Dean of culture (Available 2018-2019)

The Public Prep Network (PPN) is a nonprofit organization that develops single-sex elementary and middle public schools that pursue excellence through continuous learning and data-driven instruction. Our model is designed to empower each student to build strong character, demonstrate critical thinking, possess a core body of knowledge and be on a predictive path to earn a degree from a four-year university.

Our network is currently comprised of three tuition-free single-sex public charter schools across five campuses and one tuition-free single-sex Pre-K. Our campuses are: Girls Prep Lower East Side Elementary, Girls Prep Lower East Side Middle School, Girls Prep Bronx Elementary School, Girls Prep Bronx Middle School, and Boys Prep Elementary School. The Pre-K program, PrePrep: the Joan Ganz Cooney Early Learning Center is housed inside of Girls Prep Bronx Elementary School.

Public Preparatory Network/Public Preparatory Academies is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer.

To ensure that our schools are safe, predictable, and responsive for all students, our elementary school model includes a role called the Dean of Culture.  The Dean of Culture is a key member of the school’s leadership team who actively supports students, families, and staff members on how to build and maintain a positive school culture in support of rigorous academic and artistic inquiry.

The Dean of Culture supports student discipline systems and works to build families as partners in their child’s education. The Dean of Culture will help craft and manage systems to reinforce explicit and high behavioral expectations for students, families, and staff by ensuring fidelity to the Public Prep Student Handbook, Family Handbook, and Staff Handbook through clear and frequent communication.

The Dean of Culture will lead the SFA team including, but not limited to, the Family Coordinator, Student and Family Affairs Managers/Aides and School Social Worker, to ensure students and families are provided with appropriate support, guidance and assistance.  

Create a structured, positive and academically-focused school culture:

• Maintain and monitor records of student attendance, student discipline, conflict mediation, staff and family communication, and formal and informal observation and feedback about school climate, including the Annual Family Survey and the DOE Survey that reinforce high expectations and outcomes of all students
• Conduct formal investigations based on student, parent and adult inquiries related to school culture, discipline, and incidents.  Complete a written summary of the investigation with recommended action steps in a timely manner that is shared with the principal for strategic planning.
• Own the development and implementation of the school’s character development program (Second Step) and ensure it builds and reinforces positive self-identity and necessary character strengths.  
• Lead recognition assemblies, parent workshops, family and community service events and other school-wide culture-building activities.  
• Partner with parents and families to build an authentic school-wide community.  
• Coordinate and implement a school-wide behavior management system with meaningful incentives and consequences.  
• Work closely and effectively with children who have behavior challenges and their families; partner with school counselor and teachers to execute individualized behavior interventions when needed.
• Facilitate staff trainings on student-teacher relationships, classroom management, parent partnership and school culture.  
• Conduct regular school culture walkthroughs to help staff maintain a high bar of excellence.  
• Supervise school entry, breakfast, lunch, dismissal, and transitions to ensure they are orderly and positive.  
• Accurately monitor and analyze daily student attendance, homework and discipline records; create new systems and structures to proactively address school’s areas of need.
• Report incidents of abuse to ACS and train staff to recognize and report abuse to ACS
• Communicate student emergencies

Demonstrate exceptional adult learning opportunities and coaching capabilities:

• Supporting teachers to reinforce a school culture of high behavioral expectations that enables a consistent focus on academic results
• Supporting all staff in building meaningful relationships with students and parents.  
• Model routines, expectations, procedures, that promote positive school culture

Serve as an active member of the school leadership team:

• Participate as an active member of the School Leadership team (SLT)
• Lead staff trainings throughout the school year aligned with the professional development scope and sequence and school-wide goals
• Work closely with Academic Directors to support high-achievement academic culture.  
• Model the core values of Public Preparatory Network and Public Prep Charter School Academies at all times; be a visible and highly engaged leader in the school community.

Qualifications:

• Demonstrated success working with adolescent students
• A minimum of four (4) years of teaching and/or counseling experience preferred, ideally in a high-performing, urban school setting
• Exceptional ability to collaborate with diverse stakeholders to achieve ambitious goals
• Exceptional leadership, organizational, and strategic planning skills
• A commitment to single-sex education
• A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university
• A M.A./Ed.M. with relevant specialization, MSW/MASW, or equivalent professional experience
• Deep expertise and familiarity with the literature on social-emotional learning, adaptive mindsets, positive behavioral interventions, character development, and adolescent psychological development (possible examples include, but are not limited to: relevant presentations or publications, documented experience giving professional development, etc.)
• Ability to build relationships, manage people, and solve issues in a complex and fast paced environment.
• Evidence of excellence through continuous learning and data analysis
• Superior oral, written communication, and interpersonal skills
• A high degree of personal integrity, professionalism, and persistence
• Fluency in Spanish, preferred