Middle School Dean of Student LIfe

Middle School Dean of Student Life

Position Statement

Shared Values & Competencies of Dawson Employees

Position Summary

The Alexander Dawson School seeks a passionate educator committed to the Dawson Mission and sensitive to and understanding of adolescents. The Dean of Student Life is student-centered and integrates restorative practices into faculty and student responsibilities, and our commitment to DEI work. The Dean of Student Life serves as a central architect and advocate for student culture  a visible presence in students’ daily lives, the Dean nurtures a positive, inclusive environment through consistent interactions and intentional programming.

Within this work, the Dean also oversees all disciplinary matters, ensuring that expectations and consequences align with the school’s values and support students’ growth.

Building on this culture-forward approach, the Dean’s work centers first on proactive practices that cultivate trust, belonging, and shared responsibility before addressing moments of conflict when they arise. The Dean of Student Life is responsible for designing, implementing, supporting, and evaluating relational discipline and restorative justice programs y will develop and expand proactive strategies that build and strengthen the student culture and design and facilitate training for students and staff.

The responsibilities of this position can be summarized into four priority areas:
Proactive/Preventive Engagement, Responsive Restorative Practices, Faculty Training, and Teaching and Learning.

This full‑time, 11‑month position begins on July 1, 2026.

Professional Work Habits & Mission Alignment

• Upholds professional standards of personal presentation, punctuality, attendance, and engagement at meetings, duty coverage, safety protocols, decision‑making, and maintains required credentials.
• Demonstrates a comprehensive understanding and support of Dawson's mission, vision, core values, and diversity statement; actively participates in school‑wide events and is a visible presence at school, including all divisional activities and events.
• Honors confidentiality of school, student, and family information and demonstrates ethical decision‑making in all professional contexts. Talks to people and not about people.
• Upholds Dawson working agreements, such as assuming positive intentions in all interactions, holding self and others accountable for the impact of words and actions, mindfully sharing the air, and proactively looking for solutions before problems escalate.

Knowledge & Expertise

• Supervises the implementation of consistent, fair, and equitable student disciplinary procedures.
• Develops and meets annual goals in support of the overall strategic plan and school‑wide goals.
• Facilitates training and coaching for students, staff, and families on restorative practices, peer mediation, meaningful restorative conversations, and techniques for resolving conflict.
• Provides resources, coaching, and professional development to staff on classroom management and classroom culture.
• Serves on community teams as needed.
• Serves as a member of the Admissions team to assist with testing and student shadow days.

• Models a relational approach to interacting with students, families, and staff, and works explicitly to build relationships within the community.
• Facilitates meetings with families to address student performance, behavioral concerns, and overall academic and social development, ensuring clear and constructive communication.
• Builds a strong school culture of equity, inclusion, leadership, and respect based on principles of restorative justice and Dawson’s Core Values.
• Supports students and staff through observations, coaching, modeling restorative language, and debriefing with both staff and individual students.
• Observes staff and provides frequent, non‑evaluative feedback about classroom management and behavioral interventions.
• Organizes and analyzes case management data to identify behavioral trends and opportunities for support; informs stakeholders.
• With an asset‑based approach, identifies positive student trends and celebrates successes.
• Facilitates…