SPIRE Dean of Students

Dean of Students

Location: Geneva OH 

Position: Full Time 

POSITION SUMMARY

At SPIRE Academy, the Dean of Students is a driving force behind our vibrant community life, prioritizing the

creation of a safe, inclusive, and scholarly environment that fosters academic excellence. As a leader and role model,

they build meaningful connections with students and families, nurturing a culture of respect and accountability. This

pivotal role requires an inspiring and resilient professional committed to cultivating a warm and supportive

community atmosphere. As an integral part of the Academy & administrative team, the Dean champions diversity,

breaks down barriers, and ensures excellence, embodying SPIRE core values of scholarship, performance,

inclusion, resilience, and empathy to elevate our community and empower individuals to reach their full potential.

Qualification Requirements

A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in education or related field required.

Master’s degree or higher preferred.

A minimum of five years of experience as a teacher leader or administrative role.

Three to five years of experience in a similar job in a high school setting.

Three to five years of experience as an associate or assistant dean.

Independent school leadership and teaching experience.

Deep knowledge and understanding of adolescent development.

Proven success working collaboratively in educational leadership

Proven experience in supervising and managing multiple departments and programs.

Common Responsibilities and Duties:

Student Support and Advocacy: The Dean of Students is the primary advocate for students at SPIRE. They

work to ensure that students needs, concerns, and rights are addressed and that they have access to support

services.

Mission and Leadership:  Embrace the mission, philosophy and culture of SPIRE Academy in the

demonstration of visible, active leadership.  Demonstrate alignment with the SPIRE’s core purpose, values

and strategic priorities.

Student Conduct: Management of SPIRE student conduct and disciplinary processes. Develop policies

and procedures related to student behavior and conduct investigations into alleged violations.

Crisis Management: Managing and responding to crises or emergencies affecting students, such as medical

emergencies, mental health issues, or campus safety concerns.

Student Services:  Work in partnership with various departments to champion student success, including:

academics, admissions, athletics, performance and residence life.

Student Activities: Oversee student organizations, clubs, and activities, working to create a vibrant campus

life. They may also be responsible for planning and organizing events.

Student Orientation: Planning and implementing orientation programs for new students to help them

transition to campus life.

Diversity and Inclusion: Promoting diversity and inclusion through the celebration of the many cultures

represented on our campus.   Addressing issues related to discrimination, harassment, and bias with an

ultimate goal of cultural competence.

Student Well-being: Work in partnership with various community stakeholders to monitor and promote

student health and well-being, including Director of Mindset Development, Advisors and Mentors.

Budget and Resource Management: Managing budgets and allocating resources for various student support

and services programs.

Student Appeals: Handling student grievances, appeals, and complaints that may arise in various areas,

including academics and conduct.

Collaboration: Serve as a conduit between students and faculty by providing important feedback to staff

about the student experience and mediating conversations between students and adults.

Policy Development: Developing and updating policies and procedures related to student life and conduct.

Reporting: Providing reports and data on student-related matters to senior administration.

Leadership Development: Creating opportunities for students to experiment with various community

leadership opportunities to foster confidence, vision and a working knowledge of student-led initiatives.  

Student Advisory:  Create a robust student advisory program to grow authentic, productive, and sustainable

relationships and ensure that every student can name a trusted adult in the community.

Overall, the Dean of Students plays a crucial role in creating a positive and supportive campus environment and

ensuring that students have access to the resources and support they need to succeed both academically and

personally. 

Additional Skills

Computer skills: Comfortable using computers in order to use the necessary software for managing student

and school records (Google Suite, Reach and Veracross currently)

Interpersonal skills: Establish positive relationships with co-workers, students and their families.

Demonstrate the qualities of compassion, empathy, and openness while utilizing excellent active listening

and communication skills.

Organizational skills: Organized in order to manage records, coordinate activities with staff and prioritize

tasks.

Problem-solving skills: A Dean of Students needs to react calmly to difficult situations when they arise

while working to develop creative solutions.

Maintain high professional standards for integrity, tactfulness, discretion, fairness and confidentiality.

Culturally responsive and relational.

Growth-minded and committed to professional development. 

Possess a sense of perspective and a sense of humor.

Amplify student voices and support student empowerment.

Positive attitude, flexibility and a passion for learning.

Timeliness and follow-through in terms of action steps across multiple projects.

Team-player with the ability to seek input from multiple sources to inform decision-making.

Demonstrate confidence and comfort in leading through change.

Excellent oral and written communication skills, and experience with public speaking.

Demonstrate integrity and flexibility while nurturing a dynamic student community.

 Display good judgment, time management and an ability to prioritize.