Title: Director of School Culture
Location: 910 W Van Buren St,, Chicago, IL
Reports To: Managing Director of Student Services
Salary: commensurate with experience
Employee Type: Regular Full Time
Start Date: August 2023
Distinctive Schools creates diverse, joyful, welcoming communities rooted in social justice and rigorous learning. We support all learners to be engaged, curious, and to achieve their full potential. Our students become confident advocates, creative problem-solvers, and collaborative leaders.
Position Overview
The Director of School Culture will be responsible for the management of the school social emotional learning and discipline programs, Dean’s Office practices, Dean of Students training and development, student behavior support, crisis response, campus safety and security The Director of Culture will create a positive culture with a focus on student achievement by coaching and modeling for teachers and other staff behavioral and classroom management best practices. In addition to co- developing and leading the campus’ overall SEL program, the Director of School Culture will oversee SEL curriculum instruction, SEL competency assessment, Restorative Justice, PBIS, Tier 1 coaching, and Tier II and III interventions. The Director of School Culture will provide high energy, creativity and inspiration while collaborating with campus leaders on school wide systems and routines, safety policies, and has a talent for creating a warm but demanding learning environment for students.
Responsibilities
Culture
Build and foster a culture of belonging and positive climate at all campuses
Honor stakeholder perspective as key to the decision-making process
Cultivate a strengths-based and, equity-focused mindset
Celebrate individual and collective growth towards goals
Promote a safe and supportive working environment with an equity-conscious mindset
Establish professional rapport with and maintain visibility with stakeholders
Maintain a student-centered perspective in decision making
Contribute to the equity work of the campuses and network and engage in culturally responsive decision making
Develop positive and professional relationships
Program Development and Monitoring 25%
Responsible for managing school leader inputs that lead to a positive culture with a focus on student achievement through coaching and collaborating with campus leaders to create, establish, or maintain behavioral and classroom management best practices
Codify culture practices across the network, including all campus systems, consistent culture systems, incentives, and expectations for conduct
Foster open communications within the network community and effectively convey high expectations for student achievement
Develop and train network staff on Student Code of Conduct, disciplinary, anti-bullying, and Dean’s Office practices among campuses and begin to codify network wide
Oversee the delivery of the SEL curriculums & SEL competency assessments
Coaching and Consultation 35%
Serve as subject matter expert and instructional support to campus leadership teams around SEL, behavior systems, routines and procedures; including the consistency and quality of the use of the behavior system and ladder of consequences through behavior referrals, suspensions, detentions, and other behavior-based consequences and communication to families.
Develop and lead onboarding for all new Deans, Assistant Deans and Restorative Counselors
Observe and coach teachers on SEL in classroom (routines & procedures, morning meeting, creating a conducive environment, SEL curriculum language and tools, etc.,)
Academic Team Member 25%
Partner with Academic and Student Services Team members to ensure parity and cohesiveness in philosophy, pedagogy, systems, structures, and protocols among all initiatives and content areas
Uphold the Distinctive Schools’ mission, vision, values, DS Model
Contribute to and implement the DS Model, strategic plan, campus growth plans, and network priorities
Provide strategic vision, support, and leadership in new school start-up or restart opportunities in the region
Design, implement, monitor progress, and provide updates on key SEL initiatives
Participate in professional learning opportunities in order to better support network growth and ensure that clinical practices reflect current research
Establish tasks and timelines and develop strategies to support projects through from beginning to end
Plan, design, and implement regional and network initiatives and professional learning, onboarding, and design teams in partnership with regional and network academic teams
Contribute to grant applications and other professional writing
Perform the responsibilities of an Academic Team member and other duties as assigned
Data Analysis and Response 15%
Manage and monitor of student incident referral tracking and communication system
Establish KPIs and guide in the analysis of SEL data to inform SEL instruction & interventions
Drive goal setting and action planning at each campus
Requirements (minimum)
Education: Bachelor’s degree in human service or education
Qualifications
Expertise in restorative justice, youth development or human service field
Demonstrated understanding of the individual needs of students with disabilities from a variety of language and cultural backgrounds
Knowledge of intervention strategies
Knowledge of multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS or RTI)
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with administrators, staff, students, parents, governmental and community agencies, and employers
Demonstrated expertise in customer service, consensus building, and use of problem solving skills and strong written, verbal, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills
Travel to various campuses as needed
Physical Demands
Occasional lifting, carrying, pushing, and/or pulling; some stooping, kneeling, crouching, and/or crawling; and significant fine finger dexterity. Generally, the job requires 30% sitting, 50% walking, and 20% standing.
Benefits
25+ Paid holidays & 15 days PTO annually
12 weeks family paid leave
Comprehensive Healthcare (Medical, Dental, Vision)
403b match
Fully match up to 3%
50% match up to 5%
Professional development including tuition reimbursement
Gym and wellness discounts
And more
Description Disclaimer
Since no job description can detail all the duties and responsibilities that may be required from time to time in the performance of a job, duties and responsibilities that may be inherent in a job, reasonably required for its performance, or required due to the changing nature of the job shall also be considered part of the jobholder’s responsibility.
EEO
Distinctive Schools is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, gender, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or any other personal characteristic protected by applicable law.
Distinctive Schools is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. In keeping with our commitment, Distinctive Schools will take the steps to assure that people with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. Accordingly, if reasonable accommodation is required to fully participate in the job application or interview process, to perform the essential functions of the position, and/or to receive all other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact talent@distinctiveschools.org or call 773.828.4191
Distinctive Schools Network
Kathleen Giacona