Dean of Students (2026-2027) [Immediate Start]

Hiring for both middle school and high school positions at multiple locations. Full time year round, benefits eligible, exempt, in-person position in Denver, CO. Start: Fall 2026.

About the Role

The Dean of Students is the School Culture Leader on campus. They coach and support students and staff members to ensure each member of the community is living our core values and committing to a strong community.

Responsibilities

• Leadership
  • Demonstrate a sense of urgency about achievement for ALL students and preparing every student for four-year college.
  • Pursue solutions with tenacity that maximize student achievement.
  • Model professional maturity, maintain emotional constancy in stressful situations, bring out the best in others, seek solutions, and provide positive motivation.
  • Mentor and coach staff members to drive toward student academic and personal growth.
  • Lead through adults to ensure school goals and network priorities are accomplished.
• Culture
  • Reinforce school culture centered on core values that deeply care for each student and staff member and hold each to the highest level of accountability.
  • Manage grade level leaders and their teams to support gradual release between grade levels.
  • Collaborate with school staff to maximize the ability of the school to support students’ academic and socio-emotional development.
  • Provide leadership to all staff and students in establishing a positive, structured, achievement-oriented, and fun school culture.
  • Support a professional learning community in which teachers regularly collaborate to reflect on and refine curriculum and instruction using achievement data, student work, and observations.
  • Relate effectively with students and engage them in relationships, in one-on-one, small group, and large group settings.
  • Communicate with families regarding student academic performance, student conduct, school programs, and school performance.
  • Partner with and develop all staff to ensure strong culture both in school-wide systems and in each classroom.
  • Manage and track progress on individualized behavior plans for students to ensure we meet the needs of all students in the community.
  • Collaborate with both the special education and mental health teams.
• Family and Community Engagement
  • Maintain communication and relations with the families of the school, ensuring they are kept involved with and held accountable for their children’s academic and behavioral performance.
  • Communicate regularly with families regarding student performance and academic achievement.
  • Respond to family concerns promptly and effectively.
• Systems
  • Implement and maintain systems that “sweat the small stuff,” maximize the programmatic goals of the school, and align to DSST systems.
  • Develop solutions to complex problems involving multiple stakeholders and steps.
  • Manage with fiscal responsibility by developing a disciplined planning process that identifies the school’s highest priorities.
  • Collect data (formally and informally) around school culture and the systems that support it to improve overall school culture.
  • Manage the Morning Meeting System and other School-Wide Culture Celebrations.
  • Manage intervention systems for students.
• Additional Duties
  • Build relationships with teachers and other members of the administration team to positively impact school culture and results.
  • Recruit and hire school faculty.
  • Serve as a recruiter for new students; actively engage prospective families to draw more students to the school; take on additional tasks to support recruitment as needed.
  • Work to ensure DSST 8th graders transition to a DSST high school.
  • Work with DSST Home Office to create network-wide standards, curriculum, and assessment documents.
  • Support network-wide new teacher professional development; create school-specific new and returning teacher professional development.
  • Participate in the Culture Leadership Development Series.
  • If applicable, teach course(s) within the school.
  • If applicable, act as a student advisor for a group of students.
  • Position may encompass instructional coaching, culture leadership, and support.

Qualifications

• Ideal Qualifications
  • Teaching experience.
  • At least 3 years working with students in 6-12 grade schools and classrooms.
  • Proven commitment to and experience with serving students of color, students with disabilities, and/or multilingual students.
• Minimum Qualifications
  • Bachelor's Degree OR enrollment in a DSST approved degree program working towards completion of a Bachelor’s degree.
  • An unwavering belief that all students can succeed in high school, reach their most ambitious post-secondary goals, and lead exemplary lives.
  • Desire to personally and professionally grow in the practice of becoming an anti-racist educator.
  • Self-awareness, a regular practice of reflection, and a desire to continuously improve.

Pay

$77,500-$92,500 based on up to 10 years of aligned experience. Relocation stipend offered for anyone joining from 75 miles or more from Denver.

Benefits

• Comprehensive Compensation & Benefits
  • Competitive pay and a Total Rewards package that includes fertility and adoption support, educator-focused mental-health care, and everyday perks like Safeway grocery discounts.
• Growth & Opportunity
  • Weekly 1:1 coaching, data-driven feedback, and clear career pathways such as Apprentice Teacher and Emerging Leader.
• Rewards & Recognition
  • Core Value and TOAST Awards, milestone celebrations, and the signature Flower Person Award honoring staff who help our community flourish.
• Whole Human Wellness
  • Access to the Therapist of Color Collaborative, Wellness Wednesdays, comprehensive health coverage, and six weeks of paid parental leave.
• Thriving in Colorado
  • Time to recharge with 11+ weeks off each year, relocation support for out-of-state applicants, and local discounts to enjoy life in Colorado.