Middle School Dean of Student Wellness

 

Live Oak School supports the potential and promise of each student. We provide a strong academic foundation, foster skills to effect change, and develop courageous and conscientious learners from all backgrounds. We inspire students to advance equity and inclusion, to act with compassion and integrity, and to pursue a lifelong passion for learning.

The Middle School Dean of Student Wellness strengthens the capacity of the school to promote a healthy school climate by facilitating ongoing support of  students in the classroom and ensuring that support services are integrated into the school community. The Middle School Dean of Student Wellness is to promote student success through student wellness, social-emotional learning, and the Collaborative Problem Solving approach. The Middle School Dean of Student Wellness will remain current on trends in social-emotional learning and wellness services, including the latest educational research findings.

The Middle School Dean of Student Wellness guides the successful practices of the Middle School that promotes every student reaching their full potential and promise.

Seeking applicants for 26-27 school year.

Primary Responsibilities:

●      In partnership with the Collaborative Problem Solving approach, serve as the primary implementation leader in the 5-8 classrooms, directly supporting students and leading classroom teachers.

●      Manage student referral process and conflict resolution process.

○      Connect students and families to resources needed, follow up with teachers on student support and progress, facilitate restorative processes, manage give-backs, and advise on student consequences.

○      Communicate the cycle of student concern and progress to teachers and families.

●      Know the students well, paying particular attention to, and providing strategies for,  students who are at higher risk of facing social-emotional or mental health challenges.

○      Serve as the primary resource for students in immediate crisis and develop a re-entry and/or external support process as needed.

■      Manage temporary check-ins for students at points of higher SEL needs to best determine need for external, individualized support

○      Collaborate with Middle School faculty and teachers to identify students in need of mental health services and make referrals to outside providers for assessment, evaluation, and therapeutic services.

○      Keep up to date current and potential outside resources for mental health support.

●      Act as a proactive and responsive resource for students, families, faculty on issues that arise involving social-emotional wellness in the Middle school student community.

○      Collaborate with the team of Deans to design and support the implementation of the Middle school social-emotional learning curriculum.

○      Support in the design and implementation of Advisory Curriculum

●      Collaborate and communicate with the Middle School Division Director regularly.

○      Communicate grade-level updates through the class pages and messages to parents/guardians.

○      Support as needed in school-wide or grade-level meetings.

●      Support and lead parent enrichment and education opportunities, including collaboration and support on roundtables.

●      Regularly assess the culture and climate of the Middle School, paying particular attention to supporting the students’ leadership in building their own positive and community-centric identity.

○      In Partnership with the Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging

■      Support the execution of the Relationship Mapping process

○      Oversee Middle School participation in school wide activities

■      Ex: Halloween, Music Festivals, Field Trips, Outdoor Education Trips, and Eighth Grade Civil Rights Tour

■      Lead the development and distribution of Acorns Times

○      Manage and oversee Middle School student life

■      Ex: Plan and Organize student activities/clubs, Middle School Dance, and Middle School Assemblies

■      Oversee any special activities specific to grade level

●      6th Grade Orientation, Graduation Speeches, Reflections, Changemaker and Social Impact Projects.

●      Meet regularly with the Middle School Division Director, Dean of Student Inclusion and Belonging, LS Dean of Student Wellness, Collaborative Problem Solving Implementation Team, Grade Level Teams, Advisory Teams, and Student Support Teams

○      Collaborate with Dean of Student Inclusion and Belonging and LS Dean of Student Wellness to ensure k-8 alignment to student SEL and mental health support.

○      Push into the k-4 program and support the Lower School Dean of Student Wellness to bridge services and provide continuity when appropriate.

○      Lead  whole grade or whole division meetings as needed.

●      General School Support – Admissions, Events (Back to School Night, Open Houses, etc)

●      Additional duties as assigned.

Our ideal candidate desires to:

●      Shape a just and inclusive school that supports and upholds the well-being of all  students.

●      Act with intentionality to build and support trusting relationships with students, colleagues, and families.

●      Communicate effectively across multiple domains in order to deepen the school community’s understanding of best practices in social emotional development.

●      Pursue their own professional growth as a member of an engaged learning community.

Qualifications:

●      Bachelor’s degree

●      Master level education in education or social work preferred

●      Experience as a classroom teacher preferred.

●      Student support experience in an educational setting.

The Middle School Dean of Student Wellness is 100% time and reports to the Middle School Director. The Middle School Dean of Student Wellness works collaboratively with the Division Directors, the Learning Services team, the Dean of Student Inclusion and Belonging, and the Middle School faculty. The Middle School Dean of Student Wellness serves the student body of Live Oak School’s school community.