Dean of Student Life and Formation

Dean of Student Life & Formation
(for 2023-24 School Year)

JOB SUMMARY
Mount Saint Joseph Academy is a Catholic, college preparatory school for girls located outside of Philadelphia with a mission of empowering young women to realize their fullest potential. The Mount is seeking an innovative and collaborative educator/leader for a full-time position as the Dean of Student Life and serving on the Administrative Leadership Team to provide a rigorous, inspired, dynamic education to young college-bound women, across grades 9-12. The successful candidate will assist the Principal in facilitating the development of personal responsibility among students and in coordinating the school's activities programs. In the spirit of the mission of the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Philadelphia, we believe that "On the education of women largely depends the future of society," and so empower young women to reach their fullest potential-the candidate will demonstrate a passion for this mission.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The Dean of Student Life is directly responsible to the Principal or, in the Principal's absence, to the Dean of Studies. In the absence of the other administrators, he/she is the responsible administrative officer.

• Establish and execute a vision of an inclusive school community that fosters and prioritizes safety, respect, well-being, and belonging for all students and families.
• Serve as a daily presence, attending to the needs and supports of students throughout the school day.
• Model authentic, faithful Christian living.
• Implement policy with consistency and fidelity
• Cultivate student independence and ownership of academic and behavioral habits
• Partner with community members across departments to ensure behavior management practices are in alignment with school values
• Coordinate collaborative feedback from teachers, counselors, and administrators to provide a recommendation to the Principal regarding any serious behavior concern and consequence
• Design and implement structures that are consistent, objective, transparent, and responsive to individual needs
• Maintain clear and confidential documentation of behavior records and student progress to goals
• Direct supervision of spaces including cafeteria, assemblies and other daily events.
• Partner and positively collaborate with parents/caregivers to support student formation and growth.
• Design, support, and improve leadership development opportunities for students to assume and develop skills within the school community and across programs.
• Partner with Student Life Program Coordinator to ensure that annual and non-daily student activities are purposeful, student-centered, and organized.
• Manage assignments of chaperones for all student activities in conjunction with the Student Life Program Coordinator.
• Lead our Student Support Team and facilitate meetings with student, administrators, teachers, counselors to decide interventions and create action plans prioritizing safety and students' social-emotional development
• Coordinate, oversee, and plan the Advisory Program in collaboration with four faculty leads, Learning and Counseling teams
• Supervise and enhance all co-curricular opportunities including advisory, daily clubs, events, and assemblies
• Manage and oversee club moderator roles, responsibilities, and scheduling including proctoring before and after school
• Coordinate all methods of transportation including shuttle, private bussing, and public school districts
• Support graduation preparation with leadership team
• Serve on the retention and safety and security committees
• Oversee the musical production staff and budget
• Manage New Student Program including New Student Orientation
• Collaborate with the Academic Dean, Director of Counseling, and School Nurse on all matters of student formation, discipline, intervention, and evaluation of students
• Teach one academic course as assigned by leadership
• Model mutually respectful, positive interpersonal relationships with students and families
• Communicate effectively both internally and externally with relevant community members, including opportunities for feedback and response
• Support staff-wide professional development, including on-boarding and support of new faculty and staff members
• Lead in the design and organization of events that connect to and invest in school culture and student success
• Coordinate the development, maintenance, distribution, annual review and revision of the student handbook
• Coordinate student supervision at events; maintain a presence at evening events (co-curriculars and district athletic play as needed)
• Support the preparation of the annual school calendar with leadership team and inputs monthly calendar data on the website
• Supervise and organize student and faculty parking assignments
• Organize ID badges and inputs/removes student/teacher/staff codes in software

QUALIFICATIONS:
• Able to bring joy and demonstrate mission-driven and student-centered mindsets in one's words and actions
• Genuine interest, belief, and care for students' personal and academic success
• A desire to innovate and design ways for students to flourish and discover their full potential as independent learners
• Able to operate with a growth mindset and seek opportunities for feedback in collaboration with community members
• Able to motivate, support, and challenge students in a student-centered community
• A strong sense of professional responsibility and a drive for personal excellence as a servant leader
• A knowledge of research-based, culturally competent best practices when working with young people
• Able to form and model positive relationships and strong interpersonal connections with community members, including colleagues, students, and families
• A capacity to listen skillfully and facilitate conversations that may be challenging and emotional
• An openness and respect for religious and spiritual identity and development within the context of the Sisters of Saint Joseph
• Competence or a willingness to learn PowerSchool, Canvas, Google suite

REQUIRED EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE
• Bachelor's Degree in Education or a related field (required)
• Master's Degree in Education or a related field (preferred)
• 3+ years of experience leading and teaching in secondary educational institutions required
• Supervisory experience preferred
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
• Prolonged periods standing, walking, sitting, reaching, and computer/technology-use throughout the working period
• Must be able to lift 15 pounds as needed

Employee Classification: Exempt
Position Type: Full-time (12 months/year)
Expected Hours of Work: Monday - Friday (8:00am-3:15pm), and select events on weekends/evenings that pertain to all faculty (i.e. Open House, Back to School Night, Graduation)
Reports to: Principal