Dean of Students

PRIMARY PURPOSE:

The Duke Ellington School of the Arts (Ellington) was established in 1974 and remains the sole DC public high school to offer a dual curriculum encompassing professional arts training and a rigorous academic program, in preparation for college, conservatory, and careers in the arts. With a 98% graduation rate and alumni acceptance into the most prestigious higher education institutions, Ellington is recognized as one of the premier public arts schools in the nation. Jazz legend Duke Ellington, born in the District of Columbia, named one of his jazz bands The Washingtonians and made his home part of his persona. The late DC philanthropist and avid art collector Peggy Cooper Cafritz and the late dancer and choreographer Mike Malone returned the favor, building the School to the creative soul of the District, and to reflect the rich cultural diversity of the United States. From the beginning, public and private partnerships have supported the School, which in 2000 evolved into the Duke Ellington School of the Arts Project (DESAP). This partnership includes the District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) system, the Ellington Fund, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and George Washington University (GW).

Duke Ellington School of the Arts is seeking talented, dedicated leaders who have the skills and experience to lead our school and the desire to strengthens the school's artistic and academic outcomes.

We believe that all students can achieve at the highest levels and are committed to closing the achievement gap. To do this, we need inspiring leaders who:

• Are passionate about student achievement and closing the achievement gap.
• Believe that the urgency of closing this gap is too great to accept excuses of any kind.
• Motivate and support their teachers and staff while holding all adults in the building accountable for ensuring student success.
• This position is a safety-sensitive position. As a result, throughout employment this position will be subject to the Employee Mandatory Drug and Alcohol Testing Policy.

Position Overview

· The Dean of Students is responsible for creating and maintaining a safe, healthy, and supportive environment and culture that synthesizes the intellectual, physical, social, and emotional development of Duke Ellington School of the Arts Students. This position is a safety-sensitive position. As a result, throughout employment this position will be subject to the Employee Mandatory Drug and Alcohol Testing Policy.

· The Dean of Students will report to the Principal.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The below statements are intended to describe the general nature and scope of work being performed by this position. This is not a complete listing of all responsibilities, duties and/or skills required. Other du es may be assigned.

· Leads student culture and character development

• Supervises the character development program and ensures that it systematically builds and reinforces the character strengths/attitudes /values and self-identity students need to be happy and successful.
• Does regular school culture walkthroughs to help staff maintain a high bar of excellence.
• Plans and leads trainings focused on classroom management, parent involvement, and school culture.
• Ensures that the school's beliefs and values are pervasive and that students understand and internalize them.
• Leads recognition and celebration events and other school-wide culture-building activities.
• Focuses on students with behavior or development challenges; partners with teachers to provide extra interventions.
• Builds and maintains school culture systems.
• Ensures that school entry, breakfast, lunch, dismissal, and transitions are orderly, positive, and consistent with our mission and values.
• Implements a behavior management system with meaningful incentives to reward good behavior and effective consequences to correct bad behavior.
• Monitors daily student attendance and follow-through with students/families that are absent.

· Leads parent engagement activities.

• Conducts family chats for new students.
• Invests in building positive relationships between the school and parents.
• Works with all teachers to ensure that they communicate regularly with parents.
• Plans meaningful opportunities for parents to connect with the school.

· Serves as an active member of the school leadership team

• Serves as an active member of the school leadership team to support school-wide success.
• Works closely with the academic team to support its efforts in data assessment and instruction.
• Helps teacher leaders (coaches and grade level chairs) grow their leadership skills.
• Acts as a model of the Scholar Academies professional and core values at all meetings.

Qualifications

• Master's degree.
• Three years of urban teaching experience with a track record of high school achievement.
• Previous exposure to or experience in the education on sector a plus.

Personal Qualities of Top Candidates

Commitment to Equity: Passionate about closing the achievement gap and ensuring that every child, regardless of background or circumstance, receives an excellent education.

Leadership: Coaches, mentors, and challenges others to excel despite obstacles and challenging situations. Focus on Data-Driven Results: Relentlessly pursues the improvement of central office performance and school leadership, instruction, and operations, and is driven by a desire to produce quantifiable student achievement gains.

Innovative Problem-Solving: Approaches work with a sense of possibility and sees challenges as opportunities for creative problem solving; takes initiative to explore issues and find potential innovative solutions.

Adaptability: Excels in constantly changing environments and adapts flexibly in shifting projects or priorities to meet the needs of a dynamic transformation on effort; comfortable with ambiguity and non-routine situations.

Teamwork: Increases the effectiveness of surrounding teams through collaboration, constant learning and supporting others; sensitive to diversity in all its forms; respects and is committed to learning from others.

Dependability: Does whatever it takes to consistently deliver with high quality under tight deadlines; successfully manages own projects through strong organization, detailed workplans, and balancing of multiple priorities.

Communication and Customer Service Skills: Communicates clearly and compellingly with diverse stakeholders in both oral and written forms; anticipates and responds to customer needs in a high-quality and courteous manner

** The Duke Ellington School of the Arts is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin.**