Lower School Dean of Students

Start date: August 2022

 

At Quad Prep, we are on a mission — to transform the lives of neurodiverse, twice-exceptional people by redefining the experience of school. Through the collective, collaborative, and empathic work of our teachers and clinicians, we are empowering our students to engage with the exciting and wonderful diversity of this world. 

 

As we enter our 10th year, we are excited to welcome fellow innovators and collaborative colleagues to our team to be a part of this inspiring and impactful mission.  We are eager to create challenging and engaging learning experiences for our students, to seek diverse perspectives, and to work together to continuously refine and redefine best practices in neurodiverse education.  The Quad Preparatory School actively seeks to advance diversity through its programs and hiring.

 

THE OPPORTUNITY

 

The Dean of Students, grades K through five, is a peer mentor and student success leader who manages a team of supportive psychosocial teachers.  Collectively, the team has responsibility to create, implement, evaluate and support a school-wide positive behavioral culture and progressive discipline program.  The Dean’s team are experts in regulation, de-escalation, crisis prevention, restorative justice practice and collaborative problem solving.  The Dean ensures that each classroom provides a structured, consistent and positive environment specific to the needs of the specific students in the group, responds to incidents in a respectful and safe way and coaches staff on preventive practices.  Finally, the Division Directors, the Dean, teachers and clinicians work together closely to make the Lower School experience a rewarding one for each student and staff member.  

 

Why work at Quad Prep?

 

• COMMUNITY: We are committed to building a joyful and inclusive culture where everybody is celebrated for who they are.   

• COLLEAGUES: Our colleagues are inspiring, consummate innovators and are at their happiest collaborating to create personalized solutions for each student.  

• STUDENTS We guarantee that you will learn something eye-opening every single day from our students — and have a lot of joy and laughter along the way!

• DEEP PROFESSIONAL LEARNING: Quad Prep supports mission-driven educators and clinicians to grow their professional skills and influence in the neurodiversity educational space. Close collaboration with colleagues, coaching from supportive leaders, and thoughtful, in-depth professional learning programs keep us growing.

• GENEROUS AND COMPREHENSIVE BENEFITS

1. Health: Medical, Dental, Vision
2. Student Loan repayment 
3. Retirement Plan contribution

4. Group Life Plan

5. Disability Insurance
6. Generous Parental Leave

• WORK LIFE BALANCE:  We provide generous PTO and preparation periods so that you can live the life you wish for — inside and outside of our school. 

 

• PROTECTED TIME * NEW FOR 22–23:  We provide coverage to allow you to learn from one another, participate in one of our special PD programs, conduct original research, develop special projects, and participate in our initiatives to create the culture YOU want to work in.  

 

• EXTRAS  You can build a private practice or tutor onsite during after school hours at low-cost reduced rates, available only to our Quad Prep staff.

 

Who We Are

(If Quad Prep is for you, you'll read what's below and feel, "That's me!")

 

At Quad Prep, we are guided by values that we hold dear and we have developed an innovative set of practices to meet our mission. We are:

 

Groundbreaking: We ignite our students’ talents and are passionate about their futures. You are:

• Passionate about our work and our mission
• Creative and excited about reaching each and every learner in new ways
• Excited to help create new, evidence-based best practices in this rapidly evolving field
• Able to set high expectations of both students and yourself and discover ways to meet them

 

Collaborative:  We function with an exceedingly deep degree of collaboration. You:

• Communicate effectively with colleagues
• Seek to understand yourself and others in order to welcome new perspectives 
• Are generous of spirit and willing to give and receive feedback and input freely
• Are kind, welcoming, and inclusive

 

Trustworthy:  We are steadfast and are accountable to our students and each other. You:

• Can be counted on to do what you say you will do
• Have a high level of ownership for personal and team results
• Can purposefully develop skills to find success in your work and our learning community
• Ask for support when you need it
• Project an unflappable, firm, and kind presence to our students

 

Constantly Learning and Growing:  We value continued growth and learning. You:

• Seek opportunities to learn and grow in your professional practice
• Support colleagues by sharing best practices and nurturing their learning
• Help the organization grow and improve by developing and sharing new ideas and approaches

 

Resourceful:  At Quad Prep, we dig deep to meet our mission. You: 

• Are highly effective and dedicated 
• Show initiative
• Display good judgment and sensibility
• Excellent at supporting students inside and outside the classroom

 

Flexible:  At Quad Prep, we never give up on each other and are driven by the ethos of “not if, but how.”   You are:

• Open to new ideas
• Nimble in fluid, changing environments
• Excited by growth, change, and innovation

