Dean of Students​/TOA

Dean Of Students (Elementary)

The Elementary Dean of Students serves as a teacher-leader who supports the principal in fostering a positive school culture, maintaining student behavior systems, strengthening student attendance, supporting student safety, and assisting with daily campus operations. This position is designed as a leadership development opportunity for aspiring administrators and serves as part of the district's succession planning and administrator pipeline. The Dean of Students remains a Teacher on Assignment (TOA) position and is intended for highly effective educators pursuing administrative certification and leadership experience while continuing to develop their instructional leadership skills.

Employment Status:
Teacher on Assignment (TOA) Exempt Employee

Reports directly to the Principal

Contract Length:
Current Teacher Contract Plus 10 Additional Days

5 days prior to the start of the school year

5 days following the end of the school year

Salary:
Placed on the Teacher on Assignment (TOA) Salary Schedule

Additional compensation provided through: TOA placement Ten (10) extended contract days Eligible for 301 Monies

Minimum Qualifications

Required:

• Valid Arizona Teaching Certificate
• Minimum of three (3) years successful teaching experience
• Demonstrated leadership experience through committees, mentoring, coaching, PLC facilitation, or school improvement initiatives
• Enrollment in, or commitment to enroll in, a Master's Degree program in Educational Leadership, Educational Administration, or related field within one year of appointment

Preferred:

• Currently enrolled in a Master's Degree program in Educational Leadership
• Administrative Intern Certificate or progress toward Principal Certification
• Experience leading professional learning communities, PBIS teams, MTSS teams, or school-wide initiatives

Primary Responsibilities:

• Student Culture and Climate:
  Assist with implementation of school-wide behavior expectations and PBIS systems. Support student discipline and restorative practices. Conduct student conferences and behavior interventions. Monitor and support attendance improvement efforts. Assist in promoting a safe and orderly learning environment.
• Student Services and Support:
  Participate in MTSS, attendance, and intervention meetings. Assist with monitoring student support plans. Collaborate with counselors, teachers, and families to address student needs. Support student recognition and positive behavior programs.
• Campus Operations:
  Assist with student supervision before, during, and after school. Support emergency preparedness drills and campus safety procedures. Assist with arrival, dismissal, and special events. Help coordinate student activities and assemblies.
• Instructional Leadership Development:
  Participate in leadership team meetings. Assist with implementation of district initiatives. Support professional development activities. Participate in school improvement planning processes. Gain experience in budgeting, scheduling, staffing, and operational systems under principal supervision.
• Family and Community Relations:
  Support communication with parents regarding attendance, behavior, and student success. Participate in parent meetings and school events. Help strengthen positive relationships between school and families.

Leadership Development Expectations:

• Complete a Master's Degree in Educational Leadership (if not already completed).
• Pursue Arizona Principal Certification.
• Participate in district leadership development opportunities.
• Receive mentoring from building principals and district administrators.
• Complete administrative leadership experiences aligned with assistant principal responsibilities.
• Develop competencies in:
  School culture and climate Student discipline Attendance systems Family engagement School operations Continuous improvement Leadership communication

Evaluation:
The Dean of Students will be evaluated annually by the building principal utilizing district leadership standards focused in the newly developed administrator evaluation instrument:
Campus Identity Campus Culture Campus Academics Campus Continuous Improvement efforts

Why This Position Benefits SLUSD:

• Develops Internal Leadership Capacity
• Creates a structured pathway for talented teachers to become future assistant principals and principals.
• Strengthens Administrator Succession Planning
• Reduces reliance on external hiring and builds leadership continuity within the district.
• Improves Student Support
• Provides additional capacity for attendance, behavior interventions, student supervision, and family communication.
• Supports Elementary Principals
• Allows principals to focus more time on instructional leadership while ensuring student support systems remain strong.
• Cost-Effective Leadership Development
• Provides meaningful administrative experience at a significantly lower cost than creating a full assistant principal position.