2026-27 Dean of Students
One City Schools is recruiting for a dynamic Dean of Students school year, and beyond. The Dean of Students is responsible for overseeing all student support, behavior support and school culture functions at One City Schools.
The Dean will collaborate with staff, students, families and volunteers to sustain a school environment that is inclusive, relevant, and engaging of all stakeholders to build a strong learning community. The Dean will strive to ensure that all One City scholars are empowered with the knowledge, character, habits and leadership skills to succeed academically and personally in school and in the community. This is a full-time position with competitive pay and comprehensive benefits. The position reports directly to the Head of Schools and will work closely with One City's CEO as well.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
The Dean of Students will be most responsible for developing, implementing, training, guiding, and monitoring adult and student circles within the academic and student life program, crew targets within the Expeditionary Learning curriculum, and a discipline policy that is grounded in restorative practices. This role requires comfort with holding both adults and students accountable to One City's values, habits of character, and discipline policies and procedures as well as taking on the role of coach and mentor in the implementation of adult and student circles to build relationships and connection. The successful candidate is committed to the authentic relationships that are the cornerstone of human development.
SPECIFIC DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
- Foster a school culture that promotes respect and appreciation for all students, staff and parents, and supports the school’s mission and equity vision
- Inspire teachers to excel in their practice and motivate students to achieve their full potential. Coach and support staff as they implement plans to build strong, student-centered classroom culture.
- Conduct short-term and long-term planning in social and emotional learning, student discipline, character education, and service learning, and align planning to One City’s Strategic Plan.
- Provide leadership, training, and monitoring for effective implementation of programs including the restorative solutions model.
- Plan and conduct mental health group and individual sessions to address social, emotional, and behavioral needs.
- Develop and supervise One City staff to be effective school and classroom- level coaches for the school-wide promotion of Social-Emotional Learning (SEL).
- Consult with principals and staff concerning the needs of students.
- Liaise with outside providers and researchers on social and emotional learning and character education work
- Monitor and evaluate program efficiency in order to share data with the leadership team and stakeholders to drive school planning and student support plans.
- Design and implement professional workshops and in-services to support the social and emotional learning curriculum and incorporate best practices, including research on learning theory and content standards.
- Engage and inform parents and families about SEL and ways to promote SEL at home.
- Other duties as needed.
Immediate Role Priorities
- Provide training, development, practice and coaching to staff and teachers on restorative practices including de-escalation, close listening, problem-solving, behavior redirection, and consequences versus punishment.
- Provide training, development, practice and coaching to staff and teachers on cultural norms, rituals and routines.
- Establish a presence on campus to create opportunities for authentic interaction with staff and students and to ensure student safety.
Professionalism
- Upholds and enforces board policy, administrative procedures, and center rules and regulations.
- Maintains appropriate work habits, including regular and punctual attendance and appropriate use of planning time and establishes and maintains cooperative relationships with other staff members.
- Strives to communicate the positive aspects of One City to the public in word and deed.
- Continues professional growth through participation in professional development opportunities.
QUALIFICATIONS
- Strong commitment to the mission, vision, goals and objectives of One City, and to working with young children from diverse racial/cultural populations and their families.
- Bachelor’s degree with a minimum of two years of teaching experience in an elementary school setting.
- Knowledge of and experience with student centered curriculum, instruction and assessment. Experience with EL Education and project-based learning is a strong plus as well, but not required.
- Success working in an urban setting directly with students, staff and families from diverse racial, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds.
- Must believe in empowerment, personal accountability, self-efficacy and helping children develop a healthy cultural identity as the primary means to reach students and move than forward rather than disempowering them (and adults) through punishment, persistent criticism and withholding opportunities.
- Excellent judgment, communication and creative problem-solving skills.
- Energetic, flexible, collaborative, proactive and kind.
- Ability to regularly and routinely lift and push at least 50 pounds.
- Successful completion of a background check required.
APPLICATION PROCESS
- Submitted Resume and Cover Letter outlining interest in position
- List of 3-5 references with contact information (references will not be notified until candidate is notified)
- Background checks are a condition of employment
COMPENSATION AND EVALUATION
One City offers market competitive salaries and wages with comprehensive health benefits to all full-time employees. Compensation will be consistent with One City’s approved compensation plan as stipulated by the Board of Directors. Benefits include:
- Salary Range: $60,000 to $80,000 depending on experience and demonstrated impact as an educator or administrator
- Generous time off program, including 18 Days of paid time off, holidays and personal wellness days
- Health benefits (medical, dental and vision)
- 401K with employer match of 5.9%
- Voluntary Benefits (Supplemental Life, Accident, Short Term Disability, etc.)
