Dean of Expeditions SY26- 27 (California Candidate Pool)

Reporting to the Executive Director for site-based work and the Director of Expeditions for program-based work, the Dean of Expeditions will lead the Expeditions Program, ensuring effective, efficient, and values-aligned implementation. This role serves as the school leader during Expeditions rounds and cultivates community partnerships and best-fit experience options for students when the site is not in Expeditions.

Responsibilities

• Leadership
  • Serve as the acting Executive Director for 8 weeks of the year
  • Coach and support Expeditions teachers, staff, and contractors
  • Communicate and collaborate with school and network leadership
  • Coordinate and collaborate with other Expeditions Deans and the Director of Expeditions to plan 4 weeks of staff professional development annually
  • Share best practices and cultivate external partnerships across multiple sites
  • Cultivate a strong faculty culture that embraces the Expeditions program vision
• Community Partnerships
  • Develop and cultivate relationships with community partners to create real-world experiences for students
  • Manage systems and processes to ensure adequate number and quality of community partnerships
  • Manage contracts with local partners
  • Develop and maintain criteria and standards for community partners to ensure high-quality, safe, and aligned student experiences
• Student Experience
  • Ensure students have robust opportunities to explore and deepen their passions through various experiences (SPS Expeditions, community partners, virtual partners, internships, and student-led projects)
  • Support design of Expeditions schedule in collaboration with the Network Director and other Deans of Expeditions
  • Build individual student schedules that match them with best-fit experiences during each Expeditions round
  • Support mentors with facilitating Concrete Next Step (CNS)-aligned reflection pre- and post-Expeditions
  • Collaborate with mentors, caregivers, and students to understand passions, values, and identity for experience matching
• School Culture
  • Lead faculty, staff, students, and parents to support a strong school culture aligned with the mission and vision
  • Implement effective restorative practices and discipline strategies during the Expeditions program
• Operations
  • Manage student Expeditions scheduling throughout the school year
  • Oversee systems and processes for daily attendance to meet student attendance goals
  • Ensure regular, accurate, and compliant attendance reports
  • Maintain site safety, security, and compliance during the Expeditions program
  • Ensure accurate and timely recording and reporting of student incidents
  • Oversee safe and compliant field trips and off-campus experiences
  • Manage transportation for field trips and other off-campus activities in partnership with the Dean of Operations

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree (required)
• Teaching Credential in the relevant state (required)
• Prior teaching experience (required)
• Commitment to Summit’s values and belief in equitable education preparing all students for college and life
• Community organizing and/or prior school leadership experience (strongly preferred)
• Prior experience in project and people management (strongly preferred)
• Prior experience with school operations and compliance (strongly preferred)
• Proficiency in Google Platforms (Drive, Sheets, Docs, Slides)
• Clear health and background check

Skills

• Results-driven, systems-oriented leadership
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills
• Ability to cultivate robust community partnerships
• Strong collaboration skills with a willingness to give and receive honest, actionable, and timely feedback
• High expectations for all students with a belief in their potential for success
• Exceptional organizational and project management skills with attention to detail
• Positivity, resilience, and initiative in facing challenges
• Empathy, cultural competency, and openness to difficult conversations
• Comfort with innovation, ambiguity, and continuous improvement
• Growth mindset and commitment to feedback as a tool for improvement

About the Organization

Summit Public Schools operates 10 schools serving over 3,300 students in the Bay Area and Washington state. Our mission is to prepare a diverse community of young people with the skills, knowledge, and habits to attain economic empowerment and success in a chosen concrete next step toward a fulfilled life. 100% of Summit graduates are college-ready, and they complete college at double the national average.

Benefits

• Retirement plan
• Unlimited “take what you need” PTO policy
• 11 paid holidays
• 3 weeks of organization-wide closures during the year
• Multiple health, dental, and vision plans at 25% cost (employer covers the remaining 75%)
• Employee life and disability insurance at no cost

Pay

The salary for this position ranges from $103,663 to $122,635, commensurate with experience and qualifications.