[2025-2026] Dean of Students - Middle School

Company Description

About KIPP:

KIPP NYC Public Schools is a non-profit network of 18 free, public charter schools in the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Manhattan. We partner with families and communities to create joyful and rigorous schools in pursuit of a more just world. In 1995 we started our first middle school, KIPP Academy, in the Bronx, with a vision that every child grows up free to create the future they want for themselves and their communities. Today, our network consists of eight elementary schools, nine middle schools, one high school, and KIPP Forward, a comprehensive program to support our students and alumni in choosing and preparing for the educational and career paths that fit their goals and sense of purpose. KIPP NYC currently serves more than 12,000 students and alumni, has a staff of more than 1,000 (8% of whom are alumni), and continues to grow!

Job Description

Position Overview

The Dean of Students leads the school’s efforts to create a positive, structured, disciplined school culture.  The Dean of Students reports directly to the Principal, who provides guidance and direction and sets school policy.  The Dean of Students is a main school contact for parents and guardians. A successful Dean of Students is passionate about supporting our students, adapts to changes and cultivates productive relationships with all members of the school community, including faculty, students and families.

Responsibilities: 

(1) School Culture

• Work in partnership with the leadership team to develop a positive, structured, achievement-oriented, and creative school culture. 
• Lead the implementation of values integration and character development within the classroom community. 
• Be highly present and visible during school hours, relentlessly ensuring the school has a strong culture. 
• Proactively circulate throughout classrooms and hallways during the day to gain valuable context on student behavior and help support positive school culture.
• Support execution and coordination of cross-school instructional and cultural initiatives. 
• Lead breakfast, lunch/recess, dismissal, and other transitional experiences and whole-school operations.

(2) Student Discipline

• Serve as a point person for discipline/culture issues; in this role, the dean is the primary contact person for all acute discipline issues.
• Reinforce the effective use of a school-wide behavior plan.
• Aid teachers to improve their instructional practice, especially as it relates to issues of discipline, relationships with students, and school culture.
• Model positive interactions with students, as well as a variety of ways to handle misbehavior and disruptions (principles of Love and Logic, Lemov techniques, etc).
• Assist teachers, students, and parents in the effective creation and implementation of individual behavior plans (in conjunction with the Social Worker/Guidance Counselor).

(3) Family Communication

• Recognize and celebrate exemplary student achievement and behavior, communicating with families of students on a regular basis. 
• Contact families about attendance and truancy on a daily basis, primarily via telephone. Because much of this work is done via phone, the person in this role must exhibit exemplary communication skills and, ideally, be a fluent Spanish-speaker.
• Assist the Social Workers/Guidance Counselors in designing and executing parent workshops.

(4) Teacher Coaching and Professional Development

• Plan, implement, and provide ongoing professional development and feedback to all staff, focusing on building positive student relationships, student culture, and classroom community. 
• Support teachers in developing their classroom management and instructional practice. Aid teachers to improve their instructional practice, especially as it relates to issues of discipline, relationships with students, and school culture.
• Conduct classroom observations and follow-up with targeted feedback and support to help teachers become even more effective. 
• Communicate teacher performance to principal, highlighting teachers in need of principal coaching due to insufficient performance.
• Organize summer training and professional development days in coordination with other Deans and the Principal. 
• Recognize and celebrate staff professional growth and success. 

(5) Operational Support 

• Teach classes when necessary, for coverage purposes or professional development of teachers.
• Collaborate with the Leadership Team regarding daily schedule, class schedule, and student placements in conjunction with the Director of Operations.
• Participate in the teacher recruitment and hiring process, in collaboration with the Principal.