Director of Culture & Discipline | 2025-2026

Director of Culture and Discipline,  Charlotte Lab School | 2025-2026

Job Posting Date: May 20, 2025

Application Closing Date: June 10, 2025

Hours:
Full-Time, 12 month, Onsite

Start Date: August 1, 2025

Contract End Date:  July 31, 2026

Overview

The Director of Culture and Discipline ensures the fidelity of the Lab model by leading the vision, strategy, and accountability work of Lab’s feel and experience – including how students and families are experiencing the Lab Way. The Director of Culture and Discipline is responsible for fostering a safe, inclusive, and respectful school environment across all grade levels (K–12). The Director of Culture and Discipline leads efforts in student behavior management, school culture development, and student support services, working in collaboration with teachers, administrators, counselors, and families to ensure all students meet behavioral and academic expectations.

Responsibilities

The Charlotte Lab School Director of Culture and Discipline will have responsibilities in support of Lab’s 

Wellness & culture vision:

• CULTURE:
  
  
  
  • Work with relevant colleagues to develop and implement age-appropriate behavioral and attendance reward and incentive programs;
  
  
  • Develop and collaboratively lead school-wide spirit and culture-building activities that support a positive, safe environment, school beautification efforts, and a culture of academic excellence;
  
  
  • Fostering a positive school climate, through programming and practices that supports the school’s mission statement; promoting respect and appreciation for all students, staff and families;
  
  
  • Building effective relationships among teachers, families, and the community to improve school culture;
  
  
  • Providing professional development opportunities for all staff around culture, including 1:1 intervention and classroom management;
  
  
  • Consistently providing feedback to teachers around performance and meeting with them to discuss their progress around issues of school culture.
  
  
  • Being a physical presence during arrival and dismissal, transitions, recess, lunch and other special events or times of day when students are not in class;
  
  
  
  

• DISCIPLINE
  
  
  
  • Revise and maintain the Family Handbook and Code of Conduct to ensure that policies are current, clearly and widely communicated, and in compliance with NC and federal law;
  
  
  • Train and support staff members in implementing the Code of Conduct with fidelity;
  
  
  • Oversee and support Wellness Assistants to take actions in accordance with the Code of Conduct and ensure that documentation and communication of disciplinary actions is completed in a timely way with students, families, and staff, and accurately documented in school’s internal system; 
  
  
  • Escalate disciplinary concerns to the Head of Culture and Student Support and Executive Director as outlined in the Code of Conduct. 
  
  
  • Implementing a restorative discipline program or supportive structures for struggling students, aligned with the discipline vision to ensure student success in meeting school expectations; 
  
  
  • Keeping current with successful discipline methodologies and practices;
  
  
  
  

• SAFETY
  
  
  
  • Conduct and document threat assessments as needed; (including contacting law enforcement when applicable based on relevant and 
  
  
  • Ensure that each grade level band has created, trained staff, and dispersed materials relating to emergency procedures;
  
  
  • Maintain records for all fire, life, and safety regulations and procedures;
  
  
  • Report tracking of said procedures to the Head of Ops on a regular basis;
  
  
  
  

Qualifications

Candidate MUST:

• Be able/willing to learn how to fulfill the responsibilities listed above;


• ​Hold a Bachelor's degree from a four year institution;


• Hold a Master’s degree or have completed an equivalent leadership program;


• Have at least 2 years of full-time school leadership experience;


• Have a least 10 years of full-time teaching or leading experience combined;


• Have experience working with diverse age groups, ranging from K-12 and comfort working closely with adolescents;


• Are fully licensed or willing to obtain North Carolina  K-5, 6-8 and/or 9-12 administrator licensure;


• Possess strong classroom, campus, and people management skills;


• Are exceptionally organized and have ability to prioritize effectively and meet competing deadlines;


• Demonstrate experience in, or passion for, leading diverse populations.

In addition, the Lab School Leadership Team will look favorably upon candidates who:

PREPARATION:

• Have an advanced degree in a related field;


• Have experience and/or demonstrated success with classroom management, relationship-building, and having challenging conversations; 


• Have experience and/or training in restorative practices; 


• Have experience and/or training in de-escalation strategies, trauma-sensitive practices, and restraining youth.


• Have comfort with technology and experience with Google Suite;

PERSONAL QUALIFICATIONS:

• Demonstrate commitment to Lab’s vision, mission, and growth;


• Demonstrate professional demeanor, strong self-confidence;

• Possess excellent written communication skills;

• Possess excellent interpersonal skills, with diverse students, colleagues, and families;


• Desire to work collaboratively with others in all aspects of the role;


• Display unquestioned integrity, strong judgment, and decision-making skills;


• Demonstrate ability to work in a dynamic, fast paced, start-up environment both independently and as part of a team.

MINDSET:

• Are motivated to work in an open, progressive school environment; 


• Are independent thinkers;


• Are reflective in their practices and have a growth mindset; 


• Have a willingness to take instructional risks;


• Demonstrate flexibility and adaptability, and ability to thrive in ambiguous situations;


• Demonstrate innovation and creativity;


• Take initiative, are self-starters, and demonstrate leadership skills;


• Have high energy, humility, and a good sense of humor.

Compensation

Charlotte Lab School offers competitive compensation commensurate with experience and education level using our
compensation rubric. All salaries are determined pending verification of experience by our Finance/HR divisions and Board of Directors budget approval. This role falls under pay grade 5. Please note the following regarding use of the rubric:

• Assistant, instructional, dean and counselor salaries (Grades 1-4) are determined based on 1 year credit for 1 year of teaching and/or other relevant experience. Increased pay for advanced degrees (which may include specialized leadership programs or certifications) is indicated above and paid on the basis on completion of qualifying programs.


• Leadership salaries (Grades 3 and above) are determined based on 1 year credit for 1 year of leadership experience, and .5 year credit for each year of teaching experience. Advanced degrees are assumed, so not considered in this scale. 

The position also includes medical insurance for the employee, with voluntary dental and vision plans, and spouse/family coverage. Lab also provides access to a Flexible Spending Account for health and childcare expenses and an opportunity to contribute to a 403b retirement plan. Lab provides employees with 10 PTO days each year. Full time Charlotte Lab School faculty members also receive priority in the student admissions process.

Application Process

Please visit our Careers Page
to learn more about working at Lab and our Job Board to complete an application. You will be asked to include your resume and a detailed cover letter demonstrating your interest in working for Charlotte Lab School.

Charlotte Lab School is strongly committed to hiring a diverse and multicultural staff and we encourage applications from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds. Charlotte Lab School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, handicap, age, religion, sexual orientation, national, ethnic origin, or any other reason prohibited by state or federal law.