Dean of Students - Kingston, United States - Wyoming Seminary College Preparatory School

Description

Wyoming Seminary seeks a Dean of Students who is passionate about adolescent growth and development as well as establishing/continuing a vibrant and healthy school and student culture. The Dean of Students oversees non-academic student matters and leads both residential and day student programming, the setting and maintaining of community tone and expectations, and the thoughtful and consistent application of the school's disciplinary processes. In the successful implementation of their work, the ideal candidate will be a strong leader and collaborator, forging bonds with students, faculty, parents, and more. This position is both administrative and relational in nature; the ideal candidate will have exceptional interpersonal skills as well as a warm, genuine, and engaging demeanor. The Dean of Students serves on the Upper School Leadership Team and reports to the Head of Upper School.

Founded in 1844, Wyoming Seminary is an independent, coeducational preparatory school in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Sem, as it is affectionately called, holds a passion for learning, leading, and serving. Respect, integrity, and responsibility are core values. Through excellent academic, art, and athletic programs, students and teachers are part of a vibrant living and learning community.

Wyoming Seminary faculty and staff are campus leaders, role models, and important mentors for our students as well as one another. Faculty members have a passion for learning, leading, and serving and are committed to participating fully in campus life. Along with teaching, faculty and staff connect with our community in afternoon extracurriculars, weekend and evening duties, and the advisory program.

Responsibilities:

• Provide strategic direction, implementation, and communication about all facets of student life programming using research and best practices to inform this work.
• Oversee the work of the Director of Residential Life and the Director of Student Activities to promote health, safety, growth, and development in campus spaces and activities.
• Work collaboratively with and support the work of grade level advisors, residential faculty, and the advisory program leaders.
• Work with the Student Life Office to oversee daily logistics and programs designed to maintain a structured and positive student culture.
• Continue to develop the student life curriculum, which includes Residential Life Programming as well as All School Programming which should incorporate both the school's Core Values as well as Community, Equity, Belonging, and Inclusion.
• Communicates and reinforces the community expectations outlined in our school handbook, school meetings, and other venues by holding the Code of Conduct, Honor Code, and major school rules as central to all of our work.
• Supports faculty work and enforces school expectations and appropriate behavior norms.
• Oversee the yearly revision of the student handbook.
• Overseeing the US attendance system, setting policies, and responding to student trends, disciplinary systems with the Upper School Administrative Assistant.
• Member of many standing committees and groups, including the Student Support Team, Medical Leave Team, Crisis Team, Calendar Committee, and others as needed.
• Serve on the Administrator on Duty rotation, which includes a rotating weeknight and 3-4 weekends a year. Qualifications:
  • Bachelor's degree is required; a master's degree in education or related field is preferred. The ideal candidate will have at least 3-5 years of experience in residential life and education.
  • Excellent planning and time management skills with an emphasis on organizational and collaborative skills including the ability to effectively manage a team as well as work independently.
  • Ability to foster an atmosphere of mutual respect, trust, and balance within the school, promoting justice, healing, and learning in ways that are guided by empathy, compassion, transparency, and fairness.
  • Thrives in a fast-paced environment while collaborating closely with students and colleagues.
  • Maintains a positive, energetic, and extremely organized approach in all work.
  • Establishes priorities and follows through on agreed-upon divisional and school objectives.