Company Description

Uncommon Schools is a nonprofit network of high-performing, public charter schools providing an outstanding K-12 education in historically under-resourced communities. We have proudly built schools that reflect our student population, with more than 60% of our teachers and staff across our network identifying as a person of color. Uncommon currently manages 57 schools serving more than 21,000 students in six cities: Boston, Camden, New York City, Newark, Rochester, and Troy. We are proud that Uncommon graduates persist in and graduate from college at five times the rate of their peers nationally. We achieve this by offering strong academic, co-curricular, and social-emotional learning that prepares students for success in college and beyond.

Job Description

To build more and maintain our high performing schools, we need future culture leaders to commit themselves to the most urgent and exciting work of our time! Running outstanding schools requires leaders who can develop culturally responsive schools, put excellence ahead of easy, and project urgency about providing our scholars with college access. These individuals nurture learning communities that are simultaneously academically rigorous and joyful.

Uncommon Schools is offering a fellowship to prepare fellows for the Dean of Students Role, in which they would serve on a school's cultural leadership team and support the Principal closely in leading initiatives around school culture, our college preparatory focus, culturally responsive teaching, and student and family engagement.

The DOS Fellowship trains and supports Uncommon teachers who aspire to the role of DOS by providing fellows with targeted observation and feedback, leadership opportunities, and school culture professional development. Fellows will be evaluated during a mid-year Inspection to determine their readiness for a DOS role in the 2022-23 school year. Fellow responsibilities mayinclude the following:

• Owning or creating a positive student culture system, including launching culture initiatives during a whole school moment (Community Meeting or Circle)
• Dean of Students Private Deaning and systems management
• Leading Grade Level Teams in family communication and/or focal student support
• Acting as Dean of Students for a certain period
• Owning an accountability system "soup to nuts" (following up on teacher close the loops, advisory communication, attendance calls, student of the month, etc.)
• Joining a culture walkthrough of your school
• Observing best practices at other Uncommon Schools

Qualifications

• Passionate commitment to the mission of Uncommon Schools and investment in our vision for being an anti-racist organization;
• Unwavering belief in high academic and behavioral expectations for all students;
• Exceptional time and task management skills;
• Ability to persevere despite uncertainty and unexpected obstacles;
• Strong drive to empower students academically and personally;
• Self-motivation, desire to be a great teammate, and a strong sense of personal responsibility;
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, and strong interpersonal skills with students, parents, colleagues, and community members;
• Ability and desire to implement feedback from school leaders and colleagues;
• Required experience:
  • Bachelor's degree is required; a Master's degree is preferred.
  • Minimum of two years' experience working with youth or teaching in an urban district or charter school setting.

Additional Information

Uncommon Schools offers salaries commensurate with experience and a comprehensive benefits package. All staff members receive extensive professional development, and are equipped with a laptop computer and all necessary supplies.

Uncommon believes in the importance of being a diverse, equitable and inclusive organization that enables our students and staff to thrive. We are committed to building an exceptional team that reflects the diverse backgrounds and experiences of our students. We also strive to ensure an inclusive community by creating a space for meaningful dialogue about issues of race and identity for our staff and students. As an equal opportunity employer, we hire without consideration to race, religion, creed, color, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status or disability. We also ensure that individuals with disabilities receive all privileges and benefits associated with employment and are provided reasonable accommodations for the interview process and to perform core job functions.