Dean of Academics

Location: Tallahassee

# Dean of Academics Maclay School - Tallahassee, FL 32312## Description Dean of Academics Grades 6-12

Full-Time, 12-Month Position Maclay School seeks a highly knowledgeable, mission-driven Dean of Academics to serve as one of two deans responsible for advancing the Grades 6–12 academic program with expertise, clarity, and vision. This role is ideal for an academic leader who understands curriculum deeply, coaches teachers with skill and empathy, and elevates the overall quality of teaching and learning. The Dean of Academics ensures vertical alignment, coherence across departments, and clear academic pathways, and serves as a visible, relational presence in classrooms each day.

This role partners closely with teachers, department chairs, student support, and division leadership to strengthen curriculum, refine instructional practices, and support students’ academic growth.

As a central academic leader, the Dean of Academics is expected to be deeply engaged in the daily life of teaching and learning across Grades 6–12, with a consistent presence in classrooms, academic settings, and key school events. To preserve the time and focus required for this work, the Dean does not coach or hold primary supervisory roles in after-school athletics or arts.

The role may extend beyond regular school hours at times; the Dean attends select after-school activities to connect with students and better understand the experiences that influence their academic performance.

Maclay School operates within a broader educational environment shaped by regional and state expectations, as well as its own mission-driven guidelines. The Dean of Academics will sometimes encounter points where these policies intersect and must be able to support the school’s expectations and the standards required by accrediting and governing bodies with confidence and clarity. As stated in our Statement of Community, all members of Maclay are expected to “respect, support, defend, cooperate with, and speak well of one another and the school,” and to place the best interests of the institution first.

The Dean of Academics understands that meaningful work is never accomplished alone and is highly skilled at engaging other adults, both inside and outside the community, for support and collaboration. Building a strong internal network of faculty advocates is essential to maximizing impact and achieving the ambitious goals Maclay sets for its students and community. For this reason, the ability to energize and mobilize others toward shared goals is a vital part of the role.

Responsibilities Instructional Leadership & Academic Excellence
* Serve as one of two Dean of Academics, collectively responsible for advancing Grades 6–12 instructional excellence and supporting high-quality teaching and learning across departments.
* Maintain deep, ongoing knowledge of classroom practice by spending approximately 50% of time in classrooms, regularly observing instruction and providing direct feedback, coaching, and support to faculty.
* Lead curricular alignment, ensuring courses connect vertically, articulate across disciplines, and reflect best practices in design and assessment.
* Work with department chairs to review and refine course policies, syllabi, and grading practices so expectations are aligned and equitable.
* Champion academic rigor, effective pedagogy, and student-centered learning, raising awareness and performance across the faculty.
* Support teachers through mentorship, classroom coaching cycles, and collaborative planning.
* Contribute to faculty professional learning by facilitating workshops, supporting school wide PD initiatives, and helping strengthen a culture of continuous instructional improvement.
* The Dean of Academics will teach one course in their area of expertise, maintaining direct connection to classroom practice and the student learning experience.

Curriculum, Programs & Pathways
* Oversee and develop curriculum documentation—including maps, standards, assessments, and academic policy guides.
* Partner on the creation, monitoring, and refinement of academic pathways, ensuring clarity, coherence, and appropriate challenge for…