- Children automatically admitted to Senior Preschool
- 25% of tuition for first child enrolled in One City’s Preschool (ages 2 and 3) and 10% for 2nd child.
- Life Insurance and Long-term Disability
- Investment in Professional Growth and Development
- Employee Assistance Plan
MISSION, VISION, VALUES, AND EXPECTED OUTCOMES
OUR MISSION
Our mission is to seed a new model of public education that ensures young children are on track to succeed in a college or career preparatory program from birth through high school graduation.
One City Schools achieves its mission by:
- Attracting dedicated families committed to the mission of the school
- Sustaining a diverse, inclusive, and multicultural community that affirms and values each individual
- Focusing on wellness, including providing healthy prepared breakfast, lunch, and snack on a daily basis
- Providing a longer school day and longer school year, ensuring our scholars and their families are continually supported
- Ensuring transparency and accountability, including a 20-year longitudinal study in partnership with University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Providing financial, physical, and educational support for scholars from age 2 through HS graduation
- Focusing on professional development and support
- Cultivating resilience, agency, compassion, and community-mindedness
- Embracing the whole child, from athletics to social-emotional development to content knowledge
- Embedding a community-minded approach to education, including a focus on collaboration amongst teachers, parents, and scholars
OUR VISION
Our short-term vision is of a Greater Madison where all children are prepared to contribute and succeed as adults.
Our long-term vision is of a Wisconsin and United States of America where all children are prepared to achieve the same. Solving the achievement gap crisis won’t matter if a gap still exists between children in the USA and children in other developed countries around the world.
OUR VALUES
Habits of Character
- We are honest, fair, and fulfill the commitments we make, building a culture of respect and mutual trust.
- We give our best effort, take intellectual risks and learn to persevere.
- We reflect and live with purpose, working toward goals that embody our genuine interests.
- We are a school that values educational excellence, community, and integrity. We are dedicated to lifelong learning.
- We have high expectations for all scholars, staff, and families.
Community
- We embrace the village concept – that it truly takes an entire village to raise a child.
- We support and celebrate one another and take responsibility for our words and actions, acknowledging that we shape the lives of others in our community.
- We work hand-in-hand with parents and the broader community to ensure our students have the fundamental capacity to succeed in school and life.
- We utilize a robust network of community partnerships, routinely evaluate o ur success, and stay current on the latest research to ensure we are doing our very best to cultivate happy, healthy, and successful children.
Equity
- We embrace and celebrate diversity within our school, knowing that it deepens our learning and enhances our empathy.
- We recognize that each person has different circumstances and we allocate the necessary resources and opportunities needed to provide an equal playing field for our scholars and their families.
Wellness
- We promote the health and wellbeing of our students and employees.
- We provide two nutritious meals and a snack for our scholars and staff on a daily basis.
OUR EXPECTED OUTCOMES
One City Scholars transitioning from our elementary school to our secondary school will be well-prepared to succeed in a college and career preparatory curriculum. Eventually, they will graduate with a high school diploma and significant credits towards earning college degrees and/or professional certifications. Moreover, they will emerge from our program as thinkers, learners, and problem-solvers, ready to tackle life’s challenges and provide effective leadership in our state and globally.
Our elementary students will be able to read, write and compute at grade level, demonstrate a love and passion for learning, and emerge from high school ready to lead in the local and global community, while serving as role models, mentors and effective problem solvers. They will understand the importance of reflection, perseverance, compassion and risk-taking. One City Scholars, to put it simply, will make the world a better place.
OUR STATEMENT ON DIVERSITY
Diversity, equity, and inclusion are more than just words for One City Schools. We currently have the most diverse staff in Southern Wisconsin and are dedicated to fielding a team that continues to reflect the scholars and families we serve. Currently, 60% of our staff and 87% of our scholars identify as Black, Brown, Asian, Hispanic, Latino, and/or multi-racial. One City Schools is designed to prepare ALL students for success in school, career, and life, particularly the Black, Brown, Hispanic, Latino, and low-income scholars in the Madison community and beyond, who have been historically underserved in traditional school environments.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
One City is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all team members and applicants, and to maintaining a work environment in which everyone is treated with respect and dignity.