Mission Statement

Uplift's mission is to create and sustain public schools of excellence that empower each student to reach their highest potential in college and the global marketplace and that inspire in students a life-long love of learning, achievement, and service in order to positively change their world.

Primary Purpose:

The Middle School Dean is a key member of the school leadership team. They will execute the instruction and academic vision for the school, aligned with Uplift’s IB vision for excellence. The Middle School Dean will directly manage and support a portfolio of teachers, scholars, and families by being an instructional and culture leader on campus. In concert with the school leadership team, he/she will engage in frequent observation and feedback with staff and scholars to develop the talent on campus and achieve strong academic outcomes. The Middle School Dean will partner and work effectively with the school leadership team as well as other leaders across the network to realize Uplift’s mission for the communities it serves.

Duties/Responsibilities:

Campus Leadership:

The Dean is responsible for providing support in creating and implementing the vision for the school.

• Support the implementation of the strategic vision for the school that aligns with network priorities
• Maintain a shared vision of success across staff members and scholars
• Actively monitor progress towards school targets and goals and support implementation of the aligned strategies to drive towards achieving the school’s vision of success
• Maintain and support a culture of continuous improvement
  
  
  

Instructional Leadership (Coaching, Planning & Management):

The Dean is responsible for providing instructional leadership and managing instructional outcomes for a portfolio of teachers and teams, aligned to Uplift’s IB vision for excellence.

• Coach and develop a portfolio of teachers/staff members
• Observe teachers/staff members regularly and provide targeted feedback
• Collaborate with teams (grade level/content areas) to plan/review units, lessons and assessments and regularly share feedback
• Monitor progress of teams in portfolio through relevant data analysis at frequent check points
• Create, deliver, and/or coordinator professional development sessions in line with campus priorities
• Analyze school, teacher, and scholar data, plan course corrections, and facilitate data meetings with teams
  
  
  

People Management and Development:

The Dean is a people developer and manager, responsible for all aspects of the talent lifecycle for a portfolio of staff members.

• Interview, recommend for hire and onboard candidates for open positions
• Define expectations and goals for staff performance across all areas (instructional strategies, classroom management, professional conduct, communication, etc.)
• Provide day to day feedback and coaching (performance/technical and developmental) to staff
• Serve as a thought partner and guide for planning professional development for direct reports aligned to developmental goals
• Observe employee performance, record observations, and conduct rigorous performance evaluations based on continuous improvement and accountability for results.
  
  
  

Scholar Culture and Family Partnership:

The Dean is responsible for managing a portfolio of scholars and families, from establishing relations and partnering with families to setting expectations to managing discipline situations.

• Work with the leadership team to apply the student code of character and conduct in compliance with Uplift guidelines and follow all related procedures regarding discipline, investigations and documentation standards.
• Ensure rules are implemented consistently and that scholar discipline is appropriate and equitable in accordance the Code of Conduct, with an emphasis on the use of restorative practices
• Conduct meetings/conferences regarding scholar or school issues with parents, scholars and teachers
• Create and manage plans for daily implementation of scholar services (support services, discipline management, etc.)
• Establish and maintain relationships with families to encourage community involvement in the school
  
  
  

Professional Learning and Growth:

The Dean is responsible for acting professionally and ethically at all times, while relentlessly pursuing continuous improvement.

• Model and demonstrate the highest standards of professional conduct, ethical principles and integrity in decision making, actions and behaviors
• Seek and engage in learning opportunities to develop holistically as leader (technical skill development, adaptive leadership development, cultural development)
• Attend and participate in network leadership meetings, academies, conferences, as applicable
• Implement practices learned at professional development, monitor and evaluate implementation for effectiveness, and share findings with network leaders
  
  
  

Administrative Functions:

The Dean will support the school with various administrative functions based on experience and need.

• Assist the School Director in managing resources (people, financial) effectively to support school and organizational goals
• Create and monitor systems for scholar and teacher management
• Support in the planning of daily school activities – class schedules, teacher assignments, extracurricular schedule, event schedule, substitute coverage, staff/family newsletters, duties (carline/lunch), testing support, etc.
  
  
  

Qualifications:

Education, Experience, And/or Certification(s)

Education & Certification Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university required. Master’s degree is desirable but not required.
  
  
  

Valid teaching certification and/or principal certificate in the State of Texas is preferred but not required.

Experience Requirements:

• Minimum of 3 years of experience teaching as a classroom teacher is required. Teaching experience at an IB World School is preferred but not required.
• Minimum of one year of experience with instructional leadership, including providing teachers with professional development, instructional coaching, and planning support, and leading a team of adults (e.g.: assistant principal, Dean, grade level or department chair, multi-classroom leader, etc.).
• Prior experience leading a school through IB authorization and/or evaluation is preferred but not required.
  
  
  

Required Skills/Abilities:

• A belief in Uplift Education’s mission, values and operating norms and a commitment to living them daily.
• Thorough knowledge of the principles, methods, strategies, goals, and objectives of public education.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including ability to read, analyze, and apply common sense understanding.
• Ability to analyze complex student achievement data and proficiency in supporting teachers with analysis and adjustment of instructional plans in response to data.
• Ability to effectively plan, organize, and execute academic programming and other initiatives.
• Ability to effectively analyze, address and solve complex problems and develop creative and appropriate solutions.
• Ability to engage sensitively and fairly with persons from diverse cultural backgrounds and interact with a broad range of stakeholders with different interests and needs.
• Ability to handle multiple priorities and frequent interruptions.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and Google Suite applications is required. Working knowledge of common educational technology and IB digital platforms is preferred.
  
  
  

Work Environment:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Employee must be able to maintain emotional control under stress.
• Occasional prolonged and irregular hours will be necessary.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and talk or hear.
• The employee frequently is required to use hands and fingers to handle, feel and reach with hands and arms.
• The employee is frequently required to stand, walk, and use stairs.
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 30 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
• Occasional travel between home campus and CMO or other campuses is required. Employee must have reliable transportation to travel between campuses/offices within the DFW Metroplex.
  
  
  

This document describes the general purpose and responsibilities assigned to this job and is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties that may be assigned or skills that may be required. I attest that I can complete all of the essential duties of this role with or without accommodation.

Employee Signature: Date:

Received by: Date:

Uplift Education is an equal employment opportunity employer and will not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of age, color, disability, gender, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any classification protected by federal, state or local law.