SY 26-27 Dean of Culture and Community

About AscendAscend is Brooklyn’s premier K–12 public charter network, committed to graduating high-achieving students who have access to boundless choice in their futures—not only through college acceptance, but through meaningful preparation for career readiness and thriving adult lives.Across our schools, we pair rigorous academics with strong systems, supportive adult culture, and a deep belief in students’ brilliance and potential. Our work is grounded in the understanding that preparing students for long-term success requires excellence in instruction, intentional culture-building, and disciplined execution at every level of the organization.At Ascend, adults are held to high standards because our students deserve nothing less. How we teach, lead, collaborate, and make decisions every day directly shapes the opportunities our students will have tomorrow.Join us in shaping learning environments where curiosity is nurtured, excellence is the norm, and every student is prepared for a lifetime of boundless choice.About the RoleWe seek school Deans of Culture and Community (DCC) who are passionate about building and leading a school culture that serves every student and the whole student. Our DCCs are the champions of our Responsive Classroom and restorative practices approach at our middle schools. They ensure our staff provides a rich, joyful learning experience where every student learns and grows. The dean will provide cultural leadership to the teaching staff and oversee the implementation of school-wide systems and procedures. In addition, the Dean of Culture and Community will drive the impact of critical partnerships: with the leadership team to ensure that all students, including those with exceptionalities, have the access and support needed to achieve; with families to ensure a true partnership is built and results in positive outcomes for the student; and with grade-level leaders to ensure each grade level achieves culture goals and establishes a positive, joyful learning community.ResponsibilitiesSchool cultureLeads and drives the school’s family partnership vision and strategic plans, including establishing partnership guidelines and support that results in reciprocity amongst our schools, our families, and our communities, and drives learning from and with each otherCo-leads the planning and execution of Tier 1 interventions, including serving as a model and delivering feedback to strengthen interventionsLeads and manages culture data systems (i.e. attendance, referrals, and logical consequences), related communication structures, and data-driven action plans that ensures data is used to strengthen school and classroom culturePartners with the leadership team in leading school-wide morning meeting, advisory, and community meeting planning and executionPartners with the student service team to implement systems that continuously provide the highest leverage support for vulnerable studentsSupports and partners with grade-level leaders and culture associates to ensure grade levels achieve culture goalsCoaches and manages staff to achieve family communication vision and expectations, including providing effective family communication that benefits student learningPlan, leads, and oversees family and community events that reflect our vision and valuesCurriculum and instructionDevelop teachers' ability to foster and maintain a safe and culturally responsive classroom that results in love.Partners with student service team and leadership team to ensure that all students, including those with exceptionalities, have access and support needed to achieve and demonstrate readiness for the next gradeFostering a diverse, equitable, inclusive, and anti-racist communityModels and supports a race equity culture, including skill-building and leading self and others through awareness, growth, and developmentPartners to plan and execute individual or team activities with systems that support continuous improvement with a focus on diversity, equity, inclusion, anti-racism, and excellenceServe as DASA liaison (Dignity for All Students Act)Effective teamingServes as the manager and coach for culture associatesCoaches and develops staff, including planning and leading professional development, on behavior management, responsive classroom, and social-emotional learningPromotes and develops strong teams that collaborate, communicate, and work together for Ascend students and the communityObserves and supports grade-level leaders in their planning and facilitation of grade-level meetingsWorks collaboratively, leverages data, and thinks flexibly to continuously improve school culture systems and decision-making processes that strengthen outcomesStaff and Reporting RelationshipsThe Dean of Culture and Community reports to the principal and supervises all culture associates.QualificationsBachelor’s degree, with an advanced degree, preferredAt least three years teaching experience with a proven track record of elevating student achievement and classroom culture metricsAt least one year of experience leading, managing, and coaching a team of adults that demonstrates an ability to drive results through othersA passion, commitment, and expertise in responsive classroom and restorative practicesA hunger for feedback and self-improvementA high level of ownership over the overall outcomes of the scholars they leadA hunger for feedback and self-importantSelf-awareness, with an ability to treat all members of the school’s community with respect and an accurate idea of one’s strengths and areas of growthStrong collaboration, interpersonal and communication skills, including working effectively with people from diverse backgrounds and with diverse perspectivesStrong organizational, self-management, and problem-solving skills with the ability to handle many responsibilities simultaneouslyAlignment with the educational philosophy and core beliefs of Ascend LearningInitial salary offers for this position range from $89,000 - $115,000. Salaries are determined using an equitable compensation scale that accounts for years of experience and levels of attained education. This full-time, exempt position offers a comprehensive benefits package including:Medical, dental, and vision insurance403(b) retirement plan with employer matchingGenerous paid time off and additional employee benefits