Network Dean of Climate and Culture

The Network Dean of Climate and Culture at Queen City Academy Charter School in Plainfield, NJ, is a leadership role focused on fostering a positive school climate and supporting teacher development. The position emphasizes academic and character excellence, social and emotional learning, and community outreach. Responsibilities include supervising teachers, implementing support programs, and ensuring a safe learning environment. The role promotes a culturally relevant and antiracist educational philosophy.
The Queen City Difference


At Queen City Academy Charter School, teachers are our most treasured assets. We therefore need leaders who will enable them to amplify their impact on student learning. We expect academic and character excellence from QCACS scholars, and our teachers help foster a dynamic learning environment where scholars receive the necessary preparation and support to rise to that challenge. Therefore, teacher development at QCACS is a vitally important process. As Network Dean of climate and culture, you will serve as part of the leadership team, actively fostering a climate and culture across the network that allows scholars to engage in activities that address social and cultural needs. At QCACS we realize that scholars cannot learn in a vacuum therefore, our SEL programming and outreach to the Plainfield Community is extremely embedded in who we are. The Network Dean of Climate and Culture will ensure that the QCACS campuses remain buzzing with activities that foster and promote a positive school climate.


A small K-12 school, QCACS is a place where people enter to learn and work but experience the fulfillment of a family atmosphere as they are inducted into our nurturing yet challenging environment. Our employees enjoy competitive salaries, benefits, merit pay opportunities, and pension. More importantly, they enjoy the privilege of working in a place where they are supported professionally and personally.


Leadership Position OverviewLeaders at The Queen City Academy Charter School advance the mission, goals and educational philosophy of the school by supervising the professional practice of teachers and ensuring their ability to facilitate learning activities and experiences that advance the intellectual, emotional, physical, and social growth of students, while enabling scholars to develop competencies, skills and disposition to function successfully in society. Like our teachers, school leaders must display uncompromising effort at demonstrating or acquiring excellence in the professional areas outlined below:



Commitment and dedication to the schools culturally relevant and antiracist design and philosophy, and a relentless pursuit of high achievement
Include the scholar voice in all decision making
Communicate and maintain high academic and personal expectations for all students Leverage technology to foster greater inquiry, collaboration and supportive interactions with and among students, colleagues and families
Develop and implement plan to insure a safe, orderly, non threatening learning environment for all students
Lead the climate and culture departments while providing supervision to the Guidance and Social Work Team

In addition, the Dean of Climate and Culture must:



Develop a written plan for managing a comprehensive support program which promotes the intellectual, social, and physical development of all QCACS scholars
Use data to identify children who demonstrate a need for additional academic, emotional, and physical supports
Model, co-facilitate, and observe Restorative Practices and SEL implementation
Small-group and whole-staff training and workshop
Consultation to school leadership and school teams on the development and implementation of systems and structures for Restorative Practices and other school culture and climate topics
Work with all staff and students to design and implement school wide culture systems (i.e. entry, dismissal, transition, incentive systems, community meetings etc.) aligned to the vision for school culture
Build restorative mindsets and capacity for school staff, students, and community stakeholders, to implement the following Restorative Practices:
Ensure consistent implementation of research-based social emotional learning (SEL) and positive behavior interventions aligned within a multi-tiered intervention framework
Lead the data collection and assessment process to evaluate effectiveness of school climate initiatives including data and assessments related to service coordination, school-wide implementation of climate initiatives, stakeholder surveys
Manage and coach Student Culture Team members (Guidance, Nursing and Social Work)
Provide individual behavioral climate coaching to identified teachers
Facilitate various forms of professional development, including the following:
Participate in student disciplinary meetings and coordinate peer mediation and other restorative practices/responses to student disciplinary concerns when appropriate
Provide support in crisis interventions including school-wide and individual student situations, including conducting crisis assessments, positive support plans, parental notification and other reporting and notifications as required by law
Collaborate with the Director of Student Support Services to oversee the referral of students requiring social-emotional and behavior support and social services
Engage school community and caregivers in the educational process by providing frequent opportunities to discuss student growth and needs
Identify and cultivate strategic partnerships with corporations, civic groups, faith institutions, university groups and other community groups to secure volunteers and resources to meet the campus’ goals and realize its vision
Perform related duties as assigned by the Network CEO

Qualifications


The successful candidate will hold at minimum a Master’s degree, and New Jersey Director of School Counseling Services Certificate. Applicants must demonstrate cultural sensitivity, ability to communicate with parents and students, a track record of success in planning programming for scholars that address their SEL needs, be a team player, and hold high expectations of scholars and colleagues. The ideal candidate is a self-starter with strong verbal and written communication skills and a personal accountability orientation.


Compensation: $95,000 - $120,000 based on experience.


Join Our Team:


Equal opportunity employer. Complete an application here.


Where people enter to learn and work but experience the fulfillment of a family atmosphere.


Pay: $95,000.00 - $120,000.00 per year


Benefits:



Dental insurance
Health insurance
Retirement plan
Vision insurance

License/Certification:



NJ Director of School Counseling Certification (Required)

Work Location: In person