Dean of Student Life

Dean of Student Life 

Gateway School | Santa Cruz, California

Full-Time, 12-Month Position

School Overview

Gateway School is the premier K-8 independent school located in the heart of Santa Cruz. Since our founding, we have been committed to providing a challenging and inspiring education that emphasizes critical thinking, creativity, and compassion. At Gateway, we believe in the power of a supportive community and are dedicated to nurturing the "whole child" through a progressive and inclusive curriculum.

Gateway School seeks a highly organized, detail-oriented, and empathetic leader to serve as the Dean of Student Life. Reporting directly to the Director of Resource Support, the Dean of Student Life is a pivotal member of the administrative team. This role is designed to manage the daily operations of student life, school culture, and teacher support.

The ideal candidate is a collaborative problem-solver who enjoys interacting with students, supporting faculty, and ensuring that the day-to-day experience at Gateway is safe, consistent, and vibrant. This is a 12-month individual contributor role that requires a high degree of emotional intelligence and operational excellence.

JOB TITLE: Dean of Student Life

Status: Full-time, Exempt, At-will

Reports To: Director of Resource Support

Wage: $70,000 – $95,000 per year (Commensurate with qualifications and experience), eligible for benefits

Start Date: 7/1/2026

Summary

At Gateway School, our goal is to foster a positive learning environment for students, parents, and staff. We strive to nourish each child's joy of discovery and passion for learning while providing for their social, emotional, physical, intellectual, and moral growth.

The Dean of Student Life is a vital member of the administrative team. This role is designed to support the long-term health and culture of our K-8 community. By managing day-to-day student life, behavioral expectations, and school-wide coordination, the Dean of Student Life is a vital bridge between administration, faculty, and families, ensuring a cohesive and vibrant school experience for all.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Student Culture & Discipline

• Ensuring behavioral expectations are communicated and consistently followed school-wide.


• Supporting teachers in their application of a consistent and restorative approach to student discipline.


• Provide direct conflict resolution support for students across K-8.


• Regularly review student attendance and partner with families and teachers to resolve attendance concerns.


• Organize and empower student leadership opportunities.

Administrative & Operational Excellence

• Serve on the school’s Administration Team.


• Manage program calendar, including developing annual class and duty schedules.


• Support faculty scheduling logistics, including event commitments for teachers, and program deadlines (e.g., progress report due dates and assemblies).


• Work with teachers to ensure appropriate logistics and coordination for all overnight field trips.


• Lead faculty meetings as needed.


• Attend teaching and learning meetings.

Academic & Teacher Support

• Support teachers with classroom management strategies and student engagement.


• Collaborate with the Director of Resource Support to ensure the needs of all students are supported.


• Assist in the writing and revision process for progress reports.


• Participate in the admissions process for student applicants, including conducting kindergarten readiness visits.


• Supervise special faculty assignments and projects.

Community Engagement

• Organize and execute signature school events, including our monthly "First Friday" gatherings, special assemblies, and student community service projects.


• Organize and host parent education events in collaboration with the administrative team.


• Contribute to school communications, including social media posts and newsletter development

• Help organize and attend program and family events, including evening and weekend events. For example, back-to-school nights and overnight field trip information sessions. 

Minimum Qualifications 

• Bachelor’s Degree


• Minimum 2+ years of lead teaching experience. 

Preferred

• Valid teaching credential and/or administrative credential


• 2+ years of lead teaching experience with lower elementary school-aged students (K-4)


• Bilingual in Spanish


• Prior experience in school leadership or Dean-level roles


• Professional experience with and training in Social Emotional Learning (such as RULER or other), 


• Professional experience with and training in positive approaches to discipline (such as Positive Discipline or PBIS)


• Experience working in an independent school and/or familiarity with independent school culture

Skills

• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills


• Strong organizational systems and the ability to manage multiple logistical timelines.


• Strong computer literacy, including proficiency in document and spreadsheet creation, and presentation software


• Familiar with educational systems and software (e.g. SIS, LMS, student-facing learning platforms, etc.) 

EEO Policy

Gateway School is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment. The School prohibits discrimination and harassment based on race, color, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender, and sexual orientation), age, disability, genetic information, or military/veteran status.