 

WHAT YOU’LL DO

 

Nurture students' growth and development through a school wide progressive discipline program

• Be highly present and visible during school hours, constantly ensuring the school has an inclusive and kind school culture.  Your students will feel known and well supported; their families will rave about you
• Uphold high standards of personal conduct by students, including addressing disciplinary infractions
• Model successful preventative problem solving and behavioral de-escalation strategies 

 

Ensure student and campus safety

• Ensure the seamless running of the day to day operations of the learning environment as pertains to student attendance and arrival and dismissal.
• Implement fire procedures, lock down procedures, and all emergency evacuation procedures developed by the school 
• Oversee all offsite activities – you will know where each student and staff member is at all times across the school

 

Be a leader

• Partner with the Assistant Head of School,  Chief Psychologist and  Division Heads and Faculty to build strong communities of students
• Collaborate in developing plans to support students' success in school, and follow through with colleagues to ensure student needs are met
• Coach and supervise psychosocial teachers in crisis management and crisis de-escalation and assure their accurate and timely record keeping

• Directly monitor, analyze and report on all student incidents and time out of room and advise Divisional Directors and the Leadership Team on incident analysis and overall program effectiveness  

   

Join an inspiring, collaborative team

• Be a relentlessly resourceful and collaborative colleague and enthusiastically contribute to our Lower School team dedicated to all Quad Prep students' wellbeing, growth and happiness
• Be a consummate innovator to think outside the box to create personalized solutions for each student

 

WHAT YOU BRING

If this role is for you, you'll read what's below and feel, "that's me!"

 

• You have experience working with Lower School grade students inside th3 classrooms or other contexts 
• You love and respect neurodiverse students. You feel deeply passionate about supporting them to learn, grow and thrive as people
• You bring strong experience with advisory and leadership roles
• You are an inspiring and committed collaborator, who works enthusiastically with other adults in supporting student success
• You have the eye to identify opportunities to support students, take action and mobilize resources on their behalf
• You communicate in lucid, compelling ways with a high level of accountability and responsiveness
• You navigate difficult conversations with grace and empathy
• You effectively and flexibly handle multiple priorities in a fast-moving environment
• You demonstrate sound judgment and can be counted on to do what you say you will do
• Seek to understand yourself in order to welcome new perspectives and are constantly seeking ways to grow
• Are generous of spirit and willing to give and receive feedback freely

 

Compensation and Benefits

Compensation is dependent upon experience and degree obtained. 

At Quad Prep you’ll have access to a full range of benefits, including medical, dental, and vision coverage; pre-tax transit and dependent care accounts; a 401K match and student loan repayment contributions and a range of professional development opportunities, including our First Year Support Program for all new facility and staff; our Leadership Development Institute for those wishing to gain supervisory experience; and a full tuition waiver for candidates wishing to participate in our annual Certificate Program in Meeting the Needs of Twice-Exceptional Students.

You’ll engage with your colleagues in our ongoing staff wellness groups, relax at our game nights and happy hours, and collaborate in meaningful work as a valued member of our voluntary groups, including our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Taskforce; our Staff Ambassador Program; and our Peer Mentorship Program.

 

Required Education and Experience: 

• Bachelor's Degree in education or related clinical field
• At least five year’s experience with restorative justice, collaborative problem solving and crisis prevention and management 
• Master’s or Advanced Degree preferred 

 

Work Environment: 

This job operates in a school setting. School is located on the 4th floor of the building. This role requires regular walking to various locations around the school. 

 

Physical Demands:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and listen. This position is active and involves continuous standing, walking, and climbing stairs. The employee must be able to lift and/or move items above or around 100 pounds. Typing is required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

 

Position Type and Expected Hours of Work: 

This is a full-time exempt position in an educational facility which is open eight hours a day. Teachers and Clinicians work ten months out of the year according to the academic calendar (late August to late June). Occasional evening or weekend hours may be required. In general, though, hours are Monday-Friday 8:00 am - 4:00 pm. 

 

Want to learn more about Quad Prep? Connect with us! 

 

***Note that all employees are required to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19. Medical and Religious Exemptions may be provided.***

 

AAP/EEO Statement: The Quad Preparatory School is based on an inclusive philosophy that does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, gender, age, disability, marital status, creed, sexual orientation, familial status, citizenship, veteran or military status, or any other characteristic protected by law in its hiring procedures and policies.

 

To apply, visit: 

https://app.trinethire.com/companies/10791-the-quad-preparatory-school/jobs/64205-lower-school-dean-of-students