Immediate Opening Ri Academic Dean

School Year: 2023-2024

Leading at Achievement First

As an Academic Dean at Achievement First, you will be at the center of this work— coaching our teachers and driving decisions that will benefit our scholars. Here, you will be the driver of high quality coaching instruction that enables teachers to develop and deliver strong content and to help our scholars develop a lifelong love of learning. You will work with teachers to be your students’ champion who believes all students are capable of greatness. You will be a demander of excellence for yourself, your teachers and your students, an educator who helps create a vibrant school community where students have the type of powerful school experience that fosters their best and most thoughtful work.

At Achievement First, you will grow as a passionate and constant leader who thrives on feedback, enjoys regular one-on-one coaching with your principal, and nurtures a voracious appetite for professional development and consistent improvement. You will cultivate schoolwide classroom cultures built on strong structures, communication and lasting relationships. Every day, you will contribute to the education of children who will go on to become the next generation of leaders in our communities.

As an Academic Dean at Achievement First, your typical week would include the following, and more:

Coaching And Developing Staff To Achieve Excellent Student Outcomes

• Assist teachers to devise and monitor high-impact support plans for students.
• Develop highly effective instructional curriculum and schedule, in collaboration with principal and Team Teaching & Learning in the Network Support office.
• Observe lessons regularly and deliver targeted feedback to teachers.
• Analyze school wide data in order to design responsive and effective student interventions.
• Collaborate with grade/subject teams to plan units, lessons and assessments; regularly share feedback.
• Model outstanding instruction for teachers.

Facilitating Excellent Professional Development

• Lead staff trainings at start and end of school year and on professional development day.
• Direct the interim assessment process to ensure teachers are using current data to drive instruction; facilitate regular, meaningful interim assessment data debriefs with teachers.
• Coordinate and manage creative, inspiring professional development sessions in line with school goals and priorities.

Serve as an active member of the school leadership team:

• Analyze school wide data in order to design responsive student interventions.
• Work closely with dean of students to support efforts in character development and positive school culture.
• Assist teacher leaders (e.g., coaches, grade team leaders) in developing leadership skills.
• Track other useful academic data (e.g. homework completion rates); communicate progress to students, teachers and parents.
• Participate in regular leadership team meetings.

Skills And Characteristics

• People Leadership: Strong self awareness and awareness of others, and exceptional “warm/demanding” balance when leading adults.
• Mastery of and enthusiasm for subject matter.
• A Proven ability to proactively and effectively coach and manage adults and drive excellent student achievement through others.
• An active and demonstrated commitment to Achievement First’s mission and values: Leading for Racial Equity, Embrace Challenge, and Go Further Together.
• Growth mindset for self and others; willingness to seek out feedback and ability to implement constructive feedback quickly and effectively.
• Superior personal organizational skills, ability to coach others to improve their organizational skills and efficiency, and ability to “zoom out” to create and manage systems and projects that require long range planning and organization.
• A Track record of exemplary instructional and classroom management skills, including meeting extremely high standards for student achievement

Necessary Qualifications

• At least 1 year of experience coaching and leading adults to obtain high student achievement.
• At least 3 years of K-12 full-time lead teaching experience with a record of high student achievement.
• Certified as a school leader per your state’s guidelines and requirements; If not currently certified, ability to obtain necessary state certification in specific subject and grade level is required within the first two months of employment.
• A bachelor’s degree; master’s degree preferred.

Compensation & Benefits

• Employees at Achievement First are provided with a competitive salary. Our salaries are set through a lens of equity, and based on an individual’s skills, education, and years of experience relevant to the role. Dean salaries in RI range from $80,078 - $89,244.
• As a regular full time employee of Achievement First, you will be eligible for benefits that include medical, dental, vision, and life insurance as well as a 403(b) retirement benefit package with match and paid Family Leave.

Achievement First is an equal opportunity employer and an organization that values diversity. People from all diverse backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply. Spanish language proficiency is a plus. You can learn more about diversity at Achievement First here: http://achievementfirst.org/about-us/diversity/