Laboratory Schools: Dean of Student Success, High School

Department

Lab School High School

About the Department

At the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools, students in Nursery through Grade 12 experience a world-class educational journey. Founded in 1896 by John Dewey as a place for educators to develop and explore novel approaches to pedagogy and curriculum, Lab continues to provide excitement and imagination in learning to this day. Academic rigor, experiential learning, and intellectual discourse are hallmarks of a Lab education. Lab educators are recognized for excellence in teaching and pride themselves on innovation in the classroom. Students in every grade have access to unparalleled resources, and all members of the Lab community benefit by partnerships and connections with the University of Chicago. Families who choose Lab care deeply about curiosity, inquiry, and creativity.

No less than scholarship, Lab’s mission prioritizes honoring diversity and exhibiting kindness. We are committed to building and supporting a teaching and learning community where young people see aspects of their backgrounds and identities reflected around them, where they feel a deep sense of belonging, and where they discover and use their voices to full effect. Today, 53-59 percent of Lab’s student body are students of color. Families report speaking nearly 40 different languages in their homes. Approximately 60 percent of Lab families are also affiliated with the University of Chicago. Half of our families live in Hyde Park, and the rest come from across Chicago, the suburbs, and northwestern Indiana. Inclusion is a fundamental value at Lab, such that we celebrate every facet of community members’ identities, and even where we disagree, we emphasize respect, civility, and maintaining a spirit of community.

Lab seeks the finest employees to join our vibrant learning community. We employ people with a wide range of skills and training in many different disciplines, who have in common a love of learning and the wish to inspire that same love of learning in young people. We seek candidates for employment who thrive in an educational environment. We provide a great professional home for those committed to collaboration, ongoing personal and professional growth, and cultivating positive relationships. In turn, we strive to ensure that Lab is a joyful, welcoming, and inspiring place to work. Through our connection to the University, faculty, staff, and administrators enjoy benefits and opportunities that would be nearly impossible to match in any other environment.

Job Summary

The Dean of Student Success plays a pivotal role in fostering the academic, social, and emotional development of students as they transition to U-High and navigate their high school journey, while discovering their own personal definition of success. This position ensures personalized support through progress monitoring; data collection and analysis; collaboration with the Learning and Counseling Team; and oversight of student transition and belonging initiatives, including Advisory and Summer Bridge, with particular attention to the onboarding of new-to-Lab and 9th grade students.

As a member of the high school administrative team (Principal, Assistant Principal, Dean of Students), the Dean of Student Success partners with key stakeholders to cultivate a holistic understanding of students’ educational experiences, ensuring smooth transitions to high school and empowering students to thrive and reach their full potential.

Working in conjunction with the High School Principal, Assistant Principal, the Dean of Students, the Dean of Student Success works in close partnership with faculty to develop and implement effective ways to monitor and assess students’ academic progress. By drawing on multiple data points, the Dean helps identify patterns, address challenges, and explore strategies that support student achievement—ensuring that each student receives the guidance and resources needed to thrive academically.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with the Learning and Counseling team for individual students to monitor academic progress.

• Identify intervention strategies and coordinate support plans for students in need (i.e. Academic Support and Academic Intervention).

• Implement systems for tracking academic student progress using a proactive approach to anticipate challenges and identify school-wide trends, student needs and programming steps. 

• Collaborates with the Dean of Students' Office to analyze student attendance patterns, identifying trends and their correlation with academic performance to develop targeted support strategies.

• Together with the High School administration, coordinate with the Middle School to develop transition plans for students who re